“Only ‘not that unpleasant’?”

Muen turned his head in mild surprise to look at Celicia. “I thought your evaluation of me would be a little better than that.”

“That evaluation is already good enough.”

Celicia paused. “Compared to how you were before.”

“Is that so? But I think it’s still not enough. Because if it’s only ‘not unpleasant,’ and yet you’re forced to marry me, doesn’t that sound pretty pitiful?”

Muen suddenly leaned his head closer, blinking as he spoke.

“Hm?”

Celicia raised a brow, seeming a little puzzled.

“So?”

“So... should I work harder?”

Muen nervously rubbed his hands together. “To make you truly and completely fall for me... that seems a little impossible.”

After all, this was the aloof iceberg Celicia. Although Muen knew from the original book that she had that outwardly cold but inwardly warm trait, the iceberg wrapped around her exterior wasn’t so easy to melt. Even the protagonist herself, the almighty Ariel, had needed nearly half a book. Celicia was without question the hardest to “capture” of all.

Muen knew he didn’t have any protagonist’s halo, nor any special charm. Naturally, he lacked that kind of confidence.

“But still...”

“I think if I work a little harder, to make you feel at least a bit of fondness toward me, that much I could manage.”

Muen chuckled. “Because I think marrying someone you merely don’t dislike, and marrying someone you have at least some affection for—there’s a pretty big difference in how that feels. I’d rather you could be a little happier.”

“A bit of fondness...”

Celicia seemed unprepared for Muen to suddenly say such a thing, her willow brows arching slightly.

The boy before her wore a roguish smile, but at this moment his eyes were utterly sincere.

And these words... however you heard them, they sounded like a confession in disguise.

A second confession.

Different from that first time, which had been disgusting, this moment was carried on a gentle breeze, thin mist in the air, the boy smiling with golden hair shining, carrying a handsomeness and brilliance she was forced to admit.

In the night, someone was softly humming a long, lingering melody, like a tender love song.

Only... to “capture” her just for the sake of making her happy... it gave her a rather strange feeling.

Celicia’s cold gaze lingered on Muen for a moment before she suddenly said:

“Do you also coax those two girls like this?”

“Pfft—”

Muen nearly coughed up blood again.

Was this the time to bring that up? Princess, do you understand atmosphere at all?

“W-what do you mean, coax—”

Muen thickened his skin and said, “I’m telling the truth here! Truer than pearls!”

“Is that so.”

Celicia’s voice drifted.

The next instant, a scattering of fallen leaves at the roadside suddenly stirred.

Muen’s heart clenched.

Sirens blared in his mind.

But before he could even react, a streak of cold white light flashed before his eyes.

Muen’s body froze.

Feeling the sudden chill against his neck, he tilted his head slightly upward. Cold sweat already slid down his forehead.

So fast...

His gaze dropped to the crystalline ice blade now at his throat, and shock rippled through him.

He hadn’t even seen when Celicia had moved.

Compared to a few months ago, her strength seemed not just a little greater.

No—that time months ago had been a special situation. Her strength had been heavily restricted.

Now, this was the true sharp edge of the Empire’s famed number one genius.

“That’s it?” 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Celicia narrowed her eyes, the faintest trace of a smile ghosting her lips. “Muen Campbell, your so-called sincerity is rather weak.”

“T-this... this is a problem of the setting. How about we change to another place and fight again?”

Muen stiffened his neck, pretending he hadn’t lost face in the slightest.

“No matter where, you’re no match for me.”

As if not noticing Muen’s bluster, Celicia casually dispersed the ice sword.

Then, as Muen stared in shock, she reached out a slender white finger and hooked it gently under his chin. Like a domineering CEO teasing some fragile, soft thing, her lips curved into an inexplicable arc.

“So do your best, my dear fiancé. Right now, you’re still far from good enough.

“I won’t fall for a man weaker than me.”

“Wh-what do you mean, not good enough!”

Smothered by Celicia’s overwhelming presence, Muen froze, then flew into a flustered rage. “Let’s change places and see! I’ll show you whether I’m good enough or not!”

“Heh.”

Celicia said nothing more, only turned and continued walking ahead.

Her swaying skirt and hair fluttered like the ice blossoms still lingering in the night air.

A beauty breathtaking enough to steal the soul.

...

“So, Celicia—where exactly are we going?”

Muen, battered to pieces once again by Celicia’s words, let his eyes go dead-fish blank before finally remembering tonight’s main point.

Thinking carefully, there was no way Celicia had involved herself in that earlier incident just for the sake of a “warning.” She could have done that at any time. She had no need to deliberately stir trouble for him.

Celicia wasn’t that kind of idle person—there must be a proper reason.

“Father summoned you.” Celicia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said it offhandedly.

“Oh, so it’s Father-in-la—wait, what did you say?” Muen’s eyes flew wide as he stared at her in shock.

“You said His Majesty summoned me?”

“That’s right.”

“Such an important thing, and you didn’t say so earlier?!”

For the third time that night, Muen nearly coughed up blood. He spun in place like an ant on a hot pan, utterly frantic.

The Emperor was suddenly calling for him.

What should he do? He was completely unprepared.

Was there something he needed to be mindful of? Should he start by praising the man’s daughter—“Your daughter is amazing”—would that sound more polite?

“What are you panicking for?”

Celicia gave him a sidelong glance.

“Do you really think Father, this late at night, would summon you on purpose?”

“Uh... that’s true.”

Muen calmed down a little. In this dead of night, it really didn’t seem like the right time for such an audience.

Then why...

“The official summons will arrive tomorrow. Until then—”

“Until then?”

Celicia’s eyes went cold. “Until then, you can start by washing off the stench of women clinging to you.”

“...”

...

Celicia led Muen to a modest-looking residence.

“This is...”

“My temporary lodgings.”

“So simple?”

Muen was stunned.

The building ahead, though its structure held subtle elegance, didn’t look in the least like a place fit for a princess to live.

“It’s only temporary. Why make it too conspicuous?”

Celicia was unconcerned, stepping forward to unlock the door herself.

“No guards?”

“Do I need anyone to protect me?”

“Well... true enough. What about a maid?”

“I have my own hands and feet. What need would I have for a maid?”

“That’s just like you...”

Muen sighed in admiration—but then his eyes lit up.

No guards.

No maids.

Which meant...

The dead of night.

A lonely man and woman.

Just the two of them.

Alone together... to share the night?