The Prince Is Dead, So Let’s Start Over Everything Again! - Chapter 4.10

He was very angry, but as always, there wasn’t even a hint of intimidation.

Is it because of the Lurupel family’s unique pink hair? Could this cute and lively hair color have eaten away all his dignity?

I consoled Count Lurupel half-heartedly while entertaining these frivolous thoughts.

This definitely didn’t happen in my past life.

It was odd enough that he was bragging about receiving a mere tea party invitation, let alone a marriage proposal.

No one could predict the outcome of the tea party. It seemed too early to brag, even before anything good had happened.

If it were some baron from a remote territory, it might be understandable, but Count So-and-so was a margrave guarding the western border of the empire.

Isn’t it ridiculous for someone of that stature to brag about an invitation?

Given the circumstances, it was clear that Count So-and-so had made a premature boast about his daughter out of jealousy over Count Lurupel’s good fortune.

The level of his friend was… understandable. Birds of a feather flock together, after all.

“We can’t just sit here in a daze! The engagement ceremony must proceed as planned the day after tomorrow! Do you understand, Hariella?”

“What? But His Highness the 3rd Prince is still unwell.”

“Hasn’t he regained consciousness? It’s not like his legs are broken, he should be able to endure for half a day with willpower!”

Count Lurupel insisted unreasonably.

I repeatedly explained how hot the 3rd Prince’s forehead had been, but Count Lurupel wouldn’t budge an inch.

“Did His Highness the 3rd Prince ever mention that the engagement ceremony should be postponed?”

“What? Well, no, but…”

“Then it’s settled!”

Count Lurupel exclaimed with relief as if a bad tooth had been pulled out.

“But, Dad! His Highness might be so out of it that he’s forgotten the engagement ceremony is the day after tomorrow!”

“Then you can go and remind him!”

“What?”

“Yes, that’s a good idea! When he sees you, His Highness will surely feel ashamed! Falling from the same tree, yet he’s still bedridden alone!”

Count Lurupel spouted nonsense.

I was so dumbfounded that I missed the timing to refute his words.

In that gap, the impatient Count Lurupel immediately rang the bell to call for an attendant.

“My little kitten is going to His Highness the 3rd Prince’s room! Guide her!”

“No, wait a moment, Dad!”

“See you tomorrow, Hariella. I’m already looking forward to how lovely you’ll be!”

“That’s not what I meant!”

I raised my voice in objection belatedly, but Count Lurupel pretended not to hear.

He lightly kissed my forehead and then shooed me out of the room.

In the blink of an eye, I was left alone in the cold corridor.

Count Lurupel’s attendant looked at me nervously.

The corridor was as quiet as a mouse. It seemed like I could almost hear the sound of the attendant’s eyes rolling.

“…If it’s alright with you, I’ll escort you to His Highness’s room, young lady.”

The attendant hesitantly suggested.

Standing there blankly like a fool, I finally came to my senses.

“Ugh, this is really annoying!”

In this whale’s fight, no, whale’s boasting match, it seemed the shrimp’s back was about to burst.

Frustration rose to the top of my head. I stomped on the innocent floor like an angry gorilla.

Crack.

Somewhere, there was a sound as if a large, solid object was splitting.

I glanced down to examine the floor. There was a thin crack on the surface.

‘…No way, surely not.’

It must have been like this from the beginning.

The corridor floor was marble.

There’s no way it could have cracked from a few kicks of my weak self.

…Right? …It can’t be.

“Ah, I’ll guide you, young lady.”

Count Lurupel’s attendant, who had been hesitating for a while as if frightened, stuttered his suggestion.

“I’m not going!”

“Pardon?”

“If you want to go so badly, tell him to go himself!”

Of course, I knew the attendant was not at fault. But I just couldn’t speak kindly.

I turned around and walked straight ahead. It was in a completely different direction from the 3rd Prince’s room.

“Young lady! That’s not the right way! Young lady!”

The attendant called after me in an anxious voice from behind. But I never looked back.

One funny thing was that the attendant didn’t chase after me. He seemed to lack the courage to block my path when I was angry.

Apparently, in the attendant’s eyes, I was just as much of a ticking time bomb as Count Lurupel.

To think that I was being treated the same as the Lurupel family!

Realizing this made me feel even worse.

“Young lady! Young lady…”

The attendant’s voice grew fainter and fainter.

I moved forward without any interruption from anyone. It was in a completely different direction from both the 3rd Prince’s room and my own room.

Not even a speck of thought crossed my mind about going back to Count Lurupel to persuade him.

From the beginning, I did not need to compromise with him.

Stupidly, I had only just realized this fact.

If I don’t participate, the engagement ceremony will naturally have to be postponed.

I intended to take a different path on the day of the engagement ceremony.

As a cultured modern citizen, I absolutely couldn’t participate in overworking a sick child.

‘If I keep going this way, what comes next….’

I stopped walking only when I could no longer hear the attendant’s voice at all.

Since I didn’t come to this area often, I was slightly confused about the path.

‘The exhibition hall is this way, and beyond that is the indoor garden… And then…’

There was something unsettling next to the indoor garden if I remember correctly…

“Hari! What are you doing here?”

While I was lost in thought, an unwelcome figure suddenly appeared.

Unfortunately, the one who burst out of the exhibition hall door was Hariella’s brother.

“Y-You, what are you doing here?”

“I was just appreciating the paintings for a moment. The Ludbekia court has many excellent works, you know.”

“Is that so? Are you done looking?”

“Yes.”

“Then hurry and go.”

I stepped aside slightly, hoping Hariella’s brother would just pass by.

However, as expected, Hariella’s brother didn’t simply leave.

“This brother is truly curious about what our Hari came all the way here for. Of course, you wouldn’t be interested in the artworks…”

Did he just subtly insult me?

I glared at Hariella’s brother with sharp eyes.

He nodded as if he understood.

“I see, you came to sneak a peek at the training grounds, didn’t you?”

“Training grounds?”

“I know everything. You came to spy on Duke Caledonia, right? At this time, he should be…”

What does he know?

When I questioned his sudden talk about training grounds, Hariella’s brother started spouting nonsense.

However, fortunately, or unfortunately, his words were cut short.

“…It seems I’ve come at an inconvenient time.”

The young duke So-and-so was approaching us.

‘He… seems to have heard, doesn’t he?’

I glanced at Hariella’s brother.

Shamelessly, he didn’t look flustered at all.

“Duke Caledonia! Good evening.”

Hariella’s brother greeted him with a gentle voice and a soft smile.

“Good evening.”

A curt reply came from the other party.

Small beads of sweat were forming on the young duke So-and-so’s forehead. It seemed he was returning from doing something outside.