Chapter 25

Prince Lewis and Oriane were having a rendezvous in a private room at a royal family-approved restaurant.

They had come here a few times and enjoyed very delicious meals together.

Today, they were having a meal together again, but the conversation was not as lively as before, and neither of them seemed to be enjoying it.

In particular, Prince Lewis's expression was darker than usual.

"Is your injury okay, Prince Lewis? Is it still painful?"

"No, it's fine. Thank you for healing it, Oriane."

As soon as they met, Oriane had treated Prince Lewis's broken right hand.

The bones seemed to have fused, but since she couldn't perfectly control the power of the saint, he was still in pain.

"Why did Prince Lewis get such an injury?"

"Well, it's nothing serious. Just a little—"

Prince Lewis averted his gaze and tried to brush it off.

However, there was only one possible reason for him to get injured and for the prince to not take it seriously.

"Could it be that something happened with Lady Asaria?"

"Ah! Yes, that's right... Yes, that's right."

Prince Lewis, who reacted as if he had been caught, closed his eyes for a moment and met Oriane's gaze.

"The other day, I went to Asaria's house... She treated me rudely and even injured me."

"Oh, how terrible..."

Oriane, who had expected this, reacted with surprise.

She had imagined the cause of the injury, but what concerned her more was the fact that Prince Lewis had gone to Asaria's house.

As far as Oriane knew, Prince Lewis had never gone to Asaria's house before.

"Why did you go to Lady Asaria's house?"

"Well... I hadn't told you yet. It was something the Emperor said when he called me the other day."

It was when Oriane went to the palace to treat Prince Lewis's hand.

Since then, the invitations to their rendezvous had almost stopped.

"What did he say?"

"The Emperor said that if I broke off my engagement with Asaria, I would no longer be the Crown Prince."

"Oh, no!"

What Asaria had said at the Founding Day party was all true.

Oriane had thought it was an exaggerated lie, but she never imagined it was all true.

She had no idea that the power of the four dukes was so strong.

Prince Lewis probably didn't know either.

Misunderstanding the reason for Oriane's silence, the prince smiled and continued.

"I was told that if I break off the engagement, I won't be the Crown Prince, but I have no intention of ending our relationship. I want you to be reassured."

"...Thank you."

Oriane smiled in relief and thanked him, but she was worried about something entirely different inside.

(If Prince Lewis is not the Crown Prince, I won't be able to become the Empress and rise to the top... I am a chosen saint, and I must stand at the top of the empire.)

Oriane thought this to herself.

"I was told that if I break off the engagement, I won't be the Crown Prince, but I don't think I'll immediately lose my first place in the line of succession. I should be able to return to being the Crown Prince soon."

"Yes, I believe Prince Lewis will be fine."

They both smiled, but their expressions were a bit stiff.

(I want to believe what Prince Lewis says, but it's impossible. If he breaks off the engagement, it will be almost impossible for him to return to being the Crown Prince.)

Oriane thought this to herself but maintained a facade.

(Should I switch to another prince now? No, it's absolutely impossible. My rendezvous with Prince Lewis is well-known in society, and the other princes know about it. If I tried to charm another prince, my reputation would only decline.)

Even now, Oriane's reputation was gradually declining due to the previous Founding Day party.

If it declined further, it would be difficult for her to improve her standing as a saint.

(To become the Empress and stand at the top of the empire, Prince Lewis must maintain his position as the first in line to the throne. But to do that, maintaining the engagement with Asaria is an absolute condition. If that happens, Asaria will become the Empress, and I won't be able to stand at the top...!)

Of course, being a saint still had value, and she was a chosen one.

But she would be in a lower position than the Empress and the dukes.

Oriane felt cornered, and it was all because of that woman.

The words Asaria said to her at the Founding Day party echoed in her mind.

When Oriane told Asaria, "Is it right to threaten the Crown Prince with the power of the ducal family? I wouldn't do such a thing," Asaria replied with a mocking tone:

"Miss Oriane, you're mistaken. It's not that you 'wouldn't' do it, but that you 'can't.' You have no power at all."

Hearing those words, Oriane strongly thought, "I will definitely be in a higher position than Asaria someday."

But because of Asaria, she couldn't achieve that.

"It's okay, Miss Oriane. You will never have such power."

Asaria's evil smile lingered in her mind.

(That woman is really in the way! I have to do something about her to rise to the top...!)

She had to think of a way for Prince Lewis to break off the engagement with that woman and still remain the Crown Prince.

She needed to find a way.

"Oriane? Are you okay?"

"Ah, yes, I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

Oriane smiled and continued the conversation with Prince Lewis while deep in thought.

"I love you, Oriane. I have no intention of marrying Asaria, so you can be reassured."

"Prince Lewis... Thank you. I also love you, Prince Lewis."

They laughed together, but Oriane noticed something off about Prince Lewis.

(He usually says he wants to break off the engagement as soon as possible, but he didn't say that this time. Could it be that Prince Lewis is starting to think about marrying Asaria?)

Oriane made this assumption on her own, but it started to feel more and more accurate.

(Could the reason he went to Asaria's house be to deepen their relationship? If he breaks off the engagement, he will no longer be the Crown Prince.)

Prince Lewis probably didn't want to lose his position.

He said he could become the Crown Prince again on his own, but it was unclear if he truly believed it.

But the easiest way would be to prevent him from losing his position as the Crown Prince.

In other words, to continue the marriage with Asaria.

(If that happens, I won't be able to stand above that woman... I have to stop it somehow.)

Looking at Prince Lewis's recent injury, it was clear that things were not going well with Asaria.

For now, everything was fine, but she couldn't be complacent.

If Asaria changed her mind and said, "I will marry Prince Lewis," they would end up getting married.

—If Asaria were here, she would say, "There's no way I would marry him," to bring Prince Lewis to despair and reassure Oriane, but Oriane had no way of knowing this.

(I have to think of a way for Prince Lewis to remain the Crown Prince without marrying that woman...!)