Seraphine's POV
I don't know what's happening to me...
Why can't I stop thinking about that man? I first saw Raul Von Vance six months ago.
He was handsome. I've seen many handsome men, but his charm was different.
I never cared much about appearances, but no one should forget they're still an important factor.
You don't fear a person who has much to lose.
What you truly fear is someone who has nothing left to lose.
Raul was exactly that. I'm sure if I had killed his father, he would've driven another blade into his dad's chest without hesitation.
What made me fall in love with him happened on my father's birthday.
I saw him take two bottles of wine and head to the garden. He sat with a maid, and I listened to them from afar. I still can't forget the poem he recited.
The way he spoke, the tone of his voice, those were the things that made me fall for him.
It started with curiosity. Then I planted hidden cameras in his room. His body was divine, that much was certain.
Most women would marry him just for that body...
I bribed a lot of maids, but it didn't matter; I had nearly unlimited resources, so it was easy.
But then I realized he had noticed the cameras.
Now and then, whether he realized it or not, he'd give a tiny glance toward them.
If I hadn't been watching carefully, I wouldn't have noticed it either.
It was just a split-second look — but I caught it.
Ah… yes, that's exactly the kind of man I wanted.
So poetic and strong, because he could teleport. That meant he was at least a sixth-tier mage. But his physical strength had no logical explanation.
I recorded his photos, his voice, everything on my phone.
All kept in hidden folders. If some of those pictures were ever seen, they'd make headlines. I couldn't let that happen.
He was talented in everything… except jokes.
That's when I realized I loved him. I wanted him. He had to be mine.
I always get what I want, but I realized I might not be able to have him.
Men like him can't be swayed by money or comfort. They have principles.
He hid his power even from his own family. If his brothers had known, they would've killed him before he grew stronger. Clearly, he wasn't afraid.
And it was hard to gauge just how powerful he really was.
Taking him by force would be difficult.
No one entered his room; just sometimes maids would bring him clean clothes and secretly smell his used ones…
I wanted to kill those filthy whores, but they still had to watch Raul for me.
Most of their dresses had microscopic cameras hidden in them, enhanced by mana.
He was close to the one he called Bella, but even I pitied that poor girl.
She got friend-zoned hard...
Just imagining that man becoming my servant made me feel horny.
Victoria was my childhood friend, but since her mother's death, her face rarely showed any emotion.
Her father was a workaholic, never had time for her — that's why she always got whatever she wanted.
In a way, we were similar. My mother was alive, but all she ever wanted was to make me the next Empress, while my father wanted Hans to take the throne.
Hans was only two months older than me — I was from the king's second wife, he from the first.
Ah… once I have Raul, none of that will matter. But then an idea came to me.
I went to my father. He left most matters to the ministers; he was strong, one of the rare passionate rulers this kingdom had.
"Father, I want to marry Raul von Vance." I stood straight in front of him.
The pen in his hand fell. "Who did you say?"
"Raul von Vance, the third son of Baron Vance, currently serving as the attendant of the Duke of Florence's daughter, Victoria," I said without wavering.
Forcing him into marriage was the best option.
"For heaven's sake, Seraphine, do you even know what you're saying? You want to marry a butler?" My father slammed his hand on the table, his aura almost suffocating me.
Then I used my classic trick, tears. "But father, I love him…" I said, letting the tears fall. They were fake, of course, but my father adored me.
Being his daughter gave me power over him.
"Did he ask for this? Did he force you into something?" My father rubbed his chin. He probably thought this was the work of that entity, the same one behind so many deaths across the continent.
He came closer. "No, he doesn't even know I love him. I just want him, Father."
"Fine, my dear. I hope you won't regret this…" he sighed.
Then he sat back at his desk, pulled out a sheet of paper, and started writing. "Deliver this to Raul in the Duchy of Florence."
I read it, and it said:
By the command of Emperor Richard von Valentine,Raul von Vance, consider yourself fortunate. I have decided that you shall be wed to Seraphine von Valentine.Send your response as soon as possible. You should feel honored.
Blah blah blah — it went on.
I felt a bit embarrassed, but in short, forcing him to marry me was the best solution.
I took the paper, added a few words myself, and made sure the letter was sent immediately.
We couldn't force the man directly, but refusing the Emperor's order meant a lifetime in prison, or even execution.
Raul wouldn't dare refuse. Even if he did, the Duchy of Florence would have to hand him over.
But something happened.
My phone rang, an unregistered number?
I froze. No one would dare call me like that. I answered right away.
"I hope you understand what you've just done!" I snapped.
Silence for a moment, then a cold voice spoke.
"Did you really have to do this, Seraphine? Since you don't seem to recognize it, I'll tell you — I'm Raul von Vance."
He knew. He knew exactly what I had done, and I had already suspected he might.
"If you know, then I hope you'll obey my father's command!" I was about to hang up.
"Ah, poor Seraphine. There are things you shouldn't have gotten yourself involved in. I gave you so many hints."
"I don't care. Either you quit your job in the Duchy of Florence and marry me, or I'll hunt you down and throw you into a dungeon for the rest of your life!" I shouted into the phone.
I hadn't expected him to be so fearless, but of course, it made sense. He had nothing to lose.
No matter what you do to a man who doesn't value his own life, it's meaningless.
"Don't push me into doing things I don't want to do, Seraphine… I'm only showing tolerance because you're Victoria's friend."
Then he hung up. He did something to make sure no one else could listen.
I saved the number in my phone. I wanted him even more.
The letter reached him, but fifteen days later, a rejection letter arrived.
Luckily, it wasn't made public, or it would've been a royal scandal.
My father slammed his fist on the table. "How dare a bastard reject me! My daughter hasn't eaten for days because of that man!"
I could hear his furious voice echoing through the entire palace.
But that was only the beginning.