Luna couldn't think of anything, her face numb, her thoughts scattered like birds fleeing a thunderclap. She barely noticed the palace maids bowing or whispering as she passed. Her mind was stuck in the throne hall, in that moment, in that voice:
"The one who always amazed me... was you."
She sat on the chariot, staring at nothing.
He meant it.
That wasn't just some royal poetry. That was real.
And that scared her more than anything else.
The Emperor—her sister's husband—was not a cold tyrant or a villain with a twisted desire for power. No. He was kind. Patient. And... heartbreakingly honest.
That made it worse.
Because if he were a monster, she could fight him.
But kindness? That was a battle she didn't know how to win.
After the meeting with the Emperor, Luna, as Indradevi, returned back to her chamber. In the chamber, Luna was so stressed thinking about what the Emperor had said to her, it makes her goosebump. She cursed beneath her breath, "Awful! I couldn't stand with that! How? How could he say that words to his older sister-in-law? Geeze, this man is so …" Luna almost cursed the emperor in front of her maids; Nanny, Jenny and Jesse. But she couldn't. She sneaked at her maids, their doing their works; cleaning and tidying the chamber. The arrogant, stubborn Luna, after the emperor shamelessly confessed his feelings to her, no, no, no, to Indradevi, Luna really wants to escape from this world.
I don't want a husband yet, what should I do?
Luna wept alone as she get so stressed about her destiny as Queen Indradevi now. Suddenly, she was confessed to. And to be honest, it's the first time in her life when someone confessed to her, but, this is the emperor of Khmer Dynasty! How? She would be so excited if it's not him but a single handsome instead. This is so unfair! Luna murmured alone,
"I've never been confessed to before, most of the time I was the one who confessed first; but always get rejected. This is so unfair! It's my first time! But why is the emperor? Why him? Why the emperor confessed his feelings to me? Augh!"
Hearing the princess crying alone…but, what was that? The maids stunned, Luna keeps screaming out loud, "Why was the emperor? Why him?!". The maids, Jesse and Jenny, go to comfort the crying baby Luna. "Your Royal Highness,", they wanted to say something to comfort her so much, but this problem is far beyond they can say; they dare not even utter a word related to the emperor, or their head won't be safe anymore.
After crying for about an hour, Luna's eyes were swollen like overripe lychees. Her eyeliner was smudged—though that was probably from last week—and her royal dignity had long since drowned in a pool of self-pity.
She sniffled, curled up on her silk-draped bed like a spoiled dumpling. "I hate this place. I hate this era. I hate royal drama! I just want to go back to the future, marry a nerdy graphic designer, and live in an apartment with strong Wi-Fi!"
Nanny entered with a tray of warm tea and sat beside her gently. "Your Royal Highness, please drink this. It may help you feel better."
Luna peeked up through her messy bangs, voice muffled against the pillow. "Will it take me home?"
Nanny blinked. "...No, but it's calming. With jasmine."
"Then it's useless," Luna mumbled, but she took the cup anyway and sipped it between sniffling sobs.
Just then—
System Notification: Emotional Distress Detected. Would you like to activate Emergency Protagonist Support Mode™?
Luna glared at the air. "Are you kidding me?! You think now's a good time to give me protagonist support?! You're the reason I'm crying!"
System: The Male Lead's confession has triggered a critical emotional turning point. Congratulations! You have unlocked: Love Crisis Level 1.
"Oh, shut UP," she barked out loud, startling her maids.
Jenny leaned toward Jesse and whispered, "Is... Her Highness possessed?"
"Possibly," Jesse whispered back.
System: Please choose a response:
Accept your fate with grace Reject love and prepare to suffer Run into the forest and scream
Luna squinted at the invisible screen. "Where's option D? Reboot the universe and let me go home?!"
System: That function is currently unavailable. Please complete your Protagonist Arc to unlock further options.
"I'm going to uninstall you," Luna growled under her breath.
But even as she raged, a strange ache settled into her chest. Beneath the sarcasm and dramatic tears, something inside her felt the Emperor's words. The way he spoke—not as a ruler, but as a man remembering the girl who once dared to say no.
It was terrifying.
Because it was real.
Luna rolled over, face buried in a pillow again. "Nope. I'm still rejecting this. I'm not ready for romance. I just learned how to boil water without burning the pot."
Jenny stepped forward nervously. "Your Royal Highness, should we prepare your face for tonight's banquet?"
"Banquet?" Luna peeked up, horrified. "You mean I have to go outside?! With my puffy eyes?! I look like a sad frog!"
Jesse giggled. "A beautiful frog, Your Highness."
Luna flopped dramatically. "I swear, if the Emperor shows up and looks at me again with those deep, tragic eyes, I will cry. Again. And I don't have enough face masks to recover!"
Still, she rose from the bed, dragging her feet like a cursed soul.
In her mind, the Emperor's voice echoed once more:
"The one who always amazed me… was you."
She pressed her hands to her cheeks and screamed silently into the void.
The royal banquet was exactly as Luna feared—too formal, too loud, and filled with too many people who looked at her like she'd grown three heads. Or maybe they were just wondering why the Emperor had been staring at her during court lately.
She arrived late on purpose, hoping to sneak in unnoticed. Dressed in a layered, lavender silk outfit with extra concealer under her eyes, she looked regal—if a bit emotionally sleep-deprived.
"I'll just sit in a quiet corner, eat something fried, and avoid eye contact," she muttered to herself as she stepped into the grand hall.
The sound of harps and drums echoed through the golden chamber. Courtiers mingled around long tables filled with tropical fruits, grilled meats, and jasmine rice wrapped in lotus leaves.
The moment she walked in, heads turned.
So much for sneaking in.
She plastered on a fake smile and tried to move toward a less visible seat, only for a herald to loudly announce:
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Indradevi of the Khmer Empire!"
Luna flinched. "Seriously?! You could've whispered that, bro."
She scanned the room—and her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.
Sukhothai was already seated near the high table, resplendent in bronze and deep blue. His posture perfect. His face unreadable. Like a statue carved from stone and duty.
Luna's heart leapt.
But then—nothing.
No nod. No wave. No trace of recognition. Just a faint glance in her direction, then back to his goblet of wine.
What...?
She blinked. How can he just sit there like we didn't almost hold hands under the stars two nights ago? We shared a date! Mangoes! Eye contact!
But before she could overthink too hard, her nameplate caught her eye.
Right beside the Emperor's.
"No. Nope. Not doing this. There must be a mistake."
System Notification: Seat assignment was specially arranged by Narrative Optimization Protocol.
She gritted her teeth. "Narrative Optimization my—"
"Princess Sister-in-law," came a calm, familiar voice behind her.
She turned. And there he was.
Emperor Jayavarman VII, draped in white and gold, his expression composed but quietly intense. His eyes held that same look that made her want to run and hide under a palace carpet.
"Would you join me?" he asked.
She took the seat with all the enthusiasm of someone sitting on a live grenade.
The banquet began. Dishes were served. Wine poured. Conversations blossomed around them—but Luna was acutely aware of the two men at her sides.
To her left: the Emperor, calm and unshakable, gently offering her dishes like they were already married.
To her right—several seats down—Sukhothai, silent and unreadable, not even sparing her a second glance.
Luna stabbed at her rice, her emotions boiling like soup in an uncovered pot. He's really not going to say anything? Not even a smirk? Not even a secret glance?! Did that date mean nothing to him?!
The Emperor's voice pulled her back.
"Have you been resting well?"
"Mm-hmm," she replied, forcing a tight smile.
"You speak less today."
"I'm working on inner peace," she mumbled.
He raised an eyebrow slightly, amused. "And how is that going?"
She sighed. "Turbulent."
To her dismay, Sukhothai chuckled—just barely—but didn't look at her.
Oh, now you laugh? What is happening? Why are men so confusing in every century?!
System Notification:
Romantic Proximity Activated.
Atmosphere Modifier: 15% Intimacy Increase.
Emotional Confusion Level: Rising.
Luna screamed internally.
And then, just to make her life worse, her chopsticks slipped again. The Emperor caught her hand mid-fumble.
Their fingers touched.
Heat shot up her arm like lightning. She yanked her hand back, nearly knocking over her cup.
"Sorry!" she squeaked.
"No harm done," the Emperor said, his voice warm. But his eyes lingered.
Luna peeked sideways at Sukhothai.
Still calm. Still expressionless.
But inside her chest, something twisted painfully.
How can he be so still when my brain is exploding?!
The banquet dragged on. She endured it with a fake smile and a churning storm beneath her silk and gold. When it finally ended, she stood to leave—already halfway to the door—when the Emperor's voice reached her again.
"Princess."
She turned, slowly.
"You don't have to fear me," he said softly.
She looked into his eyes. Kind. Steady. Devastating.
"That's the problem," she whispered. "I'm not afraid of you. I'm afraid of me."
She didn't look at either of them again. She walked out, head high, heart aching.
Behind her, two men remained.
One watched her with longing.
The other—watched her with restraint.
And neither said a word.