Chapter 71…
“When I heard that Tession had regained his sight, I naturally assumed he would break off the engagement with you. After all, once he could see again, noble ladies with much better prospects would have lined up for him. That guy—he’s soft-hearted, yes, but he’s not stupid.”
At that, Cynthia faintly recalled what had happened at the banquet.
She had tried her best to ignore it, but whenever she passed by alone, the noble ladies and young aristocrats had whispered just loudly enough for her to hear.
“The Lumanoff side really lost out this time, didn’t they?”
“That family only piled up wealth, but they’ve got no status or background.”
“Compared to that, the Cortez family’s been physicians for generations, hasn’t it?”
“And what about the Mayer family? If only His Grace would annul the engagement…”
“Well, if he’d tossed the Ritemper Trading Company as part of the breakup deal, Castleton would’ve thought it a fair trade. The problem is that he did neither.”
But Tession had neither broken off the engagement with Cynthia nor returned the Ritemper Trading Company.
And the reason for that was…
Cynthia lowered her gaze to her dress.
…Could it possibly be because of me?
“It’s true that Tession seems to be putting quite a bit of effort into his relationship with you,” Rikaion remarked.
“His Grace is simply doing his duty as my fiancé. He’s loyal—he wants to uphold our engagement to the end…”
“That’s what makes it amusing.”
Rikaion brushed off Cynthia’s words lightly.
He leaned one arm over the table between them and suddenly brought his face close to hers.
Startled by how little distance remained, Cynthia flinched and shrank back.
“How about you be the first to suggest breaking off the engagement?”
“Me?”
“Yes. If you think Tession’s too soft-hearted to say it himself, why don’t you do it first?”
Why on earth should I!?
A spark of defiance flared inside her. Rikaion, as if seeing right through her, smiled.
“After all, what you and your stepfather both want is the Ritemper Company, isn’t it? It wouldn’t be a bad move to say, ‘If you return the company, I’ll agree to annulment.’ It would be a deal that benefits everyone.”
Cynthia exhaled softly. Even as she did, Rikaion kept talking.
“Oh, right. The Bailey family is greedy for money, but they do care about their reputation, don’t they? Then maybe a more… natural approach—”
“No!”
Before he could finish, Cynthia shouted.
His dark brows twitched in surprise.
They had already terminated the contract with Castleton. And hadn’t he even tried to have her attacked through a coachman?
Why should she do anything that benefits a man like that?
“My father’s will, the Ritemper Company, our engagement—none of that has anything to do with me.”
“Nothing to do with you?”
“I’m just happy His Grace can see again. I only wish that from now on he can keep seeing beautiful, wonderful things and live a joyful life.”
Cynthia spoke with sincerity.
She wasn’t going to stay long in the duke’s mansion anyway. For now, yes, but soon she would have to leave this place—and Tession.
“And if that’s truly what His Grace wants, I’ll end the engagement without hesitation. He doesn’t have to return the Ritemper Company. None of that means anything to me.”
At her words, Rikaion’s crimson eyes widened slightly.
“So the young lady of Bailey, who never socializes and stays holed up at home, really does have no sense of reality, huh?”
“Perhaps so.”
“Then how about this?”
Cynthia looked up warily, sensing another outrageous proposal.
“If you tell Tession you want to break the engagement first, I’ll make you the Crown Princess.”
“Eh?!”
“What’s with that face?”
Oh no—she had failed to hide her expression!
Her face had twisted instinctively before she hurried to relax it again.
“Ahaha… I was just so surprised by what you said that I couldn’t help it…”
“And why is that surprising? It’s only natural that I decide who will be my Crown Princess.”
“St–still… that’s the future of the entire empire! You can’t decide something like that so lightly!”
“Well, the future of the Dirotein Empire is already bright enough—because of me.”
As he said that, Rikaion lifted a hand and gently grasped Cynthia’s chin.
What the—what is he doing!?
Cynthia stared at him in shock.
“If you do as I say, will you annul your engagement with Tession?”
She looked into his unreadable smile and asked quietly:
“With all due respect, Your Highness, may I ask why you’re going this far?”
At her question, one of his eyebrows arched crookedly.
Trying not to provoke him, Cynthia spoke carefully.
“It’s not because you find me attractive enough to want as your Crown Princess at first sight… is it?”
“Of course not.”
“…”
Really!?
Cynthia almost burst out, but managed to swallow her words.
“I thought Your Highness and Duke Tession were close.”
“Close, you say…”
And at that moment, Cynthia noticed it.
In those crimson eyes—envy, jealousy, and something like a rival’s competitive tension toward Tession.
Rikaion’s trying to use me to shake Tession up…
As an avid reader of the original novel One Chapter Ahead, Cynthia instantly recognized it.
Unlike Tession—who, ever since regaining his sight through a magic potion, had constantly defied expectations—Rikaion was consistent.
His talk about making her Crown Princess was clearly nothing but an impulsive taunt.
Still, what could be behind that jealousy?
Was there something the original story never mentioned?
“Well, maybe to others it looks that way,” Rikaion said, stepping back and releasing her chin.
“But the relationship between Tession and me isn’t something so easily defined.”
So there is something more!
Cynthia tried to recall every scene from the novel.
She couldn’t remember any moment where those two had even directly interacted…
While she was lost in thought, Rikaion spoke again.
“So, what will you do about the engagement?”
“Don’t joke around.”
“I’m not joking. Think about it carefully.”
Just then, someone knocked on the drawing room door.
A physician entered, carrying a large bag and adjusting his thick glasses.
“I’ve come by the Duke’s orders. Where is the injured person?”
“Over here—the lady.”
Rikaion rose and gestured lightly.
He didn’t even glance at the doctor, who bowed hastily in surprise at his presence.
Instead, his gaze lingered only on Cynthia.
“See you again. Think carefully about my offer—I wasn’t speaking idly.”
With that, he turned and strode out of the room.
Cynthia slumped against the sofa, feeling a wave of dizziness.
Ugh, as if my mind wasn’t already tangled enough—what the hell is he talking about now…
“Let’s finish this as fast as possible and head back.”
Rolling up his sleeves, Tession entered his office alongside Ruth.
Ruth smiled and nodded.
“Please review these documents first, Your Grace. If everything looks fine, sign the bottom of the last page.”
“What’s all this?”
Tession sat down, staring at the mountain of papers before him.
There was far more than he expected. The longer it took, the later he’d be in getting back to Cynthia, and impatience crept in.
“These are the next quarter’s budget plans, operational documents, and related reports—all due today.”
It was urgent but not crucial. He planned to finish quickly and return to the drawing room.
Partly because he was worried about Cynthia’s scrapes and bruises—but mostly because the thought of her alone with Rikaion irritated him.
Rikaion Bonapheltra, of all people. That man’s leering red eyes as he looked at Cynthia… it made Tession’s blood boil.
“…”
Just as he signed the final document at a brisk pace, a servant burst into the office and handed Ruth a small envelope.
“Sir Ruth, this just arrived.”
“What is it?”
“I’m not sure, but it came with orders to deliver it urgently to His Grace.”
“Hmm? This is…”
