I Was Happy to Be Dumped by My Fiancé, But Something Seems Off - Episode 16

How many minutes had passed wrapped in the silence filling the room? With no clock present and no one possessing one, the exact time remained unknown.

Though I’d sat facing Riet before, it felt like it had been quite a while. So much had happened in such a short period that I’d completely forgotten about it.

After barging into the High Priest’s room in a fluster during his sudden visit, Riet hadn’t attempted to speak. Bertina had intended to wait, but growing impatient with his continued silence, she spoke first.

“Your Highness, what brings you here?”

“I heard you were here.”

“From whom? As before, how exactly are you tracking my movements, Your Highness?”

“…”

He falls silent when things become inconvenient for him. Bertina’s temple twitches, but she can still endure it.

“You’re aware Clarissa is at the Annaloro ducal house, correct? You could simply go to Clarissa instead.”

When she indirectly suggests she hadn’t wanted him to come to her, his expression clearly changes.

“…I’ve parted ways with Clarissa.”

“I see. As you wish.”

“…”

Timing-wise, yesterday was likely the cause. Whatever happened with Clarissa was irrelevant to Bertina.

“What is the status regarding the annulment of our engagement?”

“My engagement with you will not be annulled.”

“If the talks of Clarissa becoming the Annaloro ducal house’s adopted daughter are progressing, then all the more reason there’s no benefit in maintaining my engagement with you. You may not be aware, Your Highness, but His Majesty seems to desire the power of both the Annaloro and Moldio ducal houses.”

“…Mother and I are opposing it. Neither Mother nor I understand the reasoning behind making Clarissa the Annaloro ducal house’s adopted daughter.”

“Are you being serious?”

“What do you…”

Seeing he has no clue even when pointed out, she’s astounded. The Queen aside, Riet’s lack of self-awareness is quite something.

Keeping Aunt Agnes’s motives hidden, she explains that if the adorable Clarissa has the Crown Prince’s favor, making her the Annaloro ducal house’s adopted daughter would also secure the Moldio ducal house’s power, further solidifying the Crown Prince’s position. At this, Riet’s eyes waver.

Currently, the royal family’s trust has severely declined due to the previous engagement annulment scandal. While Bertina could only bring the Annaloro family’s power, Clarissa could additionally bring the Moldio family’s power. Considering which would benefit the nation more as Crown Princess, the latter would be chosen.

“My discussions with Clarissa are already over. She never intended to become Crown Princess to begin with.”

“And yet, you and Clarissa seemed quite intimate, didn’t you?”

“…Clarissa doesn’t love me. Bertina, it’s your attendant.”

………….

“…What?”

Lately, she’d been hearing so many unbelievable things that her reactions had become polished. Bertina, making a foolish face, looked up at Argent, whose eyes had turned to dots as he repeatedly blinked.

“…I can’t believe you’d seduce Clarissa.”

“I haven’t. I try to avoid involvement with women from other families besides my lady as much as possible.”

“Was there some incident that made Clarissa fond of you?”

“I have no idea at all.”

Personally, he hadn’t even spoken with Clarissa, let alone met her. Even when questioned by Bertina, Argent had nothing.

“…Well, whether Clarissa loves you or not is irrelevant to me. Your Highness, please make the engagement annulment a reality.”

“Ugh,… I refuse.”

“Your Highness.”

“If you annul our engagement, you’ll choose that attendant instead, won’t you!?”

“?”

Why was Argent’s name being brought up now? Bertina’s eyes widened.

Thinking back from their childhood to now, there was no scene where Clarissa could have fallen for Argent. Was she simply coveting Bertina’s possessions? she wondered, but Riet denied it. He said Clarissa indeed loved Argent and had approached Riet to separate him from Bertina’s side. Whatever her true intentions, the reason Clarissa approached Riet was clear. The problem lay elsewhere.

“Why did you go along with Clarissa’s story? If you wanted to mock me for having Argent stolen by Clarissa and being left alone, then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

“That’s not it! Do you really think I’m the kind of person who would do such a thing!?”

“I don’t think so, but if the opportunity arose, wouldn’t you? I’m perfectly aware that you despise me.”

“That’s because you…!”

Cutting off his words, Riet bit his lip, glaring hatefully—always at Bertina. Occasionally, his gaze drifted to Argent standing by her side.

“You’re always like this! You only pay attention to that attendant you picked up and never look at me! Even when I kept Clarissa by my side, it was the same. Do you hate becoming Crown Princess that much!?”

Something in Bertina’s head snapped, and she retorted with force.

“You enjoy saying incomprehensible things, don’t you!? I don’t look at you? From the moment we met, you’ve constantly shown me your reluctant attitude because you couldn’t forget your first love! Even when Her Majesty the Queen showed concern, far from becoming friendly with you, when even you placed Clarissa, who all the ducal house members dote on. By your side, I was disappointed at how utterly wasted all my efforts until then had been! My feelings are something you, who utterly despise me, will never understand in your entire life!!!”

Lately, she’d been using various voices—loud ones, low ones perhaps the most in her life. The thought fleetingly crossed her mind that she might have a future as an aspiring actress, but she was startled by Riet’s immediate retort.

“When did I ever say I hated you!? You’re the one who arbitrarily assumed that and refused to accept me, Bertina!”

“You don’t need to say it for me to understand perfectly! I’m not that obtuse! Why don’t you recall your own attitude until now!? Then you’ll clearly see that you hate me!!”

“You’re the one who hates me more than I do!!”

“Yes, I hate you! I despise you! I’m profoundly relieved I won’t have to become your consort! Would you like me to list all the other reasons too!?”

Tit for tat, their argument heated up uncontrollably. Argent and Inanna, watching over them, showed no intention of stopping. They figured it would eventually end once they tired themselves out from arguing to their heart’s content.

Bertina and Riet’s argument ended about twenty minutes later. Both were exhausted and thirsty from shouting. Unable to watch any longer, Argent offered to prepare tea and left the room.

Having used the water-heating room before, he knew its location and proceeded without hesitation. To summarize Bertina and Riet’s argument: they both assumed the other hated them, and things became complicated because they decided that without ever confirming the other’s feelings.

Bertina had strongly given up, and simultaneously, any trust in Riet who had begun doting on Clarissa had been tossed into the garbage bin, leaving nothing behind.

As for Riet… in a way, it seemed Bertina was the cause of his twisted feelings. Though Argent bore some responsibility, most of it ultimately came back to Bertina.

Suddenly, he wondered about Riet’s first love. If he couldn’t forget his first love, why was he so fixated on Bertina? Was it simply because he didn’t want to let go after all the years of Crown Princess education? Or did he hate Bertina because he had a first love?

There was almost no information about Riet’s first love. A noble’s daughter, around the same age. That was all. No physical description whatsoever. Probably to prevent imposters, but if he still longed for his first love even after his engagement was decided, why not disclose the information and search for her?

“Humans are truly incomprehensible.”

If he were a demon, he’d use every available means to resolve it quickly.

“Well, Bertina is the priority now. I should take her somewhere to change her mood tomorrow.”

A place with few people where one could calm their mind. The lake he often visited as a child, where he’d dive into the water fully clothed. It was exactly when Bertina had proposed pretending to be twins and he’d become a cross-dressing boy.

“Now that I think of it, the lake where the Crown Prince supposedly drowned was there too.”

“Unrelated, I suppose,” he muttered to himself. Arriving at the water-heating room, Argent began preparing tea for three with practiced hands.

—Around the same time, among those remaining at the Annaloro ducal house, Agnes was on her way back to the Moldio ducal residence with the crying Clarissa. Even inside the carriage, Clarissa covered her face with her hands, weeping. Agnes felt pity for her, but her irritation only grew. It had always been like this, her charm power had no effect on Bertina and Argent. Using it on the High Priest was equivalent to suicide. Just thinking about what might happen was terrifying in itself. If only she could charm Bertina, she’d easily hand over Argent.

—Really, what an infuriating child!

And yet, a beloved child who resembled her brother so much.