Chapter 6

"Both Father and Mother are honest and hardworking people, so why are you such a rotten person?"

Despite being her brother, Leonhardt could only hold his head in his hands, unable to protect her, and everyone, including Diana, felt sympathy for him.

"I don't think it's worth apologizing for causing so much trouble, but our family has decided to renounce our title and move to the city. I have also resigned from my position."

"Wh-What!! What should I do!!"

"Without a word of remorse or apology to the parents who raised you, all you can think about is your own self-preservation!!"

At Leonhardt's stern rebuke, not only Catherine but also the Crown Prince trembled in fear. It was truly pitiful.

"Rest assured. That's why I'm sending you to a convent."

"No way!"

"If you don't want that, then get married and leave the Meteora baronial family."

"Then I will!!"

Catherine, her face showing a glimmer of hope, looked around. She must have thought that the Crown Prince, who had offered to make her his consort, and the high-ranking nobles' sons who had always fawned over her, would help her. However, they all kept their distance from Catherine.

"W-What's wrong? Everyone?"

"Seeing your true nature, no man would want to marry you."

"That's not true!! Prince Rodi..."

"Stop!! Don't come any closer!!"

Despite stumbling, Catherine approached the Crown Prince, but he cruelly pushed her away and rejected her. Unable to bear the disdainful gazes of those who had once been in love with her, Catherine collapsed.

"Why did the Meteora baronial family bring such a foolish woman to the capital!!"

Indeed, Catherine is a foolish girl. However, it was the Crown Prince himself who had been deceived by her sweet words and interpreted them to his advantage.

"Your Highness, even such an ignorant and foolish woman is a beloved daughter to her parents and a dear sister to me."

"Shut up!! Don't involve me!!"

In the end, Catherine caused a major problem, but it was also human to want to fulfill the wish of a late-born daughter to live a year in the glamorous capital. The fact that they had given up everything to come for Catherine was a testament to their family's love.

However, the Crown Prince could not understand. After berating the baronial family's siblings, he turned to Diana.

"Diana!! I was deceived!! I don't want to break the engagement!!"

He shamelessly retracted his earlier statement. Even Diana, who had been made to suffer by Catherine, had not wanted such an ending.

"Diana! Please forgive me!"

A man who treated a woman he had once been in love with so rudely would surely repeat the same behavior. When that happened, he might not bow his head humbly as he did today but act arrogantly. The moment this thought crossed Diana's mind, her heart turned cold. The thought of spending her life trying to please such a man, never being loved, filled her with despair.

"Everyone here heard what Your Highness said earlier. It can't be undone now."

"That's not true! I didn't mean it that way..."

"Even so, the final decision will be made by my father, the Duke."

No matter what the Crown Prince said, Diana's actions would not change. The continuation or cancellation of the engagement would be decided by her father's judgment. That's what a political marriage is.

What was important was the Crown Prince's future. His earlier statement was made in front of everyone by a person in a responsible position. There was no going back. If he dismissed the cancellation of the engagement as a joke, his words would lose their weight. A wise person would see a declining future for the Crown Prince.

"No, no, that's not it—!"

The Crown Prince, imagining his own downfall, shouted as if he had gone mad and drew the sword from his waist.

"What!? It's real!!"

"It's not a replica!!"

Students are generally prohibited from carrying weapons on campus, but they often wear replica swords for show. However, the Crown Prince's sword had a brilliance and sharpness that no replica could match.

"Because of this woman, I've been dragged into this farce!!"

This was clearly a baseless accusation. The Crown Prince had not been dragged into anything; he had dragged Catherine, Diana, and everyone else into this farce. He pointed the blade at Leonhardt and Catherine. Despite being one of the most noble people in the Kingdom of Stern, he now looked like nothing more than a lowly thug.

"Stop this! Doing this will change nothing!"

Leonhardt stood in front of Catherine to protect her, staying out of the Crown Prince's sword range.

"No, it will change. If it weren't for a slut like Catherine, Diana would forgive me!"

No one said that, everyone thought in their hearts. Even if he disposed of Catherine and Leonhardt, Diana would not forgive him, and a royal who killed a confused citizen would be held accountable, even if he were the Crown Prince. The monarchy of the Kingdom of Stern did not allow such tyranny.

"Your Highness, stop!!"

"Miss Mont Duke!!"

This time, Diana stepped forward in front of the Crown Prince.