Glenn sipped his tea, trying to maintain a neutral expression, but inside, his heart felt heavy. As Nerina spoke so warmly about the Emperor, each word felt like a little stab. He had always known she was naive when it came to romance, and perhaps that was part of her charm. She never realized the depth of his feelings for her, nor the way his heart raced every time she smiled.
He watched her fondly as she fussed over her fox, Ember. The way her face lit up when she talked about the Emperor—it was clear that she was slowly falling for him. And though Glenn wanted nothing more than to confess everything, he knew it wasn't the right time. She seemed happy, and for now, that was enough.
'I suppose this is how it feels,' he thought bitterly, 'to lose someone you never had in the first place.'
A part of him already disliked the Emperor for taking his first love away from him but Nerina's words painted a picture of a man who was surprisingly kind and thoughtful, traits Glenn hadn't expected. She's smart, smarter than people he knows but she's also a bit naive about romance.
As those thoughts raced through Glenn's mind, he couldn't help but trace the edges of the teacup with his fingers, fighting the urge to drop it as the weight of regret settled heavily on his chest. He remembered the festival vividly—the laughter, the music, the way Nerina's eyes had sparkled under the lantern light. It had been an enchanted night, and yet, in the whirlwind of joy, his own feelings had felt like an anchor.
But that ship had sailed.
His mind wandered back to all the times he could've confessed to her, but didn't. All the missed opportunities. If only he had said something back then... maybe things would have been different. Maybe she wasn't chosen to be the Ice King's bride.
And knowing that Nerina's already falling for her husband, I can't help but feel a little jealous. Instead of saying that she's in love with the Emperor he decided not to tell her. He wants the Emperor to suffer a bit, maybe he doesn't know that Nerina is naive about love.
'Let him work harder for her affection. After all, she's worth every bit of effort.' Glenn thought, his lips twitching into a small, mischievous smile.
He placed his teacup down with a soft clink and glanced at Nerina, who was now playing with Ember's tail, completely oblivious to his inner turmoil. 'Since you're happy living here, even if it's not with me, you'll always have a place in my heart.'
"Glenn?" Nerina's voice broke through his reverie, and he glanced up to find her watching him with a quizzical expression. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he replied, perhaps a touch too quickly. He cleared his throat, forcing a smile. "Just lost in thought, I guess."
With a deep breath, Glenn resolved to keep his feelings hidden and continue supporting Nerina as a friend. It was the least he could do for the woman he had always loved.
He bid goodbye to Nerina as he hugged her one last time. He was about to let go when her maid and another person barged in, so he deliberately slowly let her go, then left the palace.
Riding his horse and going back he couldn't help but sigh as he looked back to where Nerina's room is, "Hah, I should have hug her a bit more longer.'"