Compromises

WHEN the stream of maids finally agreed to leave her alone, Selene collapses in a heap of mess inside the grand and luxurious bathhouse located inside the castle that she was brought into. Although Selene should have felt that way since the start of the kidnapping incident, what drives her over the edge is when she finally learned where she is and who she just recklessly punched in the gut.

Selene overheard the maids talking from a corner, each speculating of who she could be. During their conversations, Selene learned that she is currently at the Wolveshire Castle located inside the Bellwitch Forest and a few hours ride from the Shrewcord port where she first came from. When she mustered the courage to ask them about what Kingdom she is currently at, they look at her like she is touched in the head but still answered her question after a few minutes of hesitation.

Although Selene is somewhat aware that the guy she just recklessly punched is a King or an Emperor from a specific country in this continent, she never thought that he is from an influential Empire. And certainly not from an Empire who brought ruin to the Kingdom of Arcova and the death of thousands of the beast-kin, specifically speaking Kaden and Nicolai's family. When Selene learned that she's in the Empire of Ethion, her body grew rigid with cold. She couldn't stop herself from shaking as though all her blood flushed out from inside her body. It took all her strength not to collapse in front of the maid.

With shaky legs, Selene slowly eases her way into the warm bath. At that moment, the only thing she could think of is how to get the hell out of that place. When Selene managed to finish her bath half-heartedly, the maids immediately assisted her in putting on a beautiful and lustrous sequined silver dress. At the same time, Selene tries her best to cover the silver markings on her chest. She wanted to dress by herself to avoid the maids' curious gaze on her markings, but she just doesn't have the strength to do so. She still couldn't feel her arms and hands because of shock.

After the tiring part of being dressed, Selene stayed quietly seated in front of the dresser. The maids fuss over how to design her hair while the others apply makeup on her deathly pale face. When Selene takes a peek at herself through the mirror, for the first time since she arrived in this magical world, an undeniable look of fear splays across her face, and every fiber of her being scream to escape.

However, she can't do it when two armed guards are currently walking by her side. The Head Butler is also marching in front to lead her to the room where the Emperor is waiting. Besides, nothing good will come out of escaping. She needs to handle this problem before things could get even worse.

That's what Selene is trying to tell herself, but how the hell will she solve this problem that she'd gotten herself into? She's not even sure what the Emperor's real intention is. What exactly does he want from her?

"I have to ask him myself," Selene mutters to herself as she takes each heavy step towards their destination while trying to calm her breathing.

The Head Butler stops inside a large double door, and when he opened it, Selene immediately caught sight of a familiar figure standing from a distance. With every step, she takes, Selene's heart slams against her chest, that it became even more challenging to breathe. She felt that at any moment, her heart would leap out from her ribcage because of nervousness and fear. From the corner of her eye, Selene recognizes the guy who was with the Emperor from earlier, and beside him is the knight who took her away.

Selene nervously clasps the silver band on her wrist as she stops a few meters away from the Emperor. His shining silver eyes examine her from head to toe that she felt incredibly uncomfortable more than ever. Why does he make her feel that way? Usually, Selene can immediately compose herself despite what kind of situation she finds herself in, but she just can't gather herself and pretend that she's okay.

"Are you alright? You look paler than earlier," he gently asks while staring right at her.

"I'm not fine. No one will be fine in this kind of situation," Selene couldn't help but mutter in reply. Realizing a little too late what her stupid mouth had done, Selene groans inside her head while reprimanding herself.

Shut the hell up, Selene! Keep it cool! You can do this!

Selene hears a faint snicker from the corner, but she couldn't take her eyes off the man in front of her.

"I asked the staff to prepare some refreshments. Why don't you—"

"I don't have an appetite. My stomach feels so queasy because of nervousness that I'm afraid I might puke," Selene automatically retorts, to her utter embarrassment.

Selene clamped her hand on her mouth in surprise. She can't believe she's spilling her guts out because of her nerves. What the hell is wrong with her?

"You're not going to make this easy, huh? First, why don't we take a seat?"

Selene immediately did as she was told and collapsed on the couch near her. She covers her face with her hands while she tried her best to regain her wits back. Selene counted inside her head while doing the breathing exercise her therapist taught her to do. And when she did, she felt a lot calmer more than earlier. When Selene looks back at the Emperor, she detects an amuse expression playing across his shining silver eyes.

She couldn't help but glare at him. "What? Stop looking so damn amuse when you're the cause of this!"

The Emperor raises both his hand in an expression of goodwill. "Alright, I'm sorry!"

Selene raises her eyebrow while she folds her arms across her chest. "My initial stand will not change. Even if you seem to know me, I don't remember you. I don't even know your name! All I have are bits and pieces of dreams that I'm not even sure if it's true."

LIES. YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO RUN AWAY. YOU SOMEHOW REMEMBERED HIM THROUGH YOUR DREAMS.

Selene's conscience whispers to herself. She gritted herself and mentally smacked herself again. This isn't the time to be involved in another problem. She needs to push him away.

The Emperor's hands fall at his side while he stares at Selene with so much intensity that sent a shiver run down her spine. "And just as I told you earlier, no matter what you say, I will always recognize you. Even if I' am not in your memory right now, your existence inside of me will always remain the same," he replied in a stern and cold voice.

Selene shot up from her seat in annoyance. "Just…what do you want from me?!"

The Emperor clutches his hair in frustration before looking back at her. "You. All I want is you. You've always been mine since the beginning, and I will not let anything separate us again. When you suddenly disappeared that night, I did everything to find you. I didn't care if you were just a spirit or someone not from this world. All I can think of is when I will be able to see you again!"

Selene clenches her fist so tight that it's growing numb. She's already screaming inside her mind not to get caught up with his feelings. However, if he will confess his feelings so honestly like this, how can her heart take it? Even though she already planned to reject him from the start, her heart should stop acting up, and it should just listen to her brain! Damn it!

Selene immediately swallowed her hesitation and forced out the words to try to hurt him. "I'm not an animal or a thing. How could you say that you own me? I only belong to myself and no one else."

Without warning, the Emperor marches towards Selene in desperation and grasps her shoulders tightly. An undeniable pain is reflected in his eyes, and she can see his lips slightly tremble while he stands close to her like this. Selene never thought that someone like him is even capable of being hurt by those words. And to her surprise, Selene doesn't want to see him like this that she can feel her heart wavering.

"You may not remember it, but I promised you. I will come back to get you—"

"Please, don't forget about me. Because you are mine," Selene whispers uncontrollably, finishing the sentence for him. She couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Maybe, this time she can stop being stubborn and should just give in?

The Emperor's eyes grew wide with expectation, and Selene feels like someone slaps her awake. Maybe, she can think of something to make this work. She is willing to do anything, just to take away that pain in his eyes. If he really is the boy in her dreams, then he's been suffering for a long time, and Selene doesn't want to cause him another pain.

"For months before coming here, I had dreams of a young boy with shining silver eyes. In my dreams, this boy suffered abused for a long time, and I usually spend time with him during the night in a small room filled with darkness. Even when I'm not dreaming, sometimes I can hear his voice telling him to remember our promise. If that person is you, then what kind of promise did we have?"

Without hesitation, the Emperor takes off something from his neck, and Selene immediately recognized it. It's the signet ring that she's been keeping for a long time. The ring that she lost when she was in the coliseum.

"Marriage. We promised to be bonded for the rest of our lives, and this is the token of our contract,"

The Emperor declared in a clear and loud voice that resonates with every corner of the room. However, for a split second, Selene didn't quite get it.

"Yeah, right, marri—WHAT?!!!" Selene screams while her eyes widen like saucers. "We don't exactly know each other even to consider getting married!"

"Then, we can spend our time getting to know each other. By spending time together, maybe it can also even trigger the memories that you've forgotten."

Selene takes a step back and lifts her hand to shield herself from him. "I only came here to listen to what you have to say. I'm not a spirit just like you originally thought, and I'm currently living in this world. I also have an important thing that I needed to do; that's why I need to go back."

His hands tighten on her shoulder, and she couldn't stop the small whimper that escapes her lips. "I'm not going to let you go back to that place, not when some pests are hanging around you!"

"What the hell are you talking about?!"

"I heard that you're engaged to that blasted Prince from Ebon!"

Selene's jaw slackens in disbelief. How did he know that? "Shut up! We're not engaged. Where the hell did you hear that?!"

Why do these people think that it's normal for her just to get engaged? She looks just like a fourteen-year-old girl, for Pete's sake!

The Emperor takes a step back in confusion. "Huh, you're not…engaged?"

Suddenly, Selene heard a loud and heavy sigh inside the room, and the guy from earlier walks up towards them with a stoic expression on his face.

"Your Majesty, I think I've heard enough. Please, do not embarrass yourself anymore than this," Gadiel muttered in a barely controlled anger.

Then, he glares at her so hard that Selene feels like she's being skewered on the spot. "And you! I'm trying to hold it in because you're His Majesty's distinguished guest, but I won't tolerate this any longer. You've been dis—"

Selene turns back towards the Emperor curiously. "Who is that old man?"

"I'm not that old, you disrespectful brat!" he screams at her face.

He does look reasonably young. Selene just wanted to annoy him a bit. It is evident that he doesn't like her. Who would anyway, if she's the reason why the Emperor is acting entirely out of his character? From what she heard from the rumours, the Emperor is cruel, violent, and temperamental. If someone slighted him even a little, that someone will, unfortunately, meet his demise. And yet now, in her eyes, he just looks like an abandoned puppy with those big eyes asking for attention.

Now, she's done it! Damn it!

Gadiel looks at the Emperor gravely. "I'm going to make her leave, Your Imperial Majesty. And no matter what you say, I won't let her ruin everything we work hard for. She's someone that shouldn't be allowed to stay with you!"

"Gadiel, I told you not concern yourself with this," the Emperor severely threatened that Gadiel went rigid with apparent fear.

"He is right. I'm not someone that should be allowed to stay by your side."

Gadiel scoffs at her in disgust. "I'm glad you agreed. You're not stupid, just as I thought. Now, I will assist—"

Selene cut him off. "However, it doesn't mean that I will also let others influence my decisions. That's why I decided, let's do it."

"What are you talking about, you damn brat?"

Selene ignored Gadiel's protests and looked at the Emperor right in his eyes.

"Let's spend time together. Just like you wanted, I also want to remember those memories that I seem to have forgotten. However, we have to reach a compromise."

"What are you saying?" he asks while he looks at him with a narrowed gaze.

Selene smiles to try to ease his anxiety. "Just like before, I will come to visit you at night."

Selene held out her pinkie finger in front of him to swear her promise, and the Emperor instantly understand what she's trying to do. He laces his finger around hers and bumps their thumbs to seal it finally. Selene couldn't help but feel that they have done this kind of thing many times already.

"I know that it's been too late for me to ask this, but what should I call you?"

"You can just call me Zaza just like before," he replied with a big goofy grin that is so unlike him. However, to her surprise, it suits him.

"You really have gone mad!" Gadiel whispers

Now, Selene just hopes that she will not regret her decision in the future.