Chapter 3

Tiararose stood in front of the venue where the graduation party was being held, with a composed posture.

If she opened this door, it would mark the beginning of the condemnation event. Hartnights would be waiting with Akari, and the other targets of the game would be there to support him.

--- As she faced it, her body trembled.

“Lady Tiararose...”

“I’m fine, Philine. I’ll be going now.”

“...Yes. Please go with my blessings. I will join you shortly.”

Philine, the maid, would enter the venue through a different door, so she could only accompany Tiararose up to this point. Of course, they could meet up inside the venue, but the maid would generally wait in the anteroom.

Tiararose took a deep breath to calm her heart, signaled the knight guarding the door to open it, and moved her feet slowly and gracefully.

The young men and women already in the venue opened their eyes wide in disbelief at the sight of Tiararose entering alone. Upon confirming that Hartnights was inside, everyone held their breath.

The venue that came into view through the wide-open door was nothing short of splendid. The lavish use of flowers made it seem like a dream world. The dishes and drinks arranged were clearly of the highest quality.

...But these soon disappeared from Tiararose’s field of vision.

--- It’s starting.

In the center of the venue stood Hartnights and Akari side by side. Then, the targets of the game. Despite having no prior interaction with the other targets, their presence here was peculiar. Perhaps it was a game mechanic.

As Tiararose was thinking this, Hartnights’ voice echoed through the venue.

“Tiararose. I am here to announce the annulment of our engagement.”

Instantly, a murmur arose in the previously silent venue. After all, Hartnights, the first prince of the country, was breaking off his engagement with the daughter of a marquis who held the Lapis.

Whispers of “This can’t be,” “Who is the woman standing next to the prince?” “What’s going on?” “Why Lady Tiararose?” could be heard from various parts of the venue. However, since the prince had declared it loudly, all eyes were on Tiararose.

Tiararose walked slowly to Hartnights and made an elegant bow.

“...May I ask for the reason?”

Then, she slowly asked Hartnights for the reason. Tiararose had not done anything particularly wrong. She recalled the content of the condemnation event and had simulated it the night before.

“Reason? Tiararose, why don’t you ask your own heart? Surely you don’t mean to say you don’t know?”

“I don’t know.”

“...!”

Tiararose immediately denied Hartnights’ words, her eyes firm and forward-looking. However, perhaps because she looked too firmly, her father and the king came into her field of vision. They were already seated in the upper part of the venue, looking at Tiararose in shock.

In the game, they were present in the venue but did not intervene. Therefore, Tiararose had not given it much thought. However, the Duke of Clamentier, her father, had a look that suggested he might intervene.

Tiararose continued speaking as if to ignore them.

“I have done nothing to be ashamed of. However, if Prince Hartnights desires another as his consort, shouldn’t proper procedures be followed?”

“Challenging the royal family is disrespectful, Tiararose!”

Hartnights’ voice, judging Tiararose’s firm stance as disrespectful, echoed simultaneously with a step forward by her father.

--- There was no such event of the Duke of Clamentier intervening in the game!

Tiararose hurriedly turned her gaze to her father and shook her head, trying to convey that it was okay. But was it getting through?

Her father retracted his foot, and Tiararose breathed a sigh of relief. However, Hartnights’ voice soon echoed through the venue again.

“Akari, you said a lot about coming from the borderlands. ...Was it scary?”

“Yes. But it was okay because Prince Hartnights was there.”

“Is that so?”

Hartnights advanced the conversation without giving specific reasons. Akari, who leaned slightly towards Hartnights, blushed and shed a tear.

People who couldn’t grasp the situation could only look on in bewilderment at this scene, which resembled a love game.

Tiararose had never reprimanded Akari for coming from the borderlands. Moreover, she had never been alone with Akari; other people were always present.

If she had checked, she would have known immediately, but Tiararose was worried that Hartnights hadn’t investigated.

In the game, there was no presentation of evidence, but if it continued like this in reality, Hartnights would be quite foolish.

Tiararose sighed and asked again.

“Prince Hartnights. I still don’t understand.”

“Are you still saying that? It’s said that you told Akari to kneel and bow to me, and not to dance with me...”

Finally, a specific content was mentioned, but it was too childish.

“Prince Hartnights is the crown prince, so it is only proper for us to kneel and bow. It’s not a problem in such a party, but it is necessary for the first greeting...”

“I see. But isn’t it too harsh to forbid dancing? You dance with other young ladies, so why do you say such things to Akari?”

“That’s because Akari danced with Prince Hartnights more than twice. Surely, you, as the crown prince, know what that means, don’t you?”

It is common knowledge that the first greeting to the royal family must be done with a deep bow. After that, a lady’s bow is sufficient for tea parties and evening gatherings.

Tiararose had reprimanded Akari for not doing this. “You must greet the royal family with the highest respect.”

Moreover, dancing more than twice with the same person implies an engagement. Only after becoming a couple is it permissible to dance more than three times.

In the noble circles of this country, almost no one is unaware of this. Yet, Akari had proposed a dance to Hartnights and danced twice.

Tiararose felt humiliated, as it showed that Hartnights favored Akari over her.

“Is there a problem with that?”

“But...! Akari said she was always treated harshly. You must have used cold words towards her.”

Despite Tiararose’s justified words, Hartnights continued. Was he unaware that his words were becoming incoherent?

As the daughter of a marquis, Tiararose, who took pride in her status, would never speak carelessly.

“Do you think I am such a person, Prince Hartnights?”

“It’s not just what I think; it’s the reality.”

“I have never been alone with Akari. Other young ladies were always present... Did you not investigate?”

--- From the looks of it, he didn’t investigate.

Tiararose resisted the urge to sigh again and tilted her head in a puzzled manner.

Hartnights hurriedly asked Akari, “Were there others present?”

“Um, yes... Lady Tiararose’s entourage was there. I think it was Lady Fleurane and Lady Marietta.”

The young ladies mentioned were Tiararose’s entourage.

“Entourage...?”

Whose voice was that? A young lady’s voice echoed from the silent venue.

Hartnights, who was next to Akari, panicked.

In this country, and in this game, “entourage” is not a term used. Players might use it to refer to the entourage of the villainous young lady, but it is a very disrespectful term.

“Akari, what are you saying...! They are Tiararose’s friends, aren’t they?”

“Eh? Yes, that’s right.”

Akari, who didn’t understand what was wrong, tilted her head.

“Akari, they are my dear friends. Please do not call them that.”

“Why do you always speak harshly to me? I didn’t say anything to offend Lady Tiararose!”

“Harshly...”

Akari raised her voice, not understanding the meaning of “harshly.” Tiararose had only reprimanded her friends, and the other students and guests in the venue knew this well.

Murmurs of disapproval of Akari’s behavior could be heard.

“Prince Hartnights, you want to break off the engagement because I treated Akari harshly, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I have not done anything particularly harsh. ...But it seems your heart is with Akari.”

Tiararose’s sad smile made her look like a pitiful young lady who had been hurt by Hartnights’ infatuation with Akari. It was clear to everyone that the fault lay with the ignorant Akari and the gullible Hartnights. Perhaps this would lead to a different ending from the game, Tiararose thought.

Being engaged to the prince was a burden, and it would limit her freedom. The main reason, however, was that she did not want to marry Hartnights.

--- This might be the most peaceful route.

Thinking this, Tiararose felt a bit better. Marriage to the royal family was a heavy burden, and it would limit her free time.

But the ultimate reason was that she did not want to marry Hartnights.

“But...! It’s a fact that Akari was hurt because Tiararose didn’t explain properly. I will break off the engagement with Tiararose and engage with Akari. In other words, Akari will become the future queen.”

“...”

“The attitude towards the future queen is not acceptable. Tiararose, therefore, you will be exiled from the country!!”

--- What is this prince saying? Is he stupid? Is he stupid?

Tiararose sighed deeply. Her father, who had been trembling with rage, entered her field of vision.

No, I have to stop him before he explodes. As she was about to speak, a clear male voice echoed through the venue.

“That’s enough, Prince Hartnights. Your words are far harsher than Lady Tiararose’s. --- Isn’t that right, Lady Tiararose?”

Finally, the hero has arrived!