Chapter 9 – Selection Day (1)

Although everyone whispered softly, the combined murmurs grew loud enough to be heard.

Were they trying to stir up public opinion now?

“Is it such a problem to have intentions? After all, I’ll stand in the same place as the other candidates and be chosen in the same way. At least, unlike some people, I didn’t bribe anyone dishonestly.”

Having already heard the previous events from Leo, Seilia had plenty of ways to tighten the noose around Princess Blair’s neck.

At Seilia’s words, Princess Blair and the other ladies who had bribed the High Priest to secure their candidacies flinched.

Well, of course. They couldn’t exactly claim to be honorable.

“It seems to me that you are just jealous of me, Princess Blair. You keep picking fights with me so often, it’s almost pitiful.”

Seilia’s faint smile as she spoke caused Blair’s face to visibly redden.

From all around, there were muffled chuckles and subtle mocking voices.

Blair’s disrespectful behavior toward Seilia wasn’t limited to this moment. Everyone present was well aware of the antics she pulled while leveraging her title as a princess of the Kingdom of Faelin.

No matter how much she tried to hide her dark intentions behind a facade of innocence and charm, the stench of her schemes couldn’t be concealed. It was the price of a foolish tongue.

Time passed quickly, and the day of Selection approached.

The term “Selection Day” originated from the day the first Empress of the Belton Empire was chosen. Since then, it became a tradition to call the day a Crown Princess or Empress was selected “Selection Day.”

As the day drew nearer, the entire empire buzzed with excitement. Conversations about who would become the next Empress frequently mentioned Seilia and Blair.

Moreover, rumors spread that the greenhouse incident had solidified the rivalry between the two.

In Blair’s room in the Western Palace of the Imperial City, one of the protagonists of these rumors sat in a foul mood.

Unlike Seilia, who felt no nervousness because she already knew the outcome of Selection Day, Blair seemed deeply irritated by Seilia.

She had already found it suspicious that Seilia had been visiting the Imperial Palace so frequently, and now Seilia’s name had genuinely been added to the list of candidates. Blair couldn’t figure out what was going on between them.

Adding Seilia’s name as a candidate for Empress was akin to tying a bell around a cat’s neck.

Although Blair wasn’t born to the King’s official wife, as the daughter of his favored mistress, she had lived a life of privilege in the Kingdom of Faelin.

At sixteen, two years ago, Blair had come to the Belton Empire with the intention of becoming Empress. That position was hers, and no one else could dare to covet it.

But Seilia, whom she encountered in the Imperial Palace, was someone born with a background and privileges that Blair couldn’t even begin to compare to.

She thought she had finally gotten rid of Seilia, but why did she keep getting in her way?

Blair sat with a hardened expression, nervously chewing her nails as she sank deep into thought.

The maids, noticing Blair’s mood, acted more cautiously than usual.

When one of the maids accidentally spilled a bit of coffee on Blair’s dress, everyone in the room froze in terror.

It was just a small mistake, but the maid stood frozen, staring at the spreading stain of dark coffee on the pristine white dress.

The maid, who looked barely fourteen, finally managed to stammer out an apology with trembling lips.

“I-I’m sorry, Princess. My hand slipped…”

Slap!

Blair’s hand flew across the maid’s cheek in an instant. Looking at her reddened palm, Blair spoke in a soft, almost gentle voice.

“It’s red now.”

Everyone trembled in fear, but the maid who had been by Blair’s side the longest remained silent, as if used to such treatment.

“Take her away.”

The door opened, and the guards began dragging the maid out of the room.

“P-Princess! Please, spare me! It was my fault…”

As the sobbing maid was dragged out, Blair hummed a tune with a merciless smile on her face.

***

The day before Selection Day finally arrived.

After enduring her mother’s endless nagging and her father’s ambitious future plans—despite the results not even being announced yet—Seilia returned to her room, utterly drained.

She needed to be in her best condition for tomorrow. After changing into a light chemise, she lay down on her bed and closed her eyes.

About five minutes passed. As silence enveloped the surroundings, Seilia, who had been staring at the ceiling instead of sleeping, heard an unusual hissing sound from far outside the terrace.

At first, she thought she had misheard and tried to go back to sleep, but the sound grew clearer, confirming she hadn’t imagined it.

It was a sound she had heard so often in the past that it was etched into her memory. She thought she’d never hear it again.

Her heart pounding with a mix of concern and curiosity, Seilia quickly opened the terrace door and froze in place.

Standing in the small garden under the bright moonlight was none other than Leo—the last person she expected to see.

Unlike his usual casual attire, Leo was dressed in full regalia, as if he had just come from an evening meeting.

Looking up at the frozen Seilia on the terrace, Leo waved lightly with a casual smile.

“What the hell!”

A curse slipped out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

If anyone saw him, it would be a disaster.

It was the night before Selection Day, and this was the House of Ernian. If they were caught, the consequences would be beyond complicated.

Grabbing a cardigan to throw over herself, Seilia dashed down the long corridor and practically flew down the stairs.

Though it took less than five minutes, it felt like five hours.

Her hand, pressed against her chest to calm her racing heart, trembled as much as it had back when she was dating Leo. Everything felt the same, yet the emotions she felt now were far different—more bewilderment than joy.

Reaching the terrace, she gritted her teeth and yelled.

“Are you insane?! What are you doing here?”

Leo, still calm, looked at her with his usual relaxed gaze.

“Shh. Keep your voice down. Or why not just announce to everyone that I’m here? Anyway, I’m impressed you heard and came down. I didn’t expect much.”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I just came out because it was noisy.”

Though Seilia denied it adamantly, she had opened the terrace door because she had a hunch about who was making the noise.

When Seilia stepped closer, Leo took a step back and turned his body away entirely.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Curious about his odd behavior, Seilia stared at him questioningly. Leo sighed and muttered.

“Your outfit.”

Right. She was still in her chemise. While technically clothed, it was sheer enough to be practically indecent.

Embarrassed, she hurriedly threw on the cardigan she had brought and fumbled with the buttons.

Flustered, she demanded coldly,

“So, what’s your reason for coming here?”

“I wanted to tell you that all the preparations are complete. I just need to confirm your condition.”

“You could’ve said that later, couldn’t you? Why did you have to come all the way here to say it?”

“I tried to, but you stormed out that time, didn’t you? If you don’t like me coming here, either fix your temper or blame yourself.”

Even if one had something to say, Leo’s way of speaking made it vanish before it could be said.

“What about my condition?”

“I thought Princess Blair might’ve slipped some poison into the food you’ll eat.”

It seemed Leo had also heard the rumors about Princess Blair. Well, considering how widespread they were, how could even the Emperor not have heard them?

“I wouldn’t touch anything she—no, that person—gave me, so don’t worry.”

Seilia, who had almost referred to Blair as “she” in a dismissive tone, corrected herself with a slight frown.

“That seems likely.”

Leo, understanding her completely, let out a small laugh and smiled faintly.

It was strange. For someone speaking about a supposed romantic rival, there wasn’t even a hint of defensiveness or protectiveness in his tone. It felt more like he was talking about someone entirely unrelated. Why?

“You’re not defending her? I’m insulting your supposed romantic partner.”

“Why would I defend someone who has nothing to do with me? And romantic partner? Now that’s something I’d like you to explain.”

The smile on Leo’s lips hardened in an instant as he asked with a sharp expression for clarification.

Suddenly irritated, Seilia sharply turned her head away.

Where did he learn to feign ignorance like this?

Even though they had been meeting more frequently lately, the frustration she felt toward him hadn’t lessened in the slightest.

‘…Though, of course, there were other emotions as well.’

Right, it’s something he doesn’t even remember. Something I don’t know. Is that it?

While you forgot everything, I cried every night and let every day pass by aimlessly.

Biting her lip slightly, Seilia ignored the curses she muttered at herself as Leo skillfully changed the subject.

“Judging by how bright you look, you seem confident about tomorrow.”

“Of course, isn’t that obvious?”

Seeing Seilia shrug her shoulders with a confident expression, Leo smiled faintly, as if in disbelief.

She wasn’t wrong.

Wherever she went, she was bold and never hesitated or showed weakness. In fact, such behavior suited her more.

Even if someone tried to pick a fight with her over her insolence, she was the kind of person who would slap them across the face and deal with it herself.