"Huh!"

I take the sharp breath, standing right in front of his grand office doors. I smooth down the front of my dress and steady my hands. Yesterday, I let myself get entirely overwhelmed by his strange behavior and that ridiculously soft bed. But today is a new day. Today, I am going to make everything absolutely clear. We need boundaries, rules, and a mutual understanding of this alliance.

Knock, knock—

Before my knuckles can even strike the wood a second time, the heavy door swings open.

Rahert stands on the other side. He blinks in surprise for a fraction of a second before quickly bowing and stepping aside to let me pass. "Good morning, Princess."

I march past him into the sunlit room. The Emperor is already seated , looking as impeccably sharp  as he did yesterday. I don't give him a chance to distract me this time.

" Your Majesty," I say, crossing the room to stand directly before him. "I am here to talk about what we left unfinished yesterday “

"Princess..."

But before he can say another word. A maid comes. "Forgive the interruption, Your Imperial Majesty! Madam Verna has just arrived at the palace."

The Emperor nods calmly, rising from his seat . "Tell her we are coming right down."

"Yes, Sire!" The maid scurries away.

"Madam Verna?"

The Emperor steps closer to me. " Yes , Princess” . We have to go now. I called for Madam Verna from the Florala Boutique to design your wedding dress."

He stops just inches away, his towering figure completely casting me in his shadow. Then, as if he were simply commenting on the afternoon weather, he drops a devastating bomb.

"Oh, and I also wanted to inform you that I have chosen the date. Our marriage ceremony will be held next week."

"Whattt?!"

We leave his office and head down to the grand salon, where Madam Verna is waiting for us. She is a beautiful woman in her mid-thirty with elegant brown hair, wearing a stunning, sophisticated blue dress that speaks volumes about her status as the empire's top designer.

The moment we step into the room, she bows gracefully. "Greetings to Your Majesty, and to Her Majesty."

I stiffen slightly at the title 'Her Majesty,' but before I can say anything, Madam Verna gestures to her assistants, who are carrying several garment racks. "I have brought all the dresses I have designed recently, and here are the catalogs for the official wedding dresses."

She steps forward and opens a thick, velvet-bound catalog in front of me. As she flips through the pages, showing me the intricate designs, my mind goes completely blank.

I stare at the pages, utterly overwhelmed. I have never seen such beautiful dresses in my entire life. Each one is a masterpiece of silk, lace, and pearls. How am I supposed to choose just one dress out of all these?

Back on the battlefield, making a decision was a matter of life and death, and I never hesitated. But here, looking at flowing gowns and glittering veils, it is so confusing. I have absolutely no idea what to choose. My chest tightens with a small wave of panic. I don't know anything about fashion or luxury no one ever taught me.

But then, I look up and catch the Emperor watching me quietly from the sofa across the room.

No, I tell myself. He gave me a mission. He told me to choose the dress. I have to complete this mission, no matter what.

He notices that the decision is pressing me. Sensing my silent panic, he gets up from the sofa and walks close to me, his presence immediately wrapping me in his shadow.

"Princess, if you are unable to choose, how about I help you?" he offers softly, his deep voice carrying a hint of reassurance.

"No," I reply quickly, lifting my chin to look up at him. "You have did your part. I will do it myself."

I cannot let him think I am incompetent or that I am already failing the first task he gave me. I look back down at the pages. Upon closer inspection, I realize all the catalogs are designed for couples showing matching grooms' suits alongside the bridal gowns. I just have to choose one cohesive look for the both of us.

I think of it for a long time, tapping my finger anxiously against the velvet table. How am I supposed to know what looks good on a bride? I know absolutely nothing about lace or embroidery.

But then, a realization hits me.

If I can't choose a dress for myself, I will choose based on him. Whatever I think will suite him,that would be final.

With a newfound focus, I go through all the designs in the catalog again. This time, I ignore the white gowns and look strictly at the tailored imperial suits next to them. I look at the sharp cuts, the high collars, and the gold embroidery, imagining his broad shoulders wearing each one.

Finally, my eyes lock onto a design that perfectly matches his dark, powerful aura.

"This one," I say firmly, placing my finger directly on the page.

He leans over slightly to look at the design I selected, a slow, incredibly handsome smile spreading across his face. He looks back up at the designer.

"Madam Verna, do as the princess said."

Madam Verna gasps softly, her eyes widening as she looks between the catalog and the Emperor. "An exquisite choice, Your Imperial Majesty! The dark obsidian silk with silver midnight embroidery... it will make you look like the god of war himself, and Her Majesty will look like a goddess descending from the heavens. We will begin tailoring immediately!"

But the dramatic whirlwind doesn't stop there. Before I can even take a breath of relief, the table is cleared and flooded with jewelry boxes. Diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and tiaras crafted from pure mana-infused gold catch the light, blinding me with their brilliance.

Once again, I am swept away by the sheer pace of it all. Whenever I hesitate, the Emperor merely watches my eyes, notes which gem makes my pupils dilate, and gestures to Madam Verna to include it. By the time the designer bows herself out of the grand salon, my head is spinning.

I pull back, intending to finally corner him. Now, I will demand to speak.

"The palace guards will bring the matching footwear to your chambers later, Charlotte," he says smoothly, checking a gold pocket watch before I can speak. "I must attend the state council. Rest well."

And just like that, he vanishes down the corridor.

I am left standing in the empty salon, my fist clenched in the air where I was about to grab his cuff again. Why?! Huh! Why does he keep slipping through my fingers like smoke? Every time I try to bring up our marriage, he distracts me with luxury, wedding dates, and dresses!

That night, sleep completely eludes me.

The imperial bed is entirely too soft, wrapping around me like a trap, and my mind is a chaotic battlefield of unanswered questions. What is his ultimate goal? Why is he rushing the ceremony to next week? Unable to bear the suffocating silence of my room any longer, I throw a dark cloak over my nightgown . Let's take a stroll in the garden.

The cool night air of the Dawn Empire immediately clears my head. I walk down the stone pathways, surrounded by blooming red roses that look almost black under the midnight sky.

After a while, I stop near a marble fountain to look up at the moon. It is massive, a flawless silver crest hanging high above the palace towers, casting a luminous glow over the courtyard. It looks so beautiful, untouched by the blood and betrayal of the world below.

"Princess, what are you doing out here?"

The deep, unexpected voice cuts through the silence.

The Emperor stands under the shadow of a grand archway, dressed in a loose black tunic, his dark hair slightly messy from the night breeze.

I quickly lower my hand, forcing my heart to stop racing. "Your Majesty... I was unable to sleep, so I just thought to take a short walk."

He steps out of the shadows, walking slowly toward me until he stands right by my side at the edge of the fountain. I look back up at the sky, trying to ease the sudden, heavy tension between us.

"Isn't the moon beautiful?" I ask softly, staring at the silver light.

"It is," he replies.

His voice is dangerously close. I turn my head, expecting him to be looking at the sky, but my breath catches. He isn't looking at the moon at all. His piercing, dark eyes are locked entirely on me, reflecting the silver light in a way that makes my chest tighten.

Suddenly, the peaceful silence is shattered as an unexpected guest drops from the shadows and before I can even process the flash of a blade, a pair of strong, powerful arms pulls me fiercely against a broad chest.

I just came out for a short stroll... how on earth did I end up in this man's arms?