chapter 10

The letter from the Empress arrived sealed in red wax, its contents deceptively polite yet brimming with underlying authority. Hadrian read it once, then twice, his grip tightening ever so slightly. The Empress was "disappointed" in Lilic's refusal and strongly encouraged him to reconsider, hinting that such a rare opportunity should not be dismissed so hastily.

Hadrian was many things—a powerful noble, a respected strategist—but above all, he was a father. And no amount of flowery language or implied consequences would make him shove his daughter into a marketplace to be auctioned off like a prized mare. He set the letter down, inhaling slowly, willing the irritation from his face before calling for his steward.

"Prepare a formal response," he instructed. "Politely but firmly decline, emphasizing that the matter is settled."

The steward bowed and left to draft the reply. Yet even as Hadrian handled the situation, the nagging thought that had taken root since Lilic's refusal continued to haunt him. Who was the man she supposedly liked? Was he a noble? A scholar? A fool unworthy of her?

His stomach twisted at the idea of some unknown suitor lurking in his daughter's life. How had he missed this? And worse—why had she never told him?

Lilic, of course, was completely oblivious to his torment.

She had, however, noticed that her father was quieter than usual during breakfast. He was always reserved, but this was different. His brow was slightly furrowed, his thoughts clearly elsewhere, and he barely touched his coffee. She could practically hear his mind churning.

Guilt poked at her.

She had only lied to escape the marriage market, but she hadn't expected her father to take it this hard. For all her teasing and avoidance, she did genuinely started to care for him.

Which meant it was time to fix this.

Lilic carefully placed her teacup down and put on her best, most innocent expression. "Father?"

Hadrian snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze sharpening. "Yes?"

"I've been thinking," she said sweetly, resting her chin on her hand. "About the letter."

His eyes darkened, and she quickly continued before he could interrupt. "And I realized… it must have put you in a difficult position. The Empress's request wasn't exactly one we could ignore lightly, was it?"

Hadrian's grip on his fork tightened slightly. "No. But my answer remains the same."

Lilic smiled, reaching across the table to lightly touch his sleeve. "That's why I want to thank you, Father. Not just for supporting my decision but for always putting me first."

Hadrian looked at her warily, clearly sensing something was coming. "Lilic."

She exhaled dramatically. "It's true that I like someone, but if being with them meant disappointing my father, I wouldn't even hesitate to let them go."

Hadrian went still.

Lilic pressed on, eyes wide and sincere. "You are, after all, the most important man in my life. What kind of daughter would I be if I caused you distress over something as trivial as love?"

Hadrian's expression was unreadable.

Lilic beamed. "So, you don't have to worry about me at all! I won't do anything foolish. I promise."

She expected him to relax, maybe even be pleased.

Instead, Hadrian stared at her for a long moment, then stood abruptly.

Lilic blinked. "Father?"

"I have matters to attend to." His voice was clipped, his movements deliberate as he strode toward the door.

Lilic tilted her head, confused. Had she… said something wrong?

As Hadrian exited the room, the steward waiting outside barely had time to bow before his lord addressed him. "Double the estate security," Hadrian ordered. "And find out everything about the men Lilic has been interacting with. I want names, backgrounds, and whether they are foolish enough to believe they have a chance."

The steward blinked but quickly bowed. "At once, my lord."

Hadrian's jaw clenched. If his daughter truly thought she could let go of this mysterious man so easily, that only meant the bastard had already attempted to get close to her.

And Hadrian would make sure he regretted it.

Hadrian had always prided himself on being a man of control. His power in the empire was absolute, his reputation untarnished, and his ability to strike fear into the hearts of those who dared to oppose him was legendary. And yet, the moment his daughter had uttered the words "I may like someone, but I am ready to leave that person for my father," his entire sense of balance had been shattered.

Who? Who was the man who had managed to capture Lilic's attention?

The thought plagued him, swirling in his mind like an unsolvable riddle. He found himself distracted during meetings, his fingers drumming impatiently against his desk, his mood darkening at the mere mention of young noblemen. He even caught himself glaring at a perfectly innocent servant who just happened to be around Lilic too often.

His patience snapped when, later that day, he spotted Lilic in the garden talking to a young gentleman. The boy was well-dressed, polite, and far too charming for Hadrian's liking. Worse, he had the audacity to reach out and touch Lilic's hand as he laughed at something she said.

Hadrian saw red.

By the time Lilic turned to go back inside, completely unaware of the storm she had just ignited, the unfortunate young man was already marked for punishment.

That evening, Hadrian's men did what they did best. The gentleman—if he could even be called that—was swiftly snatched from the comfort of his home and dragged to a secluded location. The terror in his eyes as he faced the Duke of Aster himself was almost pitiful.

Almost.

Hadrian didn't need to say much. A few well-placed punches from his men were enough to drive the message home. When the boy was finally left crumpled on the ground, shaking and barely able to breathe, Hadrian crouched beside him, his voice deathly calm.

"You will forget you ever laid eyes on Lilic Aster. You will never speak to her, never think of her, never so much as breathe in her direction again. Do I make myself clear?"

The boy frantically nodded, too afraid to speak.

Satisfied, Hadrian stood and adjusted his gloves. "Good. See to it that I never have to be reminded of your existence."

With that, he walked away, his coat billowing behind him, leaving the poor soul trembling in the dirt.

Hadrian returned home that night feeling much lighter.

After all, he had solved one problem. Now, he just had to figure out who else he needed to eliminate.