And Thus… It All Comes to an End - Chapter 3

“Fufu… An order from a King who changes his mind as easily as the wind?”

Despite myself, a laugh bubbled up from deep within my throat.

“Blasphemy!”

“Your Majesty! We must stick to the original decision!”

“Indeed! Reversing it now will only invite chaos!”

The high officials erupted all at once, and the hall was swallowed by a cacophony of voices. Opinions flew from left to right, each man asserting that he alone was correct.

Amidst the noise, I let out a soft sigh.

Now then—.

“Three years ago, I came to the Royal Palace to receive my education as the Crown Prince’s fiancée.”

My sudden words caused the officials to glance at one another. At the unexpected turn toward reminiscence, every mouth fell shut.

My engagement to the Crown Prince had been decided when I was six years old. However, my family’s territory was distant, and it wasn’t until three years ago—for my social debut and formal introduction as his fiancée—that I finally visited the royal capital.

Until then, even my fiancé, the Prince, had known me only through portraits.

“He was my first fiancé, after all. I suppose I held some small, faint expectations.”

My grandfather had told me: “If you can cherish the Crown Prince and shoulder the burden of this country together, that would be for the best.”

“I didn’t think a veil would be necessary when appearing before my own fiancé. But my grandfather urged me to wear one ‘just in case.’ I realized the wisdom of that judgment the moment the Crown Prince spoke his first words to me: ‘What is that rag? Is your face so hideous that you must hide it?’ …Fufu, I could hardly believe my ears.”

I still vividly remember the moment he tried to forcibly rip the veil away.

Ah, I cannot be with this person, I had realized then.

The Prince had a face as beautiful as his portraits suggested. However, his expression, twisted in a mocking sneer, was unbearable to look upon.

“What on earth are you talking about…?”

The King made no effort to hide his displeasure. His lips were set in a hard line, and the surrounding air froze in an instant.

“Have you ever heard the reason, Your Majesty? Why the late King and my grandfather established this engagement between the Prince and me?”

“I have not heard it directly, but I can imagine. You were close in age, and our houses were of equal standing. Our fathers were close. So close, it seems, that they felt comfortable deciding Cedric’s fiancée without even consulting me.”

The King’s voice was low, irritation bleeding into every word. The reason he disliked me perhaps it was the humiliation of having his son’s future decided for him.

But that was not the point.

“How optimistic of you.”

“Wh—What did you say?!” The King stood up abruptly.

“The two of them were concerned for the future of this nation.” I shrugged lightly and continued quietly. “When you were the Crown Prince, Your Majesty, you neglected the fiancée already chosen for you and became infatuated with a daughter of a Viscount you met at the academy. You surrounded yourself only with ‘friends’ who whispered sweet nothings in your ear.”

With every word I spoke, the tension in the room ratcheted higher.

“It was out of concern for the country. Prince Cedric has inherited your temperament quite well, it seems. The plan was to bring me into the Royal Family specifically to ensure the kingdom did not fall into ruin. It was a safeguard.”

“Nonsense!”

“Such insolence! She should be punished severely!”

The voices overlapped as the hall descended into an uproar. Amidst the chaos, the King stared me down with eyes full of rage. Finally, he spoke in a low, chilling tone.

“However, Luciana’s power is too valuable to lose. And if she truly is an Apostle of the Goddess, it is difficult to determine the degree of her punishment… Very well. Silence her. Strip her of her words. Do not let her take a single step out of her room. No one is to interact with her until she decides to submit to my will and use her power for my sake.”

The air in the hall sank even deeper into a heavy gloom. At that moment, out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone start to stand up. With a sharp glance, I wordlessly signaled them to stay their ground.

“Fufu… My grandfather told me this: ‘See with your own eyes, and judge the future of this kingdom for yourself.’”

I continued to weave my words calmly.

“A King who is played like a puppet by his subordinates. A Queen who abandons her duties and spends nothing but gold. A Crown Prince who fails his obligations as a fiancé and easily loses his heart to another. A Royal Family that cannot stand unless someone else is cleaning up after them has no future.”

“You…!”

The King’s cheek twitched, flushing a deep red. His fist slammed into the armrest, making the room tremble.

“Apostle or not, there are things that may be said and things that may not!”

His roar echoed through the hall. The officials flinched in unison.

“Enough! Call the Kings guard! Throw Luciana into the dungeon! This is a Royal Command!”

At his shout, the people around us began to move in a panic.

Ah, how lightly he throws around the term ‘Royal Command.’

Just as the soldiers moved to step forward, I raised a hand.

“Only those who serve a prideful will are permitted to approach me.”

The soldiers’ movements stopped dead. A stir ran through the room, and the King’s face contorted.

“Have you already forgotten? My power.”

Regret and impatience seeped into the King’s expression.

“…If you have made your judgment, what do you intend to do? Do not think you will get away with such verbal abuse.”

“That’s right!” Sara piped up from the side. “I was taught that even an Apostle must not defy a King. Besides, I have power too! As long as I am here, it’s crazy to say this country has no future!”

I looked at her quietly and gave a soft shake of my head.

“But what if I were no longer a citizen of this country? Would I still need to follow a Royal Command then?”

“What…? Do you intend to go into exile?” The King’s voice wavered slightly. The air in the hall was brittle as the officials exchanged glances.

“No.”

I took a breath and allowed a smile to grace my lips.

“My House, the House of Eisenberg, shall secede. We will become an independent nation.”

The uproar exploded.

“Independence…?”

“Don’t be ridiculous…!”

“Your Majesty, this cannot be overlooked!”

In the middle of the chaos, I looked the King straight in the eye and took a step forward.

“And I shall become its King.”

The hall fell into a silence so deep it felt as though everyone had forgotten to breathe.

“Do you think that will be permitted?!”

“Exactly! This is nothing short of a rebellion!”

Angry shouts flew, but they felt empty to me now.

“I possess a deed signed by the late King just before his passing. It bears his words: ‘No matter what choice a member of the Eisenberg line makes regarding the future of the land, they shall not be charged with a crime.’ It bears the State Seal. Not the Royal Seal, but the State Seal. Naturally, it remains in effect even now.”

The silence that covered the room made the previous shouting feel like a lie. A heavy, oppressive stillness. Not a single person could find their voice.

I brushed my skirt, stepped forward, and gave a deep, formal bow.

“I believe our discussion is concluded. With this, I officially terminate my engagement to the Crown Prince and my service to the Royal Family. I shall return to my territory and establish my nation.”