Chapter 97

“Father…”

Meryl sobbed quietly, tears streaming down her face, as a flash of discomfort crossed Luman’s eyes.

“Do you know what I went through at Madam Luruna’s tea party? I was humiliated to the point of wanting to die!”

“Stop crying and tell me exactly what happened. Why did you fight?”

“Sniff… sob…”

Luman patted Meryl’s back, trying to calm her down.

After some time passed and her crying subsided, Meryl finally spoke.

“Lady Cesar accused me in front of everyone of being a terrible person who stole my cousin’s fiancé.”

“What?!”

“And Madam Luruna kept saying how Meia would still become the Crown Princess, and that Prince Demian might even become the Crown Prince.”

Luman’s anger flared as he listened to Meryl’s words.

“I was humiliated, and I was so furious that I slapped Lady Cesar. I know hitting her was wrong. But just then, His Highness the Crown Prince entered, hugged Lady Cesar tightly, and yelled at me to reflect on my actions before storming out… sob…”

“Is that true?!”

Luman was utterly shocked.

“His Highness the Crown Prince threw me aside in front of everyone, yelled at me, and held Lady Cesar close!”

The thought of his precious daughter being humiliated filled Luman with rage. He called for the butler.

“Prepare to go to the Imperial Palace immediately!”

“Yes, Sir. I’ll make the arrangements.”

No matter that it was the Crown Prince—Luman could not forgive anyone for hurting Meryl.

Grinding his teeth, Luman suppressed his boiling anger.

***

Upon arriving at the Imperial Palace, Luman was unable to meet Patzraelli.

Instead, he encountered someone in the hallway: Count Shantry, Lady Cesar’s father.

Count Shantry greeted Luman with a visibly uncomfortable expression.

“I am Robert of the Shantry family.”

Luman addressed Robert directly.

“How have you been educating Lady Cesar?”

Robert, taken aback by Luman’s aggressive approach, responded sharply.

“My daughter has done nothing wrong.”

“Do you seriously not understand that meeting with the Crown Prince, who already has a fiancée, is wrong?”

“My daughter is not in any kind of relationship with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Despite Robert’s explanation, Luman continued to press his point.

“Did Lady Cesar meet with the Crown Prince even when Meia was his fiancée?”

Robert raised his voice in indignation.

“I already told you, no!”

“If that’s not the case, then why did His Highness embrace Lady Cesar in front of Meryl?”

“Duke Hatzbellua!”

Robert’s voice turned sharp.

“I suggest you stop insulting the Shantry family.”

To Robert, his beloved daughter was the light of the Shantry family, a beacon in a household filled with rough and rowdy sons. The thought of her being slapped and having her hair pulled by Meryl at Madam Luruna’s tea party was unbearable.

What father wouldn’t want to throw off his white gloves and slap Luman across the face?

“You call this an insult, Count Shantry? The insult was suffered by my daughter, Meryl!”

Because Patzraelli had embraced Cesar in front of everyone at the tea party, Cesar became embroiled in nasty rumors about a love triangle.

<Father, it’s absolutely not true. I’ve never met His Highness the Crown Prince in private! I don’t even understand why he hugged me and left the tea party.>

<Stay home for now, Cesar.>

Robert’s heart ached as he watched his daughter cry silently.

He had come to the palace to hear the full story from Patzraelli, but the Crown Prince was unavailable.

As he was about to leave, he never expected to run into Duke Hatzbellua.

Robert didn’t expect a formal apology, but hearing Luman insult Cesar without knowing the full story enraged him.

“Count Shantry, I will not let this matter slide.”

“The Shantry family will not let it slide either.”

“What do you mean? The one in the wrong is Lady Cesar!”

Robert was so stunned by Luman’s words that he could barely breathe.

“My daughter has done nothing wrong.”

“Are you saying Meryl is at fault?”

“Yes.”

“What?!”

The argument between the two men escalated, their voices growing louder.

Naturally, passersby began to glance their way.

“My daughter did nothing wrong! It was Lady Meryl who started the fight!”

“It was Lady Cesar who provoked her first!”

Robert could no longer contain his anger at Luman’s audacity.

“Telling the truth is not a provocation! Do you know how often Lady Meryl resorts to violence? When Lady Meia was His Highness’s fiancée, none of this ever happened. The social circles were peaceful!”

In the end, Robert brought up an issue that everyone had been quietly avoiding.

“What did you just say, Count Shantry?!”

Robert exclaimed.

“My daughter Cesar is engaged to Earl Kurundal’s heir. Why are you accusing her of meeting with the Crown Prince? If you have any sense, you should speak to His Highness and ask him directly!”

“Even if she’s engaged, she could still be having an affair.”

Robert could no longer hold back.

“I will petition His Majesty to demand a formal apology from the Hatzbellua family.”

Hearing Robert’s words, Luman burst into laughter, as if it were the most ridiculous thing he’d ever heard.

“That’s absurd.”

“Duke Hatzbellua, do you find this situation amusing?”

The two men glared at each other fiercely, their argument unresolved.

***

Returning to the Carpen Empire, Crown Prince Patzraelli staggered upon hearing that the Imperial Palace was in an uproar.

It was due to the news of a fight between Robert and Luman.

While receiving a flustered report from his aide, Patzraelli was summoned by the Emperor to the audience chamber.

“The glorious sun of the Carpen Empire…”

“Silence!”

The Emperor, upon seeing Patzraelli, erupted in anger and threw the quill he held at him.

“You went to the Mage Tower?”

“…Yes.”

There could only be one reason for going to the Mage Tower: Meia.

“Trying to drag back a river that has already flowed away will only stir up muddy water, Crown Prince.”

Patzraelli understood the Emperor’s meaning. It was a warning to let go of Meia, as clinging to her would only lead to ruin.

“Marry Lady Meryl quickly and peacefully.”

The Emperor’s words made Patzraelli bite his lip.

If that were to happen, he would have to make Meryl demand the annulment of their engagement first.

“Only if you marry will these noisy rumors die down quickly.”

Due to his reckless actions at Madam Luruna’s tea party, Patzraelli had inadvertently created an unwanted love triangle involving Cesar. 

As a result, the Crown Prince and the Imperial Family had become entangled in scandal, tarnishing their dignity.

This was why Patzraelli had tried to win Meia back. If she became his fiancée again, the rumors would dissipate quickly.

However, the Emperor’s reasoning was not entirely wrong. By portraying his actions toward Lady Cesar as a mere mishap and framing his marriage to Lady Meryl as driven by love, the rumors could be swiftly quelled.

The Emperor’s intent was clear: to control the gossip in social circles by presenting the Crown Prince as someone who had simply helped an injured lady during a quarrel and Meryl as a forgiving fiancée.

“Crown Prince, if you annul your engagement with Lady Meryl, the rumors will become even more vulgar, and the dignity of the Imperial Family will plummet.”

“But, Father, I…”

“Being able to live with the one you love is nearly a miracle for those born into royalty or nobility, Patzraelli von Mavro.”

“Father.”

“Do you think I keep the Empress and the concubines close out of love? It’s solely to maintain a balance of power. The woman I truly loved is buried in my heart. That is the life of an Emperor.”

The Emperor’s expression was solemn and resolute.

“Bury the love you realized too late in your heart.”

“But! Father…”

“You should have embraced Lady Meryl instead of Lady Cesar at Madam Luruna’s tea party. Do you not realize how much trouble your thoughtless actions have caused? You’ve jeopardized relations with the Shantry family, one of the key Imperial factions!”

“I… I love Lady Meia…”

“Is Lady Meia more important than your position as Crown Prince? The Shantry and Hatzbellua families are essential to securing your place as Crown Prince. Of course, the Hatzbellua family’s support is even more critical.”

Patzraelli had just begun to understand what love truly meant. Meia’s words kept echoing in his mind.

<Would you abandon everything and leave with me?>

His head spun, his stomach churned, and he felt as though he might vomit.

“Patzraelli, you will marry Lady Meryl.”

The Emperor’s words made Patzraelli’s hands tremble.

“Father! Please stop. I do not wish to marry Lady Meryl.”

“Crown Prince, are you regretting your broken engagement with Lady Meia?”

“Yes, I regret it.”

“That is why you must always be cautious. Think three times, five times, ten times. Doubt yourself, think again, and doubt once more before making a decision. Even then, you will inevitably have regrets.”

Patzraelli looked at the Emperor with eyes pleading for mercy, hoping he would pity his sorrowful son.

A long silence followed. Then, the Emperor finally spoke.

“Regret is something you feel when it’s too late to turn back. Crown Prince, I will instruct the Empress to prepare for the royal wedding.”

***

Returning to his chambers, Patzraelli sat on the edge of his bed, gazing out the window for a long time.

He couldn’t say a single word. His frustration grew as things spiraled out of his control. If only he could turn back time. No matter how much he expressed his desire to reconcile with Meia, it only provoked the Emperor’s wrath.

Worse still was the situation of being forced to prepare for a royal wedding.

And then…

<The Shantry family has officially requested an apology between families. Since this matter arose from your actions, you will resolve the conflict between the Shantry and Hatzbellua families.>

<Father!>

The Emperor coldly responded to Patzraelli.

<Consider it a valuable experience.>

And so, Patzraelli left the Imperial Palace once again. This time, his destination was the Hatzbellua estate.