TVIOWHFW 69

The news of Miryu’s broken engagement spread rapidly within a day.

This was because the miraculous love story between Miryu and Crown Prince Hesen was famous throughout the empire.

“But why did the engagement get called off? It was almost finalized, and preparations for the wedding were nearly complete.”

“I heard King Royeum’s representative was firm on the matter. They’re even planning a separate announcement for the cancellation.”

“Still, it’s unusual for something like this to happen over minor issues.”

Neither the Kingdom of Royeum nor Lord Jutti revealed the specific reasons for the breakup. As a result, most nobles wondered which side was at fault.

Of course, the person most suspicious about the truth was Lord Jutti himself.

“Miryu, what on earth did you do?”

The Lord Jutti, who was suddenly told of the breakup, was utterly shocked. As he was conducting business as a prospective relative of the Royeum royal family, his shock was even greater.

“What did you do to cause the Royeum royal family to suddenly break the engagement?”

Lord Jutti yelled at Miryu in anger.

However, Miryu, who had just been abruptly expelled from the Royeum residence, was in just as much shock. Sitting in front of Lord Jutti, Miryu mumbled irritably.

“…I haven’t broken the engagement yet.”

“Even after seeing this breakup notice, you say that?”

Lord Jutti roughly threw the breakup notice in Miryu’s face.

[-We regret to inform you that the engagement with Miss Miryu Jutti has been dissolved due to her fault. We believe you will hear the full story from Miss Miryu herself.]

Miryu looked at the breakup notice with an expressionless face.

‘No.’

The notice seemed to say that everything so far had been nothing but a bubble about to burst.

‘Hesen would never abandon me.’

Even if it was Queen Isabella or Princess Diana, only Hesen should not do such a thing. Hesen had promised Miryu eternal love.

Miryu raised her chin high and tore up the breakup notice.

“Forget this kind of breakup notice and stay calm. The wedding will proceed as planned.”

“Do you think that makes any sense? The news of your breakup has already spread throughout high society—”

“I told you, I haven’t broken the engagement!”

Miryu shouted irritably. Lord Jutti’s anger grew even more at her insolent attitude.

“How dare you embarrass your family and act so shameless!”

“Darling, calm down!”

Lady Jutti, who had been watching the two, stepped in. She forcibly calmed her husband and approached Miryu.

“Miryu, I’m sure it’s because you wanted to. There must be some reason behind it.”

“What reason? Don’t make excuses! You’re ruining a wedding that’s already been planned!”

“Getting angry won’t solve anything. Right now, the priority is to hear everything from Miryu and resolve the royal family’s anger.”

Lord Jutti reluctantly turned away from Miryu, suppressing his anger. Meanwhile, Lady Jutti gently took Miryu’s hand and spoke cautiously.

“Miryu, I understand this must be very hard for you. But if you don’t tell us what happened, Lord Jutti’s family can’t help you.”

“When did you ever help?”

Miryu snapped irritably, slapping away Lady Jutti’s hand.

“Don’t pretend to care about me, you hypocrite.”

The lady, startled, hesitated for a moment before grasping her hand.

“No, I—”

“I’ll handle everything from now on. It’s not like a lord’s family can fix this anyway.”

Miryu’s arrogant attitude only fueled the anger of the lord.

“You, you caused a mess and now you’re acting so high and mighty!”

“Where do you get off insulting me like that?”

“Don’t you dare embarrass the family further!”

Lady Jutti, distressed, hurriedly stopped her husband and gently pulled Miryu aside.

“Miryu, I know this is probably very difficult, but if you don’t tell us what happened, Lord Jutti’s family can’t help you.”

“Since when have you helped me?”

Miryu, annoyed, sharply pushed Lady Jutti’s hand away.

“Don’t pretend to care about me!”

Lady Jutti, flustered, reluctantly held her hand.

“No, I—”

“I’ll handle everything. There’s nothing you can do, so just stay quiet. I’ll take care of it all myself.”

Miryu’s haughty attitude only made the lord’s fury grow.

“Where did you get the nerve to cause trouble and then act so presumptuous?”

“Didn’t I tell you? I didn’t do anything wrong. I only got engaged to the Crown Prince of Royeum after charming him. If there’s nothing I can do for you, then stay out of my way. I’ll handle everything.”

Crash-!

“You little bastard, acting so presumptuous!”

The lord threw a nearby porcelain ornament at Miryu. But Miryu, ignoring him outright, left the study room.

“Miryu, you shouldn’t do that to your father,”

Lady Jutti hurriedly stopped her husband and followed Miryu out. She glanced nervously toward her angry husband as she caught up.

“If your father seems too upset, just tell me honestly. At least one of the elders should know the full story.”

Miryu shot a hateful look at Lady Jutti’s hazel eyes.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Honestly, the Lord Jutti, who subtly looked down on her as an illegitimate child, was more terrifying than the weak Lady Jutti.

‘They’re probably secretly happy right now.’

Lord Jutti’s wife had long struggled to get pregnant. So, he secretly adopted Miryu, who was born from an affair with a courtesan, as his own daughter.

But perhaps it was fate, or a cruel joke, as soon as she was adopted, Lady Jutti began conceiving children one after another.

Honestly, Miryu thought Lady Jutti was merely putting on a disgusting act of being a good mother for appearances. Her attitude of treating Miryu as her own daughter always annoyed her.

“You should take care of your biological daughter instead. You’re even failing to find a suitable match within the Royeum kingdom.”

“Oh, that’s not true. We’re family, after all…”

“Stop making me even more irritated!”

Miryu pushed Lady Jutti roughly and entered her room. It was much smaller and more miserable than the room she stayed in at the Royeum residence.

She thought she couldn’t live like this forever—living this shabby, miserable life.

‘When will the Holy Maiden reply?’

Upset, Miryu buried herself under the blankets, anxiously waiting for the Holy Maiden’s response.

‘If I keep waiting like this, I won’t be able to turn back…’

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door from outside. It would probably be the annoying Lady Jutti again. Miryu snapped irritably.

“Don’t come in.”

Knock, knock.

“I said, don’t come in!”

Miryu quickly sat up. Then, unexpectedly, a voice came from beyond the door.

“Miryu, it’s Hesen.”

“H-Hesen?”

“May I come in?”

“…Yes, come in.”

The door opened. But Miryu, pretending to be sick, was lying in bed and didn’t turn to look at Hesen.

Hesen said nothing. Frustrated, Miryu spoke in a soft, wet voice.

Why did you send the breakup notice and then come?

“I’m sorry.”

Only then did Miryu, tears brimming, lift her body to face Hesen. Hesen looked back on her, seeing her past.

It was the moment Hesen confessed to Miryu.

Once, they were nothing to each other. Everything changed when Hesen found Miryu crying at the ball.

‘That young lady, she’s so pitiful. They say Lady Libertan often calls her and torments her.’

Hesen had loved the weak and vulnerable since childhood. He kept himself surrounded by those who were fragile so he could become strong enough to protect them.

In high society, Miryu was often talked about as pitiful and unfortunate.

Then, shocking news arrived.

‘Did you hear? The adopted daughter of Libertan was strangled with a weapon just because she was annoying, and Lady Jutti—’

Hesen, unable to help himself, looked for Miryu.

“Don’t look… it’s too dreadful.”

“Lady Jutti.”

“If you’re not going to propose to me, just go. I know I’m hideous too.”

Miryu, with her scars hidden under a bandage, was crying sadly.

“Crown Prince, I’m not an ordinary lord’s daughter. Do you still love me?”

“I want to protect you no matter what kind of person you are. Why are you doing this?”

“Actually, I’m being abused by my family. That’s why I was abandoned like a sacrificial lamb in Libertan. That’s why I didn’t even get my scars treated.”

Hesen, crying, couldn’t bear to push away Miryu, who was pushing him back.

“How could you do this to your own biological daughter…”

“Being part of the family can be even more horrifying. You, Crown Prince, wouldn’t be able to handle someone like me. I’m an ugly woman with scars.”

Miryu was someone who felt she couldn’t live without Hesen. Tears fell silently from her eyes, just as they had that day.

“You’ll probably abandon me now, since my mother hates me…”

“…”

“If that’s the case, why did you propose to me? You promised to take responsibility for me.”

“…Miryu.”

“You said you’d give me a warm family filled with love for the first time.”

Hesen couldn’t be cold to Miryu, just as he had been then.

~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~

I was gradually approaching my social debut.

So I was planning to gradually appear at other gatherings and noble women’s events, not just small tea parties where I had already made acquaintances.

That was also why I attended a summer charity event for orphans.

‘Well, it’s not easy.’

Of course, my reputation hadn’t completely disappeared, and with Miryu’s breakup news tied to my name, I was still somewhat ostracized in high society.

‘If Diana hadn’t been here, I probably wouldn’t have been able to attend.’

Diana, representing the Royeum Kingdom, approached me after delivering donated goods.

“People are really too much.”

Diana looked upset, whispering about the gossiping noblewomen who kept glancing at her.

“Still, Lady Estelle is the Duchess of Blanchet. How can they ignore her and pretend not to recognize her?”

“I haven’t officially debuted in high society yet. So I guess they think as long as I don’t openly show myself, it’s fine.”

“But still…”

Once I officially debut, this issue should be resolved.

‘Just showing up at today’s charity event already gives me some standing.’

More importantly, since I was from an orphanage, I quite liked that this event was for orphans.

‘I hope they like the things I brought.’

Lady Retu, the organizer of the charity, finished the donations and gave a speech.

“Thanks to everyone participating in today’s charity, I feel that the future of the empire has become brighter—”

A light reception for the nobles participating in the charity followed the ceremony. Diana, waiting for the right moment, turned to me and said.

“By the way, do you know about the anonymous noble who donated an enormous amount to the empire recently?”

“An anonymous noble?”

“Usually, when someone donates, they reveal their name for the family’s honor. But this person, hiding their identity, is supporting the empire’s orphans under a foundation called ‘Small Kindness.’ Isn’t that amazing?”

I paused at her words, feeling a shock.

‘…That’s me.’

The name ‘Small Kindness’ was literally something Betty asked me to name, based on my own thoughts at the time. I had no intention of revealing it publicly, so I simply played it off.

“That’s really remarkable.”

“However, it’s almost certain who the real benefactor is now.”

‘What?!’

“Really? Who is it?”

“They say it’s the Holy Maiden.”

“…Who?”

“The Holy Maiden who recently reappeared in the empire. She hasn’t shown herself yet, but she’s said to be acting because she couldn’t stand how the empire’s orphans are suffering.”

The sudden mention of the Holy Maiden made me blink. Diana was momentarily away, called by Lady Retu.

Alone, I was approached by a refined middle-aged woman with silver hair, who elegantly stepped forward.

“Hello, Duchess Blanchet. Nice to meet you for the first time at a charity event.”

She was the woman who had been eyeing me from the center of the noblewomen earlier.

‘Who is she?’

As I blinked in confusion, the noblewoman smirked arrogantly, as if she had expected my reaction.

“I thought you wouldn’t know me since you haven’t attended charity events before. I am Theresa Pelsis, Marchioness of Pelsis.”

She was Lady Pelsis, the mother of Liandro.

‘Ah, so I’ve finally met someone troublesome here, too.’

But now that I knew her identity, I understood her somewhat aggressive attitude.

“I’ve been hoping you’d visit the charity for a long time, and I’m very disappointed we only meet now.”

Lady Pelsis said with a strangely hostile, elegant expression.

“Especially since you, Duchess Blanchet, should be very invested in the charity.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just as I said. Your position requires you to set an example for the nobles, and it’s necessary to do good deeds to uphold your dignity.”

The noblewomen around her nodded elegantly, agreeing.

“That’s right. Nobles, as privileged as you are, have a duty to look after those around them. And you, Duchess Blanchet, know this well.”

“If you pay more attention from now on, you might become a bit more noble yourself.”

Honestly, I found the attitude of these noblewomen somewhat amusing.

‘They didn’t come around when I was present.’

So, even surrounded by many, I didn’t feel much fear. When I stayed still, Lady Pelsis nodded contentedly.

“Please don’t take our words badly. Even if it’s difficult to become more refined, your position obliges you to make an effort not to become vulgar.”

I subtly smiled and replied.

“Lady Pelsis, are you judging my attitude as vulgar?”

“I didn’t say that exactly, but…”

Lady Pelsis looked down on me with a disdainful expression.

“Duchess Blanchet, your demeanor isn’t very noble either.”

“Are you implying that I, who don’t even know you well, am someone to criticize?”

The noblewomen around looked surprised at my words and hesitated. Lady Pelsis, unfazed, snapped her fan shut with a cold expression.

“Duchess Blanchet, be careful with unverified words in high society.”

“Oh, I apologize. I haven’t officially debuted yet, so I didn’t know much. Please be kind to someone inexperienced like me.”

I subtly hinted, ‘You’re just bothering someone who hasn’t even debuted yet,’ then Lady Pelsis, gracefully, responded.

“You may think I don’t know, but if you want to learn proper manners, you should show the right attitude. Are you willing to learn a little more decorum?”

“Hmm, honestly, I don’t think I need to learn manners.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“Because I know I shouldn’t flirt with a married woman.”

Lady Pelsis’s face hardened sharply.

“Are you mocking my son?”

“No, it’s a misunderstanding!”

I waved my hands as if upset with her.

“I was mocking you.”

Her face, which I hadn’t expected, suddenly stiffened.

“What did you just say…?”

“If you haven’t educated your son about infidelity, then I don’t think you have the talent to teach anyone.”

“W-What kind of thing is that to say!”

“Oh, Lady Pelsis.”

I clasped my hands and blinked prettily.

“Even if it’s difficult to refine yourself, please try not to become vulgar. No matter how much you talk about your son’s misdeeds, we are noble and refined, aren’t we?”

~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~

Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉

Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

~~~Next Chapter~~~

Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.

See you then!!