The last ray of sunset vanished deep beyond the horizon, and even the breeze drifting along the riverside carried with it the bleak chill of late autumn.

The silver-haired girl of elegant bearing stood there in her simple white dress, poised and graceful, like a snow lotus blooming atop a mountain peak—stunning, cold, untouchable.

But the moment she appeared, the atmosphere of the scene shifted in an instant. It was like a new beast had entered the hunting grounds, and the predators immediately tensed, narrowed their eyes, and coiled with vigilance.

Only the little white rabbit still trembled where it stood.

“Celicia, you... why are you here?”

Celicia acted as though she hadn’t noticed Muen’s question. Her cool eyes swept casually past him and landed on the two girls at his side.

“Anna Kaplin?”

“President, it really has been a long time.”

Anna released Muen’s hand and smiled as she gave a polite nod.

“Yes, it has been a long time. It seems you’ve changed quite a bit.” Celicia looked her up and down.

“The President is still as beautiful as ever.”

Anna’s gaze lingered on Celicia as well.

The girl before her had hair like a cascade of silver, lashes frosted like snow, a flawless face, eyes cold and aloof. Though she wore nothing more than a plain white dress unfitting of her status, it only served to highlight her innate beauty all the more.

So beautiful.

Anna sighed inwardly.

As for looks, she didn’t think herself inferior to anyone. But that air Celicia carried—that aloof, untouchable quality of a snow lotus blooming apart from the world—was something no one else could compare to or imitate.

Anna knew: for men, that very quality of being “to be admired from afar but never profaned” was the most intoxicating flame of all.

Especially for a certain pervert.

“I recall... your name is Anne, isn’t it?”

Celicia turned her gaze to Anne and spoke softly.

“We met once before at the Ducal Estate. You are Muen’s personal maid.”

“To be remembered by Your Highness the Princess is truly an honor.”

Anne withdrew her hand as well, lifted the hem of her maid’s dress gracefully, and gave a respectful curtsey.

Before a princess, for the sake of the Ducal Estate’s reputation, she had to embody the image of a perfect maid, and so could no longer cling to Muen so openly.

“Mm.”

Celicia nodded lightly, saying nothing more, as if it had merely been a simple greeting.

But then her gaze shifted ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) again—this time to Jinze.

Specifically, to the shackles in his hand.

“Jinze, what do you think you’re doing?”

“Th-that, Muen Campbell attacked me...”

“Even if he attacked you, as long as he isn’t a cultist, then it’s nothing more than a public security incident. Since when has the Silent Bureau extended its hand so far as to meddle in public security?”

Celicia’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her voice cold.

“This...”

Jinze froze, then his expression suddenly brightened.

“That’s right, this is a security incident. Not my jurisdiction. Haha, none of my business!”

“Muen Campbell, just you wait. I’m going to the city guard right now to report you, and when I do, you won’t have anything good waiting for you, you hear me! Just you wait!”

Having said that, Jinze bolted. He ran so fast that in the blink of an eye, he was gone without a trace.

Muen stared in the direction Jinze had fled, his face blank.

So many complaints welled up inside him with no place to let them out.

A security incident? The guy I hit wasn’t some random person! Do you even remember your own identity, you idiot Silent One!?

And what good will running to the city guard do you? That bunch of wine sacks and rice bags—do they even dare to set foot within ten miles of this place?

Anyone here could crush them a hundred times over!

Muen couldn’t help but tear up.

By now, even the surrounding Silent Ones who had been spectating had quietly slipped away at some point, leaving only one man and three women on this silent street.

And before he realized it, the three women had subtly shifted positions into a triangular formation—leaving Muen squarely at the very center.

What kind of ultimate stable structure was this? Even Santiago would have to tip his hat at the craftsmanship!

But calm down, Muen, you need to calm down.

It wasn’t hopeless yet.

Think carefully: this triangle wasn’t quite solid enough to be despair-worthy.

After all... no matter how you looked at it, Celicia didn’t harbor any feelings of romantic love toward him.

And with her personality, she absolutely wouldn’t stoop to jealousy, fighting other women over a man.

Their bond was nothing more than a paper engagement. Even though that engagement would soon become a formal betrothal, Celicia would never allow something like that to bind her.

So—you’re just passing through, right, Celicia?

Muen looked at her with desperate hope.

Celicia’s gaze swept around once more, then finally came to rest on him again.

Her red lips parted, and under Muen’s swelling anticipation, she spoke slowly:

“Muen Campbell, you’re coming with me.”

“...”

His heart stopped.

In that instant, Muen felt the air pressure in the scene drop another level. The two gazes that had still held some respect for Celicia’s identity a moment ago turned instantly cold.

The equilateral triangle closed—perfect and complete.

“Wh-what?”

Muen’s teeth chattered as he stammered:

“Wh-why?”

“Because...”

Celicia started to answer, but then seemed to notice at last the peculiar tension of the atmosphere. Her eyes flicked across Anne and Anna, her brows arched ever so slightly, and the corner of her lips curved in a faint smile as she changed her words:

“Do I need a reason to tell you to come with me?”

Dominance. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Power.

Indisputable authority.

She stood before him clearly as just a girl, yet Muen felt as if a cold, domineering CEO stood towering above him, one black-silk-clad foot pressing down hard upon his face.

She’s so domineering, I love it—

Wait, is this really the time for that!?

Why!?

Muen couldn’t understand.

Celicia, why are you getting involved too!?

My little pond can’t handle you coming in and thrashing around like a great white shark.

Two of them were already terrifying enough.

“Hold on, Your Highness the Princess.”

At this point, Anne finally couldn’t help but speak up.

“The Young Master is still injured. He needs to return to the Ducal Estate to recover. I’m afraid he can’t go with you.”

“That’s right.”

Anna chimed in as well.

“And to take someone away without any explanation—isn’t that a bit unbefitting of your status as President?”

“Strange. If it’s about recovering from injuries, what place could possibly offer better conditions than the Imperial Palace?” Celicia replied casually.

Anne’s face tightened; she had no way to refute that.

“As for... status?”

Celicia went on, “That’s even stranger. If we’re talking status, compared to you two with your unclear relationships, I should be the one most qualified to take him away, shouldn’t I?”

As she spoke, Celicia turned her head, the corner of her lips lifting in the faintest, most enigmatic smile, as her gaze bore meaningfully into Muen.

“Am I right... my fiancé, with whom I’ll be formally betrothed in just a few months?”