Meeting the Queen would be her best shot. She was her aunt. And also she was more powerful than Adrien or the Northern Duke, it would be best to get in her good graces!
"You did what?" The Duchess's voice rose sharply, echoing through the drawing room. Her usually composed demeanour was nowhere to be found as she stared at her daughter in disbelief.
Selena, perched on the edge of the sofa, avoided her mother's wide-eyed gaze, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. "I broke off the engagement," Selena repeated, her voice quieter this time but no less firm.
"At the banquet?" the Duchess clarified, her tone rising even higher. She pressed a hand to her temple, feeling the beginnings of a headache. "In front of everyone?"
Selena nodded, looking defiant but clearly bracing herself for her mother's reaction.
"All the etiquette, all the lessons I've drilled into you over the years—thrown out the window!" The Duchess gestured dramatically as she paced the room. "Do you realise the scandal you've caused? The repercussions this could have for our family?"
She truly loved her daughter, but she loved her son! And he would have to be doing damage control. Lucien on the other hand had a different point of view. Of all the things he had to do to protect his psychotic sister, this was the least trouble she had caused.
No, he did not like Nicholas either. For him, his family's reputation was important. And his cheating on Selena and flaunting his lover was just disrespectful. He would gladly help Selena dump the man.
Selena crossed her arms. "What did you expect me to do? Continue being humiliated while Nicholas flaunts Clara in my face?"
The Duchess stopped pacing, her lips pressed into a thin line. She sighed, shaking her head. "I will admit, Nicholas and Clara's behaviour has been disgraceful, but this... This was bold, even by your standards."
Selena stood, stepping closer to her mother. "I know it was risky, but I need your help now. I need to write a letter to the Queen."
The Duchess raised an eyebrow. "The Queen? What for?"
The Duchess hated this but seeing her request she was willing to hear her out. Even if it meant that she was going to her sister for help. Her sister was... Insufferable, but for her daughter she was willing to endure.
"To officially dissolve the engagement. My declaration at the banquet will not be enough," Selena explained. "Adrien will fight this, and I need the Queen's backing to make it final."
The Duchess sighed again, rubbing her temples. "Very well," she said reluctantly. "Let's draft this letter. But Selena, you'd better have thought this through."
She never liked that nephew of hers but Selena would only talk to him. She had no real friends, so what choice did she have but to let her continue to get involved in his schemes? She would be completely lonely otherwise.
The Queen… She was her sister. It had been years since they had spoken, their relationship strained by old grievances and disagreements.
But for her daughter, the Duchess was willing to set aside her pride and reach out. Selena's bold move at the banquet left little choice, if she wanted the engagement dissolved without further fallout, it required royal intervention.
The Duchess took a deep breath, picked up her quill, and composed the letter, carefully choosing her words. Begrudgingly she had to ask her a favour.
Once the letter was sent, Selena wasted no time in preparing for her meeting with the Queen. She decided Alex would accompany her. Why not? He was already in the thick of it, and his presence could strengthen her case.
Selena planned to present herself as a woman madly in love, determined to follow her heart. It was a ridiculous narrative, but one that the Queen, romantic as she was, might be inclined to support.
That night, as Selena sat in her room, she found herself thinking about the original story. When she first arrived in this world, she did not care much about the details. Her focus had been survival, nothing more. But now, with time to reflect, pieces of the narrative began falling into place.
Nicholas's connection to Clara was not just shallow infatuation or fleeting admiration—it was rooted in a painful, formative memory. As a child, Nicholas had endured unspeakable cruelty from his father.
The Northern Duke had been unrelenting in his obsession with family honour, holding Nicholas to impossible standards. Nothing was ever good enough. Every mistake, every misstep was met with harsh punishment.
One particular incident stood out. During a grand gathering of nobles, Nicholas had accidentally spilt a drink. The liquid stained the pristine tablecloth, catching the Duke's sharp eyes.
Without hesitation, his father struck him. The blow came with a ferocity that left the room in stunned silence. For Nicholas, it was not just the pain of the slap—it was the humiliation of being hit in front of so many onlookers. His pride, already fragile, shattered in that moment.
Unable to bear the shame, Nicholas ran. He bolted from the gathering, not caring where he was going, desperate to escape the suffocating weight of his father's expectations.
He stumbled through the estate's gardens, deeper into the shadows, until he found a quiet corner far from prying eyes.
It was there he first met Clara. She was sitting beneath a large oak tree, her knees drawn to her chest, tears streaming down her face. Nicholas froze, unsure if he should approach. He wasn't used to vulnerability—his own or anyone else's.
Clara noticed him before he could retreat. She quickly wiped her tears, trying to compose herself. "What are you looking at?" she asked, her voice trembling but defiant.
Selena let out an exasperated sigh as she recalled the details, was their relationship nothing but the consequence of trauma bonding? She shrugged, she didn't care.
It was their problem, their love. What she wanted was freedom.