Chapter 4

"You!!"

Father said this and immediately struck me.

"I am thoroughly enraged! I am ashamed of myself. I did not understand the meaning of the engagement or the responsibility. How much effort and self-discipline Alexandra has put into becoming my queen. And you, who were raised to become the next king, did not understand this!!!

A loveless political marriage...? Who do you think you are!!! The same goes for Alexandra!!! She endured and was willing to marry you for the sake of the country and its people!!! How can you think that you are the only one who has been a victim!!!

Someone like you has no right to live as a royal! You will be confined to the Northern Palace for the rest of your life!"

I was pushed out of the room.

From behind, I heard Father's lament: "How can I apologize to my sister in heaven for appointing such a man as Alexandra's fiancé..."

"Your Highness"

A small, trembling voice called out to me.

Turning in the direction of the voice, I saw my nursemaid standing there. She had been waiting in the corridor throughout my audience with Father.

"I am no longer a prince."

"…Your Highness"

"Before long, you will no longer call me that. I am to be confined for life."

"Such a thing…"

To me, the nursemaid was like a mother.

Unlike my strict mother, the nursemaid was always kind. She scolded me when I did wrong, but unlike my brother's nursemaid, she stayed by my side even after I grew up. After her duties as a nursemaid ended, she continued to serve me as a 'personal lady-in-waiting.'

Seeing her pale face and trembling, I noticed a few strands of white in her rich brown hair. She had aged considerably in the past few weeks, all because of me.

"If you continue to involve yourself with me, you might also be punished…"

"I don't care. I will not leave your side."

"That's foolish. If you do, your family might also suffer."

"Your Highness, my husband is already dead. My child… died shortly before you were born. I have no family left. Therefore, such concern is unnecessary."

I was shocked by her words. I had no idea about her family or her current situation, despite her long service.

"Even so, I cannot take you with me. I will entrust your future to the King. He will not treat you badly."

"No, I will only serve you."

"That's nonsense…"

"Forgive my impertinence, but I have served you as if you were my own son since you were a child. I will accompany you to the end."

"I… ignored your advice and repeatedly acted foolishly."

"Even so, you are precious to me. Please grant this old woman's last wish."

Only this nursemaid and Alexandra had continued to criticize me. "Stay away from Miss Milly" and "Your behavior is unbecoming of a royal" were the kinds of things they said.

Looking back, the nursemaid was more desperate than Alexandra.

She often told me, "You have a fiancée, Lady Alexandra," and "You must not be swayed by such a vixen. Giving favor to a mere baron's daughter is unacceptable." At the time, I thought Alexandra was making her say these things.

I believed she was jealous of Milly and was making the nursemaid say these things.

"If I had been stronger in restraining Lady Alexandra…"

I later learned that the nursemaid had tried to prevent Alexandra's escape. To her, regardless of the reason, Alexandra's and her maid's actions, which defied the royal command, were unforgivable. However, she could not stop the skilled maid.

When I learned this, I was relieved that the nursemaid had not gotten too involved.

After all, the maid was stronger than any ordinary man. She had thrown several guards, even though they were just low-ranking guards.

Moreover, the guards she threw did not suffer any injuries. When I heard they had only bruises and were bedridden for a few days, I thought they were weak, but later realized that her aim was not to injure them.

She had interfered with the guards who were acting on the royal command.

It was an act that could have been seen as treason against the royal family. But she claimed it was "self-defense or justifiable defense to protect her wrongfully accused mistress."

"It's not your fault."

"Your Highness…"

I feel guilty seeing the nursemaid trying to hold back her tears, but this is all my fault. Alexandra drank the poison herself, and it is my responsibility.

And the royal family's.

She understood the royal family better than anyone. She had been educated to be a princess.

I ruined it.

I loved another woman while engaged and declared the engagement null and void, even framing Alexandra for a crime she did not commit. I did not hesitate.

All because I wanted to be with Milly.