Side Story 5

“Lady Annibella, I heard you’ll be graduating from the academy alongside the Crown Prince.”

“Yes… that’s correct.”

“Is something troubling you, Lady Annibella?”

Meia noticed Annibella’s face darkening at the mention of the academy graduation and asked with a concerned expression.

“No, Lady Meia.”

Meia recalled the malicious rumors that had attached themselves to Annibella before their departure for the Gradi Kingdom.

“Our reason for coming to the Gradi Kingdom is to attend the academy graduation banquet.”

“…Yes. But on that day….”

Annibella’s expression grew increasingly uneasy.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s okay, Lady Annibella.”

Meia gently reassured her.

“You’ll find out when you attend that day. That’s why I think it’s better to tell you in advance.”

Annibella felt gloomy at the thought of sharing an unpleasant story with Meia.

She didn’t want to speak about it. But she had to. The perspective of someone who knows is different from someone who doesn’t. Above all, because Meia had become her friend, Annibella felt she needed to confide in her.

“Lady Meia, this might be a bit of a long story. And it’s also a very shameful one.”

“It’s alright, Lady Annibella.”

Meia looked at Annibella with a kind gaze.

“Last spring, a special student was admitted to the academy. The academy often admits special students regardless of their commoner status if they have talent in magic or swordsmanship.”

Meia nodded in understanding and listened attentively to Annibella’s words.

“She was a commoner, but she was officially adopted by the Viscount Benstein family, becoming the Viscount’s daughter. And now, that special student, the Viscount’s daughter, has become the lover of my fiancé, Crown Prince Nibert. So… I won’t be escorted by His Highness the Crown Prince on the day of the graduation banquet. Please don’t think it strange.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not long ago, His Highness Crown Prince Nibert informed me that he would be escorting the Viscount Benstein’s daughter instead of me on the day of the graduation banquet.”

Even a Crown Prince could have multiple lovers. However, when an official fiancée exists, it is proper to hide such relationships out of respect for the fiancée and her family. Only after the official royal marriage is complete should the topic of ‘concubines’ be brought up.

“Lady Annibella, are you saying that the Crown Prince is abandoning his official fiancée to escort his lover at a banquet attended by state guests?”

“Yes.”

Meia could not understand the Crown Prince’s actions of escorting a lover instead of Annibella. It felt as though a tragedy that should never happen was unfolding before her eyes.

“I know that, as someone destined to become the Empress, I should not feel jealous about the Emperor having many concubines. I even told His Highness Nibert that he could accept the Viscount’s daughter as a concubine later on. But….”

The sorrow in Annibella’s trembling hands and tear-filled eyes revealed her anguish.

“Bad rumors about me started spreading throughout the academy.”

Meia frowned slightly. For bad rumors about the Crown Prince’s fiancée to spread meant that Nibert had allowed those rumors about Annibella to go unchecked.

Even if Annibella were a terrible villain, as her fiancé, Nibert should have managed those rumors. Leaving such rumors unattended about one’s fiancée was akin to spitting on one’s own face.

“What kind of rumors spread?”

Annibella placed her trembling hand near her chest, trying to calm herself, and swallowed hard.

“I never bullied the Viscount’s daughter, but rumors began spreading that I did. Because of that, His Highness Nibert became angry. Even though I told him it wasn’t true… he only saw it as an excuse.”

Tears fell from Annibella’s eyes, dripping down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

Meia took out her handkerchief and handed it to Annibella.

“Since I was young, the only thing set for me was becoming the Crown Princess. I wasn’t free. But I didn’t resent it. It was my duty as a noble. Above all….”

<I’m reassured that you are my fiancée.>

“His Highness Nibert always listened to me and cherished our time together. That made me so happy. We always studied together and made plans to develop the Gradi Kingdom together.”

Annibella felt as though she was sinking into a deep swamp every time she saw Nibert drifting further away from her.

<Don’t lie! I heard everything from the Viscount’s daughter!>

Annibella recalled Nibert’s face, which no longer looked at her with the kind eyes of the past but instead glared at her with disdain, pointing fingers and lashing out in anger. It felt as though a worm named humiliation was gnawing away at her face and body.

“I kept telling him that I never bullied the Viscount’s daughter… but His Highness didn’t believe me.”

Each time Nibert’s harsh words, filled with mistrust, struck her, Annibella wanted to scream that it wasn’t true, that she was innocent. But she bit her lower lip tightly, knowing that letting her anger explode would only worsen the situation.

“That must have been very difficult for you.”

Annibella looked at Meia, who was sincerely comforting her.

“To be born into nobility, to rely on status to live, and yet to not take responsibility for that status… it’s truly irresponsible. And for someone who is to become Emperor, making enemies is something that must be avoided….”

No matter how much one dislikes their fiancée, they must take responsibility for the engagement until the very end. That is the minimum responsibility of a member of the imperial family. If this leads to an annulment of the engagement, Crown Prince Nibert will gain a powerful enemy in the Marquis Zenovil family.

“Lady Annibella, do you like the Crown Prince very much?”

“Yes. I like him and respect him.”

“Allow me to offer you some advice.”

“Yes, Lady Meia.”

“Stop clinging to His Highness Nibert. The moment you cling, the other person will look down on you and think whatever they please, hurting you further.”

“Thank you for your wise words. But I can’t shake this feeling of misery.”

“Lady Annibella.”

“Yes.”

“Even if the engagement is annulled, the fact that you are the daughter of Marquis Zenovil will not change. Just remember this one thing: meeting a tragic end… can also mean the beginning of a new, happy story.”

Annibella’s effort to hide her emotions was evident. Despite suffering deep wounds, she kept telling herself it wasn’t pain and that it wasn’t worth acknowledging, suppressing herself and pretending not to notice.

“There are many wonderful people in the world. Starting a happy story with someone who cherishes and loves only you—that’s what you deserve.”

Meia smiled as she thought of Theodore.

“I hope you can also write a happy story like I did, Lady Annibella.”

“Lady Meia…”

“I, too, once faced a difficult ending. But after meeting Grand Duke Florence, I began a happy story, and I’m still writing that story to this day.”

Annibella wiped away her tears with a smile.

“Despite the long engagement period, His Highness Nibert believed every word of the Viscount Benstein’s daughter to be true and dismissed everything I said as lies. I wanted to clear up the rumors, but I couldn’t. After all, it was His Highness himself who spread those rumors…”

In front of others, he had scolded her, demanding that she stop tormenting the Viscount’s daughter. That alone had been enough to fuel the spreading of rumors.

“All the efforts I made to become someone worthy of His Highness… it felt like, in just one moment, they all became meaningless. It was miserable and heartbreaking.”

Meia recalled the question she had asked her magic teacher, Grand Mage Puring, during the difficult time when Crown Prince Patzraelli had unilaterally annulled their engagement. She could now empathize with what Annibella was thinking and feeling. Her heart ached for her.

“Lady Annibella.”

“Yes, Lady Meia.”

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

Annibella looked at Meia intently.

“Everything you’ve learned exists within you. The knowledge you’ve gained through time and effort will never betray you. And that knowledge belongs solely to you, Lady Annibella. That alone means it’s not meaningless.”

“I believe you’re right, Lady Meia.”

For some reason, Annibella’s chest stirred at Meia’s words.

***

Annibella was deeply moved by Meia’s heartfelt advice. However, that moment of emotion was short-lived.

“Young Lady!”

At the sudden appearance of a maid running toward her, Annibella quickly wiped her eyes.

“What’s the matter, Luran?”

“Well, that is…”

Luran’s hesitant gestures and tone made Annibella smile faintly and signal her to speak quickly.

“Don’t be surprised. The Viscount Benstein’s daughter has come to see you.”

“What? The Viscount’s daughter?”

“She insists on seeing you to apologize.”

“I didn’t make any appointment with her. Tell her to leave immediately.”

Annibella suppressed her emotions and instructed Luran.

“The butler already told her to leave, but she’s being stubborn. She’s standing at the entrance of the mansion, crying like a woman with a tragic story, desperately calling for you…”

Annibella let out a deep sigh. She wanted to avoid meeting the Viscount’s daughter, as it felt like it would only lead to unpleasant situations. Moreover, Meia was present as well…

“Send her away, no matter what.”

“Understood, Young Lady.”

“Lady Annibella.”

“Yes, Lady Meia.”

“I’m curious about the face of someone who comes uninvited without an appointment.”

Understanding Meia’s meaning, Annibella nodded.

“Luran.”

“Yes.”

“Bring the Viscount’s daughter to the drawing room.”

“Understood.”

Meia wondered about the sudden appearance of the Viscount Benstein’s daughter.

If she had been truly tormented, she would want to avoid Annibella. So why had she come, claiming she wanted to apologize? Was she a fool? Or had she come with a deliberate purpose?

The sound of knocking and the door opening revealed a woman with luscious red hair, a delicate and sorrowful appearance, cautiously stepping inside.