The next morning, I felt overflowing with determination.

  It was decided. Today, I was going to strike hard.

  I was going to make him succumb to my charms. He wouldn't understand what was happening. Kael would regret challenging me.

  I would make him fall for me, make him beg at my feet so I could manipulate him better.

  He would be both my sword and my shield. And when he was no longer useful, I would get rid of him.

  But let's get back to reality.

  To begin with, I had no idea how to proceed. But I planned to improvise. After all, in novels, you just have to be enigmatic, graceful, slightly provocative, and... captivating, right?

  I opened the closet—still empty.

  “Oh yes, that's right. He threw away my things...” I sighed dramatically.

  Luckily, I had been able to wash my clothes the day before. A minimum requirement of decency. Even if wearing the same dress again made me want to strangle myself.

  I spent a lot of time in front of the mirror trying out different poses.

  “Hmm... too uptight.”

  I arched my back a little.

  Snap, crack. (The fabric stretched dangerously.)

  No. Too seductive, like a tavern siren.

  I tried a mysterious look, lips parted, hair swept to one side.

  Dramatic imaginary gust of wind.

  "Okay. Now I look like a woman possessed."

  In the end, I gave up on tactics altogether.

  We'll see when we get there.

  When I found him, Kael was in his own library. His back was turned, and he was engrossed in reading an old book.

  Perfect. He hadn't heard me coming.

  I took a deep breath, straightened my chest, and walked forward confidently.

  Then, like an actor on stage, I pretended to fall right in front of him.

  “Oh no, I'm falling!” I said a little too loudly before collapsing limply to the floor in a ridiculous slide.

  POOF.

  Kael looked up, impassive.

  “...What are you doing?”

  I remained motionless on the floor, half sprawled out like an oyster.

  “Um... I... nothing! I was just passing by!”

  “You threw yourself on the floor of your own free will? ... Fascinating,” he said, turning a page gently.

  He went back to reading.

  I got up, my cheeks burning.

  (inner crackling—shame level MAX)

  Okay. Plan A: fail.

  I decided to change my approach.

  Lunch arrived. I carefully arranged the plate, placing the pieces of bread in the shape of a heart (very delicate), and placed it in front of him with a slight smile.

  “For you. From me. It's... made with love.”

  He glanced furtively at the plate.

  (sound of a knife scraping a board (tense atmosphere))

  “You cut the bread... into hearts?”

  “Yes, that's right.”

  “You're offering me bread... made with love?”

  “Yes.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “Fascinating. I didn't know you had that kind of relationship with the bakery.”

  “Kael!” I exclaimed, offended.

  (imaginary soft punch into a pillow)

  He chuckled under his breath, clearly amused.

  I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

  Plan B: ridiculed.

  That evening, I opted for the final solution: the dress.

  A dress that was a little too tight, which I found crumpled up at the bottom of an old drawer in the guest room. It smelled a bit like the attic, but I put some perfume on it. A lot of perfume.

  Perhaps too much.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  I descended the stairs in femme fatale mode (at least in my head).

  With stylized heel clicks and dramatic imaginary background music.

  When Kael looked up and saw me, he remained silent. Extremely silent.

  I thought I saw a slight flicker in his eyes, but he quickly looked away.

  Success?! I thought as I sat down.

  Instead of saying anything to me... he sneezed.

  ATCHOOM!

  “Excuse me... Did you spill a bottle of perfume on your dress?”

  “Um... sort of. Why?”

  “You smell like an entire flower shop run over by a cart.”

  CRACK—my ego just fractured in two.

  My heart broke into a thousand petals of foul-smelling roses.

  Plan C: destroyed.

  That night, I chose to go to bed staring at the ceiling, my dignity at an all-time low.

  The clock ticked away slowly, tick... tock... tick... tock...

  “I'm a walking disaster.”

  However, I had noticed a smile. And maybe even a little chuckle. He had made fun of me, sure... but he had looked at me.

  Maybe it was starting to work?

  Or maybe he would really end up kicking me out.

  Tomorrow, I'll try another approach. Less theatrical. More natural. Well... maybe.

  The next morning.

  I slowly descended the stairs, my dress wrinkled, my hair slightly messy—still reeling from my setbacks the night before.

  I didn't expect to find him here.

  Kael was standing at the large dining room table, holding a cup of tea, his eyes fixed on an already unfolded letter.

  As soon as he saw me, he looked up.

  “Sit down.”

  I blinked.

  “Excuse me? You mean... here? With you?”

  He raised an eyebrow, pointing to the plate in front of him—set and clean, with fresh bread still warm, eggs, and a small jar of jam.

  “Not for the ghost of the house, no.”

  My heart skipped a beat.

  It was the first time we had ever had breakfast together.

  I hesitated. I sat down slowly, not really knowing what to do with my hands. Or my thoughts.

  “...You didn't poison me, did you?”

  “I'm saving that for dinner,” he said with a slight smile.

  He took a bite of bread, unperturbed.

  I watched him discreetly, fascinated. He was eating... like a normal human being. Without tension, without menace in his eyes, without the aura of darkness that he usually carried with him.

  It was strange.

  Comforting.

  I took a bite myself, too silent, unable to speak with my mouth full—or even empty, for that matter.

  Then, without warning, between two sips of tea, he declared:

  “Be ready by noon. We're leaving for the capital.”

  I almost choked.

  Cough cough.

  “What?! The capital? Why?”

  He didn't answer right away. He just looked up at me, and it was almost a hint of a smile—almost.

  “You'll need... suitable clothes.”

  I stared at him, my mouth open.

  “You mean... the dress really smells like old furniture?”

  “It smells like you got into a fight with an antique piece of furniture and lost.”

  I glared at him.

  “...You know, you could learn some diplomacy.”

  He stood up calmly, smoothing his black jacket.

  “Hurry up. Tailors close early.”

  And he left the room, leaving me alone, completely confused.

  It's great to buy me new clothes, but am I really going to wear that dress?! I don't have any others, so I don't really have a choice...

  Sigh.

  Royal Capital—Commercial District

  I didn't really know what to expect. But certainly not this.

  As soon as we arrived in the capital, all eyes were on us.

  Muffled whispers, heavy silence.

  Passersby moved out of our way. Some looked away. Others pretended not to see us.

  The guards saluted us stiffly, and even the beggars remained silent.

  The strangest thing was the way they looked at me, with Kael by my side.

  He walked without saying a word, his head held high, his hands clasped behind his back, as if the entire universe were nothing more than background noise. However, all around us, there was astonishment.

  “It's him, isn't it? ...”

  “The bloody beast?”

  “And that woman, who is she...? His... companion?”

  "Impossible; he’s never been so close to anyone.”

  Whispers flew like arrows.

  I could feel their eyes burning into my skin. Women looked at me with jealousy tinged with fear. Men backed away as if I were about to explode at any moment.

  And me... I just wanted to disappear into the ground.

  "You... you're a celebrity here, aren't you?"

  "Not exactly. I'm feared. It's different."

  "And... you're taking me shopping for clothes in public? Even though people are convinced you have an aversion to anything that's alive."

  “You're still alive, aren't you? Proof that I don't hate everything.”

  “Was that... a compliment? Or a threat disguised as sarcasm?”

  He didn't answer.

  But I thought I saw the corner of his mouth twitch slightly.

  “The King's Cloth” boutique—mid-afternoon

  CLING CLING

  The owner nearly fainted when she saw us arrive.

  “M-Mr. Dravenwald! It's an honor! A dress? For... her?”

  I nodded, smiling shyly.

  Kael remained unperturbed.

  “She needs clothes. Everything she wears, from dresses to coats to boots. I'll be back in an hour. It's in your best interest to be efficient.”

  “Y-Yes, sir!”

  And he vanished like a shadow, leaving me alone with three trembling seamstresses who immediately surrounded me like wasps attracted to royal blood.

  As I let them do their work (half-undressed behind a silk screen), the whispering continued. The store filled with customers, each one as curious as the next.

  Some shot me venomous glances.

  Others seemed... admiring.

  "She's with him."

  "He's dressing her? So it's serious."

  "Maybe he's not the monster we thought he was..."

  The rumors spread like wildfire.

  And without me even noticing, people were already talking about me in high society circles.

  The lady who was with Kael.

  The only one he hadn't murdered after three days.