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chapter 12
Please Forget
Serena, forcing herself to suppress her embarrassment, turned her back and looked at him again. It was strangely fascinating that now she had to tilt her head up just to see his face.
“I don’t expect anything from Your Highness. I have nothing to give you.”
It was especially difficult to find any trace of the boy in his sharp eyes, his sculpted nose, or the lips firmly pressed together beneath.
“No. I must be rewarded by you.”
Lucas’s words carried no hesitation. His eyes held Serena firmly, burning with the heat of a twenty-year-old man gazing upon a beautiful woman.
“What reward? I never promised anything like that.”
Serena looked up at him, speaking each word carefully. Lucas stepped closer, leisurely bending at the waist to meet her gaze.
“I’ve made it clear.”
Serena blinked slowly, caught off guard. The solid black eyes, radiating unwavering confidence, belonged to a man entirely unlike the one she remembered.
“I said it before—the engagement is a heavier vow than any promise.”
“Yes. And I said that’s void.”
Serena forced a calm expression as she spoke. The wind brought with it the scent of the tall man, but she did her best not to betray the slightest reaction.
“My mind hasn’t changed. Our engagement is void. Please… forget it.”
“No.”
His low voice cut sharply through the air, filled with undeniable authority. He didn’t merely seem grown; he looked every bit the Crown Prince of the Empire—complete in every way.
“Your Highness…”
“Hm? Since we’re engaged, I think I’d rather call you by name.”
Lucas lifted one corner of his lips into a relaxed smile.
The ideal reunion would have been Serena welcoming the grown Lucas, but even if that wasn’t the case, Lucas had no intention of giving up on her.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
Serena sighed. After completely forgetting her fiancée, his sudden return and talk of rewards was frustrating.
Yet from Lucas’s perspective, it was equally vexing. Why, after sharing the vow of engagement, did she treat him like a stranger?
“And why are you doing this?”
Hah… words failed her again.
“I’m the same. I cannot change my mind any more than you can. My intent to claim the reward of taking you as my wife hasn’t changed in the slightest.”
Should she duel him? Then one of them might end up dead and everything would be quiet. Serena considered the impossible as Lucas spoke with shameless boldness.
“I’ve already said I refuse.”
She ground her teeth and spoke forcefully. Yet instead of frowning, Lucas laughed, pleased with something she couldn’t fathom.
“You remain as you were. Just as I remembered.”
Perhaps this man had strange tastes—or perhaps her words at the engagement had impacted him more than she realized. Either way, Serena felt completely at a loss.
“Your Highness, I don’t think further conversation will be meaningful.”
Even at her slightly provocative remark, Lucas nodded magnanimously. He couldn’t fully account for every change in her, but the most notable was the deep black gaze with which he now regarded Serena.
It was the look of a man seeing something precious—or perhaps, seducing—and he viewed her with complete confidence, his scent radiating unmistakably masculine allure.
“I am busy managing the Astel territory as the Duke’s deputy, so I will take my leave.”
To her surprise, Lucas nodded without objection.
“Then I hope the rest of your travels go smoothly.”
Serena bowed, mindful of his rank. Lucas, far from appearing offended, smiled lightly.
“No need to worry.”
A bad feeling prickled at her.
“I will be staying in the Astel territory for the time being.”
Serena blinked. She had known his temperament was unusual, but she hadn’t realized he was so brazen.
“The Duchy of Astel is under imperial rule, so my stay should be welcomed, right?”
Should she end this in a duel? Serena cast a glance at the sword at his waist, wondering again at the futility of resistance.
“I look forward to the loyalty and warm hospitality of Astel.”
Whenever Lucas smiled faintly, the usually sharp eyes softened, making his face almost gentle in that instant.
Though this had nothing to do with Serena directly.
“Can I count on it?”
A duel was impossible. Serena murmured it three times to herself, taking steadying breaths.
“…Of course.”
There was nothing to fear concerning their engagement or private matters. But the Astel territory and its intelligent people—those Serena loved—must never defy the Empire. Lucas undoubtedly understood this fully.
“Steward!”
Before Lucas could say more, Serena called out in a loud, commanding voice. She summoned the steward while glaring at Lucas, clearly annoyed.
“Yes, my lady.”
“The honorable news is that His Highness the Crown Prince will be staying in our Astel Duchy.”
Lucas shrugged, giving a cheeky little smirk.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is staying? What an honor.”
The steward bowed carefully, aware of protocol.
“Immediately have the servants thoroughly clean the guesthouse where His Highness stayed yesterday.”
No matter his rank, only the guesthouse from yesterday could be offered.
“If His Highness requires, we can provide attendants or maids.”
“Yes.”
Serena glanced at Lucas, as if to ask, Satisfied now?
“Then, Your Highness, though the Astel Duchy residence is humble, I hope you enjoy a comfortable rest. I am busy, so I shall take my leave.”
Without giving Lucas another chance to object, she bowed and disappeared like the wind.
“Hmph.”
Lucas, left alone, cleared his throat, still aware of his sore chest.
“You are the steward of this residence?”
“Yes, I am Peter.”
“From Astel?”
“I originally served the Duke of Astel, but now I follow the young lady.”
Calm, courteous, careful—truly the steward of a renowned house.
“So, the young lady truly governs the territory herself?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Lucas tilted his head.
“Directly, as other lords do?”
“Yes.”
He furrowed one brow—a habit when thinking.
“Exactly what does she do?”
“She manages everything on behalf of the Duke of Astel.”
Most young ladies might have elicited a scoff, but Lucas’s eyes remained fixed on the dignified Serena. Perhaps she truly could rule Astel herself.
“Even now?”
The slight disappointment in his voice betrayed his regret at how quickly she had disappeared.
“Yes. She is very busy with the Astel harvest festival soon.”
“Harvest festival?”
“After the harvest season, the young lady personally oversees the festival.”
The steward bowed deeply, offering no further explanation.
“I see.”
Indeed, to understand, one must see and hear directly.
“Announce that a high-ranking knight and his retainers have arrived—no unnecessary fuss.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Even if word spreads in a few days, she wanted to personally survey Astel today.
“Bring out two horses. They will return on their own, so don’t worry.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Oh, almost forgot.”
Lucas paused as he was about to leave the reception room, then sat back on the sofa.
“I must send a letter, so prepare writing instruments and carrier pigeons.”
“Yes. How many pigeons shall I prepare?”
“Two… or three will do.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Peter respectfully withdrew. Lucas, frowning slightly, reflected on the whirlwind reunion that had just occurred.
The rumor of a noble wandering knight arriving in the Astel territory spread rapidly. Serena smiled wryly but didn’t bother to correct it.
“My lady, what will you do?”
“What can I do? It’s an honor for the Crown Prince himself to stay in Astel.”
Serena gazed at the distant sky. She hadn’t expected her fiancée to return in this way, but she was glad she had prepared defenses in advance. Her appeals to the Papal Court and the Imperial Family over the past six years ensured the evidence was perfect.
“More importantly, you say he sent three carrier pigeons?”
“Yes. He insisted on sending them himself, so I didn’t even get a chance to peek.”
“In any case, it’s not good news for me.”
Peter smiled wryly.
“Don’t worry. There’s nothing to hide in Astel.”
That was Serena’s pride—she had nurtured the territory herself over the past six years.
“Even if it were His Majesty the Emperor, the same would apply.”
There was nothing hidden, nothing to conceal in Astel. Serena had nurtured it with pride from the beginning.
“However, the purpose of His Highness seeking you is obvious.”
“That’s alright.”
Serena waved off Peter’s concern, her expression calm as always.
“I had already abandoned my fiancée before coming to Astel.”
It was a simple decision. Serena had no intention of marrying; she sought to assert her own existence instead.
“Nothing will change.”
Serena faced forward. Before her lay a life far better than the meaningless death of her past life.
“My heart has not changed.”
Even as she said this, the image of Lucas, so different from her memories, lingered in her mind. His mature scent still seemed to tease her senses.
“Yes. Absolutely.”
No matter how much that fiancée—once just a boy—had grown, how manly he had become, Serena still didn’t truly know him.
She hoped he would remain so.
