“Spare me the formality. I want your truth.” The prince's voice was soft, almost coaxing, yet an undercurrent of danger made Tuk’s skin prickle with unease. “You’re a historian, you should understand the value of stories and what makes them compelling.”

Tuk drew in a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his piercing gaze. “There’s someone I care about, yes. But love is more than just feelings; it’s about shared experiences, trust, and support. It’s not something you wield like a weapon.”

“Fascinating,” he said, leaning in slightly, his interest unmistakable. He’s toying with me. “So, tell me about this person. What makes them so special?”

The air in the room felt heavier, and Tuk’s mind raced as she considered her options. Should I reveal more? Or keep my guard up? It's about my sister anyway.

“I suppose... they’ve always supported me. They understand my passions, encourage me to pursue them,” she began cautiously. “But love isn’t just admiration. It’s accepting someone’s flaws, standing together through challenges.”

The prince’s expression shifted, his amusement giving way to genuine curiosity. “And do you believe you could trust them completely?”

“Yes.” The answer escaped before she could stop herself, the honesty slipping through her defenses. “But trust takes time to build.”

He chuckled softly, leaning closer, his voice a mix of amusement and menace. “Time. The one thing I don’t have much of. Very well, historian. Let’s see how quickly you can help me build trust in my court. I expect results sooner rather than later.”

Tuk felt a mix of relief and dread. This is only the beginning, she thought. But I can’t let him use me as a pawn.

“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll do my best,” she replied, determination solidifying inside her.

“Good. Now, let’s get to work. Tell me what I need to do.” His eyes gleamed, sharp and calculating—like a predator cornering its prey.

Tuk steadied herself, heart pounding. He isn’t playing games. She could feel it now—each moment they spent together, he was tightening his grip on her, and she was running out of room to maneuver.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to meet his gaze. If she wasn’t careful, this man would unearth every secret she was desperately trying to keep buried.

"If I may, Your Highness... isn’t what we’re doing illegal? I've heard that studying love is banned throughout the empire." Tuk met his gaze, her pulse racing.

Michaelli’s eyes flickered with amusement. "Ah, yes—the law established by my predecessor, banning the study and expression of love. It’s true that in the past, such knowledge was deemed dangerous, disruptive to the empire’s order. But let me make one thing clear, advisor: the laws of this empire bend to my will, not the other way around.

If I, the ruler of Marceau, have chosen to study love for my own purposes, then it is no longer illegal. My word is law. And while the previous king may have feared the chaos that love could bring, I see its potential as a tool—one that, under my control, can be mastered and wielded for the empire’s benefit."

His voice dropped, cold and deliberate. "So, advisor, rest assured: what we are doing is not only permitted but necessary. If anyone questions it, they will find themselves on the wrong side of my authority. I trust that you understand the gravity of what we are undertaking, but also the protection that comes with my favor.

Now, shall we continue? Or are there more concerns weighing on your mind?"

I couldn’t argue with that. Tuk’s thoughts spun.

This is the ruler Marco warned me about. I need to rethink my approach and understand his motivations. If this were a project of mine, the prince would be my client, and his persona doesn’t match the data I’ve gathered from the warriors. He’s not just brute force. This is the prince that Marco mentioned—a true ruler. I have to adjust my strategy and build a better connection. First, I need to assess what he knows and what he doesn’t. Only then can I pinpoint the disconnect and find a solution to my own predicament.

"You seem far more knowledgeable about love than I expected, Your Highness." Tuk’s voice remained calm, but inside, her pulse quickened. She could feel the danger closing in like a noose tightening around her neck. One wrong word, one slip, and he would see through her act. She forced a small smile, hiding the growing unease gnawing at her stomach. "I apologize for the rude comment I made during our meeting back in Homonhon."

Michaelli's gaze lingered on her a moment longer, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head slightly, the faintest smirk playing at the corners of his mouth—a predator watching his prey falter. Tuk felt the chill of his attention, every nerve in her body on high alert. She had to be careful now. If he realized what she was hiding, there would be no escape. The room suddenly felt smaller, the air thicker, as if the walls themselves were closing in.

"Ah, so you've finally realized." Prince Michaelli leans back slightly, a faint smirk pulling at the corners of his lips. His golden eyes fixed on Tuk, sharp and calculating, weighing her every word. "Apologies are easy to offer, but understanding takes more time. You thought me ignorant, didn't you?"

He rises slowly, each movement deliberate, and steps closer. His gaze never wavers as he tilts his head, examining her like a puzzle he's almost finished solving.

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"Love is no different from war, Tuk. Strategy, deception, vulnerability—all tools at my disposal. It's amusing that you assumed I'd be blind to its uses just because it was forbidden." His smirk widens as he stops just in front of her, his voice softening but losing none of its edge. "So tell me, what else did you miscalculate?"

She flinched inwardly. Stay calm. He’s just testing you. Don’t make the same mistake again.

"To be honest, Your Highness, when you asked, 'What is love?' and I saw how the other historians reacted when I mentioned it back in Homonhon, I thought that the people of the Marceau Empire didn’t know about love—since it was banned so long ago. If I may ask without being rude, did Your Highness begin studying it after learning about the heart from the Prince of Homonhon?"

Prince Michaelli's eyes narrow slightly, his smirk fading into something more contemplative. He doesn't answer immediately, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make me feel its weight.

"You’re not entirely wrong," he says, his voice smooth but carrying an edge of amusement. "The people of Marceau were deprived of love for generations. It was purged from our language, our history, our very way of life. But," he steps closer to Tuk his gaze grows sharper, "you underestimate me if you think I would rely solely on the ramblings of a foreign prince to grasp its meaning."

His fingers lightly tap his chin as he continues, "What the Prince of Homonhon said about the heart… it sparked my curiosity. But curiosity alone doesn’t lead to understanding. I’ve studied it—more than anyone here would dare to admit. And I’ve seen how love can be manipulated, how it can be used as a weapon or a shield." His eyes flicker with intensity, as if seeing far beyond the present.

"Tell me, Tuk—did you think you could teach me something I haven’t already considered?" His voice lowers, a challenge in his tone. "Did you hope to control me with a concept I’ve come to understand better than those who claim to cherish it?"

Tuk stood frozen, her pulse echoing in her ears. Only one word came to mind: Shit.

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. For centuries, my empire has shunned it, not because we feared it… but because we understood its potential to unravel everything."

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 intense. "You see, Tuk, 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. She can see her reflection in him. 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."

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, Tuk?"

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 is it something more?"

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. Could he already suspect? Was this all a test?

"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.