“Who says we’re becoming spouses?”
Disgusting. At that moment, I felt even the last bit of warmth towards him disappear. I loved such a thing? Even a monk drinking poison would not feel this disgusted.
“And I have a question for you. Where does this arrogance come from, thinking that I would maintain our engagement in this situation?”
“It comes from my power.”
Raios smiled playfully. The boyish smile I once adored.
“Danae, even if you want it, breaking off the engagement is impossible. Because I will refuse it.”
“Is that so?”
“There’s no history of breaking off imperial engagements unilaterally. You’re part of this world now, didn’t you study history?”
“There’s always a first for everything. Haven’t you thought I might be the right person to be that first?”
“…”
Raios looked at me intently, then extinguished his cigar in the ashtray.
“Tomorrow, I plan to escort Allice.” He declared calmly. “I intend to have an engagement ceremony with Allice. So, Danae Windsor, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t attend tomorrow’s banquet.”
“No, I will attend. So, hold your engagement ceremony another day. Tomorrow’s banquet is mine.”
“You still haven’t come to your senses. You don’t understand that my command overrides your authority.”
“That’s right. I really don’t understand.”
“What?”
“I don’t understand, Your Highness. I guess this is as far as I go in adapting to this world you so desire.” I smiled broadly. “I can’t adapt, Raios Geranze.”
That’s right, I couldn’t. Rather than meekly succumbing to Raios’s irrational demands, I would prefer death.
“It has become clear now. I can never belong to this world.”
Raios’s black eyes suddenly grew cold. “Is that so?”
But it was brief. Raios casually brushed his black hair back. “Then wait 97 years. The dimensional gate will open then, and you can leave this world.”
“…”
“Until then, don’t forget you’re my subject.”
“…”
“I’ll say it again. Do not attend tomorrow’s banquet. It will only bring you misery.”
“…”
“You have no one to escort you, right?”
I couldn’t argue. Who would escort ‘Danae Windsor’? No man would dare. It made sense. Raios had buried any man who approached me.
After acting so possessively like that. His fierce jealousy was well-known. Fearing his wrath, nobles had long stopped even looking at me. So, there wouldn’t be a man bold enough to escort me.
Raios was saying this because he also knew that fact. Having made it so, now he says, what? I have no one to escort me?
“Do as you wish, Your Highness. I will do the same.” I spoke coldly and turned to leave, not wanting to exchange another word with him.
As I was about to exit… I stopped without realizing it. On the side table. A flower shimmering under the moonlight. That was…
“Ah, that,” Raios spoke indifferently, noticing my gaze. “The flower I was going to give you.”
“…”
“I gave it to Allice first since she had a tough day. Please understand.”
I stared at the flower shining in the moonlight, then opened the door and walked out. It was a Moonlight Flower. A rare flower only found in the southern continent.
“Is there anything you want, Dana?”
A few days ago, Raios asked me.
“Huh? No, I don’t.”
“Come on, tell me anything. I can give you anything you want.”
“Then, please give me a Moonlight Flower.”
But it went to Allice.
Doesn’t matter. I didn’t really care about the flower. Besides, the Windsor family had exclusive rights to import Moonlight Flowers; I could get them anytime. But…
Giving it to Allice because she was having a hard time? You shattered my world. Yet you care only about Allice’s distress? Ruin my award ceremony to punish me?
Wretched man. Worthless sc*m.
Anger boiled within me. The most infuriating part was that things would go Raios’s way. As the empire’s crown prince, he could easily cancel my award ceremony tomorrow.
No. Absolutely not. I won’t let it be taken away. I needed the award to become the head of the family. Determined to receive the award no matter what.
But how?
Fortunately, a plan quickly came to mind.
“Milady.” Stepping outside, the waiting secretary approached.
“I need to see His Majesty.”
“…Yes?”
The secretary looked bewildered as if asking if I was crazy.
“Milady, do you really think His Majesty will stop the engagement ceremony tomorrow?” He added firmly, perhaps hearing the quarrel. “His Majesty won’t even meet you.”
“I know. It’s fine. Go ahead.”
After sending the secretary away, I sought the emperor. And as expected…
“I apologize, Lady Danae.”
The guards firmly blocked me.
“His Majesty refused the audience.”
As expected. I didn’t panic. Rather, I would have been surprised if he had agreed. The emperor dislikes meeting people.
Emperor Yustio is extremely reluctant to meet people. He only appeared for necessary state affairs. He was famous for refusing all private audiences, just like now.
“Could you please ask him again? Danae Windsor asks to see him.”
“Understood.”
But soon, the guard returned with a frozen face. “There’s a message from His Majesty.”
“What is it?”
“Get out…”
“…”
“T-that’s the message…” The guard seemed embarrassed.
I found it amusing. Like father, like son. Delivering harsh messages just like Raios.
“Alright then…” I wrote a note and handed it to the guard. “Could you please deliver this to His Majesty?”
[Your Majesty the Emperor.
It seems the Moonlight Flowers will soon bloom in the imperial palace garden.]
It was shortly after.
“Hi-His Majesty.” The guard approached, looking dazed. “He asks you to come in.”
As expected. I knew it would work.
“Lady Danae. His Majesty was extremely furious after reading the note…” The guard warned me.
I just smiled. Of course, he would be. That sentence. It was a threat.
Creak. The moment I opened the door and entered.
“―!”
An icy chill immediately enveloped my throat. I gasped for air. A dazzling man stood before me, gripping my neck.
“Danae Windsor.” The emperor whispered. “Do you wish to die?”
Thank you for the chapter!❤️🔥