Chapter 6

I was led by the man and walked down the corridor with the nursemaid.

Still... who is this man? He is too fierce to be a valet, and he lacks the grace to be a knight.

But how long will we keep walking?

I didn't know that there was such a dim place inside the castle.

The corridor is darker and narrower than the room where I was confined.

Finally, we reached a door that looked like an exit.

It's not a door befitting the royal castle. There is no decoration at all.

Despite my doubts, I followed the man outside. Due to the continuous walking, I had no sense of direction, but one thing I noticed as I looked around the area covered with trees was that it was the back gate. Am I being told to leave through the back gate?

"Please get in here."

The carriage prepared for us was simple.

A plain black carriage with no decorations. However, the windows were barred, and it was clear that this carriage was for nobles who had committed crimes.

The man, the nursemaid, and I got into the carriage.

"The residence where you will live is located at the edge of the capital. Lord Fritz will rest there."

Officially, the first prince has fallen ill and left the castle.

"What kind of illness is it?"

I didn't intend to be sarcastic, but my words probably sounded spiteful.

"It's a brain disease."

"Brain...?"

"Yes. An incurable disease where the mind is entirely dyed pink. I've heard that it's difficult to cure. After all, some of those who suffered from it had flowers blooming in their heads."

I was speechless at the name of the disease he said so casually.

The man, who didn't change his expression, mocked me for being madly in love.

"I feel sorry for Alexandra, but I truly loved Millie."

Even if no one acknowledges it, I don't want to end the days when I sincerely sought and loved a woman with just one word, 'foolish.' She brought happiness to my life, and that is the truth.

"Please call me Lady Hessen or Lady Alexandra. She is no longer your fiancée."

The response was a respectful address to Alexandra.

"Due to the incompetence of her fiancé, Lady Alexandra was on the brink of death."

It was the first time in my life I was called 'incompetent.'

I had always been praised as an excellent crown prince. In fact, my academic performance was top-notch, and my martial arts skills were also excellent.

However, I couldn't retort.

After all, I had fabricated a crime I didn't commit, gathered witnesses, and planned to break off the engagement in front of a large audience. I thought that even if my engagement to her failed, there would be many suitors for the daughter of the leading ducal family because of her royal blood. I never imagined she would drink poison.

"It's not my fault..."

I realized I had said the lowest words possible.

"Hmm. As expected, you have the ability to defame your fiancé with false accusations. Not knowing shame is exactly this."

"I... I didn't try to kill her... The engagement was my father's order. We had no affection for each other! Alexandra could have married the man she liked! Besides, she is alive! There will be plenty of opportunities for her in the future!!!"

I became increasingly emotional and ended up shouting.

Unlike me, who was being confined, Alexandra was free.

She would be surrounded by suitors at social gatherings and could choose the one she liked. Unlike me, who had lost everything—status, freedom, and the one I loved—Alexandra had a bright future.

The man didn't change his expression but raised one eyebrow to convey his displeasure.

This man is probably a high-ranking noble, as his demeanor suggested.

"You seem more fortunate than I thought. You don't seem to understand what it means to break off an engagement in public and make a flawless princess a criminal.

I find it hard to understand why you think Lady Alexandra is unharmed just because your foolish plan didn't succeed.

The princess will have some aftereffects from the poison and will need to rest for a while.

Naturally, she won't be able to appear in society, and it will be impossible to find an unmarried noble of her age."

It sounded as if it was my fault that Alexandra would miss her chance to marry.

After a heavy silence, the carriage stopped.

We seemed to have arrived at the palace.

Following the man, I got out of the carriage and saw a tower.

"What!!! What is this place!?"

The tower was surrounded by a forest.

"This will be your final residence. Please follow me for a tour."

The man urged me, who was speechless. The nursemaid and I were led up a creepy staircase. All the small windows on the stairs had iron bars. It was a place from which one could not escape. After climbing for a while, the man finally stopped. We had reached our destination. The man opened a heavy door and gestured for me to enter.

"This is...?"

"This will be your room from now on."

As expected.

A room with no luxury, just the bare minimum.

It must be a place for politically fallen nobles.

Not confinement in a palace, but imprisonment in a tower. Does my father know about this? No, this must be a statement that he will never forgive me.

"By the way, the woman who deceived Lord Fritz seems to have married."

...What?

Married? Who? That woman? Could it be... Millie?

"She apparently cozied up to a marquess family of the second prince's faction. Despite declaring that she would live for love, it didn't last a few days. It seems she doesn't care if the wealthy and powerful man is old."

No... It can't be!!!

Millie said she would love me no matter what. It wasn't about status or honor, but about me myself... Even when we were separated, she said she would follow me no matter what.

"Liar!!!"

The man ignored my shouts and left.

That impolite man is lying.

It can't be.