Chapter 5

"Some say that prostitutes are inherently fond of men, but those who truly chose this path are extremely rare. At the very least, Catherine's mother sold herself to help her poor family survive the winter."

About thirty years ago, the entire Kingdom of Stern was struck by a famine. Even after opening the national treasury, many people still died of hunger. It was during this time that Catherine's mother sold herself.

"My father and I were childhood sweethearts and had promised to marry. However, due to the famine, the entire barony was impoverished, and the baron's family could not afford to take care of another household, so they had to let us part. After that, my father married my mother. She died shortly after giving birth to me, but my father never remarried and raised me on his own until I was ten years old."

The students present all held their breath, listening intently to Leonhardt's words. Everyone knew that there were people who sold themselves out of poverty. Some noble children even engaged in charitable activities like visiting poorhouses. However, they always drew a line between themselves and the common people, and former prostitutes never revealed their true feelings or past. Leonhardt had brought this issue close to home.

"My father went to fetch my stepmother, who had left prostitution once our family's finances improved. I heard that he knelt and begged for forgiveness for not being able to buy her back. She was later welcomed as the baron's second wife, but no one in the barony, who knew about their past hardships, ever insulted her."

The baron had been waiting for his former fiancée, who had become a prostitute, to return. He must have loved her deeply, but at the same time, the regret of not being able to stop her from becoming a prostitute must have been immense. It was because they lived together honestly and affectionately that the people of the barony never criticized them.

Seeing such a father, Leonhardt felt more sympathy and concern for the unfortunate and weak, and more affection for his family, which is why he could not forgive his sister's insulting remarks.

"However, if the people in the capital, who do not know the circumstances, were to learn of her true nature, how would they react? If she lived a low-key and serious life, they would not have cared about the origins of a mere baron's daughter. But Catherine, when criticized for her incompetence, would say things like, 'You must be looking down on me because I'm a baron's daughter,' or, 'I've been mocked for being the daughter of a prostitute,' revealing her past herself."

All of Catherine's behavior at the academy must have been reported to her parents. It had been about half a year since she arrived, but the family must have felt a sense of crisis due to the accumulated issues and decided to send her to a convent.

"You shouldn't have come to the capital at all. You even used up your parents' savings. And yet, all you did was chase after men."

"But, brother, you also attended the academy!!"

"I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship. Even if I hadn't, I intended to work and pay my way through."

Nobles who do not graduate from the royal academy in the capital are considered uneducated and lack the knowledge and culture befitting their title. While second and third sons are allowed to live as knights or commoners, it is a disgrace for the heir to do so. Even if a family is poor, they will take out loans to send their heir to the capital. It is admirable that Leonhardt intended to pay his way through without taking out loans.

"Are you not ashamed, given that you have a fiancé in the barony?"

"Fiancé!?"

"My parents decided it without my consent!"

It seemed that even the crown prince and his entourage were unaware, as they were now closely watching Catherine.

"I told them about your behavior at the academy and requested that the engagement be dissolved, and they agreed."

"Of course, that man must have been repulsed by my background?"

"No, he is not that kind of person. If he had been, he would have refused from the beginning. He tried to accept it in his own way. But you apparently mocked him behind his back, saying things like, 'You can buy me with money, but not my heart,' and, 'I don't want to marry a mere merchant. I am not a woman who will end up in this backwater.' He apparently did not want to break the engagement to save the baron's face, but when he learned the truth, my stepmother fainted."

"Lies!!"

Leonhardt, who had always spoken the truth even to the crown prince, would not lie now.

"He said he could finally ask out the girl he liked. I felt sorry for tying him down."

"What did you say!! Could it be Elsa!? You chose her over me, a woman like that!?"

"At least she is a better and more hardworking person than you."

To be honest, Catherine's true nature can be summed up in one word: terrible. Since Leonhardt appeared, her true nature was quickly exposed. Even without considering her mother's background, no family would want to marry such a brazen woman.