Chapter 2

"Garnet, Garnet, are you there!?"

A loud voice echoed from the entrance of the Marquis Fregier's mansion. Garnet, who was elegantly enjoying her evening tea in her room, gently placed the cup back on the saucer.

The sound of heavy footsteps could be heard, and then the door to her room was forcefully thrown open with a loud bang.

The tea in the cup jolted from the impact.

"That's quite noisy, brother. It's not proper to barge into a lady's room without knocking. Besides, it's evening, so please be a bit more quiet."

"I'm sorry... but that's not the point! Why are you so calm, Garnet?!"

The person who had arrived was Garnet's brother, Serge Fregier.

Seeing Garnet calmly seated on the sofa, he first gaped in shock, then let out a sigh of relief.

"...I'm glad. The news of the engagement being broken off was a false report, then?"

"No, it's true."

"What!?!"

Garnet was the only member of the Fregier family who attended the evening gathering, but the news of the broken engagement had already spread far and wide.

Serge, surprised by Garnet's calm confirmation, widened his eyes and quickly sat down next to her.

He then hugged Garnet tightly and began to stroke her head.

"Oh, what a poor Netty! You can be as spoiled as you want tonight with your big brother!"

"That's disgusting, brother. Please let go."

"Harsh!"

Serge feigned a dramatic shock but soon narrowed his eyes and asked in a more serious tone.

"...So, the royal family is really going to break off your engagement with Prince Narcissus?"

"Yes, it started with Prince Narcissus being swayed by Isabelle, but the Queen has definitely approved it. In exchange for breaking off the engagement with Prince Narcissus, I have been ordered to become engaged to Prince Lazulis, the second prince."

"Prince Lazulis... huh!? The ghost prince!?"

Garnet smiled wryly at her brother's reaction.

It seemed that even to him, the idea of Garnet being engaged to the second prince was unexpected.

"Perhaps they fear that if I were to marry another with a claim to the throne, Prince Narcissus's position would be threatened."

The Fregier family is one of the most prestigious in the country.

If Garnet, the daughter of the current Marquis, were to marry a powerful heir to the throne, the political landscape of the nobility could change dramatically.

Someone as selfish and unpopular as Narcissus could easily be ousted.

The Queen, Eleanor, who is Narcissus's mother, likely wanted to prevent this possibility.

"But if we follow the line of succession, Prince Lazulis is next in line after Prince Narcissus, right? Wouldn't that threaten Narcissus?"

"Eleanor would not have overlooked that possibility. By making me Prince Lazulis's fiancée, she must not see him as a threat."

Prince Lazulis, who is frail and never appears in public, is such a weak presence that Narcissus's position would not be threatened.

Thus, by forcing the troublesome Garnet upon him, she sealed off the possibility of Garnet marrying other rivals.

If Garnet refused the engagement, the Fregier family would likely be punished and their power reduced.

For Eleanor and Prince Narcissus, it was a win-win situation no matter what.

"So, Netty, you agreed to the engagement with Prince Lazulis?"

"Yes, it's quite convenient for me. It's like a boat coming just when you need it."

Garnet elegantly brushed her hair, which flowed over her shoulder, and told her stunned brother.

"I don't think Prince Narcissus has the qualities to be a king. I intended to support him as his queen, but that path is now closed. In this situation—"

After confirming that the door was securely closed, Garnet whispered to her brother as if sharing a secret.

"I will become engaged to Prince Lazulis and, together with him, take the throne from Prince Narcissus."

If someone like Narcissus were to become king, the politics would surely become corrupt, and the country would fall into chaos. As a noble, Garnet could not stand by and let that happen.

Prince Lazulis, her new fiancé, is the second prince. If Narcissus can be deposed, it is not impossible to make Lazulis king and for Garnet to be involved in the core of the country as a queen.

Serge grinned at Garnet's bold declaration.

"...You're scary. Be careful what you say outside. You might lose your head."

"Don't worry, I won't make such a mistake."

"But will it go as smoothly as you think? I've heard that Prince Lazulis is frail and four years younger than you, still a child. I don't think he's the kind of person who can ascend the throne..."

"That's where my skills will come into play. With a few years, it will be enough. I will definitely train Prince Lazulis and raise him to be a prince worthy of the throne, better than Prince Narcissus."

The true face of the second prince, who never appears in public, is shrouded in mystery.

But Garnet hoped that he would be better than Narcissus.

His youth is also an advantage. She can correct his path before he grows into a tyrant like Narcissus.

The mocking smiles of Narcissus and Isabelle resurfaced in her mind.

...Someone who degrades others with malice in front of a crowd is not fit to be a king.

Isabelle is likely of the same ilk as Narcissus.

The thought of having to revere such a pair as king and queen made her head ache.

"Given that, I will try to make contact with Prince Lazulis as soon as possible. I may need your help in various ways, so please provide your support, brother."

"...I can't refuse my dear sister's request."

Seeing her brother shrug, Garnet chuckled.

And she immediately began to formulate a plan in her mind for the upbringing of her new fiancé, the second prince.