Seraphina froze momentarily, a hint of disbelief on her face. This was the first time Lucien had ever asked her out on a date since their marriage. To be fair, they hadn't been married long—only a few months—and their union was decided by their parents, not by them.
Though their marriage wasn't born of romance, their relationship had been decent so far. Lucien, initially shy and distant, had grown more comfortable with her over time, and the same was true for Seraphina.
Seraphina didn't particularly like the idea of being in a relationship; she despised it. In this era, it was common to view the man as the head of the household, with the wife stripped of her authority and rights.
However, her perspective changed after living with Lucien and getting to know him better.
"All of a sudden?" she asked, confused but secretly delighted.
Lucien was silent for a while. "I mean, we don't have to go today. We can go after you've rested."
Lucien could see Seraphina was exhausted. After all, she wasn't just handling business matters; she was also fulfilling her responsibilities as crown princess and helping Lucien and Gareth with their workloads.
Seraphina looked thoughtful. She didn't want to refuse, but her body was truly protesting.
Eventually, she sighed. "Let's go out once I get some rest."
Lucien smiled gently. "Sure."
With that, the two of them enjoyed their meal, conversing as if it were their last day. This might have been the most extroverted Seraphina had ever seen Lucien, which confused her greatly.
'He really has become more confident,'
Seraphina thought, smiling softly as she observed Lucien's strange behavior. He was unusually talkative today, but Seraphina paid it no mind. Though unusual, it was a side of him she had always wanted to see. She barely responded, giving only brief replies, yet their conversation deeply captivated her.
Lucien didn't even realize he had been speaking more than usual; it was as if the original owner of this body had returned. However, the mood was too good for him to stop. From his perspective, he was simply doing what Lucien had always wanted to do.
Moments passed, and Seraphina finally got some rest. Meanwhile, Lucien took the opportunity to prepare for their date. He had searched for the best location, even asking Sage for suggestions, promising to buy the item Sage had been requesting in return.
In the blink of an eye, a day passed. Lucien was currently being dressed by his valet, ensuring his outfit was perfect. He had also asked Gareth to rent out the places he had shared with him for privacy.
Aside from that, he had also confronted Gareth about Sage's item. When he told Gareth, a confused expression clearly crossed his face, but he refrained from asking any questions. After all, Lucien was royalty, and questioning royalty was simply out of line. Though he had questioned Lucien before, it had been out of worry and for safety purposes.
And so, the search for the item was currently underway.
Lucien stood still, staring at the mirror and admiring his noble appearance.
He wore a cream-colored linen shirt tucked into dark trousers, his look relaxed yet noble. A silver ring on his finger quietly marked his status, while polished boots completed the understated ensemble.
His hair was styled as always: soft, slightly wavy, and parted to one side.
"How does it look, Your Highness?" Elias asked in his usual tone.
"It's great," Lucien answered neutrally, though deep down he was very satisfied.
'This guy would look great in any kind of clothing,' he thought.
Moments later, after examining his appearance to his satisfaction, he finally headed out. He went downstairs, where maids and butlers waited, greeting him with respect.
This time, the atmosphere felt much better, probably because some time had passed since his unusual changes.
Seraphina was already waiting in the carriage. As always, she was the first to be ready. That's how she had always been—very work-oriented—and that habit simply didn't fade, even for events like this where she was supposed to be having fun.
Lucien went straight to the royal carriage. Gareth opened the door for him, and there she was, sitting poised. For a moment, Lucien almost stumbled upon seeing her but managed to compose himself, just barely.
'Lucien's effect is still kicking in…'
However, even if she were Seojun, or anyone else, Seraphina's beauty simply stood out. Anyone would stumble upon her gaze.
Lucien sat beside her, feeling overwhelmed for some reason. He then turned his head toward her, trying to catch another glimpse.
Seraphina wore a soft lavender dress that flowed with her every step, paired with a light shawl draped over her shoulders. A silver hairpin glinted in her neatly tied hair, adding a graceful charm to her look.
He immediately turned away before she could notice.
'She really is beautiful… Lucien, you lucky bastard.'
Lucien tried to compose himself once again, striving to appear noble.
Their destination was the Hidden Lakeside Retreat, a private area owned by the royal family—basically Lucien's family. So, he didn't really need to rent it out; he just needed to ask for permission.
'Why the hell do I even need to ask for permission?'
'Whatever…'
This was also a part of Lucien's nature that Seojun really hated.
The carriage had started moving earlier, and they were currently on their way to the Hidden Lake Retreat, where their date was going to happen. He didn't plan to do anything sneaky, of course; he simply intended to do the things Lucien wanted to do, out of guilt, though it wasn't really his fault Lucien died and he was now in this body.
But still, Lucien had been such a great man. He'd feel ashamed to simply let things be.
The carriage rolled forward, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against stone filling the silence between them. Lucien stole another glance at Seraphina, her profile outlined by the pale sunlight filtering through the curtains. He wondered, not for the first time, what the real Lucien would have done in this moment—how he would have spoken, where he would have looked.
Somehow, he could imagine it.