Guest of Honour

Adrien straightened. "A plan?"

Selena leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "Yes. I'm going to ruin my reputation so thoroughly that people will beg Nicholas to leave me."

Adrien stared at her, absolutely baffled. "…What?"

Selena smiled. "Think about it. If I'm seen as completely unsuitable, his family and the nobles will have no choice but to force him to end things with me. Then he'll have to choose between them and his 'love.'"

Adrien opened his mouth to argue but stopped himself. This plan was… unhinged. He had never heard of someone deliberately making themselves look worse just to get out of an engagement.

And yet, he couldn't say she was wrong.

Instead of criticizing her, he exhaled and said, "How can I help?"

Selena raised an eyebrow, slightly impressed. "You're smarter than I thought, Adrien."

Adrien scoffed. "Don't push it."

Selena laughed. "Welcome to my side, then."