Just do it

The agreement letter between Selah Dulcia and Aeneas Seneca is done. One sign here, the other sign there. The agreement letter was written twice and kept by each party.

In this way, Selah is legally collaborating with Aeneas.

It feels really tiring.

"Is something bothering you?" asked Aeneas with a sweet smile.

"The Mermaid Tears you gave that time… was taken by Crown Prince Blair," said Selah. "I think he already knows that there is something between us."

"Don't worry, it's fake."

"What?"

"The original Mermaid Tears are still in Mother's room."

It's hard to hold back her anger. "Do you know what your brother did to me that day, Prince Aeneas?" she growled. "He pulled the earring until it hurt my ear."

Aeneas immediately approached Selah and examined her face. "Ah, this, huh?" he asked, stroking Selah's ear. "I did ask you to wear the earring to provoke him. But… to think that he would go that far. Wait…"

Aeneas takes out something. It looks like some kind of ointment. The ointment felt cold on Selah's ear.

And not only on her ears, but Aeneas also rubbed the ointment on the remains of Selah's wounds. At the corner of the eye, on the cheek, and at the corner of the lips.

This man is very relaxed when he touches me, thought Selah while watching Aeneas, who was very close away from her face.

Up close, the details of Aeneas' face are clearly visible, especially the difference in the color of his eyes. His eyelashes are beautifully curled, his nose is sharp with a precise angle, and his facial skin is smooth without gaps. Then his breath...

"Find something interesting on my face?"

Selah hastily turned her face away. She cleared his throat and said, "Excuse me if I glanced at you without permission, Prince Aeneas."

"No, no," said Aeneas amused. "I should apologize for not taking Blair into account."

"Unfortunately, all the men I'm close with easily throw their hands at women."

"I would not be like that with you," said Aeneas seriously. His eyes turned stiff. "I will not hurt you with my hands. As long as you are with me, you will be safe."

"But it looks like I can take care of myself better than you…."

Aeneas immediately laughed. His facial expression became more relaxed. "Don't get me wrong, even though I look weak like this, I'm pretty good at running away," he joked. "If one day there is an attack one day, don't hesitate and run with Sir Azel. He will protect you wholeheartedly."

"You've gone mad, have you?" said Selah.

"One thing for sure, I won't hurt you." Aeneas smiled gently at Selah. It was Aeneas's first gentle smile at Selah, his first smile that had stunned Selah. "Being hit hurts. I also don't want to leave any scars on your body. My wife must look beautiful."

***

Aeneas just came home when it was almost evening. All the maids escorted him to the front and watched his every move with questioning looks. Their gazes changed to shock when he said openly, "The day after tomorrow, I will stop by again!"

What can Selah does besides accepting his invitation in front of many people? After this, she will warn Aeneas to stop surprising everyone.

"Is it fine like this, Lady Selah?" asked Jeremiah worriedly. "You were just punished by His Grace for breaking up with Crown Prince Blair."

"You dare refuse Prince Aeneas's invitation?" asked Selah back.

"Not. But you are still Crown Prince Blair's current fiancee."

"Not anymore, Jeremiah. It is all over. Crown Prince Blair and I can't return to how we were before."

"Lady Selah." Jeremiah half ran to catch up with Selah's quick steps. "You know I have to report anything that happens to His Grace, right?"

Selah stopped in her tracks. She turned her head, looking at Jeremiah, the Dulcia family's butler. He was several years older than Duke Dulcia. His tall and well-built body made Selah sure Jeremiah could still beat someone to death.

Jeremiah is a person who has served the Dulcia family for a long time. It was only natural that he was more obedient to the head of the family than to Selah, who was only the daughter of the head of the family. After all, Duke Dulcia was paying for it, not Selah. Jeremiah's job to Selah is simply to provide for her.

"Just do as you please," Selah said coldly. She resumed walking.

This wasn't the first time she had been threatened by her own family's butler. Selah knew Jeremiah had been spying on her under Duke Dulcia's orders. Of course, all this was done to know about the Tullia Mine news, which her father really wanted.

It's sad because Selah's position was defeated by an old butler in her own house. But that doesn't mean Selah doesn't have confidants in her household.

"La-lady Selah? I have come to bring evening tea."

Selah smiled. "Come in, Janette."

Janette came in with a food cart. She served her tea with some light snacks.

And this timid girl is the only person Selah can trust. Because Selah had treated Janette coldly and meanly from the start, Janette now obeyed her more than anyone else in the household. To increase her loyalty, Selah occasionally gave her small gifts. To make her obey, Selah sometimes gave her threats.

Janette is an obedient pup.

Maybe the red-haired girl didn't know that Selah had already given her safety insurance should something happen to her.

"Janette, if you hear about Father coming back, let me know immediately," Selah said.

"Eh? Y-yes. Yes, My Lady," Janette answered nervously.

"Then…" Selah looked straight at Janette. The girl immediately looked down. "Tell me what you heard from the maid about Prince Aeneas and me."

"Pardons?" Janette immediately looked up. "For your sake, My Lady, I don't think... you should hear that."

"Janette, I insist," Selah said seriously.

Janette glanced the other way. "There are rumors… Because His Grace punished Your Ladyship in front of other maids, now everyone knows Your Ladyship broke up with Crown Prince Blair. So they are now… starting to relate the first arrival of Prince Aeneas. They assume… if you might be seduced by him," she said timidly. "Especially today… They seem convinced that the cause for you breaking up with Crown Prince Blair was Prince Aeneas."

"Hmmm, is that so, huh? Nothing else to say outside?"

"With all due respect, My Lady. The maids of the Dulcia family don't deign to talk about household matters outside."

"Very nice." Selah motioned for Janette to come closer. Selah touched her shoulder and whispered. "After this, I will make you a messenger between Prince Aeneas and me."

"M-my Lady?"

"Don't ask too many questions; just do it, Janette. Then, keep this a secret from everyone: yes, Prince Aeneas and I have been planning this for a long time."