CHAPTER 35………………………………………………………………..
Persephone, who had been wearing a gentle smile, let out a tired sigh.
It seemed she thought I was giving long-winded reasons for refusing the broken engagement.
“I don’t understand why Your Majesty refuses to use the cards you hold.”
If Roziane had the ducal family backing him, he probably wouldn’t need to worry so much.
“The succession to the throne is my concern. It’s not something the princess needs to worry about.”
“I will comply with Your Majesty’s request.”
Perhaps thinking our conversation was a waste of time, Persephone paused as if signaling Lerbian to escort me out.
I had expected her to remain calm or pretend to hide her joy now that I agreed to her request—but she didn’t.
Was she flustered that the princess who had wanted the engagement was now agreeing to the demand? Persephone finally spoke.
“What did you say…?”
“Did I not give you the answer you wanted?”
“…Are you serious?”
“You followed me around as a child, claiming I was your sister, and now you speak that way? I find it a bit disappointing.”
“Princess April.”
At the mention of the past, he flushed slightly, perhaps annoyed.
I let out a short laugh before speaking,
“However, there is one condition.”
Sure enough, when I added a caveat, his golden eyes instantly grew cold, as if he had expected it.
“I would like the broken engagement to be carried out a year from now.”
“…I have many questions, but why specifically a year later?”
That would be the time I would leave the ducal family and also the period when April would have to endure alone.
If April were not fully healed, she could never become Crown Princess. And in this world, I was the only one capable of healing her body.
“The thing I wish to happen will occur a year from now.”
“The thing you wish?”
“You may not believe me, but when I am to be broken off from Your Majesty, there is someone I want to see.”
His expression remained puzzled.
“Are you speaking of another man in front of your fiancé?”
“You were the one who requested the broken engagement first, weren’t you?”
He seemed to assume I had another man hidden.
He would never suspect the other party was not a man, and even less that it was the beloved daughter of the Rise ducal family.
It didn’t matter what misunderstanding Persephone had.
What I wanted was not an immediate broken engagement, but one a year from now.
“And if we were to break the engagement now, I imagine it would be troublesome for Your Majesty as well.”
The prime example of annoyance would surely be Roziane. He would take this opportunity to bring in noble young ladies that suited his tastes.
“During the one-year grace period, Your Majesty can prepare for what you need, ensuring Roziane cannot hatch other thoughts.”
“……”
“For the sake of a perfect broken engagement a year from now.”
“It is difficult to simply trust your words, Princess.”
“That is not surprising. But my feelings toward Your Majesty are sincere.”
“……”
“During this year, use me. Use everything you have—and everything I have.”
“……You suddenly say this, Princess. I am taken aback.”
“I find it stranger that Your Majesty would not trust me.”
“What changed your mind?”
He asked bluntly, as if demanding an explanation.
“Do you want to continue our relationship even like this?”
I let the sentence trail off, long and deliberate.
Persephone’s brows furrowed slightly.
“You will know the reason a year from now.”
“……”
“And at the same time, I hope things go well for the one Your Majesty holds dear.”
Ah, when I return to the ducal family, even after the broken engagement, I wanted to see April grieve and collapse, unable to cling to Persephone.
“Use me as a shield, Your Majesty.”
“……”
“I also need the title of Your Majesty’s fiancée until the year is up.”
“Princess.”
“Grant your sister’s first and last request.”
It was a matter of deep desire, one he had often mentioned after Persephone’s muteness had healed—that he wished I were his sister.
I thought he might feel slightly embarrassed by this old story, but he showed no outward reaction.
“A year from now, even if you do not wish it, the engagement will be broken.”
“Are you certain, Princess?”
“I am certain.”
If Persephone does not properly establish her position, Roziane would be the first to demand the broken engagement with the Rise family openly.
“I stake everything on these words.”
Seeing Persephone’s doubtful eyes, I smiled slightly. Lerbian and Persephone exchanged a brief glance, clearly considering how to interpret my words.
Perhaps because of the woman she holds in her heart.
My throat felt dry, and I wanted a sip of water, but there was not even a cup on the table, nor any refreshments.
I smiled faintly.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Because the young lady you care for looks concerned. I’ve observed Your Majesty since childhood, but I’ve never seen this expression before.”
He squinted as if something felt strange and loosened the cravat around his neck.
Bringing up childhood memories seemed to make him slightly embarrassed and awkward.
I stifled a giggle, took a deep breath, and composed myself. I finally realized that the Persephone I had always thought of as a child had truly grown into a young man.
“When you were younger, you followed me everywhere, saying that as long as I was around, you would be fine.”
“Were you?”
Lerbian asked in surprise, and Persephone scrunched his face to hide his embarrassment.
“…From what time period are you speaking?”
It truly was a story from long ago. In my memory, Persephone felt less like a man to rely on and more like a younger brother who needed care.
Three years before being expelled from the ducal family, he still had a youthful air—but after the three years we hadn’t met, he had become fully a young man.
Seeing my younger brother–like Persephone grown into a young man and demanding a broken engagement because he liked someone was refreshing.
Had I truly been the daughter of the ducal family and engaged to him, I would have accepted his initial proposal without hesitation.
His golden eyes, staring at me, reflected doubt.
Was he thinking I proposed this because of some other motive? Could he not take my words at face value, or was he worried about something else?
Then, his pale pink lips moved slightly.
“Princess, when you act like this, I become confused.”
“Confused about what?” I blinked slowly.
“Because today, you seem like the you I once knew.”
“……”
“The past three years, you didn’t feel like the princess from my childhood, but now… you do again.”
I imagined a sharp intake of breath somewhere, as if someone had stolen mine.
I didn’t know how to react, as I had not expected to hear such words from Persephone.
The lightness that mentioning childhood brought to the office’s atmosphere quickly hardened again.
If necessary, I would reveal my true identity to Persephone—but not yet.
At least, I planned to reveal it when April returned to the ducal family.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
All I could do in this moment was pretend not to know.
“I, too, am someone who wants the broken engagement with Your Majesty more than anyone.”
In this one year, I would snatch away everything April desired.
At the same time, I would prevent the ducal family from handing her anything she could use to benefit herself.
“I will assist Your Majesty. So please, trust me.”
