The events of last night's library still wouldn't leave her mind. Morning light poured down upon the gardens of the Verdia estate. A white fountain quietly spouted water, its spray glittering in the sun. Selena Verdia sat on a stone bench, her hands resting on her knees, gazing absently at the water's surface. ——I will not give up on you. That low voice still echoed in the depths of her ears. (Calm down. Calm down, Selena.) She took a deep breath. The morning air was cold, and the garden grass glistened with dew. The faint sound of servants moving about drifted from within the mansion. This was the only place that was hers alone right now. Then came the sound of wings. A small bird suddenly flew down and landed with a soft *posh* right on top of Selena's head. Selena froze. "……Did you mistake my head for a perch?" The bird didn't answer, only chirped softly. It folded its wings contentedly. "Are you here to listen to my troubles too? Or did you simply take a liking to this spot?" *Chirp chirp.* "I see." Selena let out a wry smile. The morning after the Emperor had confessed something close to his feelings, and here she was with a bird perched on her head. There was nothing dignified about this situation whatsoever. Then came the sound of the mansion door opening. "Miss Selena. Your father is waiting in the dining hall." A veteran maid spoke in a quiet voice. The bird startled and flew away, disappearing somewhere. (Father.) Selena straightened her spine at once. The face of a noble lady returned naturally to her features. 　＊ The dining hall, as always, was laid out with a lavish breakfast. Fresh-baked bread, egg dishes, seasonal fruits. But the moment Selena saw Edward Verdia's expression, her appetite vanished entirely. Her father was in his mid-fifties, a man with sharp amber eyes and black hair streaked with white—the very picture of a Six-Winged Council patriarch, radiating an imposing presence. This morning, his expression was harder than usual. "Sit." A curt command. Selena quietly took the seat across from him. "About last night's matter." Selena's fingertips paused, just barely. "A maid who entered the library heard some noise outside, it seems. Rumors are troublesome things. Before whispers spread about His Majesty and a young lady meeting in the dead of night, you must conduct yourself with absolute perfection." Her father took a sip of tea and set the cup down. Each movement seemed calculated. "The Verdia family's objective is for you to maintain your position as the foremost candidate for the Crown Prince's betrothal. A personal relationship with His Majesty is... not particularly favorable as a matter of family policy." He was driving the point home. That even if the Emperor took a personal liking to her, it would be unorthodox from the family's perspective. Selena smiled sweetly. A perfect, noble lady's smile. "[serious]Understood, Father. I shall be more careful going forward." (So being favored by the Emperor himself is a no-go for the family!? And I'm the only one being cornered about this!? He was the one who called me over in the first place!?) Her inner voice screamed, but her expression didn't waver. Twenty-two years of accumulated training as a Verdia lady were working their magic in this very moment. 　＊ Before noon, Selena wrote a letter to Maria Clouzant. There was no particular deep meaning to it. She simply wanted to talk to someone. Without calculation, just as a friend. Maria's reply came quickly. "This afternoon, I'll be waiting at the Jade Leaf. You absolutely have to come!" Just from the way the letters were written, Selena could hear Maria's voice. Her shoulders relaxed just a little. 　＊ In a corner of Dusk Street in the royal capital's commercial district stood the tea house "Jade Leaf" (Giarda Folia), known as a social gathering place for noble ladies. Afternoon light streamed softly through the windows, and the aroma of tea drifted through the air. Round tables with white cloths, small vases holding seasonal flowers. Maria Clouzant was already waiting at a window seat. Chestnut-colored long waves flowed over her shoulders, and the moment her clear blue eyes found Selena, her face brightened. The small pearl earring on her left ear swayed as it caught the light. "[excited]Selena! It's been forever!" "[gentle]Maria. Sorry for keeping you waiting." As Selena sat across from her, Maria stared intently at her face. "[serious]……Your complexion looks terrible. Have you been sleeping lately?" As expected—her information-gathering abilities were sharp, and so was her observational eye. Selena took a sip of tea, then paused for a moment. Drawing the line between what she could say and what she couldn't. "[serious]There's something that's been bothering me a little……" "[excited]Huh!? Something bothering you? Did you develop feelings for someone!? Wait, let me guess—Inspector Alan? Or Sir Ethan, the knight commander!?" She leaned forward across the table, her eyes gleaming. When it came to this kind of topic, Maria was always quick. Selena paused for a moment. (I don't have to say anything. I can deflect. I could just say "it's not a person, it's the political situation"……) But for some reason, her mouth moved. Something that had been building up since last night suddenly spilled out. "[whispers]……No. His Majesty……His Majesty won't leave my mind." It was barely a whisper. Almost like talking to herself. Maria's movements came to a complete stop. One second. Two seconds. "Huh?" Three seconds. "Huh—huh—huh!?" Her teacup tilted precariously. Maria caught it with both hands, barely preventing it from spilling. The young ladies at nearby tables glanced over. "[angry]Quietly! Maria, people can hear!" Selena instinctively lowered her voice to stop her. Her face was burning. Why had she said such a thing? Maria covered her mouth with both hands. But her eyes were absolutely gleaming. She blinked rapidly, trying to say something with just the shape of her lips. (You have feelings for His Majesty……) The movement of her lips conveyed everything. "[serious]No. I'm just a little curious. That's all. Don't misunderstand." "[gentle]Selena……" This time, Maria spoke with a gentler expression. "[serious]You've got a look on your face I've never seen before. And your face is completely red." Selena reflexively raised her cup, hiding half her face. "I drank hot tea." "[sarcastic]You haven't even drunk that tea yet." Completely seen through. The two stared at each other for a moment, then laughed softly in unison. Before the surrounding gazes could turn toward them, Maria lowered her voice. "[whispers]……I won't ask for details. But this is the first time I've ever seen you thinking about someone like this. That alone makes me a little happy." Selena couldn't say anything. She set down her cup and looked out the window. People passed by on Dusk Street. The royal capital's afternoon, unchanged as always. (Happy, huh.) Those words struck her chest in an oddly profound way. 　＊ When they left the tea house, autumn light cast long shadows across the stone pavement. Selena walked slowly back toward the Verdia estate. The bustle of Dusk Street faded into the distance. A carriage passed by, and the stone pavement returned her footsteps in regular rhythm. She tried to organize her thoughts. Methodically, calmly. (Last night's library. That distance. Those deep crimson eyes. And——the words "I will not give up on you".) Just remembering it made something pulse deep in her chest. (……I can't deny this.) She didn't need Maria to tell her. Every time she recalled what happened in the library, her body tensed. She already knew what that meant. ——I really am attracted to His Majesty. One second later, memories flooded in all at once. The ending of the novel she'd read in her past life: "The Holy Light Princess." The scene where Selena Verdia was executed. The Edict of Condemnation——a system where members of the Six-Winged Council families who committed acts of treason against the imperial house would have their magical marks stripped and be subjected to public execution——was invoked, and she was dragged out into the square. What had caused it? ——Charges of treason against Vald Granveria. Her feet stopped. "Oh, excuse me!" A passerby coming from behind bumped into Selena's shoulder, stumbling and apologizing frantically as they hurried on. Selena staggered and placed her hand against a stone wall in the alley. Slowly, her knees began to give way, and she crouched down. The sounds of the crowd seemed distant. (Getting close to the Emperor was the greatest destruction flag of all.) She'd known it. In her mind, she'd always known it. And yet she'd allowed herself to develop feelings anyway. Feelings that would interfere. Calculations that would go awry. What could she do—— "Big sister, are you okay?" A small voice came from nearby. Selena looked up. At the edge of the alley stood a child, perhaps five years old. Looking at her with a blank expression. A small hand reached out toward her, worried. Selena stared at that hand for a moment. Then slowly stood up. She brushed the dirt from her knees, straightened her hair, and lifted the corners of her mouth. "[gentle]……Thank you. I'm fine." The child smiled with relief and ran off. Selena watched that small back disappear for a while. (Knowing you shouldn't fall in love, and falling in love anyway. That's the cruelest thing of all.) The voice of her past self——the ordinary university student she'd been before——seemed to echo from somewhere. 　＊ When Selena returned to the Verdia estate, night had already fallen. She sat before the mirror on her dressing table. The dying fire in the hearth cast a warm glow across the room. Her face was reflected in the mirror. Short black hair, deep amber eyes. The refined features of a Verdia lady. "Cut off your emotions to avoid destruction." She said it aloud, to her reflection. "Think calmly. Seal away your feelings for His Majesty." The girl in the mirror listened. Selena stared at her reflection, checking whether she'd sounded resolved——and stopped. The expression looking back at her was unmistakably that of a woman in love. "[whispers]……Liar." She whispered to her mirror image. No answer came. Of course not. Then came a knock on the door. A maid's voice followed. "Miss Selena, a letter has arrived for you. It's marked urgent." Selena stood and opened the door. The envelope handed to her bore a familiar seal. The royal crest. Her fingertips trembled slightly. She opened the seal. Inside the paper was a single line of text. ——Tomorrow at dusk, before the fountain in the royal garden. Come alone. ——V. V was the initial of Vald Granveria. Selena stood motionless, holding the letter. On the very night she'd decided to seal away her emotions. A summons had come. She was in no position to refuse. If she didn't go, it would seem suspicious. If she did go—— (If I go, what will happen?) Terrible, she thought to herself. Selena carefully folded the letter and tucked it into her bodice. ——She suddenly realized what she was doing. "[surprised]Why am I hiding it!?" She pointed out her own absurdity to the empty room. Hurriedly, she pulled it back out, opened the drawer of her writing desk, and placed it inside. The drawer closed with a soft *pat*. She lay down on her bed and pulled the blanket over herself. The ceiling was dark. The dying fire in the hearth flickered. (What kind of face will I wear when I see him tomorrow?) There was no answer. Seal away your emotions. But whether you've truly sealed them away will become clear the moment you meet. When you face those deep crimson eyes, what you'll feel——there's no way to control that anymore. Selena slowly closed her eyes. The night deepened without offering any answers.