Chapter 3
“B-Breaking off the engagement…? That’s what you just said…?”
I had hoped she wouldn’t just suffer passively anymore and would live with some backbone—but this wasn’t the direction I wanted things to go.
The completely unexpected development made my head throb.
Leila’s fiancé was Sier Persent, the second prince born to a maid.
Though not of pure blood, he was considered the strongest candidate for Crown Prince.
In the novel, he never actually becomes Crown Prince, but he does everything he can to protect his fiancée, Leila.
The description of him as “a man who never gives his heart to anyone after the woman he loved dies” made countless readers protest why he wasn’t a male lead candidate.
And honestly, it made sense.
In a novel where every important character was insane, he was the only normal person.
‘That’s why I never touched her engagement to the Second Prince!’
Right now, Leila had basically kicked away the only ally who would help her in the future.
“Who do you think you are, breaking off the engagement on your own…!”
“Um, Tian…?”
Ruente looked at me nervously.
“Big brother, I’m going to step out for a moment.”
I had spent twenty full years trying to twist the original story.
Just when it seemed like a bright future was finally in sight—
That future crashed straight into the mud in an instant.
‘Breaking off the engagement is absolutely not okay!’
I immediately activated my magic.
The mana stored inside my body rippled outward, and the scenery before my eyes changed.
From the Ellopez Ducal Estate to the Arvid Mansion—
More precisely, to Leila’s room, which was pink in every direction.
No matter how close we were, I always teleported to the door first, knocked, and then entered.
But this time was an exception.
The moment I arrived in her room, the barrier briefly glowed.
It was set to detect mana other than mine, but I was in too much of a hurry to think about it.
“Leila Arvid!”
She was a pitiful heroine who cried easily and got hurt at the slightest thing.
I knew she hated being called by her full name because it made her feel distant—
But I didn’t have the luxury of being gentle right now.
“…Tian? How did you get here…?”
“Is it true that you’re breaking off the engagement?”
“…I’m sorry. There were reasons.”
She drooped apologetically.
Seeing that face, I had to close my mouth instead of continuing.
Whenever she looked like that, it always felt like I was the villain.
That was why I had always gone easy on her.
I bit the inside of my cheek and forced myself to calm down.
This was about both our survival.
I couldn’t back down this time.
“Leila. Even now, saying you want to break off the engagement is a mistake—”
“I’ve fallen in love with someone, Tian.”
“…?”
My mind completely froze.
I could only move my lips soundlessly.
I was too shocked to speak.
‘W-What is she even saying? Fallen… in love…?’
There were still two years before the original story even started.
The debutante ball—where she would meet the male leads for the first time—was still a month away.
Having outstanding looks was basically a privilege reserved for main and supporting characters.
In other words, at this point in time, there shouldn’t be anyone capable of capturing the heroine’s heart.
Unless Leila’s standards were unbelievably low—which they weren’t—I would bet my wrist on it.
This was obviously an excuse to escape the situation.
When I stared straight into her eyes, the sky-blue gaze that had been steady finally wavered slightly.
‘There it is…’
When Leila lied, she unconsciously avoided eye contact.
Whether it was a lie or the truth didn’t really matter.
If she married someone she truly loved and lived happily, that would be wonderful—
But first, I had to change the original fate.
“Leila. You said it yourself before. You like handsome men.”
“…I did.”
“And you said you wanted someone with a good family and good abilities too.”
I used magic to display a portrait of Second Prince Sier Persent.
“Look carefully, Leila. Golden hair—the symbol of royalty. Sapphire-blue eyes that shine. A high, sculpted nose. Lips as red as raspberries! He’s handsome, right?”
“…”
When I pressed her again for an answer, she reluctantly nodded.
“And what about his family? He’s royalty—royalty! Is there any family higher than the Present Imperial House in this empire? No, right?”
I noticed Leila looked like she wanted to say something, but I deliberately ignored it.
“And his abilities too. He’s a talented mage—sure, not quite on my level, but still impressive. Where else are you going to find a man with all three? So breaking off the engagement should really be reconsidered—”
“There is.”
“…Huh? Who—no, there isn’t. There can’t be.”
“There’s Brother Kallian.”
At this point, I was pretty sure my ears were malfunctioning.
Kallian?
Ka-ll-i-a-n…??
For a brief moment, I tried to convince myself it was someone else with the same name.
But that hope was crushed instantly.
“You’re thinking of the same person. Your brother, Kallian Ellopez.”
…No way.
“I like Brother Kallian. His looks, his family, his abilities—they’re all good.”
That part was true, but still—
No. Absolutely not.
“So I asked His Highness the Second Prince to break off the engagement.”
I was speechless.
My eyes, fixed on Leila, trembled uncontrollably.
What is that expression?
Why are her cheeks red …?
Looking at her flushed face, as if just thinking about him made her happy, I stammered,
“A-Are you serious…?”
I asked, but I didn’t actually want to hear the answer.
I hurriedly covered Leila’s mouth with my hand.
Thankfully, before she could reply.
“Why does it have to be Brother Kallian?”
I couldn’t understand it.
Sure, Kallian—the delinquent of our family—had inherited Father’s good looks.
Sure, he was born into the powerful Ellopez family.
Sure, he’d been called a sword prodigy since childhood.
But still—
This was not okay.
If it had been kind, gentle Ruente, I might have understood a little.
But Kallian?
Absolutely not.
“U-Um, Leila?”
“Yes, Tian.”
She pulled my hand down from her mouth.
I grabbed her shoulders and spoke seriously.
“Think about it again. Just for one day. You might be misunderstanding something.”
I softened my words as much as possible, worried she’d be hurt if I asked directly whether she’d lost her mind.
Whether she understood me or was just trying to avoid the situation, Leila nodded silently.
‘This has to be a dream. It has to be.’
I pressed my throbbing head, denying reality.
“You can come out now.”
“Hmm…”
“You hid well without getting caught by Tian.”
The smile on Leila’s face vanished the moment Tian left.
Seeing the obvious change in expression, Sier chuckled quietly.
“You said exactly the right things to completely throw the duchess off balance. Otherwise, she would’ve noticed immediately.”
“Well, of course. Tian is an incredible mage.”
“Incredible” is an understatement. She’s a top candidate for the next Mage Tower Master.”
“Not just talented—she has smooth silver hair, amethyst-colored eyes, a beautiful face, and such a straightforward personality—she’s really—ahem!”
Leila caught herself mid-praise and coughed.
“Anyway… you heard my reason, right? Though I suppose it doesn’t really matter to you.”
“Then what reason should we give for the broken engagement?”
“Say I’ve found another man. The Ellopez family—”
“Of course shouldn’t be involved. I don’t want them dragged into this either. But are you really okay with this?”
If it was announced that the engagement was broken off because of Leila, all the backlash would fall on her.
Leila knew exactly what he meant.
“I’m fine. It’s better that I bear it.”
“…Thank you, Lady Arvid.”
“You don’t need to thank me. If it’s said that the fault lies with Your Highness, Tian would be the one to suffer.”
“That’s exactly why I’m thankful.”
At Sier’s sincere expression, Leila looked at him silently for a moment.
She had wanted to place the best possible person beside Tian.
And this choice didn’t seem so bad.
At least—
Until she noticed Sier’s face reddening as he recalled something.
“What are you thinking about that made you blush?”
“You heard it too. Earlier, when the duchess looked at me—”
“That wasn’t because she had feelings for you! She was just worried breaking off the engagement would harm me!”
“You can think that if you want. I’d like to misunderstand it my own way.”
…Cancel.
Cancel the breakup!
What was I thinking, trying to connect Tian with a man like that?
Before Leila could take back her words, Sier disappeared with the engagement annulment contract bearing her signature.
