How dare he touch you

"You know a place called home, huh?" said Selah that morning when she finally saw Aeneas after so many days.

Aeneas laughs–he always laughs at everything. "Of course. How could I leave my wife like that?" he said, then kissed Selah on the cheek.

Selah hastily dodged even though it was useless. "Do you have to kiss me in front of your knights?" she hissed with embarrassment.

"Oh, come on. It's them who should look away, right?" teased Aeneas. He tried to kiss Selah again but failed. "Besides, why are you at the training ground like this, anyway?"

"For what else? Of course, to vent my frustration."

"To my poor knights? Man, I think they need some more practice."

"We are ready to carry out His Highness' orders!" answered the knights who heard Aeneas' words.

Aeneas waved at those still holding out after Selah had slaughtered them. "Don't let you lose to your princess, okay?" he said casually. He turned to Selah. "Then, how do you feel now after slaying my knights? I hope it's better."

"Well, not bad. I'll only feel good if you bring good news," Selah admitted.

"Haha, you doubt me, huh?" The two of them started to leave the practice arena. "Everything went well, thanks to Blair's help."

"What?"

"Don't be so surprised. Don't you think he will help?"

"Why should I think that Crown Prince Blair will help?"

"Who knows." Aeneas shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe because he still loves you?"

Those words made Selah stop in her tracks for a moment. Those words… disturbed her a bit.

Because of what happened at the park a few days ago.

Even though Blair didn't touch her, the uncomfortable feeling of their closeness was hard to shake off. She felt… uncomfortable and disgusted. Selah sensed something wrong with the way Blair was approaching.

"I know Blair helped. Did something happen between you two in my absence?" asked Aeneas cautiously. He seemed to have noticed the change in Selah's attitude.

"Not really," Selah muttered. She rubbed her ear subconsciously, right where Blair had whispered that time. "I was just shocked."

As if he couldn't believe what he just said, Aeneas stared deeply at Selah. Selah became embarrassed and looked away, not wanting Aeneas to guess what was on her mind.

"I don't know how you feel, but I have," whispered Aeneas. Slowly, he intertwined his fingers with Selah's. "How dare he touch you," he growled then.

Selah exhaled a long breath. "Crown Prince Blair just… grabbed my hand. But, well, I have to admit I was scared because it was just the two of us. Luckily I managed to dodge afterward," she later admitted. "It happened because of my stupidity. I shouldn't be alone with another man when I already have a husband."

"Can I touch you?"

"Huh?"

"You asked the same thing after I told you my story."

Oh, at that time, right, thought Selah. "Yeah, that's fine," she said doubtfully. Aeneas hugs her gently then. "Sorry if I stink of sweat."

"You increased my confidence to kill him, Selah. Thank You."

Adding to my conviction to kill him, Selah repeated to herself. If Aeneas said so, there must have been a time when he hesitated to kill Blair.

Well, but even so, if Aeneas can't do it, Selah will gladly do it.

Blair's humiliation back then and his betrayal… Selah would never be able to forgive him.

***

Perhaps because of hearing Blair's humiliation, Aeneas still hasn't told how Evanthe's problem is. Selah wouldn't force him either because, to be honest, at this moment, she still felt a little uncomfortable hearing the names of the two. And in fact, it wasn't even Evanthe that was bothering Selah.

But Blair.

Is this what Aeneas feels for King Tristan? How he could hold it all these years, Selah thought, rubbing her wrists.

Apart from that, this uncomfortable feeling shows that Selah is aware that she is not as strong as Blair from all sides. At that time, she was lucky to get away from Blair. But what about next? Will Selah manage to avoid Blair in Aeneas's absence?

Moreover… Aeneas thinks that Blair might still love Selah. He thought Blair's feelings were regret for cheating on Evanthe.

"Then what do you want?" muttered Selah.

After that brief conversation with Aeneas, Selah unconsciously kept a little distance. That day, she spent time in the library and turned down Catalina's invitation to have tea. She knew it was impolite, but what if Blair suddenly appeared and acted like nothing had happened?

Just that evening, a maid arrives and asks if Selah wants to have dinner alone with Aeneas.

Seeing Aeneas, who was very sensitive by emphasizing the word "just the two of us," Selah agreed.

"Dinner will be served on the balcony of your room, Your Highness. Sir Azel is ready to see you off now," said the maid.

"Oh." Selah was quite surprised to hear that. She didn't expect Aeneas to be that sensitive. "Okay. I will go now."

Outside the library, Azel's figure was already visible. How shocked Selah was when she saw Azel's battered face. It wasn't bad, but it was obvious he had just been hit.

"What happened to you, Sir Azel?" Selah asked doubtfully. As far as she could remember this morning, Azel was still okay.

"Not something you need to worry about, Your Highness," Azel replied.

The problem was, how could Selah not be worried? Azel is a knight that Aeneas trusts. If he got hurt, that would mean something had happened to Aeneas too.

What kind of person managed to hit Azel? thought Selah secretly. She was confident enough to run away from Azel if this guy attacked her, but to beat him up–well, that was another matter.

"Your Highness." Azel stopped his steps when they reached the corridor of Selah's room. "Please let me escort you personally. If you feel uncomfortable with my presence, I can watch over you from a distance."

"Th-then what about Prince Aeneas?" she asked. "No, no. Why do you have to do it? Prince Aeneas and Queen Consort Catalina need you more than me, right?"

"Because I… have made a mistake," said Azel. He suddenly bowed deeply and said, "Please consider it first, Your Highness."

"Err–if that's the case, fine," Selah muttered doubtfully.

Selah went into her room. The balcony door appears to be open, and the figure of Aeneas is seen standing on the edge.

When Selah approached and was about to greet him, she realized something.

Aeneas' right hand is wrapped in bandages as if he had been injured recently.