I could see in her expression that she was expecting a specific reaction.
The way she was talking to me didn't strike me as polite whatsoever. Just from that look on her eyes I realised Adrian's previous personality towards her.
It also fit in with the narrative in my head. I remembered that he did have some behaviours that could only be described as one thing.
He was a simp through and through.
She probably expected the same pathetic pleading that the original Adrian had apparently subjected her to before.
Her stance suggested she was prepared to reject anything I say.
I could tell she was fed up with the previous Adrian. I didn't complain. In fact, this was perfect.
The engagement had been a death sentence I hadn't even known about. Getting involved in any romantic complications with one of Kyle's destined love interests was exactly the kind of thing that would put me directly in the protagonist's crosshairs.
The original Adrian's jealousy toward Seraphina had probably been one of the factors that led to his eventual demise.
"I'll speak to my parents and have the engagement formally dissolved," I said calmly, meeting her gaze without a trace of the desperation she was clearly expecting.
Seraphina blinked in surprise, her carefully prepared speech apparently derailed by my unexpected cooperation. She had obviously been braced for a fight, for emotional manipulation, for anything except my calm response.
"I..." she started, then stopped, looking genuinely confused. "You're not going to argue? Or try to convince me to reconsider?"
I shook my head. "If you want to end the engagement, then it should be ended. I have no intention of keeping someone here when they don't want to."
The relief in her expression was unmistakable, though it was mixed with puzzlement. She had clearly expected this conversation to be much more difficult and unpleasant.
"I... thank you," she said finally, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "I was prepared for this to be much more complicated."
Having completed her goal, she stood to leave, pausing at the doorway. She seemed as if she wanted to say something, but then changed her mind and continued on her way out.
After she left, I sank into the chair she had vacated, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. I had successfully avoided one major death flag by eliminating my romantic entanglement with Kyle's future love interest. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I had also just set other, unknown events into motion.
…
Seraphina stood frozen outside Adrian's door for several moments, her hand still resting on the handle she had just released. The conversation had gone nothing like she had anticipated.
For months, every time she had even hinted at questioning their engagement, Adrian would launch into desperate pleas. He would promise to change, to become stronger, to be worthy of her. His eyes would fill with tears as he spoke about their fathers' sacred promise, about how she was the light of his life, about how he couldn't imagine existing without her.
She had steeled herself for another exhausting round of emotional tantrum, prepared responses to his inevitable arguments, and had even practised maintaining her resolve in the face of his tears. Instead, he had simply... agreed.
A strange hollowness settled in her chest, not quite disappointment, but something uncomfortably close to it. She had grown so accustomed to Adrian's desperate attention, his constant attempts to win her favour, that his sudden indifference felt almost... wrong.
Stop it, she chastised herself, shaking her head firmly. This is exactly what you wanted. He is probably trying to play hard-to-get.
She began walking down the corridor, her shoes clicking against the marble floor. The engagement had been arranged before they were born, from a promise their fathers had made to each other on what they both believed would be their deathbeds. If they survived this ordeal, their children would be bound together, uniting their noble houses.
Initially, Seraphina hadn't minded the arrangement. Adrian had been pleasant enough as a child, and she had accepted it as simply another duty that came with her noble heritage. But as they grew older, his complete lack of ambition had become increasingly annoying.
While she pushed herself to excel in combat, leadership, Adrian seemed content to drift through his classes with mediocre grades. He showed no interest in advancing his rank, no drive to prove himself worthy of their family names. Worst of all, he seemed to lack any real personality beyond his obsession with her.
Every conversation had revolved around the engagement, their future together, and how much he needed her. He never spoke of goals, dreams, or aspirations beyond securing her affections. It was suffocating.
And yet...
She paused mid-step, remembering the calm confidence in his voice, the way he had looked at her without that desperate, pleading expression she had grown so tired of seeing. For just a moment, there had been something almost intriguing about this new Adrian.
No, she thought firmly, resuming her walk. Don't think too much. He's probably just finally accepted reality.
Still, as she walked away, she couldn't quite shake the image of his steady blue eyes meeting hers without flinching, without begging.
She pushed the thought away with discipline. She had worked too hard to break free from this engagement to start second-guessing herself now simply because Adrian had finally shown a shred of dignity.
She had already asked for the break off; there was no turning back now. She wasn't the type to turn back after making a decision, and never will!
…
A few hours had passed since Seraphina had left, and I was beginning to understand just how drastically my transformation had changed everything. My strength was completely beyond my current control.
I had already shattered three teacups simply by picking them up, and I cracked a wooden chair by using the arm stand to stand up.
The worst part, however, was the constant, gnawing thirst that seemed to intensify whenever anyone came near. Every servant who passed by my room carried with them the intoxicating scent of warm blood flowing through their veins. My hearing could pick up the pulse of their heartbeats, and it took every ounce of my willpower not to...
I shook my head violently, trying to dispel the increasingly intrusive thoughts.
A gentle knock interrupted my struggle with self-control.
"Young Master Adrian?" came Charlotte's familiar voice. "The Madam has requested your presence for dinner. The family is gathering in the dining hall."
I nodded, then realised she couldn't see me through the door. "I'll be right there, Charlotte."