~Chapter 53~
“You proposed our engagement without asking me first, too, didn’t you?”
Even though the princess was speaking rudely out of anger, Johann replied calmly.
“How is that the same? You’re comparing an engagement to an illegitimate child?!”
Patrizia yelled furiously.
“What’s the difference? From my perspective, they’re both one-sided decisions.”
Johann frowned slightly.
“…”
The princess was left speechless by how shamelessly Johann answered.
Unlike the Empress, who was clever with words, Patrizia was the type to act first and think later, so she didn’t know what to say next and felt her chest tighten.
Her eyes started to fill with tears.
“Don’t you agree?”
Johann looked at her with dry, emotionless eyes.
Like her brother, she resembled the Empress—undeniably beautiful.
Her golden hair shone like honey, and her purple eyes—just like the Empress’s—were mesmerizing.
With tears welling up in those eyes, most men would’ve been shaken.
But not Johann.
He felt nothing.
“I’ve already registered Raphaella under my name. I have no intention of undoing that, so please calm down and let the past go.”
“…Are you getting revenge on me or something?”
Patrizia remembered the past, and Johann’s attitude now made her want to slap him.
Back then, her father had publicly announced her engagement to Johann as a way to celebrate his return from the battlefield.
“I have no intention of marrying or being engaged to you, Princess.”
Johann had told her right after his father’s funeral, looking worn out.
“Are you saying you’ll reject a royal decree given directly by the Emperor? How dare you?”
“If Your Highness would step back—”
“Why should I? The best man in the Empire is going to be my husband.”
Patrizia smiled and said in a bubbly voice.
“…Sigh.”
“I’m never letting you go. Stop fighting it and just accept it.”
Seeing Johann speechless gave her a strange thrill.
She took a sip of tea, feeling satisfied.
This was definitely payback.
“If you still want to break off the engagement now, I don’t mind.”
Johann said something unexpected in response.
“So it really is revenge. You thought I’d call off the engagement over some illegitimate child? Sorry to disappoint you, but that’s not happening.”
Honestly, Patrizia wanted to scream, “No way! I’d never marry a guy who’s already been with someone else!” and just end the engagement.
But her mother, Narcisa, would never allow that.
She had given Patrizia everything—the best of everything—but when angry, she was terrifying.
Patrizia didn’t want to face her mother’s wrath.
“Think what you want.”
She clenched her teeth at Johann’s reply, then signaled a maid.
The maid handed Johann an invitation.
“A party will be held at the palace soon to celebrate Florian’s return. I expect you to attend—as my fiancé.”
“I’m quite busy, so I can’t promise I’ll make it.”
“Are you refusing?”
“I’m just saying I can’t promise.”
“Then who am I supposed to walk in with?!”
Patrizia was losing her mind over his calm attitude.
If they were at the palace, she would’ve probably thrown things and taken it out on the maids.
“Prince Florian will be there, as will His Majesty. I’m sure someone will gladly escort you.”
“…”
Patrizia stayed silent.
“And next time, please contact the duke’s residence before visiting. Even if we’re engaged, it’s best not to cross certain lines.”
“What? I heard there was an illegitimate child…!”
“She’s not ‘an illegitimate child’. Her name is Raphaella von Blumhardt.”
“Hah, fine. I don’t want to argue anymore. I’ll leave for today just as you wish.”
With a cold face, Patrizia walked past Johann and climbed into her carriage with the maid’s help.
“Have a safe trip, Your Highness.”
“…Next time, I hope you show me Raphaella’s face.If we’re getting married, she’ll be my daughter too, so I’d like to get familiar.”
Before Johann could say anything, she shut the door and left.
Once inside, she exploded on her maids, venting her anger the whole way.
She even forgot she was supposed to take Florian back with her.
So the prince, hearing about it later, ended up taking a VIP carriage back to the palace—one borrowed from the Duke’s house.
—
After sending the princess off so coldly, Johann rode back to the main building and quickly made his way to Raphaella’s room.
She was napping, so Leah joined him in the parlor.
“Sorry for suddenly sending you away earlier.”
“It’s okay. Actually… on my way back, I ran into His Highness, the prince.”
“The prince? You mean Prince Florian?”
Johann was surprised.
“Yes. I took a shortcut and ran into him by chance.”
“Damn it. Did he… do anything?”
Johann frowned.
He knew all about Florian’s infamous womanizing habits.
“Nothing happened. In fact, he didn’t seem hostile at all toward me or Raphaella.”
Florian was the type to sit back and enjoy the drama—even if it involved his sister.
So there was no reason for him to dislike Leah or Raphaella.
Still, Johann had other concerns.
Florian didn’t care if a woman was married or commoner—he just chased skirts.
‘If he decides to come after her now…’
Johann rubbed his forehead, disgusted by the thought.
“Don’t worry. The Duchess arrived just in time, so I didn’t have to deal with him for long.”
“Good. Then from now on, there shouldn’t be any surprise visits from the princess or the prince.”
“That’s a relief.”
Leah sighed in relief.
One encounter like that was more than enough.
Handling nobles was already exhausting—dealing with royals was ten times worse.
“If, by any chance, you run into the prince alone, be careful.”
Johann warned her.
“The princess might be scary, but the prince didn’t seem like a bad or dangerous guy.”
He just seemed playful.
“Don’t let his looks fool you. He might look like an angel or an elf, but deep down, he’s trash.”
Johann’s tone was dead serious.
“…Okay. Got it.”
He really did talk about the prince like he was some troll or orc.
‘Still, he knows the royal family better than I do, so I’ll keep that in mind.’
“Um, also…”
“What is it?”
“No, never mind. I’ll tell you later.”
“Alright. Get some rest then.”
She had planned to finally tell him the real reason she was leaving Raphaella behind.
But after all the stress from the unexpected royal visit, she decided not to.
‘It doesn’t have to be today. I’ll talk to him later.’
She was too tired to explain that she was terminally ill.
—
A few days later, a messenger bird arrived from the magic tower supported by the Blumhardt family.
It was a letter from Dorothea, addressed to Leah.
The letter said things weren’t totally ready yet, but Dorothea was too excited to wait, so she sent an invitation anyway.
Leah could come whenever she wanted.
She picked the earliest date that worked and sent the reply via the bird.
After sending it, a thought crossed her mind.
‘Now that I think about it… before I came back in time, I only got checked by a few healers and one healing mage.’
But maybe Dorothea could help.
Dorothea wasn’t just any mage—she was a once-in-a-century genius.
‘She specializes in purification magic, but… it’s worth a shot, right?’
“If she knows what my illness is, then…”
No.
I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
Leah lightly slapped her own cheek, trying to push away the hope rising inside.
She didn’t want to be disappointed again.
