Tuk's forced her hands to stay still in her lap, even as her fingers trembled with the weight of his words. It took every ounce of self-control to keep her voice steady while her mind screamed at her to run. But there was no escape—not from a man like Michaelli.

"No, of course not, Your Highness! I would never dare. My intention was only to understand how much you know about it. I'm curious about your perception of love, because teaching someone how to love is a complex and delicate task. Love is deeply personal, shaped by individual experiences, emotions, and understanding."

'Of course, he'd have to stand so close. Did no one in this world understand personal space? Prince Charming, he was not!'

Prince Michaelli watches Tuk closely, a flicker of amusement crossing his face at the sudden shift in her tone. But Tuk remains still, keeping her posture steady, even as her mind races. The prince takes a step back, as if granting the historian a moment of reprieve, yet his golden eyes remain fixed on her, measuring her words.

"How thoughtful of you, Tuk," he says softly, though there's an unmistakable edge to his voice. "You're right—love is personal, complex, and delicate, as you put it. But it's also dangerous, unpredictable."

He folds his arms across his chest, his eyes darkening as he continues. "You think love, pure and unmanipulated, has a place in this world?" Michaelli's lips curled into a cold smile. "Love makes people irrational, blinds them to reality. It pushes them to sacrifice everything—kingdoms, empires, lives—without a second thought. Why would I surrender myself to such a force when I can wield it against others? It's not love that destroys—it's those who don't know how to harness it."

A long pause follows, and then Michaelli leans in slightly, his gaze become intense. "You see, I don't need to feel love to control it. Understanding how others perceive it—how they're driven by it—is enough. And that's why I'm curious about you." He studies my reaction for a moment before adding, "You say it's delicate, shaped by experiences… But tell me, what experience do you have with love?" His voice is almost teasing now, but the challenge is clear.

Tuk felt a pang in her chest. She has never experienced love herself, and the prince's ideals about it mirror her own. They share the same vision of love since she watched everyone around her ruin themselves with it. 'But I won't let you dig deeper into my past.' Tuk thought.

"I understand your curiosity, Your Highness, but I don't believe my experience with love is particularly relevant here. After all, I'm not the one seeking to understand the heart or desiring the dragon's power." She say humbly, maintaining a dignified expression. "My role is different, so it's not necessary for me to have that experience. Now that you know the power love holds, what will you do when you need to learn how to love? Of course, I'm talking about love without a hint of deception or manipulation."

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Prince Michaelli's eyes flash with a mix of intrigue and challenge at her words. He remains silent for a moment, contemplating the historian's response, before letting out a low chuckle, though there's no warmth in it.

"Ah, Tuk, ever so clever." His tone is smooth, almost playful, but there's a coldness beneath the surface. "You dance around the question, avoiding the heart of it, while suggesting that I'm somehow incomplete without experiencing love in its purest form—untainted by manipulation or deception."

The prince steps closer, his gaze never leaving the historian, and his voice drops to a whisper, though the intensity remains. "Do you think that makes love more powerful, more true? I wonder… Why would I ever need to surrender myself to such a force, stripped of my defenses, leaving myself vulnerable like a fool?"

Straightening, his eyes narrow as if weighing her words "To answer your question—if I needed to learn how to love without deception, without manipulation, I would treat it as I would any weapon: with precision, strategy, and control. But…" he pauses, his smirk returning, "love without those things is like stepping onto a battlefield without armor. Do you truly think I would do that?"

He watches the historian carefully before continuing, "Or perhaps you believe you can teach me this 'pure' version of love. I wonder, Tuk—what's your real goal in this? Are you so curious, or do you wish to manipulate me using this so-called...love?"

Every word Michaelli spoke was a reminder that he was playing a game far more dangerous than she could have imagined. But it was the way his golden eyes seemed to linger on her, as if he already knew… As if he had known all along. Tuk swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry.

"My only goal is to help Your Highness achieve what you seek. That's why we historians continue transcribing the scroll as swiftly as possible. I'll never forget how you saved my life from the Emperor. But now that I understand your views on love... I can't help but wonder what specific value you saw in me for this appointment, Your Highness, especially when it's clear you already possess so much knowledge on the matter." Tuk added, meeting the prince's gaze, "You already seem to know a great deal—even studying it despite the ban."

Prince Michaelli's expression softened ever so slightly, though the calculating gleam in his eyes remained. He clasped his hands behind his back, stepping closer, as if sharing a secret meant only for Tuk's ears.

"Ah, Tuk, you misunderstand," he began, his voice low but laced with certainty. "I didn't appoint you as my love advisor because I needed your knowledge. I did it because I needed you." He watched her carefully, each word deliberate. "You've proven yourself resourceful, cunning, and unpredictable—qualities I value far more than any understanding of love."

The prince turns away for a moment, pacing slowly as if gathering his thoughts. "The historians continue to serve a purpose in this grand game of ours, transcribing the scrolls, unraveling secrets. But you, Tuk, are more than that. You think differently—you think like me." His golden eyes flicker back to the historian, sharp as ever.

'Is that an insult?' She muttered to herself.

"Your appointment wasn't about teaching me love, no. It was about positioning you close enough to see what others miss. You're a strategist in your own right, and I suspect that's what makes you uncomfortable—knowing that this role I've given you isn't about love at all, but about power."

He stops in front of her, the smirk returning. "You say you wish to help me achieve what I seek? Then continue to play your part, Tuk. There's much more to this game than love—and you're far too valuable to waste on simple matters of the heart."

Tuk blinks, barely breathing from her seat. Her thoughts spiral. She can see the invisible chain trapping her, but she cannot do anything to avoid it. She is trapped.

To be isekai'd in another world? Sure, I can accept that. Go to war? Okay, I barely survived that. But to be in this kind of situation with this kind of prince? Can I at least have a prince from one of those romance-fantasy novels?

Sure, he looks like those hot princes, but he's too terrifying! At this rate, he's bound to discover my true identity sooner or later. It feels like he's igniting my candle of life, and the more time I spend with him, the faster the wax melts away. I might end up dead in this story without anyone knowing my tale.

Please, can someone just hit a truck already and possess my body? I'd be happy to trade our souls rather than wither away in this man's hands.