Chapter 91

"Next, there was also an incident where Rinse was doused with water from the second floor of the school."

The audience murmured at Hartis's words.

"It was you, right?!"

"You're making false accusations. I didn't do it!"

Serea refuted, and Shin pointed at her and declared,

"You were seen on the second floor at that time!"

"Is that all? My classroom is on the second floor. It's only natural for me to be there, isn't it?"

"Hartis!"

Hartis was called again.

"I'm counting on you this time!"

"Leave it to me."

Hartis then took out what appeared to be a plaster cast.

"After Rinse was doused with water, I investigated the school. If someone was doused with water, it means that someone must have filled a bucket or something with water from the school. So I checked the water sources in the school. As you know, hand-pumped wells have a limit to the height they can pump water to, so there are no water sources on the second floor."

Hartis then flipped the plaster cast over.

"These are the footprints left at the water source in the courtyard next to the gym. I took a plaster cast of them and preserved them. As you know, shoes are custom-made by craftsmen, one by one, by hand. The shape, size, and the width of each stitch on the sole are all different. Moreover, shoes wear down and change shape as they are worn, and this is unique to each person, with no two being the same. The way one walks, their weight, and their build all affect this. I collected these under the supervision of the principal. The principal's signature is in the plaster cast. Please take a look."

The student council members and the target of the investigation peered at the footprint.

"So, by comparing the remaining footprints, we can clearly identify whose shoes they were. Serea, I'm very sorry, but could you please take off your shoes and show us your feet?"

"...The shoes I'm wearing now are evening pumps. They're not the ones I usually wear at school."

"That's not the issue. Please."

This time, Shin smiled confidently.

"Come on, Serea."

Serea reluctantly took off her shoes and showed her feet. Hartis, kneeling at Serea's feet, overlaid the cast on her foot.

"...Serea, your feet are surprisingly large."

"...Yes."

Serea blushed and turned red.

"You can see now, can't you? These are not Serea's footprints. The size is different. The footprint was left by a female student with smaller feet."

"Uh... Yes..."

Shin was shocked. Indeed, the footprint was smaller than Serea's bare feet.

"Then... Could it be..."

"Yes, since Shin asked me to thoroughly investigate, I did just that. These are Rinse's footprints. They perfectly match the leather shoes Rinse wore at school. The size, the stitching, and even the wear are exactly the same. I borrowed the shoes Rinse left in the drama club room when changing into evening wear just now."

Hartis flipped the girl's shoe over and placed it on the table next to the plaster cast.

"But just because the footprint matches, it doesn't prove that Rinse doused herself with water! She might have just walked near the water source!"

"I never said Rinse doused herself with water."

"Ugh..."

Shin fell silent.

"Strangely, the area around the hand-pumped well in the courtyard was uniformly wet."

"The water source is wet, isn't it?"

"On the contrary, it's designed not to be wet. The stone blocks around the area where water falls are designed to drain the water. The area around the well shouldn't get wet every time it's used. The fact that the scene was wet and footprints were left is strange. The ground was wet around the footprint, as if the person who left the footprint had doused themselves with water from a bucket. The principal confirmed this as well. It's as if the person doused themselves with water right there."

The room fell silent. Rinse was pale and trembling.

"...Hartis, this isn't what I asked for! I didn't ask you to do this!"

"What exactly did you ask for?"

"Anything, just provide undeniable evidence!"

"I did exactly as you asked?"

"That's not what I meant!"

"Then what did you mean?"

Hartis asked Shin with a straight face.

"Come on, tell me. Explain to everyone, including me, what your purpose was, what the meaning was, and why you asked me to gather this evidence, to provide undeniable proof. Please answer."

Shin fell silent, unable to respond.

"...It's fine, Hartis. I don't want to tarnish the prince. I accept the annulment of the engagement."

"But Serea..."

Clap, clap, clap, clap...

The sound of applause echoed. It was Picard who was clapping.

"Admirable. No, truly touching. To go to such lengths to win the prince's affection. To want to be loved by the prince. Rinse, your unwavering love for the prince is truly impressive. Shin, you are a fortunate person. Please continue to love Rinse as you have."

Picard stopped clapping and shrugged.

"However, I hope you will no longer bother Serea. Give her the freedom to love and let her fly. Not an annulment, but a dissolution of the engagement... What do you think, Shin?"

"...I agree. Shin, give up."

The cool one, Fried Black, said.

"I'm fine with that. Let them do as they please. But don't involve Serea. I ask you, Your Highness."

Powell, unusually, said something humble.

Shin looked around. Surprisingly, the graduation party venue was empty.

It was a major scandal involving the prince. If they were there, they might be blamed later for being involved. Even the fear of being a witness made the graduates and attendees leave the venue hurriedly.

Nodding, Hartis spoke.

"Shin, no, Your Highness. Can we pretend this never happened? No one will be punished or blamed. Serea, me, and everyone who witnessed this. And we will release Serea from your side. Is that acceptable? If you agree, we will not speak of this matter again and will continue to support you as we have. What do you think?"

Shin hung his head.

"Fine..."

"Everyone, did you hear that?"

Hartis confirmed with everyone present.

"Yeah," Fried said.

"Excellent, Hartis," Picard smiled.

"Take care, Your Highness," Powell said.

"Agreed," the king said.

"Your Majesty!!!"

Everyone was shocked!!

"Father... When did you...?"

"From the moment you said, 'Serea Collette! I hereby annul our engagement!'"

Aaaaaah, Shin clutched his head and knelt.

"...I ask you all. Is Shin fit to be the next king of this country?"

"Absolutely, Your Majesty," Hartis answered.

"Love is a temporary illness. It will be cured when it is fulfilled. Shin has maintained the top position in this school for three years in public duties, student council work, and academics. His abilities are impeccable, and I have seen his efforts up close. He has won the martial arts competition for three consecutive years and is unmatched in martial prowess. I want to continue to support Shin."

"Me too, Your Majesty."

Fried, unusually, bowed properly to the king.

"I... I will, regardless of my feelings for the prince, swear unwavering loyalty to the royal family."

Powell also bowed properly.

"Me too. It would be a shame for my rival to fall from grace."

Picard's bow was, as always, elegant.

"I also ask for your understanding. The fact that Shin's heart has strayed is partly my fault. Please blame my inadequacy. I can support Shin in a different way in the future. Please let this matter rest."

Serea bowed properly.

The king nodded.

"...Shin, you are blessed with good friends. Despite your significant mistake, they are willing to forgive you. Be grateful for their forgiveness and work hard to regain your honor. I expect great things from you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty..."

Shin prostrated himself on the floor.

"Serea, the engagement is dissolved. I guarantee that you will not be blamed. I apologize to you as a parent, not as a king. I will apologize to the Collette family later. Please forgive me."

The king bowed to Serea.

"That's a waste, Your Majesty."

"Well, the party can't continue in this atmosphere."

The king looked around the empty venue.

"Be careful on your way home. Good night."

He left the venue, and everyone bowed deeply to see him off.

"Your Highness, Shin..."

Rinse called out to Shin.

Ignoring her, Shin hurried out of the venue.

"Your Highness! Please listen! Your Highness~~~!"

Rinse chased after him.

"Phew. Well, let's go home..."

Picard struck a strange pose, and everyone laughed.

"Ah, what a waste. The party is ruined."

Fried left the venue, and Powell and Picard followed silently.

"Hartis..."

"Was this the right thing to do, Serea? I feel like I did something wrong."

"I think it was for the best. Thank you for your support."

Serea bowed to Hartis.

"I... I wanted to help Serea."

"I understand."

"Even now, I have always..."

"Don't say it."

Serea smiled a little sadly.

"There will be a lot of trouble ahead. So, don't say it now. If everything settles down and you still feel the same, then..."

Hartis nodded.

"Understood."

Serea stepped forward and took Hartis's hand.

"So, will you dance the last dance with me?"

Hartis smiled gently and took her hand.

Serea, slightly shorter than Hartis, and Hartis's dancing silhouette swayed on the curtain of the party venue that night.

"(What do we do? We can't leave now!)"

Hidden under the tablecloth, Jack, who had hidden under the food table, said to Silfa.

"(But I want to see it through.)"

"(Silfa, if we say we saw everything, Shin will be awkward. We should have pretended we didn't see and left quickly...)"

Silfa leaned against Jack, who was crouching, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"(You're a good friend...)"

"(Ah, we're stuck here for a while.)"

"(Serea looks happy. It's fine, isn't it, even with a night like this.)"

"(It's not fine... Think about Shin...)"

Jack sighed as he watched the dancing couple through the tablecloth...

---

"I will not annul the engagement" - Deleted Scenes Collection 3A - END

Thank you for reading. If the main character had been Hartis instead of the prince, this is how the ending would have been. This is what would have happened if the main character in the game had failed in the official route. I hope you enjoyed the continuation.

"I will not annul the engagement" will be released on April 2nd by Ichijinsha.

Special edition SS (Saran's story) will be distributed at participating stores.

"Book-Off, Honya Club, Manga King Club, and others (some stores excluded)"

The book includes a new story about how Rinse and the black cat Kuro met, which was a mystery in the main story.

(Author's illustration of Kuro)

Please check the spine