Dear Ex-Fiancé, I Hope You Regret Everything - Chapter 40

“Nia has been removed from the royal family, and Lord Dragoark will be under house arrest for a while.”

“I feel terrible saying this to you, but isn’t Lord Dragoark actually the victim here?”

Lord Skyford held his head and let out a sigh before crumpling the newspaper in his hand.

“According to Prime Minister Meisan, it seems to be his own choice. Apparently, he’s been somewhat mentally exhausted. Well, perhaps it’s best to think of it as a period of rest.”

“That sounds rather evasive.”

“Ah… you might not know this, but there have been rumors that Dragoark has made many women cry in social circles.”

“Oh? Then why didn’t you object to Lady Nia’s marriage?”

“Me? Why would I?”

“Why, you ask I thought you were as close as siblings.”

“I don’t let anyone complain about my marriage partner, and I don’t intend to complain about anyone else’s either. He’s an adult now. Should an older cousin really be meddling in such matters?”

(An older cousin…)

I couldn’t tell if he was surprisingly detached or if he had trusted Lady Nia.

Fonmi entered the room and said, “Excuse me,” before continuing. “Lady Nia is here. Shall I tell her you’re not available?”

“Eh? Lady Nia is here?”

Lord Skyford seemed inclined not to meet her, but I straightened my back and disagreed.

“No, please show her in.”

“Iris! But…!”

“This will likely be the last time we see her.”

He looked at me with a complicated expression and fell silent.

Golden tea was brought in.

I had prepared various flavors of Candice, which had finally gone on sale, hoping Lady Nia would try them.

“This is raspberry, this is Earl Grey, then whiskey, and finally orange.”

“Hmm. Unusual choices. Well, I’ll have the raspberry, then.”

I scooped some with a spoon and placed it in Lady Nia’s cup.

In the past, she might have brushed it off with force, but today she seemed to have regained the innocence of the day we first met.

And that wasn’t all. There was something refreshingly… yes,

This was resignation.

“…It’s fleeting, how it melts away. But it’s beautiful.”

“Thanks to you, it’s been well-received.”

“I actually hate tea. It’s astringent and bitter. But, well, I can drink this.”

“If you’d like, please take some with you.”

“Fine, I’ll take it.”

I had expected her to refuse, so I felt caught off guard. Her words were as sharp as ever, but she was being honest.

(Is this really that Lady Nia!?)

I was astonished by how much she had changed.

The foundation that didn’t match her skin tone, the dress with the same design as mine—everything was gone, and she was completely back to her old self.

Lord Skyford simply watched in silence.

“…I heard you’ll be living in Pereste Castle, in the borderlands.”

Lady Nia sipped her tea and said, “Yes, that’s right.”

“Uncle… His Majesty the King scolded me terribly. Being removed from the family, I suppose it means he wants nothing more to do with me, doesn’t want to be associated with me? His Majesty was always so kind and indulgent with me, so I realized, ‘Ah, I’m an adult who must stand on my own two feet.’ It’s a bit late, isn’t it?”

Her speech still retained a childlike quality. I had heard from Lord Skyford that she had consistently refused education as a member of the royal family.

From her, I sensed conflicting desires to become an adult, yet to remain a child.

“…I’ll miss you.”

“Don’t be silly. I don’t need such formalities.”

It wasn’t a lie. Though I found her difficult, the noise would be gone.

(Yes, that’s why I said it with a hint of sarcasm.)

I’m quite a nasty woman myself. No matter how close they were like siblings, I didn’t want her clinging to the person I love. Truthfully, I wanted to wash every spot Lady Nia had touched and dispose of all the clothes.

This unfamiliar side of me surfaced, and I felt disgusted with myself.

“Well, never mind. Today, I came to say goodbye and apologize.”

Lady Nia stood up and bowed gracefully.

“I am deeply sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.”

“Lady Nia, please raise your head.”

“I hated you. Because I liked big brother first, but you took him. So, I wanted to beat you at everything else.”

“Eh…”

Ah, so that’s why she was imitating me.

But imitation is always playing catch-up, so it doesn’t really mean getting ahead, does it? Doesn’t it admit that you’re the latecomer?

(No)

Hadn’t she always insisted, ‘Iris copied me’?

She probably wanted to take something from me and make it her own.

Thinking this far, I managed to come to terms with it.

Lady Nia raised her head and smiled brightly.

“Goodbye, Your Highness Skyford. Nia loved you, big brother. As a final memory, please give me a kiss on the cheek.”

She made a face as if demanding it by poking her cheek. (Eh?) In that moment, I think I made a terribly distorted expression. But Lord Skyford immediately refused.

“…I refuse. I only kiss Iris.”

“Stingy.”

She stuck out her tongue and ran toward the door.

“Ah! Hey! Nia!!!”

“Hmph! Be happy, then! You be happy too, Iris! After all, I’m the one who gave big brother to you!!”

“I understand.”

I bowed and saw her off.

Drops flew from Lady Nia as she ran, illuminated by the sunlight streaming through the window, and vanished.

The sparkling tears became an indelible residue in my heart, lasting forever.