Chapter 292: To Be Selfish, Just This Once

“Uhhh… Rhea, what am I supposed to do…?!”

Mio whimpered helplessly, her body wrapped in layers of plush blankets, her face buried deep into a luxuriously soft pillow on the massive bed. She let out a muffled groan, despair seeping from every fiber of her being.

Rhea sighed, her expression exaggeratedly weary as she gazed down at her mistress.

“My lady, this is exactly why I warned you countless times not to drink alcohol—your tolerance is even worse than a toddler’s.”

Mio twisted her head abruptly, fixing Rhea with a crimson-faced glare.

“Me taking a single sip of wine and then suddenly becoming the queen after almost being framed are two completely unrelated things!”

“If you hadn’t had even that small sip,” Rhea remarked calmly, arching one brow with infuriating composure, “perhaps you would’ve at least been able to think rationally when everything unfolded.”

At those words, Mio’s cheeks flushed deeper, embarrassment driving her back into the pillow with a defeated moan.

“You’re still as uselessly blunt as ever, Rhea…”

Rhea’s lips twitched slightly, a reluctant fondness slipping past her stern facade. Eventually, she approached the bedside, seating herself gently on the edge.

“If you’re truly against all of this, there’s still a little time left to reverse things, you know,” Rhea said softly, her voice taking on a rare, serious tone.

“After all, only a single day has passed.”

Mio peeked cautiously out from the pillow, catching Rhea’s thoughtful gaze.

Rhea continued earnestly, “I’ve only served as your maid for two years, my lady. I wasn’t even aware you and His Highness were childhood friends. But from what I’ve seen, prince… King Lykos isn’t someone who enjoys taking the long road—he seems intent on moving swiftly and decisively. Considering how dense—sorry, how you sometimes struggle to understand others’ feelings… perhaps His Majesty simply decided it was best to be straightforward.”

Mio narrowed her eyes slightly at Rhea’s slip-up, but the maid ignored the glare entirely, pressing onward.

“If you genuinely don’t wish for this, there’s still a brief window of time. He hasn’t officially been crowned yet—probably by the end of today he will be—and even after that, becoming queen would require a formal wedding, which could take at least a week to arrange.”

Mio hesitated, biting her lip softly, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.

“I…”

Rhea leaned closer abruptly, her expression uncharacteristically bold.

“Do you love him, my lady?”

Mio’s heart stilled at the sudden question. For a moment, she hesitated, her lips parting soundlessly. Finally, she whispered,

“I… I don’t know. No. No, I don’t. Of course I don’t…”

Rhea tilted her head gently.

“Then what did you feel when you accepted everything he did yesterday?”

Mio’s eyelashes fluttered, her gaze distant as she recalled those chaotic moments.

“It felt like… everything was happening too fast. But… I felt safe with him.”

Rhea considered her quietly before offering a gentle smile.

“The rumors about you were unfair, my lady, as was the treatment you endured. Perhaps this time… take the chance to explore this path. See where it leads. Maybe you’ll finally discover what you’ve truly been searching for.”

“Rhea…” Mio murmured softly, touched by her maid’s unexpected sincerity.

But just as quickly, Rhea’s serious demeanor evaporated, replaced by an eager sparkle in her eyes as she leaned in conspiratorially.

“Now tell me, my lady—how did His Highness look? I haven’t seen him clearly yet, but I’m dying to know! How handsome is he?”

Mio stared blankly at Rhea for a heartbeat, taken aback by her sudden enthusiasm. Then, considering her question seriously for a moment, Mio’s cheeks began to warm. She hurriedly hid her burning face once more in the pillow, mumbling shyly,

“…He isn’t so bad… I suppose.”

*****

An entire day.

Mio had spent an entire day lost in thought—wandering through the labyrinth of her mind, circling the same questions over and over again.

Rhea had been right.

There was still time. She could still go back.

But she hadn’t.

Lykos had been setting the pace all along, carrying her along like a tide too strong to resist. Everything he did moved forward, without hesitation, without pause—and because of that, Mio had been swept away. She hadn’t had time to catch her breath. Not until now.

Perhaps Lykos had realized that too. He hadn’t visited her once today.

It gave her space to think… to wonder…

What was she supposed to do?

Did she love Lykos?

Mio couldn’t say.

He had been her childhood friend, her constant companion since birth. She cared for him—of course she did—but love? That word felt too sharp, too fragile, like a porcelain glass too delicate to hold.

The truth was, she had never even allowed herself to think about loving him.

How could she?

She was the daughter of a marquis.

And he… he was the prince.

It was ridiculous.

Naturally, Mio had dreams. Of course she did. She was at the age where being without a suitor, fiancé, or husband was considered shameful, especially for a noble lady. Like anyone, she had longed for something more—someone to hold her hand and tell her she mattered. A place to rest her heart.

But with Lykos?

Could she really allow herself to dream of that?

Did she even want to?

In the heat of the moment, at the debutante ceremony, she had accepted everything he said. The way he pulled her close. The way he declared her his queen before the world. But everything had moved too fast—so fast she hadn’t even had time to understand what she was agreeing to.

It wasn’t until Rhea’s words echoed in her heart that she truly began to understand.

Her life… hadn’t it always been miserable?

Always trying to please her family.

Always stepping aside.

Always letting her little sister twist reality until Mio became the villainess in someone else’s story.

What had she ever done for herself?

When had she last allowed herself to want something—selfishly, honestly, without guilt?

Hadn’t she endured enough?

So now, just this once…

Couldn’t she be selfish?

These thoughts lingered in Mio’s mind like a prayer as she stood alone on the balcony, wrapped in a flowing white tunic, bathed in silver moonlight. Her gaze was locked on the night sky.

‘They say corruption is spreading through the capital these days…’

Just like that seer.

Just like the woman who had bled black and recited a song that chilled the soul.

Maybe the world truly was ending.

And if it was…

Then maybe she didn’t want to waste a second more of the time she had left.

The door behind her opened quietly.

Mio didn’t turn around.

A voice drifted into the night air behind her—familiar, quiet, calm.

“Did you make a choice?”

It was Lykos.

He hadn’t been told of her thoughts. She hadn’t said a word.

And yet he already knew.

Of course he did.

He always knew.

Mio’s lips curved upward ever so slightly—softly, silently, like the moonlight on her skin.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“I have.”

A choice had been made.

And perhaps… just this once…

…she might finally be happy.