The only person I liked was you

To Theron, a letter smelled more intoxicating than perfume, and the message, “I hope you will clear up that misunderstanding,” from Selene felt far more stimulating than any sweet rhetoric.
He had been a little worried that Selene might have forgotten about their fight and his abrupt departure, but this meant that she had been thinking about him continuously.
The fact that she had even sent a letter like this proved it.
It was a rare occurrence for Selene to write a letter or call him first.
The only problem was the content of the letter…
‘A meeting with Logan Pembroke?’
Theron’s lips twisted belatedly.
‘Whose idea was this?’
It seemed like the idea of Selene, who knew nothing of a man’s heart, but she wasn’t the type to be proactive enough to arrange such a meeting.
Then it must have been Logan Pembroke who had egged her on.
‘I don’t want to agree so readily.’
Theron knew that facing Logan was inevitable. Cantora was just too small.
Even if he refused now, if that side was curious about him, they would try to arrange a meeting somehow.
No, in fact, setting aside all those annoying things, what bothered Theron the most was the situation where Selene would meet that bastard Logan alone if he refused this proposal.
In that meeting, Logan Pembroke would act all regretful and paint him as a petty man who was jealous of a long-standing friendship.
‘…That won’t do.’
That terrible future finally made Theron move.
Theron, who had picked up a pen, began to write a reply right on the spot.
Since it was obvious why Logan Pembroke had instigated Selene to arrange this meeting, he would be as cooperative as possible.

[Selene, thank you for writing to me first.
I’ve been thinking about it a lot these past few days, and it occurred to me that I might have misunderstood. As you said, meeting in person and confirming will clear up any misunderstanding, so I think it’s a great idea. So, if you let me know the time, I will go to the appointed place. I’ll be waiting for your reply.
From Theron Cox.]

To Theron’s letter agreeing to the meeting, Selene’s reply arrived two days later.
The date was this Saturday at 2 p.m.
The place was the ducal estate.
Theron had to prepare himself mentally.
No matter what kind of silent battle took place at the ducal estate that day, the one who showed their animosity first would be the loser.
From what he had briefly looked into, Logan Pembroke also seemed to be a formidable opponent.
It was evident from the way everyone around him said he was difficult.
It could be because he was the only son of the grand ducal family in the empire, but considering the feeling of reverence even among the nobles, it was clear that he acted quite haughty.
But on the other hand, if the opponent was that kind of person, it might be more advantageous for him.
Because the more haughty a high noble was, the more he would be unable to stand the fact that a commoner like himself was his rival.
‘It would be great if he threw the first punch.’
‘No, he’s probably a wimp and can’t even imagine such a violent act.’
Theron, who was inwardly sneering at Logan, whom he didn’t even know the face of, headed to Selene’s mansion.
Still, for whatever reason he was visiting the ducal estate, it was a pleasant thing for Theron to be going down this familiar road again.
The road to meet Selene.
A lukewarm breeze blew through the open window.
The heat of summer was gradually fading, and it was a time when he would have to take a shower twice a day.
However, even though Theron detested the heat, the fact that summer was ending and autumn was approaching was not a good thing for him.
The arrival of autumn meant that winter was approaching.
And when winter came, Selene would go to study abroad on that distant continent.
Although he was glad that Selene had not cut him off coldly, the stuffiness that remained around Theron’s neck did not disappear.
If Selene’s heart did not turn around by then, nothing would change in the end.
‘It’s been a while.’
Theron, who had organized his miscellaneous thoughts and stopped his car in front of the huge main gate, looked up at the magnificent mansion.
How long had it been since he had set foot beyond this main gate?
Just by recalling that fact, Theron was able to forget about the things that would happen in the future or his worries about Selene’s study abroad and relax his expression.
As he walked into the mansion, he saw a woman standing in the entrance hall with a parasol.
It was Selene Ashcombe.
Even though she was in the shade, it looked as if a halo were shining only around Selene.
That was no longer a strange thing for Theron.
‘It’s because it’s Selene. Because it’s Selene.’
“You’re early.”
Even Selene’s indifferent voice as she acknowledged him was lovely.
This was surely a serious illness.
“To come earlier than Logan Pembroke.”
“Logan will be on time anyway. He’s not the type to arrive early and wait.”
“Then I’m glad.”
Theron naturally took Selene’s hand and escorted her.
Although it had been a long time since his last visit, he was so familiar with the location of the drawing-room that he could find it with his eyes closed.
However, as the drawing-room door closed and he was left alone with Selene, Theron became a little nervous.
Not because he was about to face Logan Pembroke, but because he was left alone with Selene in an enclosed space.
That fact made Theron’s heart tremble.
No matter how much time passed, this trembling never subsided.
“Are you hot?”
As Theron was fiddling with the button of his shirt for no reason, Selene asked.
“…No.”
‘More precisely, he was hot, but it wasn’t because of the temperature, but because of Selene.’
“By the way, have you been well?”
Theron smoothly changed the subject.
Selene nodded.
“Yes. Although there were some things.”
“What kind of things?”
“Evelyn came by.”
Selene said, her brow furrowing slightly.
‘Did Evelyn Ashcombe come by and say something else about Colonel Orlando Ashcombe…?’
As his thoughts reached that point, Theron’s head also became a little complicated.
Although he didn’t want to meet the colonel ever again, he wondered if he should meet him and settle the score for the foolish plan of the past.
‘Well, I probably don’t need to ask to meet him first.’
‘I might be caught by Selene in a meeting alone and cause a useless misunderstanding.’
“Theron, and you?”
At the sudden voice, Theron erased his thoughts and looked at Selene.
“Uh… huh?”
“How have you been? We parted on bad terms that day.”
‘That’s right…’

“That’s why I hate you sometimes. Because I only have you, but to you, I seem to be just one of many options.”

He had parted with her after expressing his disappointment like a sentimental girl.
He felt his face flush now.
“…I’ve been well.”
Although it was late, this was a neat way to save face.
“That’s a relief. But there’s something you should know.”
“Yes…?”
“There’s a part of what you said that day that was wrong.”
Selene began to speak in a serious voice.
“You told me that to you, I seemed to be just one of many options, but that’s not true.”
“…”
“My only option was also you, Theron Cox. That’s why I was so disappointed and angry. Because in the first place, the only person I liked was you.”
Theron was momentarily stunned.
‘…Does she just come in so suddenly like this?’
Theron felt his mouth go dry at Selene’s words, which he couldn’t tell if they were an explanation or a confession.
He had forgotten for a moment.
That Selene was a chef who cooked him best.
She had a knack for lifting and dropping a person.
Theron stared at Selene for a moment.
‘Ah, I want to kiss her.’
‘All over that delicate face. And it would be even better if it naturally led to a kiss.’
However, Theron had to do his best to suppress such a happy fantasy.
Before his clueless erection could spring up.
He had already shown that side of himself once at the art museum and had received a cold glare, so there was no need to receive it twice.
Above all, he was not in a state where he could rashly approach Selene just because she had taken a step closer.
“How about now?”
Theron tried his best to sound serious.
“Selene, do you still like me?”
Although he knew from her postponing her study abroad that she still had some feelings for him, hearing it from Selene’s own mouth was another matter.
“Theron Cox.”
But what came back was a firm call.
Just as he was about to cross the line she had drawn, Selene pushed him away with perfect timing.
And to top it off, an unwelcome guest.
“Sorry I’m late. I got a flat tire on the way.”
A tall man appeared from beyond the drawing-room door, which had been opened rudely without a knock.
Dark black hair and black eyes.
The elegant man, who couldn’t be imitated just by his posture even if he wasn’t a royal blonde, must have been Selene’s close friend.
Logan Pembroke, that is.