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Chapter 33
The Only Option
A fiery love, a blind love, a fairytale love — she had never longed for such things.
Senelia had always wished for a love that felt like part of everyday life. And that’s why she ended up crying.
Because she realized… if she were to marry Yennelep, she would be happy.
But that was a dream that could never come true.
Ah, how miserable.
The funeral began.
Mourners arrived one by one at the Daphne estate. During this time, Senelia intentionally avoided running into either Benelucia or Yennelep.
Benelucia kept trying to approach and talk to her, while Yennelep simply looked at her quietly, silently waiting.
Even their attitudes were vastly different, and that made Senelia even sadder.
The direction she needed to go and the direction her happiness pointed in were not the same. It was impossible not to grieve.
But soon, Senelia didn’t even have time to mourn.
“His Majesty, the Emperor, is arriving!”
At the loud announcement of a royal servant, she looked toward the entrance—Clifford, mounted on horseback, was leading the Emperor’s procession past the gates of the Daphne estate.
Murmurs broke out among the mourners.
“Why is His Majesty here?”
Everyone wondered the same thing.
After all, only a baron from a minor noble family had died. Why would the Emperor himself come to pay respects? No one could suppress their curiosity.
Senelia was furious.
Her father’s funeral, which should have been a quiet tribute, had now turned into a spectacle.
“If you are not entering, wait outside.”
The moment the Emperor entered, Benelucia closed the gates behind him to block the rest of the royal procession. If he hadn’t done that, Senelia might have burned with silent fury on the spot.
“What are you doing, Ben?”
Blocking the Emperor’s procession was an act of grave disrespect. Naturally, Clifford looked extremely displeased.
“I am more suited to guard His Majesty than they are. Their presence would only cause a disturbance. I will protect His Majesty.”
If all of Clifford’s knights entered the Daphne estate, the house would be thrown into chaos, and the funeral would be ruined.
Senelia’s heart pounded.
Of course, as a sword master, Benelucia was more qualified than Clifford’s knights. If it were an army, that’d be one thing, but none of the Emperor’s guards could compare to Benelucia.
Still, their sheer number was more than enough to disrupt the solemn ceremony.
His words sounded like they were for the Emperor’s benefit, but in truth, what he wanted to protect was the funeral—or rather, Senelia herself.
“You are being insolent, Duke Afron.”
Clifford clearly understood Benelucia’s true intention. He looked down at his younger brother with a frosty expression.
“I will accept the punishment for my rudeness later. For now, I am also here to offer my condolences.”
He was implying that they were both guests at the funeral and should avoid causing any more disturbance.
A chilling silence fell over the scene. Everyone stood tense.
Even if the Emperor brought a crowd that overwhelmed the Daphne family, his visit was still a great honor. The family was expected to be thankful and accept it gracefully.
But Benelucia stood in the way of that.
Everyone in the empire knew the Emperor never let anyone get away with going against his decisions.
“You will have to be prepared for the consequences, Duke Afron.”
With a cold look, Clifford dismounted.
Only then did everyone exhale the breath they had been holding.
Thankfully, it was a funeral, and the one confronting him was his own brother, so the Emperor seemed willing to let it slide this time.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Benelucia replied calmly.
He didn’t look toward Senelia. He was afraid it would look like he was trying to show off.
But he should have looked at her—if he had, he might have realized just how devastated she was.
…He was pressuring me. Showing me.
Senelia despaired again, unable to even cry.
The Emperor had deliberately brought his procession and publicly yielded to Benelucia in front of everyone.
Clifford was making it clear to Senelia that Benelucia was the only one who could stand against him to this degree.
She understood why.
The Emperor must have heard through his informants about the circumstances of her father’s carriage accident.
It was a warning: don’t recklessly resent Benelucia.
She must not ruin all the work she had done up to now.
“Are you all right?”
While Benelucia was distracted confronting the Emperor, Yennelep approached and spoke to Senelia.
Her face was mostly expressionless, yet somehow Yennelep realized she was not feeling well.
It was Benelucia who had blocked the Emperor for her. And yet, Senelia found herself shaken once again by Yennelep.
Because she didn’t want to fight—she wanted to run.
So, without even realizing it, she said aloud,
“…Not at all.”
It had been years since she’d been this honest in front of another person.
The place the Emperor had passed through was suffocating. Senelia was only able to escape with Yennelep’s help.
He had asked the Baroness for a moment alone with her.
Thanks to that, Senelia was able to slip away without raising suspicion.
If she had suddenly said she was unwell, her mother would have surely asked questions.
“…You haven’t said anything since earlier.”
Yennelep, who had brought her to a secluded garden, hadn’t said a word since. He simply stayed silently by her side.
In the end, it was Senelia who broke the silence.
“I thought you didn’t want me to talk about it.”
If he had asked why she suddenly felt unwell, she wouldn’t have been able to answer. She had hoped he wouldn’t ask.
Once again, Yennelep had chosen the correct answer.
He was neither arrogant nor inconsiderate.
Senelia suddenly thought of her first love—the man she had once nearly been engaged to.
‘Now that I think about it… they’re similar…’
She turned pale.
He looked just like her first love.
She fought hard to suppress a shudder.
Her first love had ended, even though they had both wanted it. That regret lingered deeply in her heart.
She didn’t mean she still loved him—but if she had married him, her life would have likely been peaceful.
And now, Yennelep resembled him—in speech, in manner, even in appearance.
‘This can’t… just be a coincidence.’
She couldn’t believe it. Her words tumbled out in haste.
She had assumed he came with the Pendragon heir only to provoke Benelucia. But that wasn’t the case.
“I came with the Pendragon heir… because there was something I wanted to tell you.”
He had been testing her from the very beginning.
Realizing this, Senelia managed to speak in a steady voice.
Thankfully, she was used to pretending everything was fine.
“I don’t think I can have any sort of relationship with the heir.”
It was a firm declaration, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
She had been moved. She had been shaken.
But Senelia crushed those feelings herself, leaving not even a sliver of hope behind.
“Wait, Lady Daphne… This is so sudden…”
“It’s not sudden. I was just too startled to say it earlier, but my thoughts have been the same from the beginning.”
Her calm words continued. It was the calm of someone trying to survive.
“The one I want… is only one person.”
And that was a message for the Emperor.
She didn’t intend to tell Clifford she had seen through his ploy, but she had to make it clear she wasn’t chasing any foolish dreams.
Yennelep, stunned by her sudden finality, opened and closed his mouth several times without speaking.
Meanwhile, she stood up.
“Then, I’ll take my leave. I have mourners to receive.”
Senelia spoke to Yennelep with a blank expression. It was the cleanest farewell imaginable.
From morning till night, Senelia greeted guests at the funeral. Exhausted, she returned to her room—only to find Benelucia standing outside the door.
Fatigue washed over her instantly.
She had hoped the day was over, but now she had to deal with him again. It was almost cruel.
“…I’m sorry, Seli. This is all my fault.”
But Benelucia didn’t seem like he intended to hold her long. As soon as he saw her, he got straight to the point.
“…What is?”
“My brother coming here. He must’ve gotten curious because I was here. I’m sorry… for making your father’s funeral a mess.”
Benelucia looked genuinely sorry. He couldn’t even meet her eyes.
He muttered quietly.
“…You must already be overwhelmed… and I only caused more trouble for you.”
It was startling to see such an arrogant man blaming himself.
