Chapter 3. An Arranged Marriage
1466 Words
Tap Tap Tap
Footsteps walked through the hallway as the butler led Selene to the emperor's study.
Knock. Knock
"Your Majesty, her highness is here."
“Let her in.”
The door opened.
Selene stepped inside and approached the desk.
Lucian Bellafont, the Emperor. The man who led the whole Bellafont army, and her father.
“You called me.”
The Emperor looked up from the documents in his hands.
“Can’t you call me Father?”
Selene stared at him.
“Why should I?”
“…”
The Emperor remained silent for a moment before letting out a sigh.
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
He placed the papers on his desk.
“Tomorrow is your eighteenth birthday.”
Selene nodded.
“I know.”
“And tomorrow night, after your birthday banquet, you will be leaving for Varell.”
Selene's expression remained unchanged.
“Why?”
“You will be meeting your fiancé.”
Silence.
Selene blinked.
“…My what?”
“Your fiancé.”
Her eyebrows twitched.
“Yes. You're going to Varell to meet the man you are promised to marry.”
"Who?"
"The emperor, Killian Evander Varell"
Selene stared at him as though he had just said something completely absurd.
"Why him?"
The emperor simply stared at her.
“Do I have to?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The Emperor leaned back in his chair.
“Because the marriage was decided long ago.”
“By whom?”
“Our ancestors.”
Selene frowned.
“Our ancestors?”
“Your grandfather once saved the former Emperor of Varell. In return, our families formed an agreement. They vowed that our descendants would unite through marriage.”
He paused.
“And that vow was to be fulfilled when you turned eighteen.”
Selene remained silent.
“So…”
She tilted her head slightly.
“I really have to marry him because of something our ancestors promised each other?”
“Yes.”
“But that happened years ago.”
“Yes.”
“Can't we just… not do it?”
The Emperor stared at her.
“Just? Not do it?”
“Yes.”
“Selene.”
“What?”
“That is not how an imperial vow works.”
She looked completely unconvinced.
“If we really need to fulfill the agreement for Grandfather's sake, why doesn't Sister marry him instead?”
The Emperor had just taken a sip of his drink.
“Pfffft—!”
He immediately choked.
“Cough! Cough!”
Selene stared at him.
“Are you alright?”
The Emperor wiped his mouth and stared at his daughter in disbelief.
“W-what did you just say?”
“I said Sister should marry him.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she can't.”
“Why?”
The Emperor stared at her for several seconds.
“Because your sister is the Crown Princess.”
“I know.”
“She is the heir to the throne.”
“I know.”
“She will be the next ruler of this empire.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you still asking?”
Selene thought about it for a moment.
“Oh.”
The Emperor sighed in relief.
Finally.
She understood.
Then Selene spoke again.
“But that man is old too, right?”
The Emperor's expression froze.
“…What?”
“They're both old. So they're probably a good match.”
“…”
The Emperor slowly looked toward the ceiling.
He wondered how such a troublesome daughter had been born into his family.
“Just go back to your quarters.”
“But—”
“Your birthday banquet is tomorrow. After it ends, pack your belongings and leave for Varell.”
Selene stared at him.
“That's it?”
“Yes.”
“…Okay.”
She turned toward the door.
“Selene.”
She stopped.
“Don't cause trouble in Varell.”
She glanced back at him.
“I never cause trouble.”
The Emperor's eye twitched.
“Go.”
“Okay.”
And with that, Selene walked out.
“This way, Your Highness.”
Selene turned and followed the butler.
Just before leaving, she glanced back at the study door.
Clack.
The door shut behind her.
---
“Your Highness, you're back.”
“Yes.”
Lisa hurried toward her and handed her a cup of tea.
“What did you talk about with His Majesty?”
“Marriage.”
Selene answered so casually that Lisa nearly dropped the teacup.
“…What?”
Selene took a sip.
“Have you gone deaf?”
“Uhh… no.”
Lisa stared at her.
Selene stared back.
The room fell silent.
“…When is the wedding?”
“What wedding?”
“Your wedding.”
“There won't be one.”
Lisa blinked.
“What?”
“I'll be going to Varell after my birthday banquet. That's all.”
“…Oh.”
Selene narrowed her eyes.
“Why do you look disappointed?”
“I don't.”
Oh my God.
She's actually going to get married.
And to WHO?!
Selene watched Lisa's expression change.
She didn't need to ask.
The girl's face was practically screaming the question.
“Who will you marry?”
Selene paused.
“The emperor of Varell.”
Lisa froze.
“…Him?”
“Yeah.”
The poor girl looked as though someone had just announced the end of the world.
Selene sighed.
“Our families made a vow generations ago. Apparently, we're supposed to honor it.”
“An arranged marriage…”
“Yes.”
“And you're just… okay with that?”
Selene looked at her.
“Do I look like I have a choice?”
“…No.”
“Exactly.”
She placed the teacup down.
“Now leave. I'm going to sleep.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Lisa quickly bowed and left.
Clack.
The room became quiet.
Selene stared at the ceiling.
She should have been thinking about her upcoming marriage.
She wasn't.
Instead, her mind drifted back to the previous night.
The moonlight.
The mission.
The blood.
And—
That man.
Selene's eyes slowly narrowed.
Who was he?
She had been careful.
She was always careful.
No one had ever discovered her identity during a mission.
Not once.
Yet somehow…
someone had seen her.
And for the first time in years, Selene found herself wondering if she had finally met someone capable of seeing through her disguise.
To be continued....
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