2
“Anyone but the Third Princess…”
“Are you telling me to marry just anybody?” Alferen retorted, his expression sullen. Watching this exchange, Adrian jumped into the conversation.
“But I’m with Deli on this one. Do you really need to marry someone like her?”
For once, my brother’s saying something sensible.
My eyes sparkled as I silently cheered Adrian on, hoping Alferen would be more swayed by his best friend’s words than mine.
“Recently, there was a huge fuss because the Third Princess invited some famously beautiful noblewoman and had her head shaved. And the way she switches men while keeping you on a leash? That’s not great either. Why not break off the engagement before life gets exhausting, Len? Deli’s practically begging you to do it.”
Yes! It’s my lifelong wish!
But Alferen’s resolve was like an iron wall.
“It’s a bond sealed by imperial decree. Without a definitive reason, breaking the engagement is impossible.”
“There’s no way the late Duke would’ve made a contract that puts you at a disadvantage. Are you sure you’ve thoroughly checked the terms of the betrothal agreement?”
Adrian, for once, countered logically, but it wasn’t enough to sway Alferen’s mind. Under his persistent questioning, Alferen closed his book with a heavy sigh. The mention of the late Duke, a taboo subject, made his reaction especially sharp.
His voice turned edged. “Didn’t you, of all people, know the significance of this engagement, Adrian Ferris?”
“I know, I know. But with rumors already like this, it’s obvious things will only get worse after marriage.”
“Even if the Third Princess is as villainous as the rumors say, I have no intention of calling off this engagement.”
“Then what’s the reason, exactly?” Adrian asked, exasperated, but Alferen clamped his mouth shut.
Truthfully, I had a vague idea why he was so determined to maintain the engagement.
Six years ago, during a beast subjugation, the late Duke Ainruk suffered a tragic accident and had been in a coma ever since. As a result, Alferen had no choice but to inherit the ducal title at the young age of eighteen.
The main cause was the contamination of his mana core, the heart of any mage, and purifying it required an immense amount of holy water. And the imperial family held a monopoly on holy water.
That’s why Alferen couldn’t easily defy the imperial family’s will.
But that only mattered while the late Duke was still alive.
In the original story, the late Duke was fated to die soon. Holy water alone couldn’t fully restore a damaged mana core. Tragically, he passed away shortly after Alferen’s marriage to Princess Nanael.
So, clinging to false hope and maintaining the engagement was pointless.
But I’m the only one who knows the future.
I couldn’t bring myself to douse the hopes of a son desperate to save his father.
I needed a more decisive blow…
At that moment, Adrian spoke up. “Alright, just one question then. What’s this ‘definitive reason’ you keep talking about?”
“Well…” Alferen, who had been staring at his book, fixed his gaze on me. His stubborn lips curved into a gentle arc.
Momentarily captivated, I waited silently for his words.
After a pause, he murmured lightly, as if dropping a hint, “Rumors alone won’t do. There’s no proof.”
When I widened my eyes, urging him to say more, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. It was the kind of teasing smile that left you hanging, unsure if he’d actually explain.
Closing his book, he said, “Not rumors—truth. Unless I see undeniable proof of a fatal flaw in her, there’ll be no breaking the engagement.”
A fatal flaw.
In that instant, a brilliant idea flashed through my mind.
If I show Alferen the villainess’s true colors firsthand, that’s it, right?
If he saw a flaw so unbearable that even he couldn’t ignore it, he’d have to consider breaking the engagement. Until now, I’d only thought about badmouthing the villainess, not showing her true nature directly.
To do that, I’d have to provoke the villainess myself.
Honestly, the Third Princess scares me, but not as much as letting my life fall apart!
Ideally, I’d expose Nanael’s true character in a public setting for maximum effect.
Proud of my clever plan, I turned to Adrian and blurted out, “Brother, I’ve decided on my debutante gift.”
“Oh, our Deli! Tell me, what is it?” Adrian propped his chin on his hands, eagerly listening.
“I want the diamond necklace set crafted by Master Digri.”
Operation: Snatch the item the villainess covets!
Especially if I take everything she planned to wear at the debutante ball?
She’ll be absolutely furious, won’t she?
Feeling smug about my plan, I resolved to set it in motion.
At Digri’s boutique, the 3rd Princess Nanael’s eyes caught on a dazzling diamond necklace set.
Her heart was instantly captivated, and she pointed at it, declaring, “I’ll take all of these.”
It seemed like the perfect match for the dress she planned to wear at her debutante ball.
But the shop assistant immediately wore a troubled expression.
“My apologies, Your Highness. This item has already been reserved by someone else. Perhaps this line over here? It would complement your hair color beautifully.”
The assistant tried to steer her toward a ruby necklace displayed beside the diamonds.
But it didn’t appeal to Nanael in the slightest.
The thought that someone else had claimed the necklace before her only fueled her desire further.
“Do my words sound like a joke to you? I said I’m buying that necklace.”
“I’m terribly sorry, but that necklace has already been fully purchased, including the design rights, so it’s not available for sale…”
*Slap!*
In that moment, the assistant’s head snapped to one side.
Nanael, having struck the assistant’s cheek, shook her wrist irritably and snapped, “If you’re not going to sell it, why is it on display? Are you mocking me?”
“I-I’ve committed a grave sin, Your Highness!”
“Enough. I want that necklace, so bring it to me! Now!”
As the princess hurled the displayed imitation piece to the floor in a fit of rage, the assistant, tears streaming down her face, pleaded for help.
Finally, Digri himself stepped forward.
“Your Highness, please calm yourself.”
“Do I look calm to you? Didn’t you see her talking back to me? And now my hand stings because of her!”
Nanael thrust out her palm, continuing her tantrum.
The assistant, still collapsed on the floor, sobbed quietly.
Digri bowed deeply and said, “I apologize for the staff’s inadequate response.”
When the 3rd Princess was in such a mood, the best course was to appease her as much as possible.
“However, the item Your Highness desires has already been reserved by the Ferris Ducal House. There’s nothing we can do on our end. Please, I beg you to quell your anger.”
“Wait.”
Nanael’s expression hardened as she glared at Digri.
Intimidated by her intensity, Digri broke into a cold sweat as the princess demanded sharply, “Who did you say bought that necklace?”
“The F-Ferris Ducal House, Your Highness. As it happens, the daughter of the Ferris family is also making her debut alongside you at the ball. She purchased the entire design as a debutante gift, so…”
“Ha! Again?”
Nanael let out a disbelieving laugh, her body trembling with frustration.
This was the third time.
The shoes she wanted, the bag, and now even the necklace set—all of them!
“Damn that Ferris!”
That alone was enough to shift her fury from Digri to the daughter of the Ferris Ducal House.
* * *
A sudden chill ran through me.
I rubbed my shoulders and gazed at the items neatly arranged on the table.
Every one of them was something the 3rd Princess had used during her debutante ball in the original story.
The accessories Nanael wore at the ball were frequently mentioned in the novel.
They were a deliberate narrative device to highlight her extravagance and her possessive obsession with her belongings.
While digging into the princess’s misdeeds, I had naturally come to know her tastes as well.
“Heh heh heh. She must be absolutely livid with me by now, right?”
