TMLOP 32

Chapter 32

 The Utopia Before My Eyes

“You must know that my mother’s reasons are reasonable as well, Your Grace.”

Veneruccia’s expression twisted. Again. Again—Selenia had rejected him. A flicker of fire sparked in his eyes.

Though he felt pity seeing her teary eyes, Selenia was his.

Because Veneruccia had decided so, no one could change that.

“I’m only letting you go for now, Selli.”

Veneruccia’s voice was low, filled with obsession and possessiveness.

Selenia deliberately didn’t respond to that voice and left the room.

Veneruccia was selfish and arrogant. He was a man who could consider abandoning others but couldn’t accept being the one discarded.

‘You no longer love Lady Elian the way you once did, to the point you hurt my daughter so deeply.’

Her mother’s words were true. Selenia acknowledged that Veneruccia loved her, but she never believed that he would love her forever.

So, she changed her plans.

From now on, she would become his thirst.

Like an oasis in the desert, she would make him long for her eternally.

It was the greatest revenge Selenia could exact—because she could never truly separate from Veneruccia.

Veneruccia regretted letting Selenia go.

“Pendragon heir? What are you doing here…?”

When he followed her out belatedly, she was already facing Yeneloff.

“I came hoping to offer Lady Daphnen even a small comfort, assuming she must be heartbroken.”

Yeneloff spoke with smooth ease.

Veneruccia glared at him, flabbergasted by his boldness.

Despite having been thoroughly intimidated by Veneruccia that morning, Yeneloff now acted like he didn’t even know the Grand Duke.

“The funeral hasn’t even started yet.”

Veneruccia’s hostility was blatant, making Selenia feel awkward.

Her mother had mentioned that Yeneloff would come, but she assumed it would be after the funeral began.

Usually, only close family arrived beforehand. So his early arrival, while not extremely rude since he was invited, was clearly a declaration—that he wanted to become closer.

“I apologize for acting rashly. But I thought this was the only way to truly show my sincerity.”

Yeneloff’s voice remained gentle and respectful.

Selenia was past the typical age of marriage.

Thus, any meeting she had now should assume marriage.

Yeneloff was making it clear that he was fully willing to pursue that.

Selenia felt strange.

She had been known only as Veneruccia’s lover for so long. No one had spoken to her like this in years.

And for Yeneloff—someone fairly popular in social circles (though not as much as the Emperor or Veneruccia)—to speak to her this way? Completely unexpected.

“…Please, unpack your things first.”

Selenia finally responded, albeit a little late.

She had just rejected Veneruccia’s proposal.

With him watching, she couldn’t outright refuse Yeneloff, especially when she had no intention of marrying the Grand Duke anyway.

If she were to treat Yeneloff as a suitor, it was appropriate for her to personally escort him.

As she turned around, her gaze met Veneruccia’s.

Surprisingly… he looked wounded.

Selenia paused for a moment.

Suddenly, it hit her—she could hurt him.

Her nose tingled at the realization.

Was it guilt? Was it pity?

No. It was the fact that it had taken her this long to finally return that pain to him.

“Selli—”

Ignoring Veneruccia’s voice calling her, Selenia walked past him.

She never looked back.

Just as he had done all those years—leaving her behind.

“This will be your room.”

At the door of the room prepared for Yeneloff, Selenia spoke without entering.

Though he had sent her a marriage proposal, they were not officially engaged—she could not step into the room.

“You don’t seem well, my lady.”

Yeneloff didn’t go inside right away.

His words made Selenia flinch.

He was right. She didn’t feel good.

Was it because she left Veneruccia behind? Because she was worried about what he might be thinking?

No. On the contrary—she felt relieved. Even thrilled. And that disgusted her.

She didn’t like the part of herself that rejoiced in someone else’s pain. That wasn’t who she had been eight years ago.

“Lady Daphnen, you are not a bad person.”

It was as if Yeneloff saw right through her.

“You’ve suffered so much because of the Grand Duke. He’s merely paying the price now.”

Even as she thought he was speaking too gently, Selenia couldn’t take her eyes off him.

Who in the world wants to become a bad person?

“You’re strange, Lord Pendragon. Don’t most people tell me I should be grateful for the Grand Duke’s favor in times like this?”

A mere viscount’s daughter and a grand duke—people always took Veneruccia’s side.

Even when he was caught in scandals, people said she should be grateful he still kept her by his side, and told her to pretend the scandals never happened.

“I apologize if this is presumptuous, but it was I who requested to be your partner at the ball, not the Emperor.”

A sudden remark. But Selenia had to pay attention.

It had been his request that had caused so much trouble for her?

And he even involved the Emperor. The cost of such a move must’ve been steep.

“Why?”

She should’ve felt annoyed for the disruption—but she wasn’t.

Strangely, Veneruccia came to mind again. But more than that, she wanted to know why Yeneloff did it.

“I thought that if I didn’t, you wouldn’t accept my proposal to be your partner.”

Selenia had only ever partnered with Veneruccia for eight years.

She’d ruthlessly rejected every other secret love letter or request.

“I wanted a chance to get close to you. And with me, you wouldn’t have to worry about the Grand Duke watching over your shoulder.”

Selenia paused.

Come to think of it, Yeneloff had never seemed concerned about Veneruccia.

Unlike those who contacted her in secret, he had boldly accompanied her to the ball.

“How?”

“I’ll be leaving for a foreign country soon. His Majesty has appointed me to lead the diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Speina.”

Not unexpected. The Pendragon family was famous for producing skilled diplomats, despite their neutral stance.

“And I will remain at the Empire’s embassy there. I likely won’t return for at least five years.”

Selenia was briefly dazed. She could already guess what he was about to say.

“Would you come with me as my fiancée? In the Kingdom of Speina, you wouldn’t need to worry about the Grand Duke. You could start fresh.”

It sounded like a dream.

It was the kind of thought she had long ago—hoping someone would rescue her from this nightmare.

And in five years, all the mess involving Clifft, Veneruccia, and Lucalina would be over.

She could return after the storm had passed—and enjoy peace.

“I won’t force you to marry me. If, while living as my fiancée, you find you don’t like me—or someone else captures your heart—I will let you go.”

His fairy-tale proposal continued.

Speina was far away. Even Clifft wouldn’t be able to interfere there.

Freedom. The very freedom Selenia had yearned for, now lay in his words.

“…Why are you doing this for me…?”

Her voice trembled. She was clearly shaken.

Selenia was exhausted. Tired enough to want to abandon everything and just disappear.

“I have admired you for a long time, Lady Daphnen.”

Yeneloff’s tone was endlessly gentle and calm. He was like the utopian man Selenia had dreamed of.

Not burning like the sun, but warm like sunlight. Not close to power, but someone who could offer her a simple, ordinary life.

“I could never forget you. So I waited until your heart had turned away from the Grand Duke.”

He wasn’t someone with a messy past or a trail of jealous women. Standing next to him wouldn’t invite envy or gossip.

Selenia had always dreamed of marrying someone like Yeneloff.

“I waited a long time… Could you give me a chance?”

And now, he even offered her a love that had never faded. Tears welled in Selenia’s eyes.

Yeneloff politely reached out his hand to her.

“I want to become part of your everyday life, Lady Daphnen.”

And the moment he added those final words—Selenia abruptly turned and ran back to her room.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks.