Honestly, when I first heard the words queen, kingdom, castle, I was expecting a lot. Not this.
As Ice carried me through the sky toward Selene's castle, all I could see below was snow—snow and more snow, stretching like an endless white blanket. The wind whipped against my face, sharp and freezing, but I couldn't look away. The land stretched wider than even the clan lord's territory, a vast empire of silence. No villages. No human movement. Not a single bird cutting across the sky. Just a frozen world, silent and lifeless.
When we finally landed, my mouth almost dropped.
The castle was massive. Not just big, not just tall—massive. Like a skyscraper stabbing straight into the clouds. FYI higher than Akarawa's building. The kind of thing that made you feel smaller than an ant. I tilted my head back so far my oversized hat nearly slipped right off, and for a second, I honestly wondered if maybe… just maybe, it reached into outer space.
And inside…
Inside was a fairytale.
Every single thing shimmered like glass, sculpted from flawless, glittering ice. Pillars that looked like diamonds, floors that reflected my every step, walls that bounced my own reflection back at me. A hundred versions of Rin stared at me, as though mocking me. The beauty of it all was undeniable. Magical, yes. Breathtaking, yes. But empty. Too empty.
Shouldn't there be guards? Maids? Other royals filling this palace with noise, with footsteps, with laughter? Instead, the place looked like a scene ripped straight out of Frozen. Gorgeous, but hollow.
"Welcome to my kingdom," Selene's voice echoed across the crystalline chamber.
I fumbled with my hat, tugging it lower. Honestly, this hat was too big for me, but it felt like a shield, so I wore it anyway.
And then—there she was.
Selene sat on her icy throne, tall and regal, like a goddess who owned this frozen world. Her hair spilled across the entire floor like a silver river, gleaming under the soft light. Her lips curved into a smile, gentle yet commanding. She rose from the throne, her steps graceful, and when she reached me—without hesitation—she pulled me into a hug.
"Thank you, Kisaragi, for honoring this date here," she said softly.
I froze in her arms. Her warmth—or maybe it was her coldness—slipped straight into me. My head spun with questions. Too many questions. Should I ask them? Should I stay quiet?
The truth was, Author LeeDevil never told readers anything about Selene. No family background. No past. Nothing. She was just… a blank page with a crown.
"Hi, Selene," I finally said, voice cracking just a little.
Her eyes softened. "How do you like my castle?"
I forced a crooked smile. "Emm… it's… breathtaking, I guess."
Her expression brightened like a child showing off a drawing. "This will be all yours when we get married. By the way, that thing on your head looks good on you."
"Oh, it's the new trending style, haha." I let out an awkward laugh, my fingers twitching nervously against the brim. Her eyes lingered too long on the hat, and I panicked. I had to change the subject, fast.
"I'm still not convinced why you want me to be your wife," I blurted out, folding my arms. "But I'll allow it for today, since we are on a date."
She tilted her head, still smiling, her expression unreadable.
"This place… honestly, it feels like a space for a museum," I said suddenly, blurting out what had been circling my mind. "It'd be really good to showcase artifacts."
Her smile thinned, eyes glinting. "What are you trying to say, Kisaragi? Do you want to turn my castle into a museum?" Then, just as quickly, her lips curved again. "Don't worry. Once we're married, you can do whatever you want."
Her words made my stomach twist.
I looked around at the hollow, echoing halls. "Well… are you the only one in this place?"
"Yes. Only me and Ice stay here," she said casually, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
My chest tightened. "…Don't you have any family? Or… people?"
Out of the corner of my eye, Ice—now in his human form—stiffened. He was shaping something out of frozen air, his fingers moving with quiet precision. But the moment my words left my mouth, his head snapped up. His short hair swung as he shook his head violently at me, eyes sharp, silently warning me: don't ask that.
But it was too late.
Selene's smile faltered.
The silence spread, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, she spoke. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her.
"Ice is my only family. And when we get married… you will be my family."
She was still smiling, but her face—her face was trying to hide something deeper. Something fragile. Something that made my chest ache even though I didn't understand why.
A chill crawled up my back. My instincts screamed not to push further. If I asked the wrong question now, she might just snap. But I couldn't keep it inside either.
"The family thing… are you trying to make me an artifact or something?" I said. My voice wavered, but I pushed on. "I mean, I don't want to push all the answers out of you, but I kinda find it weird that you fell in love with me."
She stood there, watching me quietly. Her gaze pierced through me, and I hoped I wasn't going too far.
"I mean—you can't just fall in love with someone in the blink of an eye," I went on, pacing like I was in a debate. My boots clicked against the ice floor. "One night you killed me because you said I was in your way. Then the other night you tried to poison Akari, and I ended up taking the poison instead. Like you already knew I'd be in your way."
I stopped mid-step, staring at her.
"Is this your biggest plan you mentioned? Pretend to be in love with me, trap me here so I won't get in your way, and then finally kill the main characters?"
Selene's footsteps echoed as she walked up to me, silent, her presence overwhelming.
"I lied, Kisaragi," she said finally.
Her fingers brushed my face. A shiver ran down my spine, my whole body trembling under her touch.
"A–About what?" I whispered.
She slipped the hat off my head, her fingers lingering against my hair.
"This hat doesn't look good on you, Kisaragi," she said. Then her voice softened, low and slow, like a confession she'd been swallowing for too long. "But I never pretended to be in love with you because…"
Her words slowed, almost like she didn't want to admit it. My heartbeat hammered so loud I thought the ice might crack from the sound.
"My feelings for you are real."
Oh goddamn it. This villainess has real feelings for me!