Chapter 9

After that, Crown Prince Roderich was made to renounce his position. However, this was not so much because he was reprimanded for breaking off his engagement without the king's permission, but rather because it was decided that a crown prince who took such an inappropriate action had lost his mind. Additionally, his violent act of brandishing a sword in broad daylight at the academy only added fuel to the fire. As a result, Crown Prince Roderich—no, Prince Roderich—was officially said to have fallen ill and entered a convalescence at a palace outside the capital.

The engagement to Diana was annulled, and a rift was created between the royal family and the Mont Duke's family, who had been their allies. Prince Roderich also earned the enmity of the Mars Duke's family for ruining a potential marriage for the queen's nephew. The king was disappointed by his son's incompetence but did not abandon him. Instead, he decided to surround him with strict people to retrain him, as exiling him would cause trouble for other families.

What saved Roderich in this situation was that the incident took place within the academy. If it had happened at a banquet or another event with foreign dignitaries, he would have faced more severe consequences, such as disinheritance. Given that the royal family's male lineage was already considered inferior, the country's reputation would have been further tarnished. He would have been held responsible, and the heads of his nurse, former educators, and servants would have rolled. If a foolish royal caused mass casualties, the royal family would have lost public support.

In fact, during the investigation of the parties involved, it was revealed that Prince Roderich and his group had planned to formally belittle Diana and gradually recognize their relationship with Catherine. In a sense, the actions of Leonhardt, one of the instigators of the incident, saved the royal family.

Following Roderich, the princess born to the queen was made the new crown princess. This was a bitter decision made by the royal family and the kingdom's leadership, who had been confronted with the reality that a continuous male succession was difficult over several generations. Fortunately, the princess was receiving a positive education.

The sons who were part of Catherine's entourage had their inheritance rights put on hold and were placed under house arrest. Although they had enough credits to graduate, they were ordered by the palace to find employment in local military units or government offices. It was decided that those who fell for a honey trap as a group were not suitable to be heads of high-ranking noble families.

Many of them had fiancées, and some of these engagements were dissolved, while others continued. In the former case, the women's attitudes during the engagement period were not favorable. For those who had respected their fiancées until Catherine appeared, some women forgave them as a momentary lapse, while others were pleased to gain the upper hand.

Catherine, one of the main culprits, was quietly living a life in a convent. Despite her bold actions and insistence on her own righteousness until the end of the farce, she was just an ordinary girl with a slightly strong personality. She was shocked and despaired by the men who had once pursued her turning their backs on her. However, it was her loving family that supported her through this difficult time.

Baron Meteora and his wife cried when called to the palace for the procedures of renouncing their titles and the investigation, and after being lectured by his brother Leonhardt, she realized her mistakes and accepted a period of reflection.

Although it is easy to forget amidst the gravity of the events, Catherine's time at the academy was only half a year, a very short period. She did not form deep relationships, and the gifts she received were limited to flowers and sweets, typical of a child's level. According to the testimonies of Prince Roderich and his entourage, Catherine never extorted expensive jewelry or dresses and would politely decline if offered. Her earnest demeanor was what they found appealing.

In the end, it can be said that it was foolish to think of excluding fiancées and elevating Catherine to the position of princess. In a sense, this incident exposed her as a dangerous individual.

However, to protect the lives of immature young people and to cover up the royal family's blemish, the records of the Meteora family were erased, dating back to a famine thirty years ago. Baron Meteora and his wife, as well as Leonhardt and Catherine, were recorded as having been commoners from birth. Leonhardt's brilliant record of graduating top of his class from the royal capital's prestigious academy was also erased. Those who had seen his student days and his work at the palace felt a deep sense of regret.

Finally, regarding Diana, who had her engagement to Prince Roderich annulled and became the successor of the Mont Duke's family, she was relearning estate management and assisting her father, the duke, with his political duties after graduation. As she had declared to Leonhardt, she was constantly questioning what she could do for the people.

In particular, she shared her desire to do something for women and children, who were often in vulnerable positions, with Princess Edelgard, who had become the crown princess. The princess praised her and incorporated her ideas into her political agenda. The Kingdom of Stern was beginning to move towards the future of a female monarch.

However, Leonhardt's name was not on the list of candidates for the civil service examination that year.