Chapter 5

"May I ask a question that may be out of place?"

The Chief Justice's eldest son asked, with a face that clearly showed his dissatisfaction. After the graduation party and the subsequent trial, he had managed to secure a suspended sentence, but he had lost his position as a confidant of the Second Prince, and his attendance at the royal castle had been canceled. Currently, he was under a de facto house arrest.

"Why am I called to a tea party with a noble lady?"

He, too, had once had a fiancée, but after losing the trial, his father had dissolved the engagement. Of course, he was responsible and had paid compensation. And the amount his father had fronted, he would have to earn himself once his house arrest was lifted.

"Oh, such a thing," the Marquess' daughter said, smiling gently. Yes, she was the Second Prince's former fiancée. Currently, in the Marquess' family garden gazebo, only the two of them were present.

"Both of us have lost our engagements, haven't we?"

"Yes, that's true."

"Therefore, we must both find new fiancés."

"Ah, that's true."

However, for the children of the royal family and high-ranking nobles, most of their engagements were decided for the sake of their family's political strategies from a very young age. It was almost unheard of for someone of their age, who had just graduated from the academy, to be free and without a fiancé, unless they were from a lower-ranking noble family. Of course, due to recent events, the second son of the Prime Minister and the third son of the Knight Commander had also had their engagements broken, so there were still some options available.

"I am grateful to you," she said.

"No, there's nothing to be grateful for."

The Chief Justice's eldest son had been on the side that accused her. Now that everything was over, he was aware that he had been the perpetrator.

"No, if you hadn't noticed that day, my situation would have been much worse."

At that time, what the Second Prince had intended to do to her would never be revealed. The prince was imprisoned in the northern tower and would likely never come out again. During the investigation and trial, it was decided that the prince had only wanted to break the engagement and had not intended to commit any further crimes. But she, recalling the prince's character, thought that he might have even considered execution.

Yes, the reason she had been trembling with fear that day, unable to hide it, was because she had seen her own fate, being framed and destroyed for a crime she did not commit.

"But you saved me from that. I feel a debt of gratitude that I can never repay."

"But, that—"

"And, though I know it may seem presumptuous, there is one more thing I would like to ask of you."

"……What?"

She looked at him with slightly moist eyes. Her cheeks slightly flushed, she looked at him with a mix of bashfulness and anxiety, a gaze that was almost pleading. Her natural beauty, combined with this overwhelming charm, held him in her gaze.

"I will formally propose this to your family from my family at a later date, but please, will you agree to an engagement with me?"

"That, that……"

This meant that she had chosen him as her new partner. Realizing this, his heart skipped a beat. She was known as a paragon of ladylike virtue, with beauty, intelligence, education, and manners that everyone acknowledged as suitable for a princess. For her to propose to him, something that was not typically praised for a lady, was a significant gesture. How could any man not be moved by such a request? No, there was no such man.

At the same time, he realized something else. She had no other options.

They were alone in this place. Of course, there were maids and guards waiting at a distance, but in the garden gazebo, it was just the two of them. And among the parties involved in the series of events, they were the two with the least blemishes. He still had options. The second son of the Prime Minister and the third son of the Knight Commander, who had also been freed from their engagements, were still available. But she could not choose the second son of the Prime Minister or the third son of the Knight Commander, who had been explicitly accused of a crime, nor could she choose the Crown Prince, who already had a fiancée. Moreover, a lady who had once been designated as a princess would not easily be able to marry abroad, as the royal family would almost certainly intervene.

"Is, is it all right with you?"

He knew the answer, but he couldn't help but ask.

"I am asking you because it is you. I know it must seem shallow of me to ask for an engagement so soon after mine was broken, but—"

And then, she gathered her courage and spoke.

"Since that day, I haven't been able to forget you—"

Her expression, trying to hide her desperation but failing, was so emotional that it was hard to believe it was the same woman who had been praised for her perfection. Her cheeks flushed, and her ears turned red. Unable to bear the embarrassment, she averted her gaze and looked down.

How could any man resist such a face, such a cute expression? No, there was no such man.

He covered his face with one hand, his gaze wandering. He tried to calm himself by picking up the teacup, sipping the now lukewarm tea, and swallowing it. Then, he glanced at her.

Unable to bear even the brief silence, she had shrunk back and was looking down.

Ah, this is hopeless. What else can I do but fall in love?

He stood up silently, walked around the round table, and approached her. Kneeling in front of her, who had stood up in surprise at his sudden approach, he took her tightly clenched hand, gently unclenched it, and said:

"The dignified lady I have seen until now and the adorable lady you just showed me are both incredibly charming, and I can't take my eyes off you. Please, will you agree to an engagement with me? If you accept, I swear to love you and only you for the rest of my life, without ever changing my heart."

He looked into her eyes sincerely and declared clearly.

Her eyes, which had widened, suddenly became moist, and a single tear overflowed.

"Yes—yes, I would be honored."

She answered with tears streaming down her face, a smile she had never shown before.

He immediately kissed her hand and, for a while, could not raise his face.