Chapter 5
Two days had passed since Leila declared she would break off her engagement with the Second Prince.
Fortunately—if it could even be called that—the engagement wasn’t dissolved immediately based on Leila’s opinion alone.
In the Persian Empire, just like divorce, breaking an engagement came with a one-month grace period.
An engagement between noble families—especially high nobility or the imperial family—was no different from a political transaction.
In other words, it wasn’t something that could be finalized just because the two people involved agreed.
‘The problem is… it looks like both sides will accept the breakup.’
Leila and Prince Sier’s engagement had been arranged when they were very young.
Back when the Second Prince’s faction wasn’t as powerful as it was now, his mother wanted a family that could support him.
A direct confrontation with the First Prince—born of the Empress and backed by a strong maternal family—was impossible.
The Ellopez family had always remained neutral in power struggles and couldn’t be drawn in.
So instead, they chose the Arvid family, close allies of the Ellopez.
It was the best possible choice—one that didn’t guarantee victory over the First Prince but didn’t ensure defeat either.
‘It was a very smart decision.’
From the Arvid family’s perspective, however, the engagement wasn’t particularly attractive.
They were a count’s family but also the closest allies of the ducal Ellopez family.
Their business ventures were wildly successful.
An engagement with a second prince whose power base was weak was practically a loss.
On top of that, Count Arvid—Leila’s father—cherished his only daughter deeply.
So why did he proceed with the engagement?
There was only one reason.
‘Because that lunatic First Prince showed interest in Leila.’
One of the male leads in this novel is the Empire’s First Prince, Euclid Persent.
Born to the Empress, he lacked nothing in life.
But he had one massive flaw.
Perhaps because he grew up overly pampered, he was rotten to the core from a young age—perfectly fitting a dark-romance male lead.
If they did nothing, Leila would end up engaged to that insane bastard.
So they rushed to arrange the engagement with the Second Prince.
It wasn’t that there were no other options—but all the other candidates were too weak.
It was common knowledge that the young First Prince was interested in Leila.
Very few families had the guts to arrange an engagement with Arvid while avoiding the Empress’s gaze.
In that situation, the only option that could protect Leila and minimize harm to the family—
Was an engagement with another royal.
And yet…
“Things are different now!”
I shouted while smashing a wooden training dummy protected by magic.
Arvid and the Second Prince were no longer in the same situation as before.
Unlike the First Prince, who was nothing but empty pride with no real ability, the Second Prince excelled in politics, diplomacy, and magic.
He even had military strength.
The Arvid family, too, was stronger than ever.
And thanks to pressure from the Empress, the First Prince already had another fiancée.
Even so, while the Second Prince’s power continued to grow, Count Arvid wasn’t particularly hungry for power.
More importantly, he was the type of man who would gladly accept it if his precious daughter wanted to break off the engagement.
In short—
It was only a matter of time.
When things got this frustrating, physical exertion was the best solution.
My sword traced a curved arc.
Crack—!
At the same time, something snapped.
My hand froze.
When I came to my senses and looked around, the magically protected wooden dummy was shattered into pieces on the floor.
“…Seriously. Who put such a lousy protection spell on this thing?”
“Who do you think? If Sion heard you, he’d cry.”
Kallian walked toward me with his hands shoved into his pockets.
Sion was the Ellopez family’s exclusive mage—and my first magic instructor.
Though I didn’t train under him long, since my talent was exceptional.
At his comment, which sounded like he was trying to make me an ungrateful disciple, I quickly cast a restoration spell and returned the dummy to its original state.
“What do you want? Why are you here?”
“Why else? Mother told me to tell you to stop making noise at night and go inside.”
Kallian pointed behind him with his thumb.
When I looked, I met my mother’s sharp gaze directly.
The unspoken pressure clearly said she wouldn’t let this slide if I didn’t go in immediately.
I nodded exaggeratedly so she’d see.
“Putting aura into your attacks like that will ruin your wrist.”
…What’s with the sudden concern?
“No, actually, maybe you should wreck it once. That might knock some sense into you.”
Of course.
I shouldn’t have expected genuine concern.
The faint bit of emotion I’d felt shattered instantly.
“Well. A busted wrist would at least make things even.”
“…What?”
“What. Want me to fight you using only one hand, loser brother?”
My provocation hit home.
Kallian clenched his teeth, forcing a smile.
Somehow, he was already holding a wooden sword.
“So you want to fight your brother, huh?”
That lunatic was actually planning to use Aura in front of his delicate little sister.
“Mother said not to just take hits. I can’t be a filial daughter if I get beaten senseless.”
“Your mother is my mother too. I agree, dear sister.”
Kallian stepped forward with his left foot and swung his sword horizontally.
I dodged easily, stepping back and gathering mana in my palm.
Eat this, you bastard brother.
With a flick of my hand, the cold energy at my fingertips shot out, and ice erupted from the ground.
As if he’d expected it, Kallian kicked off the ground and dodged into the air flawlessly.
Tch.
Annoying. And damn good at dodging.
Seriously, that jerk had a talent for making people angry even while avoiding attacks.
Before his feet touched the ground, I conjured flames.
The straight line of fire struck something and split in all directions.
“You’re supposed to be the next Tower Master? Is this all you’ve got? Are mages blind or something?”
“The Tower Master chooses the successor, you idiot. That comment alone could get you executed.”
“And now you won’t even call me ‘brother’? You call the eldest ‘brother’ properly, but I’m always ‘hey’ or ‘you’? Am I your friend?!”
“Then act like a brother. Being born first isn’t some huge achievement—”
A sharp gaze stabbed into the back of my head.
I forcibly shut my mouth mid-rant.
Then, as if nothing had happened, I put on an innocent expression and stepped away from Kallian.
“What, giving up now?”
Read the room, you idiot.
I rolled my eyes and subtly pointed to one side.
Kallian paused.
“What are you talking about? Is that a declaration that you’ll blow me away?”
If you don’t want to get blown away, shut up!
I used magic to tilt his head slightly.
When he noticed someone, his face turned pale.
Looks like he finally understood the situation.
“You grown idiots! What do you think you’re doing in the middle of the night?! Right in front of your mother!”
My mother’s furious voice echoed loudly.
“Why is it that every time you see each other, it turns into a fight?!”
As her scolding intensified, I knew we were doomed.
I glanced at Kallian.
Our eyes met.
And then—
We both dropped to our knees at the same time.
Pride meant nothing right now.
“Sorry, Mother…”
“We apologize, Mother.”
From experience, kneeling and begging was the best approach.
I lifted my head slightly to check her expression and immediately met her sharp glare.
I lowered my eyes at once.
“Kallian Ellopez. Tian Ellopez.”
In novels, when someone reincarnates as the youngest daughter of a ducal family, they’re usually showered with affection.
Sometimes to an embarrassing degree.
…That’s the usual case.
Apparently, exceptions exist.
And there should really be warning labels explaining what to do when you’re in one.
“Both of you are confined to your rooms for three days!”
“Mother… Mom… three days is a bit—”
“Be quiet.”
“Yes.”
Youngest daughter?
Cute whining?
Doesn’t work.
That’s reality.
