Chapter 46
The Empress couldn’t say a word. She only stared at me with a visibly appalled expression.
“I had no idea… that you harbored such deep intentions.”
“It is quite all right, Your Majesty. I am simply grateful that you understand now.”
“I see. I understand your… deep intentions. However, you would do well to be more careful with your behavior going forward. There are unpleasant rumors circulating in high society these days.”
“Rumors?”
“Yes. So vulgar I can hardly bring myself to repeat them. I wonder who could have started such things.”
Clicking her tongue, the Empress snapped open her fan and covered her mouth.
I could guarantee it. If there was a rumor in high society so “vulgar it could hardly be spoken,” the Empress was surely involved.
‘And honestly… it’s not even that scandalous.’
Who was my mother? A true power broker of high society. Countless unmarried noble ladies were desperate to invite her as their chaperone—a leading figure of the social world.
With someone like that backing me, people wouldn’t dare spread anything too “vulgar” about me. They had to watch themselves around my mother.
And so, the rumor she relayed to me was this:
—The duke’s daughter is desperately trying to win over the heart of her fiancé, who does not love her.
In short, I was clinging to the indifferent Second Prince.
When I first heard that rumor was circulating, I was a little angry. But after thinking about it… it wasn’t entirely wrong.
‘Well, yeah. I am clinging to him to recharge my mana.’
So what? What about it?
As Lionel would put it—what’s the problem?
‘Like I’d give up my precious mana over some petty rumor!’
I smiled shyly at the Empress.
“Thank you for your concern. But if I sincerely devote myself to His Highness the Second Prince, surely others will come to understand my true feelings as well.”
“No, that’s not—”
The Empress began to say more, then simply sighed.
It seemed she realized I wouldn’t listen no matter what she said.
“Restrain yourself appropriately from now on. I fear the rumors may take a darker turn.”
Was that a threat? That if I kept following Lionel around, she’d fan the flames herself?
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your concern.”
Go ahead and try. I’m not afraid of a mere rumor.
I wanted to scoff right to her face, but I couldn’t exactly do that in front of the Empress. So I politely bowed and left the Empress’s palace.
And of course, when it rains, it pours. Right at the exit stood the First Prince.
‘Damn. We made eye contact.’
If I’d seen him from farther away, I might’ve turned back. But it was too late now.
Swallowing every curse I could think of, I walked up and bowed properly.
“Cecilia of Rohaim greets His Highness the First Prince.”
“You may raise your head.”
Oh, how gracious of you.
Maybe I was in a bad mood, but everything he said grated on me.
Careful not to let my lips pout, I lifted my head and looked at him.
‘They said he started receiving treatment… He does look a bit better.’
Did that mean whoever was treating him had the alchemist’s poison formula? Did he know? Or were they curing him through some other method?
I was curious, but I wasn’t supposed to know he was being treated, so I couldn’t ask anything.
“I’ve heard the rumor as well.”
“Pardon? What rumor?”
Had word of his treatment already spread?
“The rumor that you shamelessly trail after my younger brother.”
“Oh… that one?”
He waited here just to talk about that?
“I have been working quite diligently for the honor of the imperial family lately. As the Second Prince’s fiancée, it is only natural. There’s no need for Your Highness to commend my efforts.”
“The imperial family’s honor, you say.”
The First Prince twisted one corner of his mouth, clearly catching the implication.
“A futile effort. You will not be rewarded.”
“Excuse me?”
“I know my brother well. He is not someone who knows how to cherish anything.”
Says the person who made him that way. Doesn’t his conscience sting?
Then again, perhaps he has none.
“Do you remember that fountain pen? I merely asked for it once, and he handed it over without hesitation. Not even a single word about how it was a gift from his fiancée.”
Of course not. Even if he’d protested, you wouldn’t have listened.
“Aren’t you curious? If I were to go to him now and tell him to hand you over to me, what do you think he would say?”
Hmm. If it were Lionel, he might actually say, “Very well.”
But still.
“I’m not curious. And Your Highness, you’ve misunderstood something.”
“What?”
“Even if the Second Prince said, ‘Yes, of course,’ I wouldn’t agree to change fiancés.”
Engagement isn’t something done alone. It takes two.
“And in the first place, it was His Majesty the Emperor and my father, Duke Rohaim, who arranged this engagement. You would need their permission.”
And perhaps the Emperor could be swayed—but not my father.
My will is my father’s will!
“But Your Highness, why would you even ask such a thing? Do you covet me as a fiancée?”
“What?”
The First Prince’s face flushed red and twisted unattractively.
I didn’t know whether it was because my nonsense offended him or because I’d hit the mark. For everyone’s sake, I hoped it was the former.
“Ha. You are certainly confident. Me? Want you?”
“Right? Of course not. You startled me. It would be rather strange to break off an engagement only to become engaged to the former fiancé’s older brother, wouldn’t it? And I’m sure Your Highness would hesitate to become engaged to a woman who had once been your brother’s fiancée.”
“Obviously.”
“Exactly.”
Beaming, I curtsied.
“In that case, I shall take my leave. I’ve just come from receiving instruction from Her Majesty the Empress on proper decorum. It would not look good for me to linger in conversation with my fiancé’s elder brother without my fiancé present.”
“You…!”
The First Prince tried to say something, but I lightly ignored him and brushed past.
‘What exactly does that man want from me?’
I’m his brother’s fiancée. I wish he’d just lose interest.
Pushing thoughts of him away, I climbed into my carriage.
‘Time to go recharge my mana!’
Watching Cecilia walk away without so much as a backward glance, Kayen could hardly contain his fury.
“That insolent…!”
She dared to ignore him?
Something boiled up inside him. He couldn’t even name the emotion precisely, but grinding his teeth, he turned to the attendants and guards lined up behind him.
“You there. Follow that woman.”
“Your Highness?”
“She’s surely gone to see my oh-so-perfect younger brother again. Go. And make sure she hears you whispering. Say that the duke’s daughter is putting on quite the show, trying so hard over a lump of stone.”
“Ah…”
No matter what, were they really supposed to say such things about the Second Prince and the duke’s daughter?
Seeing their hesitation, Kayen barked sharply.
“What are you waiting for?!”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness. We’ll go at once.”
As they hurried after the Rohaim carriage, Kayen ground his teeth.
‘Let’s see how long she can remain so proud when the whole world laughs at her.’
Unfortunately for him, the news the attendants brought back to the palace that evening was not what he had hoped to hear.