Episode 2

“As long as it’s not the Third Princess… anyone else is fine.”

“So you want me to marry just anyone?”

Alperen asked back with a sullen look. Adrian, who’d been watching, cut in.

“I’m with Deli on this. There’s no reason you have to marry a girl like that.”

Wow, my dumb brother finally said something sensible.

I brightened and cheered Adrian on. I was hoping he’d listen to his best friend more than to me.

“Recently the Third Princess invited a famous beauty over and had her head shaved—huge scandal. And I don’t like that she swaps men every month while keeping you on a string. Why not break the engagement before your life turns exhausting, Ren? Deli wants it this badly—humor her.”

Yes! It’s my life’s wish!

But Alperen’s wall was ironclad.

“It’s a match bound by imperial decree. Without a decisive reason, a breakup is impossible.”

“The previous duke wouldn’t have made a contract that hurts you. Did you actually check the clauses of that betrothal they arranged before birth?”

Adrian argued logically for once, but it wasn’t enough to change Alperen’s mind.

Pressed by Adrian’s persistence, Alperen closed his book with a deep sigh.

Mentioning the previous Duke Ainruck was basically taboo—that’s why.

His voice sharpened.

“Weren’t you the one who understood best what this engagement means, Adrian Ferris?”

“I do. But with rumors this bad already, it’ll only get worse after marriage. That’s obvious.”

“Even if the Third Princess is a villainess like they say, I have no intention of canceling it.”

“Then why, exactly?”

Adrian sounded frustrated, but Alperen clamped his mouth shut.

Truth is, I had a rough idea why he was clinging to this.

Six years ago, during a monster hunt, the previous Duke Ainruck had an accident and has been unconscious ever since.

Because of that, Alperen had to inherit the title early, at eighteen.

The main problem was the contamination of the duke’s mana core—the heart of a mage. To purify it required an enormous amount of holy water.

And the imperial family monopolizes holy water.

So Alperen couldn’t easily go against the imperial will.

But that only mattered while the previous duke was alive.

In the original story, the previous duke was going to die soon.

Holy water alone couldn’t fully repair a ruined mana core.

Sadly, he passed away shortly after Alperen married Princess Nanael.

So it would be better to give up false hope and break the engagement.

But I’m the only one who knows the future.

I can’t just crush a son’s hope to save his father.

I needed one clean, decisive strike…

Then Adrian asked,

“Let me ask one thing. What counts as a decisive reason to you?”

“Hmm.”

He’d been staring at his book, but now he looked at me steadily.

The lips that always seemed stubborn curved into a gentle line.

Caught off guard, I waited quietly for his answer.

After a moment, he murmured a hint.

“Rumors aren’t enough. There’s no proof.”

I widened my eyes to say, “Go on.” The corner of his mouth twitched.

That teasing smile—like he might tell you or might not—made people impatient.

He shut the book and said,

“Not rumors—truth. Unless I see a decisive flaw in the other party with my own eyes, there’ll be no breaking the engagement.”

A decisive flaw.

Right then, a brilliant idea flashed through my head.

So I just need to show Alperen the villainess’s true face myself?

If he sees a flaw so bad he can’t stand not breaking up, even Alperen will consider it.

I’d only ever thought of speaking badly about her, never of showing him directly.

Because that would mean I had to provoke the villainess myself.

Honestly, the Third Princess is scary—but less scary than my life being ruined!

It would work best to expose Nanael’s character in public.

With the plan set, I turned quickly to Adrian.

“Oppa, I figured out my debut present.”

“Ooh, our Deli. Name it.”

Adrian even did a cutesy flower pose with his hands and listened.

“I want Master Digri’s diamond necklace set.”

Operation: Snatch everything the villainess wants—first!

Especially the items she planned to wear at the debut—if I take them all?

She’ll blow her top, right?

Feeling proud of my plan, I got to work.

***

At Digri’s boutique, the Third Princess Nanael spotted a dazzling diamond necklace set.

Captured at once, she pointed and said,

“I’ll buy all of this.”

It looked perfect with the dress she planned to wear for this year’s debut.

But the clerk immediately looked troubled.

“We’re terribly sorry, Your Highness. This item has already been reserved by another client. Perhaps this line instead? It would suit Your Highness’s hair color very well.”

The clerk tried to steer her toward the ruby necklace beside it.

But Nanael wasn’t having it.

The thought that someone got to that necklace before her only fanned the flames.

“Do my words mean nothing? I said I’m buying that necklace.”

“We apologize, but that necklace—its entire design—has already been purchased by another client, so it’s not for sale—”

Slap!

The clerk’s face snapped to one side.

Shaking out her wrist, Nanael snapped,

“Why display it if you won’t sell it? Are you making fun of me?”

“I—I’ve committed a grave offense, Your Highness!”

“Enough. I want it, so bring it to me. Now!”

She hurled the display imitation and made a scene. In tears, the clerk begged for help.

At last, Digri himself stepped forward.

“Please, calm yourself, Your Highness.”

“Do I look calm? Didn’t you see her talking back to me? My palm’s stinging because of her!”

Nanael thrust out her palm, causing a scene. The clerk sobbed on the floor.

Bowing deeply, Digri said,

“I apologize for our poor service.”

With the Third Princess, the only way was to placate her.

“However, the item Your Highness desires has already been claimed by House Ferris, so there is nothing we can do. We beg you to set aside your anger.”

“Wait.”

Nanael’s face hardened as she glared at Digri.

Wilting under her force, Digri broke into a cold sweat. She asked, fierce and low,

“Who did you say bought that necklace?”

“H-House Ferris. Their daughter is debuting alongside Your Highness this year, is she not? They purchased the entire design as a debut gift, so—”

“Ha! Again?”

Nanael let out a disbelieving laugh, trembling with rage.

This made three times now.

The shoes she wanted, the bag, and now the necklace set—every last one!

“Damn the Ferrises!”

That was enough to shift her fury from Digri to the Duke of Ferris’s daughter.

Brr, a sudden chill.