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Engagement.

For royalty, the process of selecting a spouse was lengthy and complicated.

First, a list of candidates was compiled and then rigorously tested. Politics, scheming, and cutthroat competition were all normal parts of the selection process.

Eventually, one candidate would triumph and, in turn, receive an official offer of marriage.

Most of the time, the one seeking a spouse had little involvement with the selection. As a result, a loveless marriage was typical--not just among royalty, but among upper classes as well.

The days of concubines and multiple spouses were far behind, however, so lovers had to be taken in as mistresses, without a title and, therefore, powerless against the one who bore the title.

Kel had spent enough time by Adriell's side, and occasionally in her place, to know that even the princess's seemingly rushed political marriage had a great amount of diplomacy and consideration behind it.

For the ruler of a great empire, the rules regarding the choosing of an empress were even more strict. How could he expect to secure his position without the support of important figures, sealed by the law of marriage?

But at the very, VERY least...

Shouldn't the man propose before finalizing the engagement? Or.. make his partner aware of his intentions?

"Um.. did you say engagement?" Kel bolted up, her eyes widening.

"Mmm," Calix hummed.

"Whose?" Kel demanded.

"..."

"What was that?"

"Ours."

"Ours as in you? And me?"

"Mmmm," Calix murmured again, burying his face in the pillow.

"Excuse me!" Kel shook the drowsy man's shoulder. "That's not something you can say casually and then go to sleep!"

"Ugghh," Calix groaned, lifting his head. "Isn't it obvious?"

"Obvious?! What about this seems obvious to you?" Kel fired back. "You can't go and set up an engagement on your own! I'm too young to consider marriage!"

"Too young?" Calix rolled his eyes. "You'd end up marrying me anyway, so what's the difference?"

"Ha? What makes you so sure!" Kel folded her arms with a huff.

What was supposed to be the most romantic moment in a couple's life was quickly turning into another argument.

But how could Calix have just gone ahead and planned their engagement without her consent? The two of them had never discussed what their current relationship was, much less marriage!

On top of that, they'd known each other for less than a year and hadn't exactly been on great terms for all that time.

The more Kel thought about it, the more upset it made her.

She grabbed a pillow from behind her and began smacking Calix furiously.

Seriously, what was this crazy Dragon Emperor thinking?!

As he was barraged by haphazard pillow hits, Calix grunted, his drowsy squint turning into a glare.

With a move belying his body's supposed poor condition, he wrenched the pillow from Kel's hands and pinned her to the bed.

"Considering we've already shared a bed," he growled, "what exactly are you 'too young' for?"

"T-that's not what I meant!" Kel shrieked, struggling against the man's weight.

"So you just planned to take the Dragon Emperor's body as you please and then run?" Calix pressed harder, causing shooting pain in her wrists. "Little vixen."

"Vixen?!" Kel took a sharp breath in, her fists clenching.

Why was Calix hurling insults like he was the one who had been wronged?

There was an obvious instigator of their late night escapades, and it wasn't like a man had to get married just for spending the night with a woman.

If anyone, she should be upset about the emperor stealing her purity! He should be the one taking responsib-

Oh right. He was.

Taking responsibility.

By marrying her.

"Haa," Kel let out a sigh. "... Calix. It hurts."

Above her, Calix's face softened first and then his grip.

".. I'm sorry," he muttered, settling back down next to her. "For hurting you, but-"

He turned toward her, eyes blazing with determination.

"You will marry me."

Again, Kel thought of his threat to tie her to his side. Was this his way of fulfilling it? Tying her to him through marriage?

But, in this case, it wasn't as plain as two people getting married.

How could anyone approve of a young girl from an enemy kingdom as the Empress?

She'd never given any thought to taking such a position, and, regardless how she felt about Calix, it wasn't something she wanted.

Was she supposed to stand by his side while he conquered the continent? A mission she had no passion for and up until recently, despised entirely.

Marrying the Dragon Emperor didn't mean just attaching herself to Calix, it meant attaching herself to the Serin Empire.

At eighteen years old, wasn't she too young to make such a big decision for her life?

Somehow, she felt a pang of pity for the nineteen-year-old Calix that had usurped the throne from the previous emperor.

At that time, had he also been afraid?

Or.. was he still afraid?

"After all, we don't know much about each other," Kel whispered, Calix's familiar scarlet irises suddenly seeming full of mystery.

"What do you mean?" Calix scooted closer to her, extending his hand. "I know that you gasp when I kiss you here."

Kel flinched as he laid his fingers against her thigh.

"And that you curl your toes when I do this."

Cupping her cheek with his other hand, he closed his lips around her earlobe.

"And, most importantly.." pulling out of the kiss, he whispered, "I know that you're mine."

As he spoke, his words quiet yet absolute, Kel realized, once again, how dangerous this man was.

Perhaps, she knew him better than she thought.

And she knew that once he set his mind to something, he would never let go.

Of the Empire.

Of the continent.

And of her.

A shiver ran down her spine as the Emperor pressed his lips against her cheek.

Suddenly, the frightening tyrant she grew up fearing and the affectionate man who had marked her entire body with his kisses melded into the same person.

A man who loved her and, despite the way he occasionally bent to her whims, was determined to possess her.

"You can stay as my fiancé for as long as you want," Calix spoke again, tangling his fingers in Kel's hair.

"But you will marry me."