"You're still angry about that? It's such a trivial thing, and you're holding onto it even now?" Frederick asked, clearly disappointed in Selena.

"Do you truly think ruining my brother's life is trivial?" she replied, just as deeply disappointed in him.

The Frederick she once knew, a man who was fair and impartial, had long since vanished.

Selena continued, "If you think it's so trivial, then maybe she should stab you next time. Let's see how you feel then."

The image made Frederick's stomach tighten.

Suddenly, a wave of helplessness washed over him, making him say, "Forget it, Lena. You stabbed her too. Do you know how badly she's hurt? Not just physically, but her pride as well. That wound makes her feel like she's no longer a perfect lady."

"Since when was she ever perfect?" Selena countered.

"Lena!" Frederick's tone sharpened. "I don't want to argue with you. Let's leave the past where it belongs. As for you and General Campbell deserting the army..."

Selena cut in, "I sent someone to deliver a message to the king and begged for permission to escort my brother back to the capital for treatment. His Majesty agreed. I received a verbal edict that allowed us to leave at any time."

Her calm gaze rested on the prince's suddenly flushed face, her expression unreadable. "If you don't believe me, you can go to the palace and ask His Majesty yourself."

Frederick stared at her. He hadn't expected her to have taken so many steps behind his back.

He was still a little upset. But when he caught sight of the wooden box in her hands, the anger in his chest quietly faded. Bringing a gift clearly indicated that she intended to make peace, and he wasn't so petty as to turn her away.

Besides, he had come with another purpose today.

"All right, let's forget the past. In ten days, we will be married. I've come to say something to you."

Selena said nothing, simply listening quietly.

Frederick hesitated. Such things were never easy to say. But with the wedding coming up soon, what he wanted to convey couldn't be delayed any longer.

"Lena, I... didn't think I needed to discuss this with you. But since we have known each other for so long, I hope we can live in peace going forward, without..."

"Do you intend to marry Freya, Your Highness?"

Selena's slender fingers traced the wooden box as she spoke, her calm manner unreadable. A faint, mocking smile played on her lips.

"Half a month ago, you said you would soon forget her, didn't you?"

Frederick turned his face away, avoiding her gaze. Her smile made him uncomfortable.

"Lena, I've known you for many years, and have always respected you. But before... Before I truly understood what love between a man and a woman meant, I thought what we had was passion—until I met Fey," he explained, now using an affectionate nickname for Freya.

He sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice as he continued, "Lena, I'm sorry. My heart belongs to Fey. She is the only woman I have ever truly desired."

"Your parents would never approve of you marrying the daughter of a traitor—"

"That is the fault of her father and brothers, not hers," Frederick cut in immediately.

"Since you've made up your mind, go beg the king for permission to marry her. Why come to me?"

Selena was well aware of the difficulty he faced. With Freya's background, getting permission to marry her wouldn't be easy.

Frederick's hand clenched slightly as he pondered his next words. After a long moment, he looked up at Selena, who was calmly drinking her tea, looking completely at ease. That only made his awkwardness stand out even more.

Finally, he said in a low voice, "Lena, I initially intended to marry only Fey. But you and I have known each other for so many years. I don't want my breaking off our engagement to leave you with nothing."

Selena raised an eyebrow, her perfect face unreadable. "So?"

"So, I won't break our engagement. We'll marry as planned, and you'll become my princess consort. However, I have two conditions."

His lips pressed together, betraying his struggle. Then, he forced himself to say, "First, you must go to the king. Ask him to grant me permission to take Fey as my secondary wife, and for the two of us to be wed on the same day as our wedding."

Frederick had expected Selena to throw a fit. After all, the situation was unfair. But instead, she simply looked at him quietly, without crying or making a scene.

That calm silence unsettled him more than any anger might have.

"Lena, you've seen Fey's temper. She'll never willingly share me. That's why I was planning to break off our engagement."

He knew those words were harsh. But if Selena had just stayed quiet and done as she was told, it wouldn't have come to this.

"The fact that Fey is even willing to marry me alongside you is already a huge compromise on her part. If you can't accept that, I'm afraid our marriage will have to be called off."

Selena kept staring at him, her gaze neither warm nor cold. But for some reason, Frederick felt a flicker of irritation stir inside him.

"What are you really thinking, Lena? No matter what you're planning, I'm not leaving Fey. Can we just speak honestly, from the heart? Let's stop with all the games and second-guessing, okay?"

He didn't want to waste any more energy fighting with her. Besides, Freya was waiting for him at his estate. With her temper, who knew what chaos would erupt if he delayed his return?

"Very well. Then, let me speak plainly, Your Highness," Selena said at last. "I recall Freya said that if you can't promise to love only her for the rest of your life, then don't bother with her at all. So, if you marry me, how can you give her that?"

Frederick's eyes darkened. "That... is the second thing I need you to agree to."

Selena fell silent again and watched him quietly.

"I promised Fey that I would never touch any other woman in my life," Frederick said softly.

"Then, why bother marrying me at all? Just to make me a widow in all but name?" Selena quipped, finding his words ridiculous.

Frederick frowned. "But you'll be my princess consort. That's an honor beyond compare!"

When she said nothing, he pressed on, "The Duke of Blackmoor's household may seem prosperous on the surface, but you know as well as I do that it's an empty shell now. Even General Campbell has..."

He paused. After all, Freya had caused that mess.

However, Frederick didn't blame her. She was a young woman who had lost everything, so it was only natural that she would act rashly. He could forgive her for that.

"General Campbell's condition means there's no future for the Duke of Blackmoor's household. Only by marrying me can you live a life of honor and privilege. I will be the support your family needs. For you and everyone in your household, I am your last hope."

In his eyes, there was no other way out for her but to marry him.

"I know you feel it's unfair, Lena. But as long as you stay loyal, I promise no one will take your place as my princess consort."

Frederick fixed his serious gaze on Selena's beautiful face. "It's already a huge concession that Fey is willing to yield to you this much. Once you're both married into my household, it won't matter that you're the main wife and she's the secondary.

"She'll have the same standing as you. You're not allowed to use your rank to look down on her. And... I won't let you mistreat her either. Understand?"

Selena nodded. "I understand what you mean, Your Highness."

She didn't object!

Frederick's eyes brightened, and he finally let out a breath of relief. "Since you agree—"

Suddenly, an angry voice cut in, "I don't agree!"

Freya burst in, anger flashing in her eyes. Led by Frederick's closest guard, William Klein, she strode straight to Selena. In one swift motion, she drew a dagger and pressed the tip against Selena's chest.

"If you want to marry him, you'll have to agree to a third condition."