<Chapter 8>
“Is that… really true?”
Edwin’s expression went blank, as if he simply couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
Selenia chuckled softly and nodded.
“You’re not teasing me, are you?”
“No. Why would I tease you?”
Her firm yet gentle tone made Edwin drop his head.
He was just a common doctor.
And like everyone else living in this empire, he saw the position of Crown Princess as something akin to the sun—radiant, distant, untouchable.
Even if he reached out, it was impossible to grasp. Even if he approached, its brilliance would burn him away.
But now, that very sun was reaching out to him.
How could he possibly believe it?
“You still don’t look convinced.”
“It’s not that…”
“Would you believe it if I showed you some proof?”
Selenia rose from her seat.
Then she stepped in close—so close that she was reflected in Edwin’s emerald eyes.
“…Your Highness?”
Their noses nearly touched.
Just as Edwin instinctively tried to lean away in embarrassment, Selenia’s lips suddenly covered his.
“Mm…?!”
Had she done this many times before?
Her smooth technique left Edwin reeling. He shut his eyes tightly, lost in the moment.
Soon, their lips parted with a breathless sigh.
“Haa…”
“Do you believe me now?”
Selenia smiled brightly as she looked at him. But Edwin still looked stunned.
‘How cute.’
She slowly straightened up.
“Oh, and just so you know…”
“Y-yes?”
“It was my first time, too.”
“Wh-what was?”
Selenia lazily traced her lips with one finger.
“A kiss.”
Hearing the word out loud made it all the more embarrassing. Edwin blushed furiously and stared awkwardly at his teacup.
She had to be lying.
Of course, he had never kissed anyone before either, so he couldn’t compare her skills to someone else’s. But the way she kissed him, so effortlessly, almost like a master, suggested otherwise.
“That’s a lie! How could you be that good?”
“Maybe I’m just naturally talented.”
Selenia tilted her head teasingly and added,
“Or…”
“Or?”
“Maybe royal blood comes with… those kinds of abilities, too.”
Edwin blushed all the way to his ears and stammered.
“S-so you really are teasing me…”
“I’m serious, Edwin.”
Selenia’s gently curved eyes suddenly filled with sincerity.
He could tell.
She was not someone who would toy with another’s emotions.
“…I believe you.”
Edwin placed one hand over his chest.
“I can feel it.”
Then he closed his eyes tightly.
“My heart… feels your heart, Your Highness.”
His drooping eyes softened.
“And I feel the same,”
Selenia met his gaze directly.
“It’s like… you and I…”
She hesitated for a moment before continuing very slowly.
“…were meant to be.”
Was fate truly a real thing?
In this empire, sudden marriages based on soul-markings—where people claim to be ‘imprinted’ on one another—were not common.
There were even cases where married men left their wives because they were suddenly imprinted on someone else, or noblewomen gave up their titles for common men they were imprinted with.
Until now, she had dismissed such things as nonsense.
Fate, imprinting, all of it.
Whenever Evangelin brought up the topic, she argued that love was built through time and events—not instant attraction.
But the moment she saw Edwin, she knew.
Imprinting and fate were real.
At this point, perhaps even reincarnation was believable.
There’s a superstition in this world that all lifeforms are reincarnated.
Except for one race: vampires—those who kill and drink human blood.
Thinking of the myths passed down in the empire, Selenia let out a short laugh.
Seeing her laugh, Edwin also smiled, almost like a mirror.
He had never felt such deep happiness in his life.
“Come now, our food’s getting cold. Let’s eat.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Selenia gracefully picked up her utensils with her white fingers.
Edwin’s hands hovered awkwardly in the air.
He had no idea how to behave at a royal table.
“You don’t need manners. Just eat comfortably.”
“But still…”
He kept glancing at her hands, unable to pick up his own cutlery.
Unbothered, she said calmly,
“You can learn that stuff later.”
But even with her reassurance, Edwin’s shoulders slumped.
He felt small, knowing he didn’t even understand basic court etiquette.
But then she said something that gave him the strength to lift his head again.
“Because you… are my beloved.”
Beloved.
A word worth more than gold.
Edwin smiled faintly and slowly began eating, following her lead.
But suddenly, he remembered something.
“Ah, Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“Um… is your wound okay?”
“I received healing from a priest as soon as I returned to the palace.”
Edwin had been asleep, so he hadn’t been able to treat her himself.
Though it was painful, she’d had no choice but to be healed by Evangelin’s holy power.
A single day’s delay and the venom in the wound would have consumed her.
“…Was the priest… a man?”
“Hm?”
Edwin’s expression turned oddly serious as he asked.
He tried not to show it, but his tone dripped with jealousy.
He peeked at Selenia, who hadn’t answered.
She suddenly felt like teasing him.
Smiling gently, she said,
“What if it was?”
“I’ll take over from now on.”
Edwin casually said it while popping a piece of steak into his mouth.
“I can’t just let anyone see my beloved’s back.”
A brief silence filled the room.
Edwin immediately realized what he’d just said and froze.
He’d said something so embarrassing so nonchalantly.
He was mortified.
How foolish.
Getting jealous over someone seeing her back—for medical treatment, no less—was disgraceful as a doctor.
“I-I didn’t mean…!”
“Pfft—hahaha!”
Selenia burst into laughter. Her bright laughter filled the room.
“P-please don’t laugh!”
“All right, all right. I wouldn’t dare show my back to someone who isn’t my beloved—even if it’s a woman.”
Edwin, who had been covering his face in embarrassment, peeked out.
“Huh?”
“A woman. My priest is a woman.”
He cringed at his own foolish jealousy.
But in Selenia’s eyes—already hopelessly in love—his reaction was utterly endearing.
“Well then, since we’re finished eating, will you take a look at my scar?”
“Yes, of course.”
Though she didn’t say it aloud, the pain in her scar had been growing worse.
It burned as if she’d been branded.
Selenia pulled the dress’s strap down from her shoulder.
The soft fabric slid down with a gentle rustle.
Though he’d seen her back many times at her home, now that they’d shared their feelings, he couldn’t look at it directly.
While Edwin fumbled awkwardly, Selenia lay on the bed, face down.
“Come here.”
She sounded like she was calling a puppy. Edwin hurried over and gave himself a few slaps to regain focus.
Then he carefully examined her back.
But his face darkened as he looked closer.
“What is it?”
Seeing his troubled expression, Selenia asked. But Edwin gave a small smile and replied,
“It’s nothing. I’ll start channeling holy power now.”
Golden energy shimmered from his hand.
The light touched Selenia’s back, and the burning pain quickly faded.
“While the holy power soaks in… you should try to get some rest.”
“All right…”
Selenia’s eyes slowly drifted shut.
She blinked a few times, then fell asleep with a peaceful breath.
A content smile spread across her lips.
Edwin watched her smile and let out a quiet sigh—soft enough not to wake her.
The venom in her scar was moving toward her neck.
He might be able to delay it with his power, but at this rate, the scar would soon consume her.
His eyes wavered like windblown leaves.
She had just become his beloved.
He couldn’t let her die.
He would save her—no matter what.
His eyes sparkled with unshakable resolve.
Meanwhile…
“A man?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Evangelin raised a slow eyebrow.
That fortress-like woman, in love? It was hard to believe.
A mocking smile curled her lips.
“So, which noble house is he from?”
“He’s a commoner doctor from the provinces.”
“What? A commoner?”
Evangelin burst into laughter, as if she’d just heard the funniest joke.
Who would’ve thought?
Her noble younger sister, born a crown princess, falling for a mere common doctor?
“What’s he like?”
She laughed so hard tears welled in her eyes.
Wiping them away, she pulled open the curtains.
Sunlight flooded the once-dark room.
“Well… he seemed innocent.”
With the room now lit, the woman responding to Evangelin was clearly visible.
She was the maid who had brought food to Edwin.
She had overheard everything between Edwin and Selenia—and was reporting it to Evangelin.
She had been planted in the crown princess’s palace as a spy from the start.
“You’ve brought me quite the amusing tale.”
Evangelin rummaged through a jewelry box and tossed a gold ring with a large ruby to the maid.
The maid caught it quickly and left the room, beaming.
“Ridiculous.”
Things were getting very interesting.
Evangelin’s gaze drifted to a letter on her desk.
It was the very letter Selenia had sent her.
Evangelin pulled a golden lighter from a drawer.
As the flame sparked, it flickered red—like the hair of a vampire.
She brought the letter close to the flame.
It caught fire and burned to ash in an instant.
“Can’t even do a simple job properly.”
In the now-empty room, only her voice echoed.
Even with no one to hear, she kept talking.
“She may have royal blood, but to think she couldn’t subdue a single woman alone…”
Her gaze slowly turned to the terrace.
There, a flock of red-eyed crows had gathered.
“Care to respond?”
At her words, someone emerged from the crows, cloaked in black smoke.
In her violet eyes appeared a familiar face.
“Luciel.”
Standing there was Luciel, wearing an expression that suggested trouble.
