Philip thought Prince Frederick’s behavior was appropriate. Since Frederick was still engaged to Parma, if he approached Isabelle and spoke to her, the blame for a broken engagement would fall on Isabelle.

However, if Prince Frederick lingered around Isabelle for too long, the story would change.

Like characters in a novel who can’t hold back their feelings and ultimately follow their hearts, many would support the two of them.

Philip looked at Prince Frederick’s reaction with satisfaction.

‘The broken engagement isn’t because of Isabelle but because of Prince Frederick’s heartfelt desire.’

Novels similar to ‘The Language of the White Roses’ were flooding the market, and even stories slandering Isabelle were gaining popularity.

However, those watching the two of them now could see how desperately Frederick wanted Isabelle. They were all witnesses.

Feeling Frederick’s gaze, Isabelle quietly spoke to Philip.

“We should leave now, shouldn’t we?”

Philip nodded. He, too, had begun to worry that Frederick might not be able to resist and would speak to Isabelle.

After returning to the duke’s estate during the party, Isabelle spoke curtly upon seeing the duchess.

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll have to keep this up.”

“Soon, very soon. Be patient. Think of it as a time to show everyone how desperately Frederick wants you. It’s most important that people understand whatever happens next is because of Frederick. You had no choice but to be involved. Got it? You must be tired; go up and rest. Let’s skip the next party.”

Isabelle sneered as she replied.

“You think that’ll make Frederick even more desperate?”

The duchess nodded.

“Yes.”

Isabelle asked, “Is everything going according to plan?”

“With Frederick, yes. It’s just Parma that isn’t cooperating. But what about you? Does Frederick still seem like a fool to you? Do you think you could spend your life with him?”

“Is that really what matters right now?”

“Of course it matters. If you still hold him in contempt, what will happen after you’re married, regardless of how the wedding goes? You can’t pretend forever. Frederick may not see it now because he’s blinded by his feelings, but eventually, he’ll realize that your feelings were fabricated.”

The duchess lowered her voice and moved closer to Isabelle.

“But if there’s any sincerity in you, things will be different. Wouldn’t you like that? How would it feel if you and Frederick grew apart after marriage? Could you endure a lifetime like the current emperor and empress?”

“So you tell me to seduce Frederick, even though you know I don’t care for him, but now you’re lecturing me on sincerity? Unbelievable. After all these years acting as the Duchess of Wiscombe, now you’re trying to play the mother figure? I really can’t stand it.”

Isabelle stormed off to her room, but the duchess knew she understood her words.

“She’s angry because she understood.”

***

Isabelle lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling.

“Sincerity?”

She had followed her grandmother’s and mother’s advice to ensnare Prince Frederick. Now, with success so close…

She had always resented her Cinderella-like mother. However, she knew that even after becoming duchess, her mother and father got along well.

If her mother’s feelings had been entirely fabricated from the start, could they have maintained a good relationship this long?

Isabelle had never felt genuinely about either Prince Robert or Prince Frederick. She couldn’t develop feelings after only a few conversations at parties.

She couldn’t trust anyone who approached her, especially because of the Wiscombe name and her appearance. Who truly knew and understood the real Isabelle?

“Not even I can do that…”

Now, to deceive others, Isabelle had to deceive herself as well. The time had come to go beyond mere acting. And if she failed, what would happen?

“Can I handle failure?”

Isabelle resented her mother, who had waited until now to voice her concerns.

—

Isabelle tossed and turned, her mind troubled by her feelings toward Frederick, her resentment, and her fear of failure, while Parma’s thoughts were no more settled.

Frederick showed no interest in Parma. There had been no letters or gifts for days. In the past, when Parma had feigned illness to avoid parties, Frederick would send a letter and a pile of gifts, full of concern for her.

However, now there wasn’t even a letter. It had been quite some time since Parma last sent a letter to Prince Frederick, and he had not visited the Gareth estate either.

Reflecting on Frederick’s actions, Parma felt they were too well-crafted to be genuine. She wondered if he had been guided and aided by someone all along.

“Not that it really matters.”

From the beginning, Parma hadn’t held high expectations for Prince Frederick. She thought it would be fine if he simply recognized the value of the Gareth family and treated them accordingly.

But when she heard that Prince Frederick was attending parties, paying no attention to her, and only focusing on Isabelle, Parma was certain.

“Prince Frederick likes Isabelle. To the point where he can’t even see me.”

There was no clearer proof than this.

Parma wanted to grab the two of them and shout for them not to disguise their shameless behavior as “romance.” She wanted to ask Frederick if he thought he could become emperor by acting this way.

But Parma didn’t. Even those she considered close had deceived her, and now they were pushing her on. They merely wanted to watch the spectacle Parma would create.

Parma didn’t want to entertain their shallow interests. More than anything, she questioned if Frederick was even worth holding onto in such a way.

No matter how advantageous the arrangement was, she couldn’t bring herself to marry under these conditions. What Parma couldn’t stand the most was being disregarded.

“If he can’t see me now, there’s no way he’ll notice me later.”

Parma thought that even if she managed to marry Prince Frederick, she would be miserable for the rest of her life.

Having made her decision, Parma went to find Duke Gareth. Calmly, she spoke.

“I’ll stay with my brother. Regardless of what Prince Frederick decides, make the decision as you see fit, Father. I’m giving up on him. I don’t want someone like that as my husband. Even if you still insist on the marriage, I won’t stay in the capital to watch him pursue another woman while ignoring me. I’m sorry, but I just can’t stay here.”

Duke Gareth embraced Parma and said, “If that’s your decision, I won’t insist on Frederick. Honestly, I doubt such an unpolished man would make a decent emperor anyway. I’ll inform your brother. I’ll handle matters here, so don’t worry about anything. Just go and enjoy your hunting and riding. Come back whenever you wish.”

Duke Gareth, too, had heard reports of how Prince Frederick would longingly gaze at Isabelle Wiscombe at every ball. He felt both relief and sadness that Parma’s strong character meant she could turn her back on the matter without any further conflict.

As sad as he was, his anger toward Isabelle Wiscombe and Prince Frederick was equally great.

“That scheming Wiscombe and the foolish prince who fell for it.”

A few days later, Parma left for Gareth’s territory. Her fiancé, Prince Frederick, only learned she was no longer in the capital a week after she had left.

* * *

When the Empress questioned him about Parma, Frederick replied with an awkward expression.

“How could I know when she left without telling me?”

“If you had reached out to her, you would’ve known. Even before I brought it up. You neglected Parma because you were so absorbed with Isabelle. Do you want to break the engagement?”

Frederick asked hopefully, “Does Parma want to break it off?”

The Empress replied, “No, she said nothing of the sort. All I heard was that she left to visit her brother. What do you intend to do?”

“What am I supposed to do?”

Although furious at his response, the Empress restrained herself. After composing herself, she spoke to Frederick.

“Do you regret the engagement? If you want to break it off, say so.”

Frederick clamped his mouth shut, thinking that even if he expressed a desire to break the engagement, the Empress wouldn’t actually end it with Parma Gareth.

The Empress found Frederick’s stubborn silence exasperating. Yet, scolding him didn’t seem like it would change him.

She pressed her fingers to her forehead, observing him in silence before speaking gently.

“Isabelle Wiscombe is a good girl, too. But you’re already engaged to Parma. If you keep hovering around Isabelle, how will she ever meet a good man? Do you want Isabelle to be alone forever?”

“Of course not. Never. I’m not feeling well, so may I be excused?”

The Empress, having yet to fully address the issue, let him go, sensing that pressuring him now would only make matters worse.

As soon as he left her chambers, Prince Frederick hurried to the Gareth estate. At the mention of Isabelle, his first thought was the fear of losing her to someone else.

“There’s no time. I have to break off this absurd engagement quickly. Isabelle can’t possibly be alone forever.”

* * *

Duke Gareth greeted Prince Frederick with a smile despite his underlying anger. With his usual calm demeanor, he asked the prince’s purpose for the visit.

Prince Frederick replied, looking regretful, “The one I love is not Parma.”

Duke Gareth stared at him intently and asked, “So… have you made up your mind?”

“Pardon?”

“Frankly, this marriage benefits Gareth, so we welcomed your engagement to Parma. But watching her fiancé humiliate her while acting pitiful before me is something I can’t abide.”

“How unpleasant. Even if you are a prince, to admit that here… does this mean you’ve come to request a dissolution of the engagement?”

“That’s not it. If you understand my feelings, then naturally…”

“Are you even being cowardly now? Have you come hoping the Gareth family will request the breakup first? Because you fear Count Cressida? Because the Empress won’t accept what you say?”

Prince Frederick flinched at the Duke’s piercing gaze. The Duke caught this reaction immediately, smirking as he spoke.

“Very well. I shall grant your request.”

Prince Frederick’s expression softened in satisfaction at the Duke’s reply. However, the following words made him clench his fists.

“A prince who fears his mother and maternal family… I have much to think about. I will send you the breakup letter you desire. Now, please take your leave.”

The Duke rose first. Frederick’s servant, standing nearby, frowned. Frederick had never been treated so rudely by anyone. While he should have been furious at the Duke’s disrespectful conduct, he simply nodded. The servant stifled a sigh at Frederick’s reaction. Since Frederick accepted the situation, there was no way a mere servant could challenge the Duke’s cold demeanor.

Two days later, the dissolution of Prince Frederick and Parma’s engagement was officially announced. No one seemed surprised.