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Chapter 22
– I’m Losing It, Really
No… it can’t be. That’s impossible.
Serena’s heart jumped wildly in surprise. Summoning her courage, she opened her eyes—and saw the large silhouette of Lucas comfortably perched on a thick tree branch outside her window.
“Wh-Why… Your Highness…”
“Why am I here? I couldn’t sleep at all.”
With that brazen answer, Lucas’s dark eyes stared at her intently.
“So I thought I’d take a walk… but it seems I could hear what you were saying, so I climbed the tree without realizing it.”
Seeing that mischievous smile, Serena wanted to slap herself for muttering her thoughts aloud. Of course, Lucas clearly enjoyed the situation, so she thought hitting herself a hundred times might even amuse him more.
“How dare the Crown Prince of the Empire eavesdrop on a young lady’s bedroom!”
Serena tried to sound cold to hide her embarrassment.
“First, I didn’t know this was your bedroom. Second, I just heard you talking, so I climbed the tree. That’s all.”
Still brazen, Lucas’s expression made Serena glare at him in frustration.
“Oh, by the way… climbing trees is one of my hobbies.”
He smiled faintly, calm and composed.
“And to clarify about what I heard…”
“No! That’s not necessary,” Serena said, shaking her head vigorously, but Lucas didn’t back down.
“What happened earlier was so sudden that all I could think about was saving you.”
Ha… of course, Lucas brought up the one topic Serena wanted to avoid most.
“But once I had you in my arms, I was so nervous that I didn’t know what to say. I could only act as if nothing had happened.”
Though his tone was calm, his gaze was careful and sincere. The contact earlier really had been significant—for both of them.
“I don’t know how to deal with women. I’ve only ever thought about marrying you; I’ve never really talked to a woman before.”
Serena blinked slowly. She couldn’t tell if this was a confession or not.
“Why are you making such a ridiculous face?”
She had no answer for that.
“Just because our first impression was terrible doesn’t mean our entire relationship is doomed. I’ve liked you all along—as proof, I still do.”
Serena’s cheeks flamed at Lucas’s calm words.
“My father sang a love serenade when he proposed to Her Majesty, but I don’t know much about that kind of thing.”
Lucas’s black eyes locked onto hers. Every time he spoke his heart, he did so without hesitation, as if showing her all of his feelings at once.
“I tried sending you letters countless times, but I couldn’t express my feelings properly in words.”
Lucas had no reason to lie—and neither did Serena.
Unconsciously, Serena spoke words she knew would lead to the same inevitable conclusion. She didn’t know what she hoped for. The story would be obvious: he would ask for her as his reward.
“And what if I can’t be a good Crown Princess even if Your Highness truly likes me?”
But perhaps it was the magic of the night—Lucas’s response was entirely different from what she had heard before.
“Who decides that? The only thing that matters is that the woman I love becomes my wife.”
Are all men this blunt? Or only Lucas?
Hearing his sincere gaze and calm, low voice made her heart flutter, making her feel like the most special woman in the world.
“Why… why are you doing all this?”
“Because I love you.”
Lucas didn’t hide or soften his feelings.
“Now and forever, the only woman I love is you.”
The autumn night wind teased her heart, stirring her emotions.
“Is there an even more absolute reason?”
He hadn’t said “I love you” outright, but simply hearing that he liked her was enough to feel the truth of it.
“I’ve liked you from the start. I just didn’t know how to express it as a child.”
Lucas deeply regretted causing trouble at the engagement ceremony. Meeting Serena again, and having her coldly declare the engagement invalid, only intensified his regret.
“I never want to regret leaving you again.”
His black eyes shone more attractively under the moonlight.
The large frame that had once enveloped her, his long legs dangling casually from the tree, and his handsome face looking down at her from the window—it was like a scene from a poet’s song.
“Serena. Even if you reject me, my feelings will never change. I swear it with my life.”
He didn’t even need to swear; Serena knew he was sincere. Such steadfastness couldn’t be false.
“You’ll never give up?”
“No. Never.”
Serena’s silhouette reflected in Lucas’s dark eyes. There was no need for further exhausting conversation. His vow was genuine, and no one could dissuade him.
“Today, didn’t I look happy in Astel?”
“More radiant than the sun,” Serena said.
She had truly been an excellent ruler, as Lucas himself had observed. It made sense, in a way, why she had firmly rejected his proposal before.
“Let’s become husband and wife.”
Lucas gazed at her passionately.
“No matter what kind of Crown Princess you become, it’ll be fine.”
Serena’s blue eyes flickered slightly.
“Whatever form it takes?”
“Yes. If you want to pursue something, you can do it freely—tie your hair differently, dress as a man, it doesn’t matter.”
“I’ve never heard that a Crown Princess could be so free,” she said.
Lucas smiled charmingly. For the first time, it seemed Serena was seriously considering marriage beyond the engagement’s invalidity. Her heart raced.
“Do I look too weak to respect my precious wife’s wishes?”
The House of Tern was known for stubbornness, and Lucas was notoriously headstrong. Even if the Emperor demanded his return, he ignored it, wandering and earning renown in battles until he turned twenty.
“I admit your stubbornness is stronger than I expected. But I cannot be denied.”
Indeed, the man in front of her had reached this point despite six years of an unresolved engagement.
“Isn’t Astel suffocating?”
Suddenly changing the topic, Lucas made Serena frown in confusion.
“If you marry me, we can see the world together, pursue dreams in the capital, and I will ensure no one blocks your path.”
For the first time, she considered that this match might not be bad. She already lived quite freely for a duke’s daughter, but Lucas promised her an even greater freedom.
“As Crown Princess, no walls or people will stand in your way. I’ll make sure of it.”
Confidence and charm shone on his handsome face.
“And I’m not a foolish man who breaks promises.”
Lucas let out a short, relieved sigh, as if unburdening his heart.
“Let’s marry. Us.”
His voice, still faintly smiling, radiated warmth—not the warmth of a four-year-younger fiancé, but a fully grown man.
“I will never regret it.”
Serena’s heart pounded so violently she was glad he wasn’t physically beside her.
“So, please marry me.”
Lucas offered his wholehearted feelings directly. He didn’t embellish or package his proposal, yet his straightforwardness made Serena’s heart flutter.
“The night is deep. You should return to bed.”
Serena finally found her voice. Lucas didn’t seem disappointed that she didn’t immediately answer.
“I should also retire for the night.”
“Is that so? Then have sweet dreams.”
Serena bent her knees slightly, curtseyed to Lucas, and quickly closed the window and drew the curtains.
“I’m losing it!”
She finally ran to her bed, burying her face in the pillow, kicking and thrashing in frustration.
“Why the hell are you climbing trees outside someone else’s room!”
Recalling Lucas’s voice just then, she kicked her blanket harder.
“Ah! Seriously, I’m losing it, I tell you!”
Burying her face in the pillow, her cheeks were as red as a ripe apple.
“So annoying… so freaking annoying!”
One would think she was upset about the hill incident—but the real reason Lucas brazenly spoke so confidently was far more mischievous.
“No… I’m not really upset, but… argh, the more I try to explain, the worse it gets. Why the hell did you climb a tree there?!”
It was all Lucas’s fault for suddenly appearing.
Since the day her forgotten fiancé reappeared, Serena hadn’t gone a single day without her heart being unsettled.
“Ah…”
She had to admit it. Her life before his arrival had already been shattered—and it would never return.
“How am I supposed to face him again tomorrow? What kind of torture is this!”
Though the day had been exhausting, sleep completely vanished. Burying her face in the pillow, Serena kicked her legs restlessly, caught between embarrassment and unexplainable emotions.
“I don’t know… I really don’t know!”
Even when she first realized she existed as Serena in this world, her emotions hadn’t been this tumultuous.
Back then, she felt elated, like receiving compensation for a meaningless death. Now, her heart ran wild like an untamed horse.
“I’m really losing it.”
Serena’s legs kicked the blanket repeatedly.
For the first time in both her past and present life, a man had made her heart race so violently.
