Side Story 12

The Emperor, Flau, had prepared a pleasant speech for the graduation banquet. However, his preparations were abruptly cut short by the sudden arrival of Theodore.

“Welcome, Grand Duke Florence.”

“I am disappointed in the Gradi Kingdom. I never wish to return here.”

Upon meeting Theodore, who frowned deeply and expressed his disappointment outright, Flau could not hide his awkwardness.

“Grand Duke Florence, what caused your disappointment?”

The territory of Florence in the Sirius Empire was an important port city for the Gradi Kingdom, one that required continued good relations.

“I am disappointed in the graduation banquet, which celebrates the remarkable graduates of the academy.”

“What do you mean by that? Was something lacking at the banquet?”

“Was it Viscount Benstein’s daughter, Lady Bangara? That exceptional student.”

Flau recalled the exceptional student Bangara, who had already caught his attention due to her closeness with Nibert.

“That exceptional student openly tried to seduce me.”

“What?! Seduce you?!”

“She must have desired the seat next to me, like other women. In any case, I thought her courage in attempting to seduce me was commendable, so I sent her away kindly.”

Theodore smiled brightly.

Flau’s face turned red. The exceptional students of the Gradi Academy were supposed to be a source of pride wherever they went. All the past exceptional students had been so. But hearing that one of them had tried to seduce Grand Duke Florence made his head spin.

“And one more thing I’m curious about…”

“Yes?”

“Is it a tradition for the royal family of the Gradi Kingdom to annul engagements in public?”

Theodore repeated the question Meia had asked Nibert, this time directed at Flau.

“What… do you mean by that?”

“Crown Prince Nibert publicly announced his intention to annul his engagement with Lady Zenovil.”

Flau’s face turned pale.

“My Grand Duchess was angered by the sight of Lady Zenovil being humiliated and pointed at by Crown Prince Nibert in public.”

“I apologize for the immature behavior of the two individuals who disappointed you, Grand Duke Florence.”

“The behavior of the two individuals…”

Flau assumed that Theodore was disappointed by the actions of Nibert and Bangara and offered his apology.

“It seems you misunderstood my words… Allow me to clarify. I am not disappointed because the Crown Prince of the Gradi Kingdom publicly declared the annulment of his engagement to his fiancée, Lady Zenovil, or because Lady Bangara acted like a courtesan in attempting to seduce me.”

“Then…”

Theodore leaned closer to Flau, who was seated, and whispered softly into his ear.

“I am disappointed because they angered my Grand Duchess. Would you like to read this?”

Theodore handed Flau several documents from his coat. Flau began reading them immediately and was shocked.

“Is this true?”

“Of course.”

“This, this…”

Flau hurriedly made his way to the graduation banquet hall. As he opened the door and entered, he surveyed the atmosphere.

Meia stood beside Annibella, while Bangara stood behind Nibert. Even someone with no sense of the situation could see the tension between the two sides.

“Crown Prince Nibert!”

Flau walked forward and took his seat on the throne. Then he called Nibert.

“I have returned, Mei.”

Theodore quietly stood beside Meia.

“Did you return well?”

“Yes.”

Meia observed Flau’s expression. She had expected him to show signs of embarrassment, but he was calmly assessing the atmosphere of the banquet hall as if he had heard nothing. As expected, an emperor was an emperor.

“Crown Prince. Did you announce here that you would annul your engagement with Lady Zenovil?”

“Yes.”

“What is the reason?”

“Lady Annibella bullied Lady Bangara out of jealousy. I cannot spend my life with such a villainess.”

“And?”

“Pardon?”

Flau’s gaze grew colder at Nibert’s words.

“Even if Lady Annibella bullied her, do you think Lady Bangara’s behavior in reporting it to you was appropriate?”

“But I believe it is unfit to elevate someone like Lady Annibella, who bullies others, to the position of Empress.”

Flau sighed deeply.

“So, you wish to annul your engagement with Lady Zenovil? Even after all the years she has spent by your side?”

“Yes. Lady Annibella has committed excessive acts of malice. Therefore, I wish to annul my engagement with her, strip her of her noble status, and exile her from the country. I will take Lady Bangara, who is by my side, as my fiancée.”

Meia sighed inwardly. It seemed Nibert’s head was purely ornamental.

If Bangara became Empress from Florence’s perspective, which required trade and diplomatic negotiations, they might seriously consider cutting ties.

“Lady Zenovil.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Do you have any objections?”

“I asked Lady Bangara, who was spending time with an engaged man, to refrain from doing so. Despite this, she continued to act closely with an engaged man, which I took as a complete disregard for me as the Marquis’ daughter. Additionally, I only pointed out behaviors such as dropping crumbs during tea parties, asking her to send a letter in advance when visiting residences, and not laughing too loudly.”

Flau nodded as he attentively listened to Annibella.

“Each time I pointed something out, Lady Bangara would cry in front of me and always run into the arms of His Highness Nibert, pretending to be a victim.”

“Don’t lie!”

Nibert shouted at Annibella.

“Your Highness Nibert, I have never once lied in my life!”

Flau rubbed his forehead. Without the power of the Zenovil Marquis family, Nibert could not maintain his position as Crown Prince.

Amid the crowd, Flau’s gaze met that of Aidan, who was smiling, and then shifted to Avennos, who was looking at Annibella with pity.

“Crown Prince, once an engagement is annulled, it cannot be reinstated.”

“Yes. There will never be a reunion. I have ordered Lady Annibella to be stripped of her noble status and either exiled or sent to a monastery.”

Flau closed his eyes and opened them again quietly. Nibert’s foolish decision was giving him a headache. 

Where had it all gone wrong?

“I will ask one last time. Do you truly wish to annul your engagement with Lady Zenovil?”

“Yes.”

The Emperor, Flau, declared, 

“I approve the annulment of your engagement here and now.”

With Flau’s announcement, the crowd stirred, and Nibert and Bangara clasped hands and embraced each other.

“And…”

Flau’s next words shocked everyone present.

“I hereby depose Nibert Rivella Gradi from his position as Crown Prince.”

“What do you mean by this?”

Nibert, unprepared for Flau’s icy gaze, felt his heart sink.

“And arrest the members of the Benstein Viscount family immediately!”

At Flau’s command, the knights standing guard grabbed Bangara’s wrist, pulling her away from behind Nibert. Her parents and siblings, who had also attended the banquet, were arrested one by one by the knights.

“Your Majesty!”

“Why are you arresting Bangara?!”

“We have evidence that Viscount Benstein collaborated with Earl Crownsna to embezzle funds! Furthermore, part of the embezzled money was diverted to an alchemy group to produce illegal mana stones that enhance magical abilities. Using these mana stones, Bangara pretended to have magical talent and illegally gained admission to the academy as an exceptional student!”

Flau threw the documents he had received from Theodore at Nibert.

“Additionally, they attempted to kidnap and murder Lady Zenovil. We have both witnesses and evidence! Arrest all members of the Benstein Viscount family!”

“Bangara… This can’t be true, right?”

“I thought I was about to become Empress…”

Bangara’s words left Nibert in shock. He turned to look at Annibella.

“Your Highness Nibert, I have never once lied.” 

Annibella said firmly.

Flau approached Theodore and Meia.

“Thank you for helping us uncover the embezzlement, Grand Duke Florence, and Grand Duchess. I also apologize to everyone present for the offenses committed. I will offer heartfelt apologies and compensation for the mistakes made. I am truly sorry.”

After apologizing to the guests and thanking Theodore and Meia, Flau exited the hall. Meia, folding her fan, looked at Annibella with a smile.

“Lady Annibella, congratulations on your annulment.”

“I…”

“Are you ready to begin a happier chapter in your life?”

From the direction Meia pointed, Avennos was approaching with a smile. Kneeling before Annibella, he extended his hand.

“Lady Annibella, may I have this dance?”

A man kneeling and offering his hand was a plea that could hardly be refused.

“…Yes, Your Highness.”

The two held hands and moved to the center of the banquet hall.

“Mei, I’m glad things turned out well.”

“Growing pains are always painful, after all.”

No matter how strong trust may be, it can easily crumble under the weight of “foolishness.” Annibella likely learned a great deal from this experience.

“Prince Avennos and Lady Annibella make a lovely pair.”

“The Marquis of Zenovil mentioned that Prince Avennos plans to marry into their family as a son-in-law.”

“A prince, becoming a son-in-law? He must truly love Lady Annibella.”

Meia shifted her gaze from Theodore to Avennos, who was dancing with Annibella.

With Nibert having lost his position as Crown Prince at this very moment, Avennos was now one of the strongest candidates for the next Crown Prince of the Gradi Kingdom. Yet, seeing him give up that opportunity to marry into the Marquis’ family, Meia felt the depth of his love.

“Stop looking at other men and pay attention to me.” 

Theodore said, covering Meia’s eyes playfully. Meia leaned slightly against him.

“Shall we sneak out? I’ve been craving the pasta we left unfinished last time.”

Sending a subtle signal to Meia, Theodore kissed her forehead. Wrapping his strong arms around her soft figure, he held her close.