Three Lives Shattered She Chose the Throne Over Love

Then, outside the Eastern Palace, I ran into Lester Vance.

He was helping Scarlett down from a carriage.

His gaze was indulgent, almost tender. "I've delivered you safely. Satisfied now?"

Scarlett laughed, sweet as spun sugar. "No one treats me better than you, brother."

"But didn't you have plans with Miss Black today? It's all my fault for being so timid and insisting you escort me into the palace. She won't be upset with me, will she?"

Lester waved it off. "Don't worry about that. Your business comes first."

I remembered this day from my past life. Lester and I had made plans to go boating on the lake.

He'd told me something urgent had come up with the Crimson Guard.

I'd waited by the lake all day, watching the water until the sun went down.

So his urgent military business had been escorting Scarlett to the palace.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

Lester seemed to sense something and turned toward where I stood.

His eyes widened. "Norma?"

I didn't answer.

His expression froze.

He walked toward me.

"What are you doing here? Did you receive the invitation I sent?"

When I said nothing, he kept talking, filling the silence himself.

He'd already decided what this was.

"You must have received it. And then found out where I'd be, so you dressed up and came here on purpose."

"I reserved a bottle of the new Drunken Lotus from The Pinecrest Pavilion. I was going to share it with you on the lake."

"Since you're already here, that saves me a trip to the Black residence."

Drunken Lotus...

My mind drifted for a moment.

I remembered being a little girl, mistaking Drunken Lotus for tea and gulping it down.

I'd slept for three days straight. The memory pulled a faint smile from me despite everything.

Lester's expression softened. He reached for my hand. "I knew it. I knew you'd like that."

"Norma, you've given me the cold shoulder long enough. Whatever anger you had, surely it's passed by now."

"Let's go back to the way things were. In a few days, I'll petition the Imperial Observatory to set an auspicious date, and I'll marry you properly."

My smile didn't waver. I listened quietly until he finished.

Then I pulled my hand free. "I'm a candidate in the bride selection. You are an outside official, General. This kind of contact is improper."

Lester went still.

He stared at me in disbelief. "What did you just say?"