TMLST C10

Chapter 10. The Imperiled Imperial Princess (1)

The person who entered after opening the door was none other than Livius. I was not the only one taken aback; behind him stood a maid frozen in shock.

Livius himself, however, showed no sign of surprise or embarrassment. He walked in as if nothing unusual had happened, without even the faintest trace of “oops, that was a mistake.”

“Have you been well, Your Imperial Highness? Seeing you call my name like that, I suppose something good must have happened.”

His shameless greeting left me speechless. What kind of audacity did he have to disregard an imperial princess inside the Imperial Palace like this?

Livius?

Was he doing this because he still believed he had Crown Prince Lewellin behind him?

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I came to hear your answer to my proposal.”

Livius’s behavior—so eerily composed, as if he had lost his mind and then calmly returned to it—was unsettling. It was almost grotesque.

“My answer to your proposal? Is this how someone who just proposed is supposed to behave?”

Normally, I would have restrained myself, but this was a situation where anger was justified. This was the Imperial Palace, and I was an imperial princess. A marquis had no right to look down on me here.

“I remain your betrothed, though I did attempt to make amends for my earlier mistake by proposing again a few days ago. Perhaps you have not yet decided on your answer? Surely, it must already be decided.”

“Betrothed?”

He had personally said our engagement was broken when we first met, and now he was talking about being betrothed again. His face must have been made of iron.

“Have you been dreaming? Please leave. I already gave you my answer.”

“I may have spoken of a broken engagement, but publicly, we are still considered engaged—still betrothed.”

“You really only interpret things in ways that benefit you, don’t you?”

Did he think anything that came out of his mouth automatically became truth? I was speaking as politely as I could manage, but curses were already rising in my throat. Livius had always been unpleasant, but now that feeling only kept intensifying.

“I have no desire to continue speaking with someone so lacking in basic manners. Please leave.”

“If you treat me so coldly, I’ll be hurt, Elia.”

This was only our second conversation, yet I already felt exhausted. How could someone be so self-centered?

Talking to someone who didn’t understand reason was harmful to one’s health. And “Elia”? Eliaaaa? Was he forgetting to use the proper honorific?

“Please maintain basic courtesy, and do not address me so casually. I also find you calling my name without permission offensive.”

“If I hadn’t entered like this, would you have even received me?”

“There is no reason for me to receive someone I have no further need to meet.”

Of course I wouldn’t. Why would I invite someone like him into my residence?

“Then I had no choice but to do this.”

His relentless nonsense gave me a headache. Even though he used polite speech, the tone felt as if he were speaking to a subordinate.

“Whatever your reason, I doubt you can make me understand this situation.”

Meeting my gaze, Livius smiled faintly, as though he had been waiting for it.

“It was unavoidable. You would not have agreed to meet me, Your Imperial Highness, and I needed to hear your answer.”

“I have no intention of giving you the answer you want—so how can you act so recklessly?”

“That hurts to hear, Your Highness.”

For someone I had only met twice, this was already unbearable. How could he be so self-absorbed?

Fortunately, at least he corrected himself after being told not to use my name carelessly. Even that small mercy felt absurd to appreciate.

“…Guards!”

Unable to endure his presence any longer, I raised my voice and called for the palace guards.

But strangely, the guards who rushed in stopped short the moment they saw Livius.

A cold feeling spread through me. I turned my gaze from the hesitant guards back to Livius—and he still wore that shameless expression.

No way.

“Please remove Marquis Livius from my sight.”

Even as I spoke, I already sensed the truth—but voicing it confirmed it.

The guards did not respond to my command. Instead, they were clearly watching Livius, waiting for his reaction. It was as if my status as imperial princess meant nothing, and his word mattered more.

I had called the guards because I could not force him out myself with my current power—but everything was going in the opposite direction.

“Even though it is Your Imperial Highness’s order, it seems even the guards lack justification to remove me, your betrothed.”

Livius let out a light, amused laugh.

“So that was your plan from the beginning.”

A dry realization settled in my chest.

From the start, he had intended to show me this—that no matter what I did, I could not control the situation. This was not madness. It was deliberate. Planned. Inside the Imperial Palace, no less.

“Your Highness, you only need to follow what is reasonable.”

He strode toward me and looked down with a smile, unconcerned even as I glared at him. His voice was infuriatingly casual.

“Watch your words, Marquis Livius.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Highness.”

He only smiled darkly at my warning.

Then, in a sudden motion, Livius seized my hand and pulled me up. The force made me stumble forward—and before I could react, I was pulled into his arms.

I blinked in shock, then immediately tried to push him away, but he did not budge. Even though I could feel he wasn’t gripping me tightly, I strangely could not break free.

“You look best like this, Your Imperial Highness. Following where I lead you.”

As if satisfied—or perhaps for reasons only he understood—he slowly ran his fingers through my hair. Every place his touch passed left a trail of disgust, sending chills over my skin.

“If you marry me, I will allow you to keep that fragile life of yours.”

He spoke arrogantly, as if offering something extraordinary. But I had no emotional reaction to his words—I was already fated to die from illness. Marrying Livius would not change that future.

And even without that reason, I had absolutely no desire to marry him. If anything, it felt certain I would die even earlier from stress and sickness.

“When His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince ascends the throne, do you think he will allow Your Imperial Highness to live?”

Since I said nothing, Livius pressed on, like he was sealing a trap. His voice made my ears feel as if they were rotting.

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Why would it not? I am simply offering a mutually beneficial arrangement. Is that so difficult to understand?”

He interrupted me again. It was clear—he had no intention of listening to me at all. And just as clearly, he believed I had no value in listening to him either.

“This is uncomfortable. Let go.”

“You have not given me an answer. Once you do, I will release you.”

The way he acted as though he owned the situation made my stomach churn. Of course he had probably bribed the guards to ensure everything would go his way.

“I have no intention of doing so.”

“Do you not regret this decision?”

Though he spoke calmly, I could see the bruising of his pride underneath. It sounded like a final warning—but it would not work on me.

“Yes.”

At my firm answer, Livius’s expression crumpled slightly—but I no longer cared.

“You will regret it.”

His voice was clenched, as though he was grinding his teeth. It was as if he were watching a small bird that had once followed him obediently suddenly fly away.

“I don’t know why you’re so certain, but that won’t—”

Before I could finish, his face suddenly drew closer—so close our lips nearly touched.

I froze, holding my breath. His eyes looked as though they could kill me on the spot.

“I warned you, Your Imperial Highness.”

Each word fell heavily, like it was being carved out. His voice was low and dangerous, leaving no room for resistance. I wanted to speak, but my body had stiffened completely, trembling uncontrollably.

“If you simply obey me like this… everything will be easier. Understand?”

Seeing my frightened state, Livius smiled faintly, as though satisfied. It was a soft, almost kind voice—but to me, it was unbearable.

Yet even as my mind remained mine, my body reacted as if it still carried Elia’s past fear, trembling in place.