The next morning, the silence of the palace was broken by a familiar presence.
Natalie had returned.
She walked in with her chin held high, her heels clicking with entitled grace. Her gaze swept the room like a blade—sharp, cold… and when it landed on Sera, it flared with fire.
Sera was seated on a velvet settee, pretending to read a book. But the moment she noticed Natalie, she closed it calmly and muttered, without looking up:
"Your taste in men is awful."
The tension thickened instantly.
Natalie froze mid-step, her brows furrowed. She marched closer, stopping just a breath away from Sera.
"What did you just say? Say it again if you dare."
Sera met her eyes, cool and unbothered.
"I said exactly what you heard. A shame that someone who looks like you… likes someone like him."
A soft, teasing voice sliced through the tension:
"Ladies… must the morning begin with daggers?"
Ilarious had appeared—just like always—without sound, his silver fan hiding half his face, his smile unreadable.
Natalie rushed to his side, pointing toward Sera.
"She insulted me! This filthy little thief has no manners. She acts like she's royalty!"
Sera lowered her gaze slightly. Her face shifted—not with guilt, but with a quiet frustration that darkened her features.
Ilarious approached her with a delicate flourish of his fan, and bowed mockingly:
"Oh, little Sery… you must show respect to the emperor's daughter.
Or we'll all lose our heads~"
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
Sera met his gaze and replied coldly:
"Ah. So you're only sweet to her because you fear the emperor."
For a heartbeat, the entire room fell still.
Ilarious didn't move—then… he laughed. Quietly. Smoothly. As if her comment was a fine wine he hadn't expected to enjoy.
Natalie, however, was not amused.
"That's it! I demand she be punished!"
Ilarious sighed like a tired noble and responded with gentle diplomacy:
"I'll handle her punishment personally, Lady Natalie. Please—rest easy."
He waved to a servant.
"Prepare a guest room in the west wing. Treat her like the lady she is."
Natalie left, her rage trailing behind her like a stormcloud.
Sera stood still, arms crossed, her eyes narrowed.
Ilarious turned toward her and raised an amused brow.
"Tsk, tsk. We don't speak to the emperor's daughter like that, my little Sery~"
"I don't recognize the emperor," she said flatly.
That made him laugh again—louder this time.
"You've grown rather bold. I might begin to regret claiming you."
She looked at him then, eyes searching… waiting for him to mention her punishment.
But instead, he tilted his head and offered a sly grin:
"Your punishment? Let's leave that to fate."
Then, without warning, he asked:
"Do you want to go out?"
She blinked. "What?"
"Out. You know… markets, gardens, old libraries—whatever commoners do."
Her stare hardened with confusion.
"You're joking."
"No. You're not a prisoner, Sery. I'm just supposed to… tame you."
"Tame me?! I'm not some animal!"
He laughed—a soft, delighted sound—and turned away.
"That reaction? Very animal-like."
Then paused at the door, his back still to her, and said:
"You may go out whenever you wish… on one condition."
She narrowed her eyes. "Which is?"
"You don't meet with your foolish friends."
"They're not fools!"
"Right… I mean your non-foolish friends."
He chuckled and walked toward the hallway.
Just before disappearing behind the curtain of shadows, he turned his head slightly and said with a quiet, playful tone:
"I've given you your freedom, little Sery…
Now tell me—can I trust you?"
And then he was gone.