“Thank you for looking at me that way. Your Highness, you’re also a wonderful person. Being engaged to someone like you… It’s truly an honor.”

“It feels good. I’ve heard these kinds of words quite a lot, but it sounds nice when you say it.”

There were times when the Crown Prince acted so affectionately towards her. It was something she had never experienced before, almost making her nauseous.

“Let’s take care of each other in the future. Let’s experience even more significant events.”

“Yes.”

The Crown Prince slowly rose from his seat, as if all he had to say was done.

Sesenia also stood up, having already quickly prepared another document and completed the signing.

“Then, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“Oh, and by the way. What about the escort for the national banquet? Naturally, isn’t it my duty to do it?”

The Crown Prince, who was about to leave, touched his chin as if something had come to his mind.

“That might be true, but it’s not public yet.”

“When do you plan to announce it?”

“During the national banquet.”

“Interesting. I won’t accept the escort, but you’re going to announce it that day. Good. It’s interesting, so do as you wish.”

With his usual arrogance until the end, he turned away.

As if waiting for his departure, the Viscount appeared, and he naturally led the Crown Prince away.

The lively garden quickly became quiet, and Sesenia sat back at the tea table.

Her hands trembled less, but her insides were still uneasy.

The thought of enduring without vomiting immediately was as tolerable as it could be.

“Are you okay, miss?”

“I want to rest… Can you support me? Let’s go to the room.”

“Understood. I’ll assist you.”

She couldn’t walk alone. She had completely lost her strength.

The perpetrator knew nothing. He didn’t know what he had done. That was more disgusting.

The Crown Prince, who put harm in all his actions without knowing the future.

He was her past husband and fiance. The one who made her die.

‘I’ll break everything about you, that arrogance.’

To break and not let it regenerate. Only hell should remain at the end.

Sesenia made a firm resolution with her trembling hands.

The next day.

Knock, knock.

Right after lunch, Sesenia’s door was suddenly knocked on.

“Yes?”

“It’s Sesenia.”

Perhaps because of the previous incident, the one knocking on Sesenia’s door spoke politely, maintaining a respectful tone.

“……”

Just hearing that voice made her know who the visitor was, so Sesenia’s expression stiffened immediately.

“May I come in?”

“…Come in.”

As soon as permission was granted, the door opened with a creak. Ian, who came holding flowers, walked up to her right away.

“It’s a gift.”

“…You’re giving a gift?”

“Yeah.”

“Flowers. It’s the first time. Even on my birthday, the best you could do was give a gift.”
“I think I haven’t paid enough attention until now. I probably didn’t realize the preciousness because I always thought you would be by my side. I’m sorry. I’ve reflected a lot on the last incident.”

Like a lover, Ian naturally expressed his reflection and apology.

As always, looking at him warmly, smiling like the morning sun, Sesenia accepted the flowers.

“Thank you for this.”

“If you want, I’ll buy them for you frequently.”

“But I actually hate receiving flower gifts the most.”

“Oh… Is that so?”

It wasn’t that she hated receiving flower gifts. It was just that the person giving it mattered.

“Lisbet, put this somewhere not very visible. There’s nothing wrong with the flowers being roughly arranged.”

“Yes, miss.”

The color or type of the flowers, Sesenia didn’t bother to see.

She handed them roughly to Lisbet, and Lisbet naturally took the flowers and left.

“So, what kind of gift do you like? I’ll focus on that next time.”

“Ian.”

“Yeah?”

“Do I really have to receive a gift from you? You don’t have to make an effort.”

Even if the gift he gave was a precious jewel or the book she wanted to see, she wouldn’t be pleased with anything.

‘Is he trying to win my heart with such a simple gift?’

Sesenia smirked and shook her head.

“It’s good to see you smiling.”

“Don’t say that. If others hear it, they might misunderstand. Ian.”

“Can’t you at least look at me, even if you misunderstand? Because you don’t look at me, because you don’t treat me like before, my heart hurts too much.”

Like a child, Ian looked at Sesenia with a pitiful smile.

“Yeah. No. Even if you undress and dance in front of me, I won’t care about you.”

“Are you really angry?”

She wasn’t angry. She just didn’t want to care.

As if not even looking at a bug in front of her, Ian couldn’t understand Sesenia’s heart, which didn’t even want to pay attention to that.

No, he didn’t try to understand.

He simply generalized her with thoughts and actions as if she was angry and liked him.

“Alright. I’ll make an effort then. So that you can look at me like you used to, so that you can express your feelings to me.”

Was it love? About Ian. No, it wasn’t.

It was just affection.

A long time ago, it was just affection for someone she had been with.