Side Story 9

“Let me ask you something, Prince Avennos.”

“Yes.”

“Do you believe what His Highness Nibert said earlier? That I bullied Lady Benstein?”

“Lady Annibella, you are a Marquis’ daughter. If you wanted to bully someone, you could easily have capable people do it for you in a way that wouldn’t implicate you directly. But to go out of your way to bully someone so blatantly—it doesn’t make sense. And furthermore…”

Avennos began to voice the thoughts he had kept to himself, organizing them in his mind.

“If you truly bullied Lady Benstein, who approached your betrothed, then I think it’s only natural. Seducing someone who is engaged, and being a man who makes a lover despite having a fiancée—both are to blame. Lady Annibella, you are absolutely not at fault.”

Having long harbored an unrequited love for someone he could never reach, Avennos felt disillusioned with Nibert’s irresponsibility. Watching Annibella weep like this pained him.

“I am deeply disappointed to see my brother trust the words of a common-born lady he has known for only a short time over those of a fiancée who has been by his side for years. And today, seeing him, I made a decision.”

Avennos, who had only watched Annibella from afar and thought he would protect her in times of danger, stood up and knelt before her. Placing his right hand over his heart and extending his left hand toward her, he spoke.

“I would be honored if you would allow me to escort you at the academy graduation banquet, Lady Annibella.”

“His Highness Nibert will be with Lady Benstein, and… If I were to enter with you, Your Highness, Prince Avennos, it’s certain people would talk. I don’t want you to be subjected to such gossip because of me…”

Annibella met Avennos’ clear gaze, which was filled with warmth as he looked at her. Her heart fluttered at his words and expression, both of which she had never seen before.

“No matter what people say, I will only believe in you, Lady Annibella, the one I know. And I will ensure that their mouths are silenced so they can no longer speak ill of you.”

Tears welled up in Annibella’s eyes. Hearing the words “I believe in you,” which she had longed to hear from Nibert, come from Avennos instead, overwhelmed her.

“Sniff…”

Every time she had asked Nibert to trust her, her heart had been breaking, yet she endured. But Avennos’ sincere words caused the fragile dam she had built in her heart to collapse.

“If you’re sad, it’s okay to cry.”

Avennos cautiously approached Annibella, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and gently patting her. Annibella began to sob uncontrollably, recalling the endless hours she had endured, suppressing her sense of injustice and resentment toward Nibert. Tears streamed down her face without pause.

After some time, her tears finally subsided.

“I’m sorry for showing you such an unsightly side of me today.”

“Not for a single moment have I ever thought of you as unsightly, Lady Annibella. In fact, such a thought has never even crossed my mind. Always… it has been so.”

Avennos suppressed the flood of emotions he wanted to express.

“Your Highness, Prince Avennos.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for offering to escort me. Honestly, I was dreading and fearing the graduation banquet. But if I can enter with you as my escort, I think I’ll feel much better that day.”

Avennos smiled brightly, delighted to have his wish to escort Annibella granted.

***

While Nibert went to meet Annibella, Bangara slipped out of the drawing room where the butler had guided her and wandered around, avoiding the eyes of the servants. She stopped in front of the drawing room where Meia and Theodore were and peeked inside. Confirming that Theodore had stepped out alone, she quietly followed him.

“Your Grace!”

Hearing someone call him, Theodore turned around.

“Grand Duke Florence.”

“Weren’t you supposed to have left?”

“His Highness is currently with his fiancée, Lady Annibella.”

Bangara was confident she could seduce Theodore if she met him again. After all, Nibert had initially rejected her but eventually became her lover! Theodore would be no different; she would make him her lover, have him divorce Meia, and take the position of Grand Duchess. She didn’t need the title of Empress of the Gradi Kingdom.

“I feel like I haven’t properly introduced myself. I am Bangara of the Benstein Viscount family.”

She said, flashing a seductive smile at Theodore.

“Did you call me just to introduce yourself?”

Theodore’s tone was cold. The warm gaze he had reserved for Meia turned into one of disapproval as he looked at Bangara. His expression was one of deep displeasure.

“If not, what business do you have with me, Lady Benstein?”

Bangara’s face flushed at the coldness in his voice. His hostile gaze made her feel embarrassed for having called him out. Yet, she maintained her composure and moved closer to him.

“It’s about Grand Duchess Meia… I’d like to speak in private, Your Grace.”

Bangara smirked. The silence in Theodore’s cold, dark eyes seemed to signal agreement. She believed she had ensnared him.

If there was even the slightest gap between people, it could be torn apart completely. Such was the case with Nibert and Annibella. When a man perceives the woman he knows to be someone he doesn’t, that gap is easily widened.

The more Bangara showed Nibert how much she had been tormented, the more distant he became from Annibella. Slowly, doubt began to take root in Nibert’s heart, and he started to see Annibella as a “villainess.” From then on, things became far too easy.

Bangara put on a delicate expression, pulled Theodore’s arm, and opened the door to the drawing room in front of them before slamming it shut.

According to the investigation, Meia was a Lady of the Carpen Empire’s House Hatzbellua. The story of how she had been unilaterally broken off from her engagement to Emperor Patzraelli was well-known. With this alone, it was enough to sow discord.

Even if things didn’t work out with Theodore, she intended to ruin the relationship between the Grand Duke and Duchess of Florence. Just the thought of it brought her satisfaction.

“I hesitated about whether to tell you, but I felt you should know…”

“Speak.”

“The Grand Duchess confided that she misses her former fiancé, Emperor Patzraelli of the Carpen Empire. She said she wanted to return to him… that she was heartbroken about being unilaterally cast aside.”

“Meia said this to you, Lady Benstein?”

“Yes. I once had tea with her and Lady Annibella, and during that conversation, the Grand Duchess expressed lingering feelings for her former fiancé.”

Theodore felt a sudden tightness in his chest at Bangara’s lies.

He had followed her out of curiosity about what she might say regarding Meia. But all she did was pour out words meant to drive a wedge between him and Meia.

Realizing he was alone in a closed room with a woman, Theodore raised a hand to his face, brushing it down.

If anyone saw this…

“It pains me to see you hurt so much, Your Grace.”

Seeing Theodore sigh as he brushed his face, Bangara believed her plan was working and continued to speak ill of Meia.

“When I told her that such thoughts were inappropriate given your presence, Your Grace, she became furious with me.”

“How did she express her anger?”

“She asked how a mere viscount’s daughter dared to lecture the Grand Duchess of Florence.”

“And then?”

“I hesitate to say this, but I’ve been bullied by Lady Annibella at the academy. You can ask His Highness Nibert about it. But the Grand Duchess joined Lady Annibella in mocking me in front of the servants.”

At this, Bangara began to shed tears.

“Your Grace, sob… I just want to get along with the Grand Duchess, but everyone despises me. How can I become close to her? Couldn’t you help me, Your Grace?”

Theodore was utterly exasperated by Bangara’s words.

There was a clear difference in status between a viscount’s daughter and a grand duchess. Normally, daughters of viscounts sought to serve high-ranking nobles, not to befriend them. Seeing Bangara sobbing while claiming to want to befriend Meia, Theodore found it absurd.

“Sob… It’s too much, Your Grace. I don’t want to be bullied anymore.”

Bangara began to cry harder, pulling on Theodore’s arm. Taking a deep breath, he decided he couldn’t tolerate this any longer. He pushed Bangara away and stood up.

“Your Grace!”

Bangara called out to him in a desperate voice as she was pushed back. Her eyes met his, which were filled with seething anger.

Internally, Bangara smiled. She thought Theodore might now view Meia as a villainess who bullied weaker people, and the thought delighted her. Lowering her head, she sobbed even harder.

“Why do you keep clinging to me?”

“I thought you might be upset because of the Grand Duchess, Your Grace… I was afraid you might confront her and start a fight…”

“It’s true that I’m upset about what I heard from you, Lady Benstein. I’m deeply displeased.”

“Please don’t be too hard on the Grand Duchess… It’s all my fault. Just knowing that you understand my feelings is enough for me, Your Grace.”

“Lady Benstein, your feelings?”

“Yes. I genuinely want to get along with the Grand Duchess.”

“Lady Benstein, you want to befriend someone who bullied you?”

“I don’t think the Grand Duchess intentionally bullied me.”

“If you don’t think so?”

“Lady Annibella dislikes me. I don’t know what she might have said to the Grand Duchess. But if I approach her sincerely, maybe she’ll resolve her misunderstandings about me! And since the Grand Duchess still loves her former fiancé… I feel like I’ve been too dismissive of that.”

Theodore tried to listen patiently, but he couldn’t bear to hear any more of Bangara’s words.