Selena didn't intend to prove herself to anybody. What she wanted to do was to live her own life. And that is what she will do.
After the prince's departure, Selena slumped into her chair, the ghost of Adrien's smirk still fresh in her mind. His visit was a calculated move, not one of genuine concern.
She could almost see the gears turning in his head, his political calculations trying to make sense of her recent actions. Did he worry about her? Certainly not. He was likely concerned that his once-manageable pawn was slipping out of his grasp.
A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. "I feel so touched," she muttered sarcastically.
Yet, as much as she dismissed him, she couldn't deny that his visit had unsettled her. Adrien was a man who rarely acted without purpose.
If he felt the need to confront her personally, it meant her rebellion had started to gain traction. The thought filled her with both satisfaction and unease.
Shaking off the prince's shadow, Selena turned her attention to the task at hand: preparing for the royal ball. It wasn't enough to attend. She needed to own that night.
Her goal wasn't just to end her engagement—it was to make a statement so bold that it left the Northern Duke reeling. She envisioned the scene: a grand entrance, heads turning, whispers filling the air. And at her side, her supposed "boyfriend."
The problem was that she didn't have the faintest idea of how to contact Alex. Her impulsive decision to hire him was brilliant at the moment, but she had failed to secure any means of communication. Selena sighed in frustration, rubbing her temples. "Why didn't I think of this sooner?"
Resigning herself to yet another unorthodox outing, Selena donned her hood once more. If she had to scour every tavern in the city, she would find Alex. Before she could slip out, however, a familiar figure blocked her path.
Her brother, Lucien.
Selena's stomach tightened. She wasn't in the mood for another confrontation, least of all with him. Lucien rarely sought her out unless there was trouble, and his stern expression didn't bode well.
"I heard about what happened," he said. She couldn't tell if he was mad... Or frustrated, or anything! It was very neutral but his gaze was intense.
Selena raised an eyebrow. "You'll have to be more specific. A lot has happened."
Her dry tone seemed to irritate him, but he held his composure. "About the confrontation with the Duke. And the man you brought home."
Ah. So that's what this is about. She crossed her arms, ready for the lecture. Like everyone else, Lucien probably expected her to cling to the engagement like a lifeline.
"Okay? And?" she said, her voice clipped.
Lucien frowned, clearly displeased with her dismissive attitude. He reached for her arm as she turned to leave, stopping her in her tracks. "I wasn't finished talking."
Selena glared at him. His grip wasn't harsh, but it was firm enough to make her blood boil. "What do you want?" She snapped, shaking his hand off.
Lucien exhaled slowly as if trying to summon patience. "I heard about the man you brought home too. Are you seriously planning to call off the engagement?"
Ah, so that was it. The Whitlock family's reputation. Her eyes narrowed. Was he here to stop her? To beg or threaten her into staying tethered to that insufferable Duke? Tough luck. She had made up her mind.
"Yes. I do. Do you have a problem with that?" Her voice was sharp and challenging.
Lucien studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. To her surprise, his response wasn't the scolding she had expected. "I don't," he said finally. "But don't associate yourself with random men... Our family's reputation is on the line."
Selena blinked, taken aback. That wasn't the response she had anticipated. She had been ready for an argument, for threats of disownment or guilt-tripping. Instead, he had... Agreed? Well, mostly. He still managed to slip in a jab about her choice of company.
"I'll keep that in mind," she muttered, brushing past him.
As she stepped away, Lucien's words lingered in her mind. Was he... Worried about me? She dismissed the thought almost immediately. This was Lucien, the dutiful head of the Whitlock family.
His only concern was likely their public image. A noblewoman associating herself with a commoner was scandalous enough to tarnish their reputation, even more so if that noblewoman was her.
An unwed woman with a man... Selena thought. She shrugged. She didn't care, it couldn't get worse than it already had. There's no more damage to be done to her reputation.
Still, it was strange. Lucien didn't usually bother with her personal affairs. If anything, he tended to keep his distance, only stepping in when he absolutely had to.
Shrugging off her confusion, Selena refocused on her mission. Whether or not her brother was genuine in his concern didn't matter. She had bigger things to worry about—like finding Alex.
The city streets were bustling, even as the sun dipped below the horizon. Selena's hood shielded her from prying eyes as she navigated the winding alleys.
She retraced her steps from the previous night, scanning each tavern she passed for a familiar face. Her knights trailed discreetly behind her, their presence both reassuring and annoying.
She couldn't afford to draw attention, but she also couldn't venture out entirely alone.