Supreme Warlock System : From Zero to Ultimate With My Wives

Warlock Ch 376. Permission is Overrated

Selena hesitated… but nodded and drank.

Damian finally asked, his voice lower now, "Did you sleep at all?"

She shook her head slightly. "A little."

He watched her fingers twitch. Watched how she didn't meet his eyes, how her posture forced calmness.

There was something she wanted to say.

He could feel it.

But she was holding it in.

They all ate slowly after that. Between bites of spiced pork and the soft sweetness of warm mana-bread, the conversation returned to safer topics. Mostly. Council movements. Mage patrol patterns. The usual updates. Selena said little, just listening, watching.

Eventually, Cassius set his utensils down and spoke into the air. "Two days left, huh?"

Selena flinched—barely, but enough that Damian noticed.

Cassius's voice wasn't unkind. Just matter-of-fact. "That's how long your father gave you and your brother, right?"

Selena didn't reply.

Victoria looked at Damian. "You planning to do anything about that?"

Damian's fork paused midair. He met her gaze with a raised brow. "Like what?"

"I don't know," she said, voice light. "Kidnap her? Convince her? Make a big romantic gesture? You've done worse."

Damian sighed. "She's not a prisoner."

"No," Evelyn cut in, her voice sharper. "But she doesn't want to leave, either."

That finally made Selena speak again, her voice quiet. "It's not that simple."

Damian looked at her. "Maybe not. But if you want something to change—"

"I do," she interrupted, her voice cracking just slightly. "I just… don't know if I'm allowed to."

The words were out before she could catch them. Her eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn't meant to say it.

Cassius clicked his tongue and poured himself another glass. "Permission is overrated."

"Not when your whole kingdom watches you," she muttered.

Damian leaned forward slightly, elbows on the table. "Princess."

She looked up, reluctantly.

His voice was calm. Steady. The same tone he used when speaking before a battle. "Do you want to stay?"

Her lips parted. Her throat worked once. Then she nodded.

He exhaled slowly, his expression softening for just a moment. "Then say it. Don't hide it behind nothing."

"I want to stay," she said, louder this time, the words trembling like they'd been locked behind her ribs for too long. "I don't want to go back."

The silence after that was heavy. But it wasn't cold.

It was real.

Evelyn gave a quiet smile, then stood. "I'm going to check the perimeter enchantments."

Victoria rose as well, stretching. "I'll go with. Let the lovebirds mope in peace."

Cassius snorted. "I'm not leaving. This is getting interesting."

Damian turned his head slowly and shot him a sharp glare from across the table. It wasn't even a full expression—just the kind of look that said, 'If you don't leave, I will shove you through a shadow gate and dump you in the middle of the volcano.'

Cassius held up both hands in mock surrender, eyebrows lifted. "Alright, alright. I get it." He stood from his chair with theatrical slowness, brushing off his coat like it was covered in tension. "You two have your little emotionally-repressed heart-to-heart. I'll go brood somewhere else."

He turned, muttering under his breath, "Everyone around here's too dramatic anyway…"

The door clicked gently behind him a moment later, leaving the dining room quieter than it had been all morning.

Selena gave a soft laugh despite herself, her fingers nervously curling around the edge of her plate. She looked at Damian again—this time, really looked at him.

"You already knew, didn't you?" she said gently, eyes searching his.

"I figured," he said quietly. "But I needed you to say it."

"Why?"

"Because I want you here," he replied, simply. "But I won't ask you to give up your life for mine."

Selena's eyes glistened again, and she looked down at her plate to hide it.

Two days left.

And already, she wished they were longer.

She took a shaky breath, then finally spoke again, her voice quieter than before. "I sent a magic messenger to my father last night." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Damian blinked. "You did?"

She nodded, still not looking up.

Damian leaned back in his seat, surprised—not by her decision, but by the fact she'd done it so quickly. "And… he refused to give his permission?"

Selena shook her head. "I haven't gotten a reply yet."

Damian folded his arms, his gaze narrowing slightly. "Then why were you crying?"

There was no accusation in his voice. Just that same infuriatingly calm concern. The kind that made her chest squeeze in ways she didn't have the energy to explain.

She let out a soft breath, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "Because I was nervous."

Damian blinked again. "Nervous?"

Selena finally looked up, and her lips pulled into a weak, self-deprecating smile. "You don't get it, do you?"

"Clearly not."

"I'm a princess, Damian. My whole life, everything's been planned. Every trip, every tutor, every word I say in public. Even this little visit was supposed to be a political courtesy." She exhaled. "And then you happened. And now I'm sitting here wondering if I've done something… insane."

Damian chuckled under his breath. "Yeah. That tracks."

"I'm serious."

"I know," he said. "But you don't need to be scared of wanting something different."

She stared at him for a second. "You're really calm about this."

"I'm not," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just trying not to push you."

Selena rested her elbows on the table and leaned forward. "I wasn't crying because I was afraid of you. I was crying because I don't want to go back to that life and pretend none of this happened. I don't want to stand by my brother's side and smile in court when all I'm thinking about is you."

"Princess—"

"Don't call me princess right now," she interrupted softly. "Just… don't."

Damian's throat tightened a little, but he nodded. "Alright."

She gave him a look. "Say it, then."

He blinked. "Say what?"

"My name."

He hesitated. "Selena," he said finally, almost too softly.