I Don’t Need Them Anymore — Abandoning the Family That Never Loved Me, I Find Happiness in a Neighboring Kingdom - Chapter 2

“Hey! You, don’t say unnecessary things!”

“Loin!”

I called his name sharply as Loin tried to grab Nana, and he stopped moving.

“What is it?”

“Are you trying to say Nana is lying?”

“…It’s not a lie, but…”

“Then she can continue her story, right?”

He made a dissatisfied face but said nothing. Nana resumed speaking with her stern expression unchanged.

“While Lord Loin was in Lady Ramula’s room, it seems moaning voices could be heard from inside. I’ve heard that the soldiers standing outside the room and Lady Ramula’s maids were confused upon hearing those sounds.”

“…Moaning voices in a room with only you and my sister.”

When I stared at him with cold eyes, he shook his head repeatedly.

“…What else could I do?! Lady Ramula pressured me into it!”

“Pressured you?”

“Yeah. I just found out too, but apparently the crown prince of the Rofeus Kingdom recently declared he only wants a woman who has preserved her purity as his wife, and that it doesn’t have to be Lady Ramula. If she has relations with me, Lady Ramula would no longer meet that condition and could avoid the marriage. His Majesty the King has already approved this.”

“Are you an idiot?”

I never wanted to say such words to anyone, nor did I think I ever would. But Loin had done something so foolish that the words escaped my lips before I could stop them.

“Calling me an idiot is going too far!”

“The envoys from the Rofeus Kingdom are coming tomorrow to collect the bride!? What excuse do you plan to make!?”

“I heard His Majesty said we’ll claim Lady Ramula was attacked by pirates and lost her purity.”

“Do you really think that excuse will work? It will only make people doubt our kingdom’s security capabilities!”

“The Rofeus Kingdom is responsible for dealing with pirates. If she was attacked by pirates, that would be their failure.”

“…I see. So, we’re going to claim my sister was attacked by pirates and blame the Rofeus Kingdom.”

Yesterday, my sister went to the port. I didn’t know why at the time, but it was to create this alibi.

However, I can’t believe such an excuse would be accepted.

“That’s right. I heard His Majesty said that since they couldn’t handle the pirates, they shouldn’t complain if the bride is substituted.”

So, it was Father’s idea. That explains why such a foolish plan was considered.

“What did they say about the substitute bride?”

“Just that a replacement has been decided, so don’t worry. They said it won’t become an international issue.”

“Do you seriously believe that? The Rofeus Kingdom specifically requested my sister!”

“That’s what I’m telling you. Any woman who has preserved her purity will do. We just need to offer an unmarried noblewoman of high status.”

I find this way of thinking problematic too. Does it mean that as long as my sister is protected, it doesn’t matter what happens to anyone else?

“I don’t think such a lie will work.”

“Only a limited number of people in the castle and the royal family besides Lord Rix know about this. Everyone loves Lady Ramula. So, they should maintain this lie until death. This way everyone can be happy.”

Rix is my brother’s name. My brother may be cold, but he has common sense. If he had heard about this plan, he definitely would have stopped it. That’s why they’re keeping it secret from him.

This person understands nothing about my parents. Just considering how they treat me should make that obvious.

“Hey. Who do you think the substitute for my sister will be?”

“I don’t know. But probably some high-ranking noblewoman.”

“It has to be me, obviously!”

When I raised my voice, Loin’s eyes widened in surprise. At that moment, the door burst open violently and Father, wearing a red mantle, entered the room.

Father, of average build and height with a magnificent mustache under his nose, approached me and commanded.

“Dahlia, you will marry the monster prince of the Rofeus Kingdom in Ramula’s place. And after you marry, continue claiming Ramula was attacked by pirates. If you reveal the truth…”

Father made a vicious face and looked toward Nana standing near the door.

“I’ll kill that maid first.”

Father is truly foolish. If Nana were killed, the Rofeus Kingdom wouldn’t remain silent.

But it would be too late after she’s dead.

…I absolutely cannot let Nana be killed.

“How many pitiful victims there will be depends on you.”

After saying what he wanted, Father left the room.

“…Dahlia.”

As Loin approached me with downturned eyebrows, I held out my hand to stop him.

“Our engagement is canceled, or rather, annulled. So, don’t come near me. And get out of my room right now!”

“Dahlia, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

“Be happy with my sister!”

I said this and turned my face away from Loin. Then I heard a clicking sound, and Loin lashed out.

“Why do you have to be so unlikable, Dahlia! Do whatever you want! Go marry the monster prince and live an unhappy life!”

“He’s the crown prince of another country!? Don’t you dare call him something so disrespectful like monster prince!”

“Everyone calls him that! A monster suits an unlikable girl like you perfectly!”

After saying what he wanted, Loin left the room. The room suddenly fell silent, and perhaps because I let my guard down, the tears I had been holding back overflowed and wouldn’t stop.

“Why… why does everyone betray me? What should I have done?”

“…Lady Dahlia. It’s not your fault.”

Nana approached and spoke gentle words to me.

“Nana, I’ve dragged you into this too. I’m really… really sorry…”

“Please rest assured, I will absolutely not be killed. Every malicious person involved in this incident will surely receive their punishment.”

“…What do you mean?”

Even when I asked, Nana only stroked my back and didn’t give me an answer.