Chapter 2

"I truly love her. That's why I can't marry you."

Prince Jack, my fiancé, suddenly visited the room given to me in the palace, bowed his head apologetically, and declared this.

I am Lucy Ruester, the eldest daughter of the Duke of Ruester. I am 18 years old. Right now, I am experiencing the greatest humiliation of my life.

To begin with, when he visited my room so secretly and late at night, I had a bad feeling. No, it couldn't possibly be good news. After all, he brought a cute young lady into my room, the one who is my fiancé!

"Let me introduce her. She is my lover and the one I love, Miss Miria Blooms, the Baroness."

He naturally entered the room, sat down on the sofa opposite me with her, and started listing off how much he loves her, how he can't live without her, and other sweet nothings, with a serious face. Honestly, I don't care anymore.

Anyway, what's the biggest problem in this problematic situation?

It's that our wedding is tomorrow!!!

"I really feel sorry for you."

No, really, what is he thinking? It's tomorrow! The wedding is in a few hours!

And he suddenly says, "I can't marry you" the night before? No, no, no. What am I supposed to do now? At least, couldn't he have told me at a stage where something could still be done!?

"I also struggled with this. But I can't imagine having a partner other than her."

The Baroness Miria, who is sitting right next to him, is pretending to look apologetic, but her lips are slightly curved! She can't hide her joy! I get it! The handsome prince she loves has just told his fiancée that he can't marry her for her! He's even repeatedly telling her how much he loves her right in front of her! She must be on cloud nine! But, I was supposed to become his wife in a few hours!

Yes, I was supposed to become his wife in a few hours. Really, what does this prince want by saying such things now?

"I think it would be unfortunate for you to enter into a loveless marriage."

At this point, canceling the wedding would only bring shame to me? It would tarnish my family's reputation. While it is a political marriage, if he had said this earlier, something could have been done, probably. Even then, I don't understand why I would be the one to bear the shame. But there's no way I can do anything about it now. Is he stupid? Or is my pride and dignity as a woman already shattered...? There was no love from the prince, and we hardly had any interaction as fiancés, but this is just too much.

On top of that, he wants me to be humiliated and socially dead?

"However, I don't want to tarnish your honor or make you feel ashamed."

What? No, I already feel humiliated at this point.

The fake smile I've been maintaining is about to crumble.

Just as I was thinking this, Prince Jack said something unexpected.

"So, would you like to go back in time and cancel this engagement?"

"---What?"

I don't think it's wrong that my fake smile finally fell off.