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chapter 28
“What did you just say?”
Erica’s cold voice echoed through the room.
“Miss… I’m sorry.”
Below Erica’s feet, a woman who appeared to be a maid knelt and begged for forgiveness.
“I said don’t apologize—say it again!”
Bending slightly, Erica grabbed the maid’s face with her hand.
“Speak quickly!”
“His Majesty the Emperor has granted His Highness the Crown Prince permission to break off the engagement with Miss Medina.”
Before the maid could finish, Erica struck her cheek with all her might.
“Break off the engagement? Who do you think can just break it off so easily? Now return to your post immediately and report to me every word the Crown Prince says. Understand?”
The maid, nodding at Erica’s command, belonged to the Crown Prince’s palace staff.
“If you understand, go now.”
Frightened of further punishment, the maid hurriedly left.
“Hah… what should I do?”
Erica stomped her feet anxiously. If her parents found out about this, she might as well be abandoned.
“All this time, they never cared what I did, and now—why now!”
She could never forget the Emperor’s gaze on her at her engagement ceremony with the Crown Prince. It wasn’t the eyes of a father looking at his son’s fiancée—it was complete indifference.
Yet, Erica had actually preferred it that way. Just keeping the Empress happy was exhausting enough; having to curry favor with the Emperor on top of that would have given her a headache just thinking about it.
“I never cared about the engagement, so why all of a sudden is it being broken off!”
Unable to control her anger, Erica hurled a nearby flower pot. The glass shattered into pieces with a crash.
“Isn’t anyone outside?!”
At Erica’s shout, a servant quickly ran over.
“Why so slow? You should have come immediately when I called!”
“I’m sorry.”
Even though the servant had rushed immediately upon hearing her shout, they had no excuse and had to apologize, having seen her face red with fury just moments ago.
“Prepare yourself; you’ll be going back immediately.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The servant moved quickly again, careful not to upset Erica further.
“I told you not to give your heart, only your place—but you insist on this? Hah, do you think I’ll give up just like that? I have nothing left to lose now.”
“Seems Miss Erica Medina hasn’t said a word.”
“Medina has probably committed some kind of rudeness again. As her fiancé, you should apologize on her behalf.”
“So she is aware she is the fiancée, then.”
At Yuriela’s words, the Crown Prince sipped his tea to pause the tension in the room.
“But it’s an engagement without love. Medina told me, it’s fine to love someone else, but not her position. I’m supposed to work harder for someone like that? I tried, before I met you, Riel.”
The Crown Prince continued, a bitter expression on his face.
“But the heart doesn’t follow reason. Yuriela, I love you. Effort can’t change that.”
“….”
Yuriela could not respond.
“Riel, please… don’t ever tell me to try to love Medina.”
Hearing the Crown Prince’s desperate plea, Yuriela lowered her head.
“By the way, Riel… this.”
To lift the heavy mood, the Crown Prince handed her a gift.
“What is this?”
“Your mother’s keepsake.”
Yuriela’s eyes trembled.
“Excuse me?”
He wanted to give her something she could not refuse, something connected to her family. Yuriela, who treasured her family bonds deeply, could not turn it down.
“But my mother’s belongings were already—”
Her father had lost all his businesses and even failed in gambling, blaming his late wife for everything.
“Your dead mother is blocking my path! Otherwise, why would I be in such a miserable state? That’s it! I must burn these cursed things!”
The Longo sisters had tried to stop their father, but his anger was too overwhelming.
“Your father spared the expensive items and sold them here and there.”
Hearing this, Yuriela couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“Hah… impossible.”
“Open it quickly. You must see it for yourself.”
With trembling hands, Yuriela carefully opened the box.
“I heard, Riel, that this was your mother’s most cherished item.”
Even without him saying it, she could tell. The earrings inside had always belonged to her mother.
“…My mother said she would one day pass them to the first among our four sisters to marry.”
“Even as a child, you remember that well.”
“Yes. It’s one of the few memories I have of her.”
It was one of Yuriela’s warmest memories—her four sisters gathering together to hear their mother’s stories.
“Mom, will you really give these earrings to whoever marries first among us?”
“Of course.”
“Then it would always be Reina who gets them, right? That’s unfair!”
“Being the eldest doesn’t mean you marry first. Even your mother, the youngest among three sisters, married your father first.”
Yuriela had always hoped that one day, she would meet someone who could make her smile like her mother did and marry them.
“…Thank you. This is the thing I most wanted to protect from my mother’s belongings.”
The Crown Prince felt indescribably satisfied that she had not refused his gift.
“I’m glad you like it. Riel, I honestly worried you might refuse.”
At first, Yuriela had intended to refuse as usual, but knowing it was her mother’s keepsake made it impossible.
“And Riel… I’ve thought it through. Even if you don’t come to me from the Barata Duke, just leave. Please.”
Yuriela remained silent.
“Please. Riel, you know it will be dangerous.”
“Dangerous for me?”
“You know that the Barata Duke attempted treason. And you saw Sir Chayson’s reaction then.”
Yuriela shook her head.
“No.”
“What?”
“There’s no concrete evidence he committed treason. Suddenly, the royal knights stormed the duke’s mansion, killed people, and then said he committed treason. Where’s the proof?”
“Riel, you heard what Chayson said! You can’t even explain your questions!”
The Crown Prince raised his voice without realizing it.
“Since the truth is unclear, I will trust Ray.”
“You must know why I called you. Yet you say nothing?”
Erica sat across from Soren, legs crossed gracefully, smirking.
“Without telling me your purpose, you summoned me. What am I supposed to say? Shouldn’t the summoner state their purpose first?”
Erica exhaled roughly, clearly irritated.
“Are you playing word games with me?”
“Of course not.”
Soren remained calm, recalling what Xeno had told him before coming here:
“Don’t worry. Erica Medina may be the Crown Prince’s fiancée, but she has no influence in the royal family.”
“But isn’t she the daughter of a marquis?”
“She’s not beloved in her own family. To her parents, Erica is just a means to maintain their wealth and status. And she will oppose us anyway. If she acts high and mighty as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, intimidate her by letting her know who’s behind us.”
“Is that allowed?”
“Of course. Just do it.”
Encouraged by Xeno’s words, Soren waited for Erica to speak first.
“A mere illegitimate daughter of a viscount, and you dare ignore me, the daughter of a marquis?”
“What if I am not safe?”
“What?”
Erica was taken aback by Soren’s boldness.
“Do you think I’d say this without some assurance?”
“Hah, what assurance could a mere illegitimate daughter have?”
“That’s why I called you here.”
“Then… does that mean someone above is involved?”
“There’s no reason for me to tell you that.”
Soren’s voice was calm.
“Then, with that settled, correct the news that I could not forget the Barata Duke.”
“No.”
“No? Have you forgotten who I am? I am the Crown Prince’s fiancée. That news demeans the royal family. Do you think they will stay silent?”
“The royal family’s permission has already been obtained.”
“What?”
Erica’s eyelashes trembled in disbelief.
“Then I suppose that concludes our business. I shall leave.”
Even without Erica’s permission, Soren stood.
“Ah… I hope you never summon me for something like this again. I cannot guarantee how I might react.”
He calmly warned her and walked away.
