Chapter 4 – Part 2

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

They had expected her to tremble and confess in front of the Emperor, but she was anything but nervous. She did not cry, nor did she get flustered. She did not insist on her innocence. From beginning to end, she remained calm, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Your Majesty, do not listen to her. She is mocking me…”

“I do not believe this issue lies solely with one party.”

Eliana ignored Cedric’s outburst and firmly expressed her stance. Her voice did not falter in the slightest.

The Emperor kept his gaze fixed on Eliana. There was no deceit in her eyes.

“And why do you think that?”

The Emperor gestured for Cedric to stop and focused his attention on Eliana.

“The Crown Prince speaks as though I alone have betrayed our engagement. But it is the Crown Prince himself who should examine his own actions.“

“…!”

At that moment, Cedric realized what Eliana was about to reveal.

‘No… she’s not about to bring up Rachel, right?’

The thought made him want to rush over and silence her immediately. But he couldn’t. In the brief moment, he hesitated, but Eliana had already begun to speak.

“I am fully aware.”

Eliana fixed her gaze on the Emperor.

“His Highness and my friend Rachel Slonian have been secretly involved behind my back.”

“…!”

Eliana revealed their secret to everyone.

‘She, she actually…‘

Cedric’s cheek twitched uncontrollably. This was not part of his plan. He intended only to expose Eliana’s faults—her ignorance, rudeness, and disregard for the royal family—and make her face the consequences.

But Eliana had been prepared and struck first by exposing their affair.

Elesio observed the entire situation. He found the most amusement in Cedric’s flustered reaction to the revelation. He watched with interest as Cedric became increasingly agitated, and Eliana remained unyielding.

‘She’s far more interesting than I anticipated. Cedric’s been dealt a heavy blow.’

Elesio crossed his legs and continued to watch Eliana.

Cedric clenched his fists tightly.

‘How dare you… A clueless fool like you… trying to tarnish my reputation?’

Even though she had seemed unsettled at the party at House Lequizet, Cedric never expected Eliana to be so confident and bold in her accusation. She wasn’t supposed to know anything. She was supposed to love and follow him no matter what he did.

“Your Majesty, Cedric has defiled the sanctity of a political marriage.”

But Eliana continued to speak, her voice unwavering. The Emperor and Empress needed to know the true nature of their precious son. Eliana was no longer concerned with holding back. Focusing only on what you fear to lose limits your actions. She had already lost so much; there was nothing left to tremble or be afraid of.

“I have confessed all my wrongdoings to Your Majesty. Now, I believe it is His Highness’ turn to speak. He should address his affair with the daughter of Baron Slonian behind my back, within the palace and the Grand Temple.”

Eliana delivered her words with precision and then fixed her gaze on Cedric.

‘Now, try to explain yourself. It’s your turn.’

Everyone in the room was frozen in shock. No one had expected such a turn of events.

“Cedric, is this true? Is Eliana lying?”

The Empress’s voice quivered with urgency as she looked at Cedric, desperate for him to deny the accusations.

“Eliana is cornered and spewing nonsense without any evidence to back her claims!”

The Empress’s shrill voice echoed as Cedric lowered his gaze, contemplating his next move.

‘Should I deny it outright? Or should I admit it and press forward?’

Cedric couldn’t afford not to consider his options. He could paint Eliana as a madwoman. After all, even if a mere noblewoman shouted the truth, the royal family’s power would drown it out. If he could just silence Eliana, it could all be forgotten.

‘But…’

The engagement had to be broken, and Rachel had to be his. Even if he denied it now, he would still have to introduce Rachel to the palace soon.

With his decision made, Cedric lifted his head and adopted a deliberately confident expression.

“Cedric, speak. Is Eliana falsely accusing you, or have you truly committed such an act?”

The Emperor demanded an answer.

“I…”

Cedric began, and everyone’s eyes focused on his mouth, waiting for his response.

“My relationship with Rachel Slonian and Eliana’s unfitness as Crown Princess are separate matters.”

Cedric chose a vague answer, neither entirely denying nor admitting the affair, attempting to navigate the situation. Eliana found his thought process repugnant.

The Empress gasped. Cedric’s words were as good as an admission of his relationship with Rachel Slonian.

‘Rachel Slonian? Who is she… How did he get involved with some unknown noblewoman?’

The Empress searched her memory but found no recollection of the name, indicating Rachel was from a family of little importance.

“Eliana Leiberte, you clearly know something substantial.“

“I have no reason to lie. I have spoken nothing but the truth.”

Eliana responded firmly.

“Hah!”

Cedric let out an exaggerated scoff.

“Then why don’t you tell us about your dealings with Duke Calix Vartica?”

Cedric looked Eliana up and down, his hand resting on his hip as if to say she was just as guilty.

“I don’t understand what you’re implying, Your Highness.“

“Weren’t you practically glued to Duke Calix at the Lequizet party? Are you saying such behavior was completely innocent?”

Cedric deflected by attacking Eliana, hoping to shift the focus away from his moral failings. Seeing Cedric’s audacity, the Empress’s expression eased.

‘Yes, my son is not at fault; it’s all because of you, Eliana!’

Eliana felt disgusted at the Empress’s unwavering bias, unchanged from past lives.

As Cedric counterattacked, everyone turned their attention to Eliana, eagerly awaiting her response. But she met each of their gazes calmly, without losing her composure.

“It seems you don’t understand the difference between a social conversation among nobles and an affair conducted while engaged Your Highness.“

“How ridiculous. You accuse me of a grave sin with Rachel, but who knows what you’ve been doing behind the scenes with Duke Calix? They say you two have been inseparable since childhood.”

Cedric shrugged, his voice brimming with confidence as if he had successfully turned the tables.

A slight smirk curled on Eliana’s lips. Her eyes remained cold and unperturbed.

“Then bring forth the evidence, Your Highness.”

“What?“

“Show me a single piece of evidence that I engaged in an affair with Duke Calix, as you did with Rachel.“

“And what about you? Do you have any proof?”

Eliana nodded.

“I have countless pieces of evidence of your affair, Your Highness. Proof of your secret rendezvous with her.“

“…!“

‘Since when did she start noticing?’

A vein throbbed on Cedric’s forehead. The Eliana who used to panic at even the slightest hint of his displeasure was nowhere to be seen. He couldn’t figure out when she had planned to bring him down so meticulously. Her gaze was resolute.

In contrast, Cedric had nothing on Calix and Eliana. It wasn’t true, after all.

“Let me show you the evidence of your affair. Enough to fill the pages of the Empire’s most renowned newspaper for days.”

She had gathered more than enough. After the House Lequizet party, she hired an informant to monitor the pair’s secret meetings. They met every single day, practically spending the entire day together.

“…”

To Cedric, Eliana’s words sounded like a threat. She would expose him in the newspapers if he didn’t admit it.

“Eliana, stop… Please, just stop.”

Count Austin was overwhelmed by the situation and could only repeat his plea for her to stop. Just moments ago, Eliana had been painted as the villain. But now…

‘Cedric was having an affair? And with Eliana’s childhood friend, Rachel…’

Count Austin knew Rachel as she had visited their home since childhood, and he was also acquainted with her parents.

‘But to think she was involved in an affair with the Crown Prince…’

His heart pounded with a painful sense of betrayal, and his head throbbed.

“Your Majesty,”

Cedric pleaded, his eyes filled with desperation as he turned to the Emperor. Things were not going according to plan, and he was growing anxious. Even if he had failed in some parts, he had to ensure the engagement was annulled.

“Eliana keeps diverting from the main issue. I called for this gathering for Your Majesty to see that Eliana is unfit to be my partner. Please focus on that when making your judgment—on her qualifications.”

Cedric continued with shameless audacity.

“You know, Your Majesty, that just because a talent appears in a family doesn’t mean it’s passed down to every descendant. I do not wish to maintain an engagement with a family that dishonestly exaggerates a nonexistent healing power.”

Cedric spoke with earnest conviction.

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