Trying to do something bad

What is relaxing?

Maybe because she had been working hard for almost a month and her mind was already filled with various schedules, Selah became confused when told to relax.

Even on her casual days, she didn't know what to do except sit around in the Palace garden.

"See, I've scheduled a day off for you for up to a week. So you don't need to worry anymore. Then I'll go first, bye!"

That's the last sentence Aeneas said before disappearing for these two days.

Where is he going? What did he do? Is everything okay? Selah kept thinking about that. I don't know why he just felt.

"Oh, I didn't know Selah was here," came a melodious voice that made Selah turn her head. Catalina appears with… Blair.

"I greet Queen Consort Catalina and Crown Prince Blair," greeted Selah. He glanced at Blair briefly. "I will go if you–"

"Oh my, there's no need for that, Selah," Catalina cut in softly. "We can sit together here. How's Blair? You agree, right?"

Blair smiled in a way Selah had never seen before. "Of course, Your Majesty. Princess Selah is already a part of this Palace, right?"

Catalina chuckled. "I was also surprised when Aeneas said he wanted to bring Selah here. Oh, sorry. I shouldn't be laughing, right? Selah, are you happy after living here? I heard from my little angel how your father treated you. I hope you feel better after here."

That's how it is; since it's impossible to tell Catalina if her "little angel" is married, the people in the Palace agree to come up with another scenario. After all, it's not entirely a lie. Selah indeed ran away from her evil father at home.

"I've been happy since living here. Everyone treats me well," Selah replied.

"In that case, thank God." Catalina touched Selah's hand gently. "You don't need to be afraid if you are here. No one will dare to hurt you here. There's Aeneas–ah, but he's away. Oh, but here is Blair!"

Luckily Selah wasn't eating or drinking. She might have choked when she heard Catalina say that.

"Blair, you will protect Selah from harm, right?" Catalina asked.

"Of course. How could I let the woman my brother loves get hurt?" answered Blair sweetly.

What a smart talk, Selah thought, disgusted. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, Your Highness."

Then they drank tea together. They chatted about whatever Catalina wanted to talk about. Really, really tired. Besides Selah having to choose words carefully for Catalina, she also felt super awkward around Blair.

This was Selah's first time at the table with Blair since she asked to break up last spring!

I feel more tired than when I work. Come on, after this, go to your room and read a book on the balcony, thought Selah.

Unfortunately, it was a plan because Blair asked Selah to stay while Catalina was away.

"I want to play a little with Princess Selah. Is Your Majesty alright?" he asked.

"Of course, it's fine. You two play. Don't fight," Catalina replied softly.

Damn it, Selah thought. She glared at Blair once they were alone.

"Don't look at me like that," Blair said. His tone turned brash as soon as Catalina left. "I haven't told you anything yet."

"Then please say it immediately, Your Highness," Selah replied.

Blair approached at an undue distance. "I heard from Aeneas that you were sick," he said. "But you seem fine."

"I am indeed fine. Just a little tired."

"Exhausted from a week off?"

"With all due respect, Your Highness. It was Prince Aeneas who scheduled me the day off, not me," said Selah. "If you don't like it, you can use your powers to revoke my leave."

"You know I'm not that unprofessional, Selah," Blair said. Selah furrowed her brows, not liking it when he said her name. "In fact, I regret it... because your husband is even gone on a holiday like this."

Selah's eyes watched where Blair's hand moved warily. Selah could hear her brain's alarm going off with them now too close.

What? Why is this brother-in-law so close to his brother's wife?

"No need to worry about us, Your Highness." Selah was still keeping her eye on Blair's hand. "We're okay."

Blair smiled, temporarily distracting Selah. She didn't realize that Blair's hand was almost touching her.

So unconsciously, Selah brushed off the hand roughly.

But Blair was quicker. He caught Selah's hand, which had been injured a while ago, and grabbed it roughly. His eyes flashed sharply as if he was trying to do something to her.

Trying to do something bad.

"Don't you think you're being too harsh, Your Highness?" Selah hissed. She jerked Blair's hand hard and managed to get away from him. "What are you trying to do?"

"Was it a challenge?" whispered Blair right in her ear.

Selah almost slapped him. "That is a warning, Blair. Surely you don't want the little brother you love so much to know what you did to his wife, right?"

Blair pulled away and squinted. "How dare you use Aeneas as a shield."

"Stay away from me, Blair. Don't look for trouble if I don't start it first. Isn't everything like this because of you? So don't regret it now."

"Regret, you say?"

"You think I don't know?" Selah smiled crookedly. "Blair... you secretly afraid of me, right?"

Even though Selah was just making a guess, Blair's reaction, which caught her eye even for a split second, revealed everything.

It's just that, at the same time, Blair loves Aeneas. He becomes unable to do anything when Aeneas proposes to Selah.

Well, even if Blair doesn't like Selah, the reasons behind this man's brazen attitude are:

Regret for choosing Evanthe as his lover.