“Are you scared?”

“When did you scare me,”

He turned around and walked slowly forward again.

“I didn’t think you were the type of princess to get scared by such things.”

Pfft. He laughed again.

‘Do you find such creepy pranks amusing?’

Barely holding back the curses rising to her throat, she glared daggers at the back of his pretty head several times before reluctantly hurrying after him. Arguing to herself that it wasn’t because she was scared, but because she wanted to quickly return to the barracks and rest. When they arrived at the unnecessarily splendid barracks, Theodore stopped and looked down at her with a fairly serious expression.

“If you’re scared, I’ll……”

“Oh, Your Highness!”

As their words burst out simultaneously, Theodore gestured with his hand pointing at her, indicating she should speak first. Without even having time to thank him for his consideration in letting her speak first, she quickly looked around. After confirming no one was nearby, she opened her mouth.

“I……”

A deep night where moonlight fell quietly.

Theodore’s deep gaze facing her was directed at her. She had been thinking about what to say throughout dinner, but seeing the moonlight settling on his bright silver hair made her swallow dryly.

‘Indeed, the male lead looks cool no matter what he does.’

She almost lost her words and became entranced by Theodore’s beauty, but she regained her composure.

“I’ve been thinking seriously. I hope you’ll listen.”

Theodore raised his eyebrows and nodded as if he would listen.

“I want to break off our engagement!”

Theodore remained silent without any reaction. Instead, he relaxed his body leisurely, crossed his arms, and met her gaze as if trying to probe her intentions. She took one step closer to him and drove the point home.

“Breaking off the engagement would be the best solution for our relationship.”

Talking about breaking off the engagement on the first day of meeting her marriage partner. It was certainly rude enough. Naturally, Theodore frowned in displeasure, and the white moonlight created shadows, making his atmosphere cold. She looked at him with earnest eyes.

“What do you think?”

When she urged him to answer, Theodore finally raised one corner of his mouth and slowly parted his lips.

“Do you have thoughts, or don’t you?”

What flowed from his mouth was reproach.

“Do you know what consequences breaking off the engagement will bring?”

‘My lifeline depends on this! It’s not something to be criticized for!’

Her heart surged with emotion as she glared fiercely.

“My thoughts are properly in place, and this is a conclusion I reached after careful consideration.”

Suddenly, Theodore very quickly placed his hand on his sword hilt as if his conclusion was the sword.

Clang! The metal sword made a cold metallic sound as it rubbed against the scabbard. If he had deliberately made that eerie sound, the effect was 100%. She shuddered with chills. Miserably, it was natural for the original work to come to mind at his small gesture.

At that moment, ironically, she reflected on her past self who had felt satisfied when the troublesome villainess’s neck was cut off in the original work. And she shrank back and reached out her hand, fearing he might point his sword at her neck at any moment.

“No, wait! So…… let’s think about it!”

She barely managed to smile at Theodore’s fierce glare. Then, keeping her gaze fixed on Theodore’s hand, she took a step back. Perhaps noticing that she was frightened, Theodore hardened his brow and slightly pushed his scabbard behind his waist. She swallowed dryly and continued speaking.

“Your Highness didn’t want this marriage either.”

Gulp. His hand was still on the scabbard. Her voice grew increasingly submissive.

“So, if the parties involved reached an agreement……”

Theodore raised his remaining hand and cut off her words.

“Princess, do you know that our marriage is a marriage formed by an agreement between the Arepe Empire and the Portia Kingdom?”

A pitying look returned, asking if she truly didn’t know the meaning and purpose of their marriage.

The Arepe Empire desperately needed support troops from the Portia Kingdom to defeat the monsters of Ice Valley. This marriage was absolutely necessary for the stability and security of the Arepe Empire located in the north. If the Arepe Empire fell, it would only be a matter of time before the Portia Kingdom in the south fell. It was a time when cooperation between them was needed more than anything. But she couldn’t walk into a tiger’s den where her future was clearly visible. Thinking that her lifeline was at stake, even courage she didn’t have before emerged.

“That’s why I’m telling Your Highness in advance. Isn’t there a way?”

“Are you asking me now to find a way to cancel my own marriage?”

“Well, I don’t know much about the Arepe Empire’s marriage laws. And also……”

“Also?”

“I’m sorry, but I…… don’t love Your Highness!”

At the sudden confession, Theodore’s eyes hardened coldly. A heavily sunken voice flowed out.

“Did you forget that our marriage is a political one? Talking about love in this situation……”

“Ah.”

Right. In the original work, Arnica loves Theodore, but he doesn’t.

“So breaking off the engagement is absolutely not allowed.”

Theodore turned around coldly and strode ahead. She also quickly followed him with hurried steps.

“Your Highness!”

Theodore walked out quickly as if he intended to shake off a bothersome existence. Now she almost ran to chase closely behind him and spoke again.

“Let’s break off the engagement.”

“It’s not allowed.”

“Let’s do it.”

“I said it’s not allowed.”

“Ah, why not!”

Since he kept saying it wasn’t allowed, irritation surged and she shouted. Theodore abruptly stopped his rough steps, shrugged his shoulders, and let out a deep sigh.

“You seem tired, so go in and rest.”

Theodore, who spoke without even making eye contact, turned around. As if he had no intention of listening to her story anymore.

“No, I’m not tired right now……”

Theodore raised his hand as if annoyed to block her words and strode away. Her intention to break off the engagement was dismissed in one stroke. Her tattered feelings lasted quite a long time even after returning to the barracks. She pondered and pondered all night about how she could break off the engagement.

⁕⁕⁕

Morning sunlight shattered over the silver armor and swords of the lined-up knight order. The knights who firmly surrounded the busy procession withdrawing from the camp did not relax their vigilance of the surroundings. While waiting for preparations to finish, she looked around and saw Theodore emerging from Greg’s barracks. She chased after him heading toward the front of the knight order.

“Your Highness!”

Theodore discovered her and coldly turned his head away.

“The princess will ride in a carriage. So go to the carriage.”

I know I’m riding in a carriage. That’s not what’s important right now!

“Your Highness, wait a moment!”

Chasing Theodore urgently, she gathered her voluminous skirt forward. The ground was damply wet with dew that had fallen during the night, making even taking one step difficult.

“Ugh. Why is this so cumbersome.”

As she hurriedly arranged her skirt hem, some huge shadow fell over her. When she raised her head, a sharp gaze flew at her. Theodore had already planted himself firmly in front of her and was looking down at her. Not missing this opportunity, she asked.

“Your Highness, have you thought of a way for us to break off our engagement?”

Theodore’s eyes trembled, clearly conveying his intention. Sure enough, irritation flowed from his mouth.

“Still talking about that?”

“Yes. Let’s break off our engagement.”

Before she could even finish her answer, Theodore turned her toward the carriage and bent down to whisper in her ear.

“Let’s talk about it later.”

His hand was already pushing her back toward where the carriage was. Though she was helplessly pushed by his strong force, she tensed her body to avoid being pushed further.

“When is later? Your Highness, I’m in a hurry!”

As she was being gradually pushed, Greg suddenly appeared before her eyes.

“Your Highness, what’s the matter?”

Greg looked back and forth between her and Theodore, raising his eyebrows as if asking what was wrong. His expression seemed to say ‘Shall I help?’ The moment she remembered the grand duke’s words about protecting her, Greg placed his hand on Theodore’s arm.

“Your Highness?”

It was a situation where it wouldn’t be strange at all if a blade was thrust into his throat for daring to touch a member of the imperial family. However, Theodore growled lowly without taking his eyes off her, as if such things didn’t matter.

“Greg, step back!”

The low, fierce voice made her body flinch. Theodore’s rough eyes turned toward Greg’s silver gauntlet placed on his arm. Despite the murderous gaze, Greg shrugged his shoulders as if unaffected.

“The princess seems to need help.”

Greg looked back and forth between her and Theodore. His eyes seemed to say ‘Hurry up and ask for help!’

‘Why is everyone suddenly acting up! Is this something for these two to get so fierce about?’

When she glanced at Theodore’s expression growing increasingly menacing, she shook her head at Greg as if it was nothing. With an awkward smile.

Only then did Greg release his grip and remove his hand from Theodore’s arm. At the same time, she was helplessly pushed toward the carriage. Being driven toward where the carriage was by Theodore’s force, she shouted toward Greg.

“Uh, uh, uh, Your Grace, it’s nothing!”

Then Theodore rolled his eyes in disbelief. Not knowing what might happen if she provoked Theodore’s temper further, she obediently headed toward the carriage. What a heartless crown prince. Would it hurt to say ‘Alright, I understand. Let’s think about it’? Doesn’t he hate having a political marriage with a woman he doesn’t even like? But she wasn’t one to give up.

⁕⁕⁕