I Was Happy to Be Dumped by My Fiancé, But Something Seems Off - Episode 17

The cold tea passed through my throat, greatly moistening my mouth that had dried out from our loud argument. When I put a lemon slice in my mouth, the sourness mixed with the tea’s flavor to create a taste I liked, and I simply ate and swallowed it.

“You’re eating it?”

“I like it.”

“I see.”

Argent, who knew Bertina liked the lemon in her tea yet hadn’t brought any extras, gave a wry smile at the sharp gaze coming from ahead as he responded to Bertina’s request for more tea.

After receiving the fresh tea, she glanced at Riet, who showed no intention of leaving.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince, please return home after drinking your tea. No matter what you say to me, I will not become the crown princess.”

“……”

She had clearly stated her intention once again.

There was no verbal response to this.

She let out an unconcealed sigh, “Haa,” and temporarily placed the glass in her palm.

“I understand your and Clarissa’s objectives. But don’t the other nobles know about your relationship? Wouldn’t it be fine? If Clarissa, who’s cherished by both the Annaloro and Moldio dukes, becomes the crown princess.”

“Clarissa’s target is your attendant. First of all, I never intended to make Clarissa crown princess from the start.”

“Then why not just tell her to find someone else? Argent is my attendant. No matter who says what, I have no intention of handing him over.

Moreover, isn’t His Majesty the one who wants Clarissa as crown princess?”

“……”

Setting aside Riet’s personal feelings, from the royal family’s perspective, they would want Clarissa backed by two ducal houses as crown princess. They could restrain the Spade ducal house, form strong ties with the Annaloro ducal house, which has blood relations with the royalty of the neighboring great power, and the Moldio ducal house, which conducts trade with other nations. She was the perfect young lady.

“His Majesty, my father has stopped listening to me and my mother’s words.”

“What do you mean?”

“When Duke Annaloro told father about making Clarissa the adopted daughter of the ducal house, father initially opposed it. He said the Annaloro ducal house already had Bertina. That the Moldio ducal house only had Clarissa as their child, so what would happen to the succession?”

“!”

Bertina realized there was a blind spot. The Moldio duke and duchess only had Clarissa as their child. While the duke’s brothers and sisters had children, Clarissa was the only direct descendant.

“But after Duchess Moldio joined the discussion, father changed his opinion and approved Clarissa becoming the adopted daughter of the Annaloro ducal house.”

“……”

—Don’t tell me…

Bertina glanced gently at Inanna, who nodded.

Agnès had used her charming power even on the king to advance her agenda favorably.

“What about Her Majesty the Queen now?”

“Mother still opposes it. But father won’t listen.”

Was that also due to the charm’s influence?

“No matter how much mother persuades him, father never changes his mind. It’s as if he’s become a different person, completely obedient to Duchess Moldio and Duke Annaloro.”

“How is he regarding matters other than Clarissa’s adoption?”

“Now that you mention it, he doesn’t seem different regarding other matters.”

Meaning that, ultimately, their goal was to make Clarissa an adopted daughter, and they were using charm to force the decision without overturning it.

Bertina agonized over whether to tell Riet about the charm, but decided it would only complicate matters further.

“Bertina.”

“What is it?”

“Not just regarding Clarissa’s adoption, but father and the duke plan to—”

“I know.”

“No. They plan to pretend to send you to a convent, but actually make you Clarissa’s body double.”

They had no intention whatsoever of letting go of Bertina, who had been raised for years to become crown princess. Even if she couldn’t become crown princess, she could still be useful to the royal family.

Clarissa would handle social affairs, while Bertina would handle all administrative duties.

She sighed at how ridiculous it was, and when she asked if Riet was also involved in the plan, he shook his head vigorously.

“Do I look like the kind of person who would force such a role on you!?”

“Yes, you do. Everyone who dotes on Clarissa is my enemy.”

“……”

“Would you like to experience it too, Your Highness? When Clarissa cries, I get blamed and beaten by father and mother. When Clarissa is happy, they rejoice as if she were their own child while ignoring me standing right there. When they learn Clarissa is feeling unwell, they rush off in their carriage to the Moldio ducal house without even glancing at me, who’s feeling just as unwell. How can you say they’re not my enemies?”

As she spoke, she remembered that her brother wasn’t included in this. Unlike her parents, who would worry about Clarissa and leave without caring for their actual daughter when the maids said Bertina was suffering from fever, Bianco who usually only made sarcastic remarks had come to check on her. He seemed unsure how to approach her, but Bertina, whose headache was severe from the fever and whose throat hurt, could barely keep her eyes open.

“J-just take your medicine properly and get well soon,” was all Bianco said before leaving. After that, he kept coming to her room frequently, only to be chased out by the maids.

She wondered why she was remembering this now, but shook her head, deciding it was irrelevant.

Riet had turned pale and fallen silent. He got along well with his half-brother, the second prince, and the queen treated him with equal affection as her own child, without discrimination.

“I was envious of you, Your Highness! Having a woman like Her Majesty the Queen as your mother.”

“Bertina…”

“It wasn’t just you, Your Highness! I was envious of all siblings who had parents that loved their children equally.”

Bertina could somewhat understand the psychology of humans who desire what they can never obtain, no matter how much they wish for it.

—After that, Riet left. Just before leaving, he said nothing, remaining silent.

“He’s finally gone…”

“What will you do now? Bertina.”

“Well, I feel incredibly tired. I want to know father and aunt’s objectives, but I’m not in the mood for that right now.”

“Then, like you said at the beginning, let’s leave this country.”