DTSML 02

Chapter 02

“If it’s anyone but the Third Princess, I don’t care who it is…”
“Are you telling me to marry just anyone?”
Alferen asked with a displeased look. Adrian, who had been watching our conversation, joined in.
“But I agree with Deli. Do you really need to marry a woman like her?”
For once, my idiot of a brother is actually making sense.
My eyes lit up as I enthusiastically cheered Adrian on.
I hoped Alferen would be more willing to listen to his best friend than to me.
“The Third Princess caused quite a scandal recently when she invited a noblewoman rumored to be beautiful to the palace and shaved her head. And it’s not like I approve of how she changes men every month, either. Why not break off the engagement before your life gets unnecessarily complicated, Ren? Deli wants it so badly, so why not grant her wish?”
Exactly! It’s my lifelong dream!
Unfortunately, Alferen’s defenses were impenetrable.
“The engagement was arranged by imperial decree. Unless there’s a compelling reason, breaking it off is impossible.”
“His Grace, the former duke, wouldn’t have entered into a contract that put you at a disadvantage without careful consideration. Are you sure you’ve thoroughly reviewed the terms of your prenatal engagement contract?”
For once, Adrian offered a logical counterargument, but even that wasn’t enough to change Alferen’s mind.
Under Adrian’s persistent questioning, Alferen closed his book and let out a deep sigh.
The mention of the former duke, a subject that was usually taboo, was particularly unpleasant for him.
Naturally, his voice grew sharp.
“Don’t you understand the significance of this engagement better than anyone, Adrian Ferris?”
“Of course I do. But the rumors are already this bad, and it’s obvious things will only get worse after you marry her.”
“Even if the Third Princess is as wicked as the rumors claim, I have no intention of calling off this engagement.”
“Then what exactly is your reason? Come on!”
Adrian pressed, looking frustrated, but Alferen kept his lips firmly sealed.
The truth was, I had a vague idea why he was so determined to maintain the engagement.
Six years ago, the former Duke of Ainluke had set out to subjugate monsters but had been involved in an unfortunate accident. He had remained unconscious ever since.
As a result, Alferen had been forced to inherit the ducal title at the young age of eighteen.
The main cause of the former duke’s condition was the corruption of his mana core, which was as vital to a mage as their heart. Purifying it required an enormous quantity of holy water.
And the Imperial Family held a monopoly on holy water.
That was why Alferen couldn’t easily defy the imperial will.
But that only mattered as long as the former Duke of Ainluke was still alive.
According to the original novel, the former duke was destined to die soon.
Holy water alone couldn’t completely restore his damaged mana core.
Unfortunately, he would pass away shortly after Alferen married Princess Nanael.
So it would be better to abandon his futile hopes and break off the engagement.
But I was the only one who knew the future.
I couldn’t exactly crush a son’s hopes of saving his father, either.
I needed something more convincing. Something that would seal the deal…
Just then, Adrian asked,
“Then let me ask you one thing. What exactly would you consider a compelling reason?”
“Who knows?”
Alferen, who had kept his eyes fixed on his book throughout the conversation, slowly turned his gaze toward me.
His stubbornly set lips curved into a gentle smile.
For a moment, I found myself captivated by his gaze and waited quietly for him to speak.
A moment later, he murmured, as if offering me a hint.
“Rumors alone won’t do. There’s no evidence.”
I widened my eyes, silently urging him to elaborate, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
It was the sort of smile that made you wonder whether he was going to tell you or not, leaving you hanging in suspense.
Closing his book, he continued,
“It has to be the truth, not rumors. Until I see my fiancée’s fatal flaw with my own eyes, there will be no breaking off the engagement.”
A fatal flaw.
At that moment, a brilliant idea popped into my head.
So all I have to do is show Alferen the princess’s true nature?
If I could make him witness something so terrible that he couldn’t bear the thought of marrying her, then surely even Alferen would consider breaking off the engagement.
Until now, I had only thought about badmouthing the villainess. I hadn’t dared to consider showing him her true colors firsthand.
After all, that would mean deliberately provoking the Third Princess myself.
Honestly, Nanael terrified me, but not as much as the prospect of my life being ruined!
Ideally, I would expose Nanael’s true character in a public setting.
Having come up with what I considered a brilliant plan, I promptly turned to Adrian.
“Oppa, I’ve decided what I want for my debutante gift!”
“Ooh, my dear Deli! Tell me anything you want.”
Adrian cupped his face in his hands, eagerly listening to me. I told him,
“I want the diamond necklace set by the master designer Digri.”
In other words, snatch up everything the villainess wants before she can get her hands on it!
Especially if I managed to take every single item she intended to wear to her debutante ball.
She’d be furious, wouldn’t she?
Feeling rather pleased with my own plan, I decided to put it into action.

When Third Princess Nanael visited Digri’s boutique, her eyes fell upon a dazzling diamond necklace set.
Instantly captivated, she pointed at it and declared,
“I’ll buy all of these.”
It would go perfectly with the dress she planned to wear to her upcoming debutante ball.
However, the shop assistant immediately looked troubled.
“I’m terribly sorry, Your Highness. These items have already been reserved by another customer. How about this collection instead? I believe the rubies would complement Your Highness’s hair color beautifully.”
The assistant tried to redirect her attention to a ruby necklace displayed beside the diamond set.
But Nanael wasn’t interested.
The mere thought that someone else had gotten to the necklace before her only fueled her anger.
“Do you think my words are a joke? I said I want this necklace.”
“I apologize, but that particular necklace has already been purchased, along with the entire design collection, so we’re unable to sell it…”
SMACK!
In an instant, the shop assistant’s face was violently turned to one side.
After slapping the employee, Nanael shook her wrist and asked irritably,
“Why display it if you’re not going to sell it? Are you making a fool of me?”
“P-Please forgive me, Your Highness! I deserve to die for my offense!”
“Enough! I’m buying that necklace, so bring it to me right now! Right this instant!”
As the princess threw a display imitation to the floor and caused a scene, the shop assistant burst into tears and desperately called for help.
Eventually, Digri himself had to intervene.
“Your Highness, please calm down.”
When dealing with the rampaging Third Princess, the most important thing was to appease her as much as possible.
“How can I possibly calm down? Didn’t you see that insolent employee talking back to me? And look! My palm is still stinging because of her!”
Nanael held out her palm, making an outrageous fuss.
The employee was still lying on the floor, crying.
Digri bowed deeply.
“I sincerely apologize for the poor service you received from our employee.”
Then he continued carefully,
“However, the items Your Highness desires have already been reserved by House Ferris, so there is nothing we can do on our end. I humbly ask that Your Highness forgive us.”
“Wait.”
Nanael’s expression hardened as she glared at Digri.
Overwhelmed by her intimidating presence, he broke out in a cold sweat.
The princess demanded in a menacing voice,
“Who did you say bought that necklace?”
“H-House Ferris, Your Highness. As it happens, the young lady of House Ferris will also be making her debut alongside Your Highness. She purchased the entire design collection as a gift for her debutante ball, so…”
“Ha! Again?”
Unable to contain herself any longer, Nanael let out an incredulous laugh, her body trembling with rage.
This was already the third time.
The shoes she had wanted, the handbag, and now even the necklace set!
“Damn House Ferris!”
That was more than enough to redirect the princess’s fury away from Digri and toward the daughter of House Ferris.

Brrr… Why do I suddenly feel a chill?
I rubbed my shoulders and looked at the items neatly arranged on the table.
Every single one of them was something the Third Princess had used at her debutante ball in the original novel.
The accessories Nanael wore to her debutante ball had been mentioned frequently in the story.
They served as narrative devices to emphasize her extravagance and possessiveness over things she considered her own.
As I investigated the princess’s misdeeds, I had naturally learned about her tastes, too.
“Hehehe. She must really hate me by now, huh?”