Published: August 1, 2025
Lionel didn’t offer any explanation. Instead of addressing me, he turned to Richard behind him.
“When can we secure Gregor Chadelan’s custody?”
Richard straightened his posture and answered.
“All roads leading to the Chadelan Territory have been sealed off. The moment he leaves the academy next time, we’ll act immediately.”
“Answer my question.”
“…He’s apparently been a habitual escapee for some time. The student dormitory now has heightened security. Gregor himself is under watch, so it won’t be easy…”
“Answer the question.”
“There’s no clear prospect yet. The academy’s walls are high, and even if we managed to sneak in, abducting him would be impossible. We’ve tried negotiating with the academy, but they turned us away. To force our way in, we’d have to reveal our identities and use a royal decree from the royal family.”
A clicking sound escaped Lionel’s tongue. For the first time, he looked genuinely annoyed.
“An academy housing noble sons and daughters… I see. It’s solid and troublesome.”
“B-Brother? What are you talking about?”
Lionel stood up and headed to the bookshelf. He pulled out a single parchment from between thick books and handed it to Richard. Names, presumably, were listed on the paper.
“Fine, then let’s focus on solidifying the charges first. Dispatch these people to Chadelan. Let them infiltrate as footmen and uncover the Chadelan Family’s misconduct.”
“The Granado Family has already entered the mansion. Operations have been corrected, so whether we can find evidence of past failures…”
“You think of something.”
—Did he just throw me aside, telling me to find the best solution myself?
Or was he really telling Richard to fabricate — to forge — evidence on his own?
Richard’s expression made the answer clear. The Crown Prince continued to his silent brother.
“In any case, if we can make them ‘suspects,’ it’ll be in our favor. Then, Marie Shadelan will become the daughter of a criminal. Under the king’s name, we can order the engagement with Lord Cyrus Granado to be broken—”
…! Wha… what did he say!?
I was so shocked I couldn’t even scream. What on earth? What are my brothers trying to do?
Baron Gregor Chadelan… Marie’s father? What crime—no, it can’t be that serious. Brother Richard had known to a degree but had neither rushed to secure evidence nor acted before.
My brother’s goal wasn’t to condemn Baron Chadelan. It was to sully Marie’s name, break her engagement with Lord Cyrus, and push me into her place.
At last, I understood.
“P-Please stop, Brother!”
I rushed up to my eldest brother and grabbed his sleeve. He looked down at me quietly.
His icy blue eyes sent a chill down my spine—I raised my trembling voice.
“I already told you, didn’t I? I’ve given up on Lord Cyrus! It’s fine now. My feelings don’t matter anymore—”
“Stop it, Reimia. Brother cares nothing for your feelings, precisely.”
Richard grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back, speaking in an unusually gentle voice.
“From the start, your marriage partner was decided by Brother. Your fiancé changed multiple times, aligned with the political situation, picking the man most beneficial to Dilz. And eventually, it was decided to be Lord Cyrus Granado.”
“So, you didn’t consider my feelings… it’s an arranged marriage…?”
“Yes. Right now, Dilz’s treasury is sustained by military weapon exports to Flaria. Using the canal is indispensable for transporting large weapons. But Granado Trading Company controls the canal. Despite being repeatedly ordered to surrender ownership to the country, they refuse military use—”
“I don’t care about any of that!”
I cut off my second brother’s argument.
“I don’t care about myself either! More importantly, Lord Cyrus loves Marie Shadelan! Those two belong only to each other. They must never be torn apart. Brother Ricky saw it too, didn’t he!?”
Richard frowned slightly, falling silent awkwardly.