Side Story 11

“Your Highness Nibert… may I know the reason for this annulment?”

Annibella, who had stepped into the center of the banquet hall, asked Nibert.

“They say you bullied Lady Bangara out of jealousy at the academy. I cannot forgive someone like you, Lady Annibella.” 

Nibert said, wrapping his arms lovingly around Bangara.

“I’ve told you multiple times—I have never done such a thing.”

“Excuses won’t work! What was your true intention in tormenting her?”

“Your Highness…”

“You damaged Lady Bangara’s belongings, used your status as the Crown Prince’s fiancée to incite female students against her, and subjected her to insults and disregard.”

<Lady Annibella, there are many wonderful people in the world.>

The words Meia had once said to her began to echo slowly in Annibella’s mind.

“I never bullied Lady Bangara.”

“There are many witnesses who say you did! How dare you lie so brazenly before the imperial family?”

<Even though you’re engaged, spending time with another woman is unfaithful. To live relying on one’s status without taking responsibility for it… that’s utterly irresponsible.>

“My engagement with you was arranged between our families, Your Highness.”

<With such an irresponsible Crown Prince leading the Gradi Empire, future diplomacy may face challenges.>

“Even if it’s a political marriage, I cannot envision a future with a villainess who torments others! And above all, I…”

Annibella clenched her fists tightly. She had done nothing wrong. She had never bullied Bangara, whom Nibert favored, nor did she deserve to be called a villainess. On the contrary, she was the victim, having had her fiancé stolen by Bangara.

“I do not love you, Lady Annibella.”

In the end, Annibella heard the words she never wanted to hear from Nibert.

“I cannot marry a villainess who torments others and lies. Therefore, I annul this engagement here and now.”

The murmurs of the crowd pierced Annibella’s heart like cold daggers. She felt like crying but forced herself to hold back.

“I…”

<If you beg, it will look like you’re admitting to things you didn’t do. Never show weakness, Lady Annibella.>

“…I…”

<If things get tough, I’ll be by your side to help. We’re friends, aren’t we?>

“…accept this annulment.”

She didn’t want this. She had dreamed of the prosperity of the Gradi Empire alongside Nibert. But now, that dream had shattered like a window struck by a stone.

“Lady Annibella, I hope you won’t cling to me!”

Annibella’s vision blurred with tears. Despite holding them back, the tears finally spilled over. She had anticipated this… so she had to speak.

“I won’t cling. I accept the annulment.”

<Meeting a tragic end… can also mean the beginning of a new, happy story.>

Annibella tightly closed her eyes and looked at Nibert with difficulty. All the time she had spent desperately trying to become a suitable partner for Nibert now felt like it was crumbling into pieces.

<The things you’ve invested time and effort into will never become meaningless.”>

“Good. Villainess Lady Annibella, you are hereby expelled from the academy and ordered to enter the Raffiolans Monastery.”

“I may have accepted the annulment, but my treatment and the formal annulment are matters to be decided directly by His Majesty the Emperor and my father.”

Annibella’s voice trembled with anger as she addressed Nibert.

“Lady Annibella, you’re treatment has already been decided!”

At Nibert’s words, Avennos clenched his fists tightly, trying to suppress his rising anger.

At that moment—

“That’s enough, Crown Prince of the Gradi Empire.”

“Who are you?”

“Let me ask in return. Is it a tradition in the Gradi Empire to publicly announce annulments?”

“A tradition?”

The woman, dressed in a dazzling lavender gown with silver hair and blue eyes, spoke firmly and deliberately as she stepped forward from among the crowd.

Annibella’s eyes widened as she recognized her. It was Meia. The shock of Nibert’s annulment declaration was nothing compared to the words Meia had once said to her: “friend.”

“If public annulments are not a tradition, do you understand the significance of where you’re standing and what this place is?”

Meia opened the fan she was holding and covered her mouth.

“As a guest of the Gradi Empire, I find this extremely unpleasant.”

Meia approached Annibella, who looked uneasy.

“I, Lady Annibella of the Zenovil family, greets you, Grand Duchess of Florence from the Sirius Empire.”

The crowd’s attention turned to Meia. Upon hearing Annibella’s words, which included “Grand Duchess of Florence,” their eyes widened.

“The hero… Grand Duchess Meia, the Holy Lady!”

The appearance of the Grand Duchess of Florence caused a stir among the people. Meia was widely regarded as a “hero” throughout the empire for having defeated pirates on a cruise ship and saving many lives. Over time, the title of “Holy Lady” had also emerged, though it was a nickname created by the Florence family’s vassals manipulating the media.

“Grand Duchess of Florence, I would appreciate it if you stayed out of this matter.”

“What is the reason for this public annulment, Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

Ignoring his words, Meia asked her question, causing Nibert’s face to flush red.

“No matter if you’re the Grand Duchess of Florence, you cannot interfere in our empire’s affairs.”

“I am not interfering in the empire’s affairs. I am intervening in a matter concerning my friend, Lady Annibella. So, please answer my question.”

Theodore, observing the situation, glared at Nibert before quietly leaving the hall.

Nibert was flustered by Meia’s sudden appearance. The Florence family was an important diplomatic partner of the Gradi Empire. Offending Meia here could lead to diplomatic issues between the two empires. Thus, he felt he had to firmly establish Annibella as the villainess.

“If Lady Annibella is truly at fault for this annulment, I, who stand by her side, will bow my head and apologize to you, Crown Prince of the Gradi Empire. And rest assured, this incident will not escalate into a diplomatic issue.”

Meia’s words, as if she had read his mind, sent cold sweat dripping down Nibert’s back. With just a few words, she had seized control of the conversation.

“So, answer my question.”

“Lady Annibella is a villainess, and I intend to punish her.”

“A villainess?”

“She bullied Lady Bangara, who was an exceptional student at the academy. She tore or hid her dresses and textbooks and even incited other young ladies to ostracize her!”

“Is there anyone who specifically witnessed Lady Annibella bullying Lady Bangara, or is there any evidence?”

“Lady Bangara, the victim, is the witness. I also personally saw her crying while looking at her torn textbooks.”

“That alone is not sufficient evidence.”

“Lady Bangara tried to hide the fact that she was bullied until the very end… Such a kind Lady Bangara was tormented by Lady Annibella!”

“Judging someone guilty of wrongdoing based solely on the situation and Lady Bangara’s words, without concrete evidence, seems like a rash judgment.”

“That’s absolutely not the case!”

“It’s surprising that you trust someone you’ve only known for a short time over your long-time fiancée, Your Highness… You seem quite innocent.”

“That’s because Lady Annibella was so jealous of Lady Bangara…”

“Your Highness, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Meia interrupted Nibert’s words with a displeased expression.

“Since I’ve become romantically involved with Lady Bangara, it’s clear that jealousy drove Lady Annibella to torment Lady Bangara!”

“I’ll say it again—my words are not finished, Your Highness.”

Meia sighed deeply to herself at Nibert’s statement. The way he brazenly declared his romantic involvement with another woman, despite being engaged, was shameful even to hear.

“So, Your Highness, if you truly care for Lady Bangara as much as to call her your lover, shouldn’t you have personally addressed the bullying and rumors surrounding her? Why didn’t you help her when she was crying and distressed?”

“That’s because… I found out that Lady Annibella had incited the noblewomen and young ladies, so I couldn’t intervene.”

“So, you’re saying that Lady Annibella manipulated the noblewomen and young ladies to bully your lover, Lady Bangara, Your Highness?”

Meia twisted Nibert’s words. Naturally, the noblewomen of the Gradi Empire and the young ladies attending the academy began to murmur with sharp glances. Nibert’s statement sounded as if he was accusing the noblewomen and young ladies of being manipulated into bullying someone.

“That’s not what I meant!”

Nibert realized his mistake too late.

“If that’s not what you meant, then what is it? Didn’t you clearly state that Lady Annibella incited the noblewomen and young ladies to bully Lady Bangara, Your Highness?”

“Well…”

Nibert’s mouth gradually closed, and his mind was overwhelmed with the thought that he had made a mistake. He tried to regain his composure and address the situation, but Meia’s words continued.

“The Gradi Empire must be a very liberal place when it comes to noble romances. To say one has a lover despite being engaged, and to be romantically involved with someone who is already engaged…”

Being romantically involved with someone engaged is an insult to both that person and their family. Meia knew well what it meant to be subjected to a one-sided annulment. However, unlike Annibella, she hadn’t been publicly humiliated and accused of being a villainess during her annulment.

“But, Your Highness, think about it. Would someone as accomplished as Lady Annibella openly bully someone in such an obvious manner? She is the daughter of Marquis Zenovil of the Gradi Empire. With so many people at her disposal, would she personally step forward to bully someone?”

Meia’s sharp gaze shifted to Lady Bangara, who was hiding behind Nibert.

“A clever predator knows how to hide its claws while hunting.”

Nibert couldn’t respond to Meia’s words. His head lowered further, and his body trembled.

“No matter what happens, I will annul my engagement with Lady Annibella.”

“So, you intend to annul the engagement and take a viscount’s daughter of common birth as your fiancée?”

“Lady Bangara has the kindest and most gentle heart.”

“Kindness and gentleness alone do not justify her current position by your side, Your Highness.”

Meia smiled arrogantly as she spoke.

At that moment, the doors opened, and attendants entered, blowing a loud trumpet. The chamberlain announced the Emperor’s arrival.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering.”

The chamberlain then announced again.

“His Grace the Grand Duke of Florence from the Sirius Empire is entering.”

Bangara’s heart sank as she saw Theodore walking in, and his words suddenly echoed in her mind.

<I will eliminate anything that upsets my Grand Duchess, no matter what.>