The Reason Why She Can’t Get Married - Chapter 36

Schedule: Tuesday and Friday

Chapter 36

‘….I sent the Tower Lord enough to cover the shirt, so it should be fine.’

It had been an accident, but she couldn’t forget his icy gaze. Selena quickly averted her eyes. Even if it wasn’t about the marriage, she didn’t want to be entangled with the Tower Lord. Thankfully, Raymond soon looked away as well. The sharp gaze that had been piercing her side vanished, and Selena let out a sigh of relief.

Just then, a loud voice echoed from the entrance.

“His Imperial Highness, Prince Maximilian, has arrived!”

The entire banquet hall buzzed with excitement. It was customary for royalty to arrive last at such events, so the sudden appearance of the Prince, with barely half the guests present, was bewildering.

Ignoring the unspoken rules, Maximilian strode confidently through the tables. His silver hair, neatly combed, shimmered under the colored glass lamps, its brilliance undimmed.

“You look stunning today, Your Highness…”

Selena, trying to avoid attracting Maximilian’s attention, lowered her head. She couldn’t help but raise her face when she heard the faint murmur. Who was calling the Prince with such a heartfelt voice?

As soon as she saw the speaker, Selena regretted it. It was Charlotte Flotte, the young lady who had been unceremoniously dumped by Maximilian just recently. And as if sensing the voice, Maximilian’s red eyes, which had been fixed ahead, suddenly turned towards them.

‘Oh, damn it.’

She had been caught by Maximilian.

Upon spotting Selena, Maximilian turned without hesitation. Realizing that he was walking straight towards her, Selena’s face turned pale.

No! Don’t come here, don’t come here, please don’t come here!

“It’s been a while, Lady Selena.”

She had begged him not to come, but Maximilian had already pulled out the chair next to her and sat down.
“That seat is taken…,” Selena said.

“I am the Prince.”

“I meant that Your Highness is the one who is taking the seat.”

Selena forced a smile at Maximilian, who sat with his legs crossed, looking arrogant.

“That arm. I heard you hurt it doing something reckless.” Maximilian pointed to Selena’s right arm, which was wrapped in bandages.

“I was walking with the Princess when a statue fell and I got hurt.”

“So, if you had refused the commission in the first place, why would you be walking with Gabriella?”

“Even if it wasn’t a commission, I’m close to the Princess. She offered to be my friend,” Selena retorted, her voice slightly choked, and Maximilian chuckled.

“So, you’re quite ambitious to be friends with the Princess, aren’t you?”

“That’s not true. I genuinely get along well with the Princess.”

“Of course you do. Most people try to get close to Gabriella to catch my eye. But you, you’re the only one with a different reason, I suppose,” Maximilian said, tapping his foot, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Selena hid her clenched fist under the tablecloth. If she didn’t, she might just forget he was a Prince and give him a good whack.

“Still, you did one thing right. You saved Gabriella before Dominic.”

“.…”

“Thanks to you, Gabriella won’t fall for that guy again. Ah, I guess it’s a pity for you.”

Maximilian sneered, still believing that Selena was pushing the two of them together.

But when he didn’t receive a response, his eyes narrowed.

“What’s wrong? Regrets?”

“….Yes.”
“Why? You wanted Dominic Dixon and Gabriella to be together.”

That was true, until the Imperial Ball. Selena averted her gaze. How could she tell him she had changed her mind without sounding too embarrassed? She hesitated, then spoke, “I’m against Dixon and the Princess being together now.”

“What?”

Maximilian furrowed his brow, looking bewildered. Then, a sly smile crept onto his lips. “Ah, so you finally understand what I’m saying.”

“No,” Selena replied immediately, her voice firm. She glanced at him, wondering if she had been too blunt.

The Prince’s temper was not something to be trifled with. In fact, Selena’s resolute denial had made Maximilian’s expression sour.

“No, it’s not that I don’t understand. No, it’s true. I don’t just give my clients what they want.”

“One minute you’re lecturing me about not ignoring love, and the next you’re changing your mind so easily. You’re a fickle one, Lady Selena.”

“When did I say that? I still believe that love shouldn’t be ignored, but as Your Highness said, Dixon doesn’t seem like a good man.”

Maximilian tapped the table with his fingers, saying, “I guess you’ve suddenly developed an eye for men.”

“I’ve always had an eye for people. I just hadn’t met Dixon personally before the ball,” Selena argued desperately. Maximilian’s eyes narrowed at her desperate plea.