Chapter 4 – Part 1

“Y-Your Majesty, what do you mean by this? I’m at a loss for words due to your sudden statement.”

The Count stammered as he spoke.

“Count, I haven’t finished speaking yet. Don’t interrupt me. It seems you are just as rude as your daughter.”

Cedric delivered his blunt criticism. The Count of Austin’s face turned bright red with embarrassment, but he couldn’t say another word in front of the Crown Prince Cedric and could only show a reaction of listening intently.

“Is there some issue between the two of you?”

Emperor Davon glanced at both Eliana and Cedric.

“Yes, there is a significant problem. Eliana Leiberte has abandoned her duties as the Crown Prince’s fiancée. She is unworthy of becoming a member of the royal family.”

Cedric’s sharp words caused the Emperor’s expression to grow more serious.

“What made you think that all of a sudden? It’s not like you’ve only been engaged for a day or two.“

“It’s not sudden, Your Majesty.”

Cedric emphasized.

“I have long thought Eliana was lacking in many ways to be my partner. Yet, I accepted it because it was your will. However, recently, Eliana, intoxicated with the idea of becoming Empress, has become unbearably insolent no matter where she is. The Eliana Leiberte, you know, is nothing but a façade.“

Cedric harshly criticized Eliana.

“When I told her I would inform Your Majesty of these facts, she casually told me to do so as if she had nothing to fear. How low must she regard the royal family to act this way? I believe this matter should not be overlooked.“

Cedric justified the necessity of this conversation.

“Indeed, Your Majesty.”

At that moment, Empress Heather voiced her agreement.

“I’ve heard from the Crown Prince that her attitude has reached the height of arrogance lately. She frequently defies his words and shows no signs of remorse. Moreover…”

The Empress paused briefly, looking as though she might burst into tears, overwhelmed by emotion.

“What is it that you cannot bring yourself to say?”

The Emperor asked.

“Your Majesty, I have been told that not long ago, when Cedric was ill and visited the Palace, that girl didn’t even bother to take proper care of him and left the room. Wasn’t the marriage approved because the healing power passed down through her family was supposed to benefit the Crown Prince? Yet Eliana didn’t even fulfill her basic duties as a fiancée.”

The Empress clenched her fists in anger as she spoke.

“I wonder if any efforts she claimed to have made for Cedric were genuine.”

The Empress pleaded. Emperor Davon’s brow furrowed deeply as he looked towards Eliana.

“Eliana Leiberte, is all of this true?”

The Emperor questioned Eliana.

“…”

“Eliana…”

The Count of Austin stared at his daughter, who remained silent. Eliana glanced at her father, who could not hide his confusion and fear. He had always, without fail, treated the royal family with deep respect, as had his ancestors.

She had been taught this way, and she had lived this way. So, the fact that the Empress and Cedric were angry terrified him, as if his world was collapsing. He had hoped for more benefits for their family through this royal marriage, but it now seemed like they had hit an unexpected obstacle.

“Your Majesty, it is true that I had an argument with Prince Cedric.”

“An argument?”

For Emperor Davon, the idea of Eliana arguing with Cedric was unimaginable. He had never considered bringing a woman into the Palace who would dispute his son’s opinions. There was no reason to.

Everyone bowed their heads to the royal family, and the Leiberte family was no exception. The Emperor was always concerned about how to exert more control over the noble society.

“Did you truly argue with Cedric?“

“Yes.“

“It was more than just an argument, Your Majesty.”

Cedric interjected.

“No, Eliana, speak now. I will listen to you from here on.”

The Emperor allowed Eliana to speak.

“It started on the day of the Marquis of Lequizet’s party. That was the first day of our conflict. His Highness expressed displeasure and criticized me for not acting discreetly. I told him that accompanying him to important events is not a matter of being indiscreet but a duty as his fiancée. When he asked if I was being sarcastic, I told him that I couldn’t control his personal feelings.”

Eliana recounted the events between her and Cedric. The Emperor’s frown deepened as he listened.

“Go on.“

“Not long after, His Highness found me in the Hall of State Affairs and accused me of stalking him during all the events. I told him it was a coincidence that our schedules overlapped, but he grew angrier, accusing me of lying.”

Emperor Davon turned to Cedric.

“Is this true?”

Cedric briefly lowered his eyes before responding.

“While it’s not exactly the same, I did say something to that effect.”

He admitted.

“He didn’t believe me when I said I wasn’t following him around. Since he disliked my presence so much, I asked him to request Your Majesty to rescind the order that I accompany him.”

Eliana continued to recount the events, including what happened when she went to the Western Palace when Cedric was ill, among other things, without sparing any details, as she had no intention of currying favor with the royal family.

By the time she had finished telling everything, even about returning home without a carriage, the atmosphere had grown far more tense than it had been at the start. No one believed that the situation could pass without consequence.

‘Do you really think rattling off everything like that will make His Majesty take your side? How foolish.’

Cedric was convinced that the repercussions of all these revelations would inevitably fall on Eliana’s head.

“Your Majesty, Eliana Leiberte is a shameless woman who can’t even be bothered to look after me and uses my excuses as her own. Such a woman is unfit to support someone entrusted with great responsibilities. This snake-like woman, who has only now revealed her true colors, must be removed from her position as my fiancée.”

Cedric placed his hand on his chest and spoke in the most earnest voice he could muster.

“Eliana always claims that she put in effort for my sake, but those efforts were of no help whatsoever. In fact, her persistence only exhausted me and worsened my condition. The way her family exaggerated her nonexistent healing powers to secure her a position as Empress is equally despicable.”

Cedric shouted, pointing his finger at Eliana. The color drained from Count Austin’s face, which had turned a deep red from the anger rising within him.

Cedric’s hostility was now directed at the entire family.

‘What did our family do wrong…’

Count Austin felt suffocated; his mind flooded with memories of all the efforts he had made.

“I intend to break off my engagement with Eliana Leiberte, who is unfit for the palace in every way.”

Cedric made it clear to the Emperor that he would not back down. The Emperor, clearly displeased, tapped the armrest of his chair with his fingers a couple of times.

“Your Majesty,“ Count Austin finally spoke, his voice strained.

“All of this… is because of my daughter’s shortcomings. Please forgive her just this once. I will ensure she is re-educated.”

The Count bowed his head deeply to the Emperor and the Crown Prince, humbling himself and pleading for mercy.

“Be silent, Count. No one asked to hear from you.”

Cedric shouted.

“I implore, Your Majesty, I am to blame for being unaware of the situation until now.“

Count Austin continued to apologize profusely. Unlike her father, who was groveling, Eliana’s expression remained unchanged. She had no intention of begging them for leniency.

“Eliana, what are you doing? Apologize now and tell them you will strive to become a worthy partner for the Crown Prince.”

Eliana looked into her father’s eyes. Like hers, his blue eyes held only urgency. But Eliana had no intention of saying what he wanted.

‘There’s no way I will beg and let this end inconclusively. Let them criticize me all they want and hurry up with the annulment.‘

“Hurry.”

The Count urged once more.

“Eliana Leiberte, why do you remain silent?“

“Your Majesty.”

Eliana looked at the Emperor.

“Speak.“

“Something crucial has yet to be mentioned in this dispute.“

Eliana’s clear voice resonated through the room.

“Something crucial?”

The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.

Despite being cornered and commanded to apologize by her father, Eliana did not appear intimidated. She looked at the Emperor with an unwavering expression, ready to speak her mind.

Cedric watched Eliana, who maintained the same demeanor she had displayed that day.

‘Is she truly insane? Has she lost her mind?‘

“You haven’t mentioned the most important matter, so I will.”

TL NOTE: A more advanced chapter of this story is already up on the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories.