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Chapter 69
A Subject of Ridicule
July 29, 2022
The news of Miryu’s broken engagement spread like wildfire in just a single day.
It was because the miraculous love story between Miryu and Crown Prince Hessen of the Roiyem Kingdom was famous throughout the Empire.
“Why on earth did they break off the engagement? Weren’t the wedding preparations nearly complete?”
“They say His Majesty the Regent of Roiyem was very firm about it. Apparently, he plans to hold a formal announcement soon.”
“That’s strange. They wouldn’t go this far unless something serious happened.”
Neither the Roiyem royal family nor Baron Zuty’s household disclosed the exact reason. So most nobles were left wondering whose fault it was.
Of course, the ones most desperate for answers were none other than Baron Zuty’s family.
“Miryu, what on earth did you do?”
Baron Zuty was in an uproar over the sudden cancellation. The blow was especially harsh for him, since he had been using the prestige of being the Roiyem royals’ future in-laws to expand his business.
“What did you do to make the royal family suddenly send a letter of annulment!”
The Baron’s furious voice echoed at Miryu.
But Miryu herself was still in shock after being abruptly thrown out of the Roiyem estate. Sitting before the Baron, she muttered irritably.
“…It hasn’t been annulled yet.”
“You can say that after reading this?”
The Baron angrily flung the letter of annulment at her face.
[Due to the fault of Lady Miryu Zuty, the betrothal is hereby dissolved. For details, you may inquire directly from Lady Miryu Zuty herself.]
Miryu stared at the notice with a blank expression.
No. That can’t be true.
The paper seemed to declare that everything up until now had turned into nothing.
Hessen would never abandon me.
Even if Queen Isabella and Princess Diana hated her, Hessen couldn’t. Hessen had promised Miryu his eternal love.
Miryu raised her chin stiffly and tore the letter apart.
“This annulment notice doesn’t exist. The wedding will happen as planned.”
“You think that makes any sense? Your annulment has already spread all through society—”
“I said it hasn’t been annulled!”
Miryu snapped, her voice sharp. The Baron grew even angrier at her brazen defiance.
“You’ve humiliated this family, and you dare act so shamelessly!”
“Husband, calm yourself!”
The Baroness, who had been watching from the side, hurried to intervene. She restrained the enraged Baron and went to Miryu’s side.
“Miryu wouldn’t have wanted this. There must be some circumstance we don’t know about.”
“Circumstance? That’s no excuse to ruin a marriage we’ve prepared so thoroughly!”
“Yelling won’t solve anything. First we need to hear what happened from Miryu, and then figure out how to appease the Roiyem royals.”
The Baron reluctantly tried to swallow his anger, while the Baroness carefully held Miryu’s hand.
“Miryu, I know this must be hard for you. But if you don’t explain what happened, even our family won’t be able to help.”
“When have you ever helped me?”
Miryu slapped away the Baroness’s hand in irritation.
“Don’t pretend to care about me so hypocritically.”
The Baroness faltered, fumbling to take her hand again.
“No, I really—”
“I’ll handle everything myself. There’s nothing this family can do anyway.”
Her arrogant words reignited the Baron’s fury.
“You—you disgraceful brat, after causing all this, how dare you talk like that!”
“Did I say anything wrong? While I was securing an engagement with the Crown Prince, what did this family ever do for me? If you can’t help, then stay out of my way. I’ll handle it.”
Crash—!
“Watch your tongue, bastard child!”
The Baron hurled a porcelain vase at her. But Miryu didn’t even glance at him and walked straight out of the study.
“Miryu, you mustn’t speak to your father that way—”
The Baroness quickly followed after her. She caught up to Miryu, glancing nervously back toward the Baron.
“If you’re scared of your father’s anger, then just tell me the truth. At least one elder in the family needs to know the situation.”
Miryu’s hazel eyes glared at the Baroness with undisguised hatred.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
To Miryu, the Baroness—who always acted the gentle mother—was even more detestable than the Baron who scorned her openly as a bastard.
You must be secretly enjoying this, aren’t you?
The truth was that the Baroness had long been unable to conceive. Baron Zuty had brought Miryu, born from a courtesan, into the family as his “legitimate” daughter.
But ironically, as soon as Miryu was registered, the Baroness miraculously conceived several children of her own.
To Miryu, the Baroness’s “kind mother” act was nothing but a façade to protect her reputation.
“Worry about your real daughters instead. None of them even have a decent marriage prospect like I did.”
“Miryu, don’t say such things. We’re still family…”
“I’m already in a foul mood, so don’t make it worse!”
Miryu shoved the Baroness aside and entered her cramped, shabby room—a far cry from her luxurious chambers at the Roiyem estate.
There was no way she’d live her whole life so miserably.
When will the Saintess finally reply?
Frustrated, Miryu buried herself in her blankets, desperately waiting for the Saintess’s answer.
If time keeps passing like this, it’ll be too late to undo anything…
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked at the door. Surely it was that irritating Baroness again.
“Don’t come in.”
Knock, knock.
“I said don’t come in!”
Miryu sat up abruptly. Just then, an unexpected voice came through the door.
“Miryu, it’s me.”
“H-Hessen?”
“Yes. May I enter?”
“…Come in.”
The door opened. But Miryu lay back down, pretending to be sick, refusing to face him.
Hessen said nothing. Miryu, anxious, finally spoke in a quivering voice.
“Why did you come, after sending me that annulment notice?”
“…I’m sorry.”
Tears welled in Miryu’s eyes as she slowly sat up to face him. And Hessen suddenly recalled their very first moment together.
It was the day he confessed to her.
Back then, they had been nothing to each other—until he found her crying at a ball.
“That young lady is pitiful. They say Lady Libertan constantly bullies her.”
From childhood, Hessen had always been drawn to the weak and the helpless. Because those around him never allowed him to be weak, he grew strong in order to protect others.
In society, Miryu was often whispered about as a pitiable girl.
But then Hessen heard something shocking.
“Did you hear? Out of jealousy toward Libertan’s adoptee, Lady Zuty tried to strangle her with a knife—”
Before he realized it, Hessen was already seeking Miryu out.
“Don’t look at me… I’m hideous.”
“Lady Zuty.”
“If you’re not here to propose, then leave. I know I’m ugly.”
Bandages hid her scars as she wept pitifully.
“Your Highness, I’m not just an ordinary baron’s daughter. Even so, would you still love me?”
“No matter who you are, I want to protect you. Tell me, why?”
“The truth is… my family abuses me. They abandoned me like a sacrifice to Libertan. That’s why they never treated my scars.”
Crying, Miryu pushed him away—but Hessen could no longer let her go.
“How could any parents—”
“It’s worse when they’re your real family. You can’t possibly endure someone like me. I’m a flawed woman, scarred and unworthy.”
Miryu had made herself someone who couldn’t live without him.
Now, as she shed tears just like back then, she whispered:
“Now the Crown Prince will abandon me too, won’t you? Because your mother hates me…”
“……”
“If that was the case, why did you propose? You promised to take responsibility for me.”
“…Miryu.”
“You said you’d give me my first real family, filled with love.”
Hessen could not bring himself to be cold to Miryu, who looked exactly as she had back then.
Meanwhile, I was preparing to debut in high society.
That meant attending not only small tea parties with acquaintances, but also larger banquets and events hosted by noble ladies.
That’s how I ended up at a summer charity event for orphans.
Well, it’s not exactly easy.
My infamous reputation hadn’t disappeared. On top of that, Miryu’s annulment had somehow tied my name into the gossip, so I was still subtly ostracized.
If it weren’t for Diana, I wouldn’t have even been allowed to come.
Princess Diana, representing the Roiyem Kingdom, handed over the donation and came to my side.
“These people are really too much.”
She was clearly upset at the noblewomen whispering about me.
“You’re the Duchess of Blanchet. How can they ignore you and pretend not to know you?”
“I haven’t officially debuted yet. So as long as they’re not openly rude, they probably think it’s fine.”
“Still, it’s unacceptable.”
It was only a matter of time—once I made my formal debut, this would be resolved.
Even just attending today’s charity event will solidify my standing.
And honestly, maybe because I grew up an orphan, I felt genuine warmth about this particular cause.
I hope the children like the things I prepared for them.
After the donations concluded, Baroness Retue, the event organizer, gave a speech.
“Thanks to your participation, the future of our Empire shines brighter today—”
As part of the event, a light banquet was held for the nobles. While waiting for time to pass, Diana suddenly turned to me.
“Oh, Estelle, have you heard about the anonymous noble who recently donated a huge sum?”
“An anonymous noble?”
“Usually donors declare their names for their family’s honor. But this one hid their identity, donating through a foundation called ‘Small Kindness’ to support the Empire’s orphans. Isn’t that incredible?”
I froze.
…That’s me.
The name “Small Kindness” had been something Betty asked me to come up with on the spot.
But I had no intention of revealing it publicly. So I feigned ignorance.
“That is… quite remarkable.”
“But they say they’ve nearly figured out who the donor really is.”
What?!
“R-really? Who is it?”
“They say it’s the Saintess.”
“…Who?”
“The Saintess who has reappeared in the Empire. Though she hasn’t shown herself, they say she couldn’t bear to watch the orphans suffer and decided to help.”
I blinked, utterly baffled by the sudden mention of the Saintess.
While Diana was called away by Baroness Retue, I found myself alone. That’s when a silver-haired woman approached me, surrounded by an entourage.
“Good day, Duchess Blanchet. It’s my first time seeing you at a charity event.”
She was one of the noblewomen who had been glaring at me from the center of the crowd earlier.
Who is she?
As I blinked in confusion, she curled her lips into a smug smile.
“I suppose you wouldn’t know me, since you’ve never attended before. I am Teresa Pelsis of the Marquisate of Pelsis.”
She was Marchioness Pelsis—the mother of Leandro.
Great. Another troublesome opponent.
But once I realized who she was, her hostile tone made sense.
“I’ve long hoped to see you attend our charity circles. It’s a shame it took this long.”
Her elegant face was tinged with hostility.
“Especially since, in your situation, you ought to be particularly mindful of philanthropy.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said. Given your circumstances, you should learn noble dignity by practicing charity.”
The noblewomen around her nodded in agreement.
“Yes, nobles enjoy privileges, so we have a duty to care for those beneath us. Especially you, Duchess Blanchet—you understand.”
“If you pay more attention to such duties, you may become more noble-like.”
Honestly, I found their attitude somewhat amusing.
They didn’t dare come over when Diana was here.
So even surrounded by them, I wasn’t the least bit intimidated. Seeing my calm, Marchioness Pelsis looked pleased.
“Don’t take offense, but do take our words to heart. Even if true refinement is beyond you, at least strive not to be vulgar.”
I smiled faintly.
“Marchioness Pelsis, are you saying my behavior is vulgar?”
“I didn’t quite say that, but…”
She looked down her nose at me.
“Your manners are hardly refined.”
“Well, at least I’m not spreading baseless rumors about people I don’t even know.”
The other noblewomen faltered at my sharp retort. The Marchioness snapped her fan against her hand.
“Duchess Blanchet, in society, you must be careful with unverified words.”
“Oh, forgive me. I’m not officially debuted, so I didn’t know. Please be patient with my inexperience.”
I was pointedly saying: You’re bullying someone who hasn’t even debuted yet.
The Marchioness replied smoothly.
“If you truly wish to learn, you should adopt the proper attitude. Don’t you think you need more lessons in etiquette?”
“No, I don’t think I need them.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“Because I already know enough not to flirt with another woman’s husband.”
The Marchioness’s face hardened instantly.
“Are you mocking my son?”
“Oh no, you misunderstand!”
I waved my hands with exaggerated distress.
“I wasn’t mocking your son. I was mocking you.”
Her face froze in disbelief.
“What did you just—”
“Well, unless you personally taught your son how to commit adultery, you don’t seem very skilled at teaching.”
“H-how dare you say such a thing!”
“Oh my, Marchioness.”
I clasped my hands together sweetly and fluttered my lashes.
“Even if it’s difficult to be refined, at least try not to be vulgar. Even when speaking of your vulgar son, we must remember—we are noble ladies, aren’t we?”
