Chapter 3

"I intend to break my engagement with Diana Mount and marry Catherine Meteor."

Those who had thought the prince would take Catherine as a concubine or, at best, a secondary wife, were shocked to see Diana, as they had not expected the royal family to trample on the Mount family. Diana herself was also surprised, unable to hide her shock at being dragged onto the stage.

"There you are!! Diana! I am breaking my engagement with you!!"

"Your Highness, such a matter..."

"I prefer a charming girl like Kitty over a heartless woman like you, even if she is of lower status!"

To speak of breaking an engagement in such a place is extremely improper, a matter of decorum before anything else. Is this the kind of action a future king should take?

"I am deeply honored, but I must decline."

However, Catherine's brother did not panic; he maintained a cool demeanor and clearly refused. The prince, who had always lived with the expectation of being deferred to, likely never imagined that his claims would be rejected by someone of lower status. His eyes nearly popped out in shock.

"I am sorry, but Catherine will leave the academy today and return to our territory—"

"No way!! I don't want to join a convent!!"

"A convent!?"

The prince, who had caused such a commotion, did not understand, nor did Diana understand her brother's decision to send a useful daughter as a political pawn to a convent. While it might be presumptuous to aspire to the position of queen, Catherine had a chance to become the mother of the nation. Even if she did not marry into the royal family, she could potentially secure the prosperity of the Meteor baronial family through connections with other courtiers.

"How can you say you didn't hear about this!!"

"Even as the Crown Prince, you are not Catherine's fiancé. I do not see why I must inform you of our family's affairs beforehand."

Although they had acted like lovers within the academy, without a formal contract, there was nothing to protect their relationship. Noble marriages are contracts between families, and it is common for even meetings to be impossible if parents or siblings oppose them.

"Both of Catherine's parents in the territory have given their permission, and I informed Catherine before she enrolled. If any problems arise at the academy, she will leave and return to the territory."

While Leonhard Meteor did not show it on his face, it was clear that discussing such a shameful family matter in the academy courtyard was painful. The prince, however, showed no consideration, his irritation evident as he continued.

"Problems!? Catherine was the one being bullied, so why should she be blamed!! How ridiculous!"

Diana had heard rumors that Catherine was being bullied by someone. Realizing she might be the first to be suspected, Diana immediately told her friends to stay out of it and made sure to always act with people who could serve as witnesses.

"Was she bullied?"

With a gaze that seemed to see through her very soul, Leonhard asked his sister.

"Y-Yes!"

"Why?"

"Why? Because I was told not to be friendly with Lord Rody. I was shouted at and had things hidden from me..."

"Knowing the cause, why didn't you stay away from the prince?"

"Why should I have to stay away!! The fault lies with those who bullied me!!"

Catherine shouted at her brother, who looked genuinely confused.

"Would you approach a swollen river knowing it's dangerous?"

"Huh?"

"A baron's family with no achievements, approaching the Crown Prince and high-ranking nobles as if they own the place, will naturally be disliked and harmed. Despite this, you ignored the initial warnings, leading to the escalation of the situation. Why can't you understand that?"

"That's cruel! I just liked Lord Rody!"

"There's nothing cruel about it. You don't have the character or personality to be happy in a marriage that is beyond your station."

Seemingly intoxicated by her own victimhood, Catherine clung to the prince's arm and looked down. The prince tried to comfort her gently, but Diana and other students, who had been bitter about their relationship, listened to Leonhard's words with a sense of relief.

If Catherine were to become the Crown Princess as she is now, the future of the royal family would not be bright.

Although it seems she has been pushed to the side, the fact that the prince treated the Mount family with such disrespect in public is true, and the current Duke Mount is not the type to let this go unpunished. Additionally, among the fiancées of the prince's courtiers, there are certainly those who are dissatisfied with the current situation, which will undoubtedly lower the royal family's cohesion.