Side Story 8

“The Emperor, no matter how much he cherishes and loves his concubines, must always have the Empress at the forefront during important meetings or official events. If a concubine is placed ahead of the Empress on such occasions, the hierarchy of the Imperial Palace would collapse. For instance, consider Emperor Rejef of the Sirius Empire. He alternated between his concubines instead of the Empress during official events, disrupting the hierarchy of the palace and the social order. Ultimately, he met a very tragic end as a tyrant.”

At Meia’s words, Crown Prince Nibert bit his lower lip slightly, though not visibly. He had no rebuttal to Meia’s sharp admonishment.

“I was thoughtless.”

“It seems you understand my point.”

“…Yes.”

“Then, you also know what you must do from now on.”

“I will go with my fiancée, Lady Annibella.”

Nibert left the room, but all he could say to Bangara was an apology.

“Please understand.”

“I do. After all, I am not your fiancée right now.”

“Could you wait in another drawing room?”

“Yes. I will wait until you come out.”

Nibert asked the butler to guide Bangara to another drawing room and then requested Annibella be summoned.

“I’m sorry, but the Young Lady currently has a guest…”

“Tell her I’m here.”

“That might be difficult.”

The butler spoke with an awkward expression.

Nibert was dumbfounded. Shouldn’t he, as her fiancé, come before any guest?

“Lead me to her.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, lead me! To Lady Annibella and her guest.”

“That… that’s…”

“Are you defying the Crown Prince’s orders now? You, just a mere chief butler of a Marquis’ household?”

“No, Your Highness.”

Wiping the sweat off his brow, the butler sighed quietly and reluctantly led Nibert to the drawing room where Annibella and her guest were.

Knock, knock.

“Young Lady, His Highness Crown Prince Nibert is here to see you.”

“Step aside, Butler.”

Nibert swung the door open and entered, his brows furrowing deeply upon seeing who Annibella’s guest was.

“Avennos? You’re Lady Annibella’s guest?”

“What brings you here, Brother? Are you here to check on Lady Annibella’s condition as well?”

Avennos tilted his head curiously as he asked.

“Well, I came for that too. Lady Annibella, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You don’t seem gravely injured. Are you alright?”

“I am fine.”

“…Good. Then let me ask you this. Why did you hide the fact that Grand Duke Florence and the Grand Duchess were visiting?”

Annibella was taken aback by Nibert’s question.

“Wasn’t it you who refused to speak with me, Your Highness? Have you forgotten?”

“You could’ve sent a letter… Well, that aside, come with me now to meet the Grand Duke and Duchess of Florence.”

“I must first attend to the guest who has come to see me.”

“You’re refusing your fiancé’s request now? Are you still protesting because I will not escort you at the graduation ball?”

Annibella’s face turned red, and Avennos was visibly shocked.

“What do you mean, Brother? You won’t escort your fiancée, Lady Annibella?”

The academy graduation banquet was one of the most significant events of the year. With both the Crown Prince and his fiancée graduating simultaneously, many foreign dignitaries were invited.

“It’s an official event. You must escort your fiancée and have the first dance with her!”

“Be quiet, Avennos!”

“If you won’t escort your fiancée… Brother, who will you escort? Surely not… Lady Bangara of Viscount Benstein’s family?”

“That’s right. I will escort Lady Bangara.”

“Brother!”

“Be quiet!”

“Your Highness, please do not raise your voice at my guest!”

“I still haven’t forgiven you for what you did to Lady Bangara, Lady Annibella.”

“What exactly have I done wrong?”

“You tormented… her.”

“I see you still doesn’t believe me, Your Highness. Let me reiterate: I have never tormented her.”

Annibella recalled the days when she frequented the palace, learning etiquette from Her Majesty the Empress, studying alongside Nibert with private tutors, and enjoying quiet moments reading together. 

How did things come to this?

“Lady Bangara said she apologized, but you coldly rejected her, didn’t you? And now you’ve even tried to turn the Grand Duchess of Florence against her.”

Unable to say anything more to Nibert, who seemed determined to see her as a villain, Annibella pressed her lips tightly together.

“Since you’re silent, I’ll take that as you don’t want to talk. I’ll get straight to the point. Come with me now to the drawing room where the Grand Duke and Duchess of Florence are waiting.”

Nibert found himself increasingly irritated whenever he was around Annibella, but he held it in.

“I’ve already told you that I must attend to my guest first.”

“The more we talk, the less I feel for you. Can’t you be more optimistic, like Lady Bangara?”

“I am not Lady Bangara.”

“Honestly… If I could, I’d break off this engagement.”

“It’s a political marriage.”

“Who doesn’t know that?”

“Your Highness!”

“If Lady Annibella becomes Empress, she’ll surely torment Lady Bangara, who will become a concubine.”

“I’ve never tormented her.”

“So, you’re saying that innocent Lady Bangara lied to me, a member of the Imperial Family? Stop trying to manipulate people!”

Nibert lashed out at Annibella in anger, while Avennos looked at her with concern.

“Lady Annibella, I can wait here. Please go.”

“But, Your Highness…”

Avennos nodded gently, his eyes filled with kindness.

“Your Highness Crown Prince Nibert, if you wish to meet the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Florence, I suggest you follow proper procedures.”

“Procedures?”

“Yes. Arrange a specific time and date, and meet them with me. Not like this, where you show up unannounced.”

Annibella’s calm response made Nibert’s face turn red with frustration.

“This is so aggravating. Mark my words, Lady Annibella. The truth about your misdeeds will come out, and you will be punished! And I will ensure the Grand Duke and Duchess of Florence stay in the Imperial Palace! Do you understand?”

“If they wish to stay at the Marquis’ residence, I cannot force them to move to the palace.”

“Are you defying the Crown Prince’s orders?”

“I am not defying them!”

“The more I see you, the more detestable you become!”

Nibert stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Annibella collapsed onto the sofa, lowering her head.

Avennos approached her and handed her a handkerchief.

“Forgive me for showing such an unpleasant side.”

“There was nothing unpleasant about it. I should apologize on his behalf.”

“There’s no need for you to apologize, Your Highness. I thought enduring it would be enough, but… today, I feel like it’s not.”

Annibella lowered her head even further, trying to hide her tears.

“Please forget the conversation you had with His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

Avennos quietly watched as Annibella sobbed.

“I’m sorry for crying in front of you…”

“Lady Annibella.”

“Yes?”

“Would it be alright if I escorted you to the academy graduation banquet?”

“What? Your Highness? That won’t be necessary. Surely, you have someone else to escort…”

“I have never escorted or partnered with anyone at such events.”

Annibella recalled how Avennos had never danced or escorted a woman at any banquet.

“Please don’t offer to escort me out of pity.”

“It’s not out of pity.”

“Pardon?”

“I want to escort you because you’re you, Lady Annibella.”

***

Avennos believed that an opportunity had finally come.  

From the moment he first saw Annibella as a child, he had been captivated by her. However, Annibella became betrothed to Nibert.  

Even though he knew they could never be, he couldn’t let go of his feelings and could only watch her from afar.  

He endured countless days of torment, consumed by jealousy, as he watched Annibella smile brightly at Nibert. If only she could smile happily, he thought, he would remain quiet and let things be.  

But now, Nibert had taken a lover. The more Annibella’s face was clouded with sadness, the more Avennos burned with anger, matching the years he had endured his unrequited love in silence. And not too long ago, the third prince, Aidan, approached him.  

<Do you have any interest in the throne, Brother?>  

<None.>  

<Well, your only interest is Lady Annibella, isn’t it?>  

Avennos was startled by the fact that his true feelings had been discovered. He thought he had hidden them well—

Had it been that obvious?  

<I’m quick to pick up on things, Brother.>  

<Loving someone secretly isn’t a crime.>  

<But if you were to ascend as the Crown Prince, wouldn’t you naturally be able to get engaged to Lady Annibella? Without Nibert in the picture, you’re the strongest candidate for the position of Crown Prince.>  

<Aidan, stop beating around the bush and just say what you want to say.>  

<Are you planning to leave the woman you love to suffer in misery?>  

<What are you talking about?>  

<The rumors at the academy.>  

<I know about them. I’m trying to handle it, but it’s difficult because of the person spreading those rumors.>  

Because of the words Nibert had spoken to Annibella in front of the academy students, malicious rumors began to spread uncontrollably.  

<The two of them will break off their engagement.>  

<That’s ridiculous. If he breaks off his engagement with Lady Annibella, the position of Crown Prince will be jeopardized… Do you really think he’ll make such a decision?>  

<Nibert will declare the annulment of the engagement to make Lady Bangara the Crown Princess.>  

For a young lady of common birth, adopted into a viscount’s family, to become Crown Princess was impossible. At most, she could only hope to become a concubine.  

Of course, historically, there had been cases where a viscount’s daughter became Empress, but that was only when the imperial authority was strong. Yet, even if Nibert were to ascend as Emperor, without the support of Marquis Zenovil’s family, he would be nothing more than a puppet Emperor.  

<Brother, surely you’re not planning to let this opportunity slip away and lose the one you love?>  

Aidan’s whispered words stirred the desires Avennos had buried and tried to ignore.  

Today, seeing Nibert’s behavior toward Annibella enraged him. She was not someone who would ever harm others.