I Was Happy to Be Dumped by My Fiancé, But Something Seems Off - Episode 35

It feels like it’s been a long time since we’ve faced each other like this. Whenever we meet, one of us usually throws out sarcastic remarks, or Bianco unilaterally picks a fight while Bertina brushes him off casually. Staring intently at Bianco’s face, I vaguely understood why Agnes hadn’t become obsessed with him. My brother resembles our mother. Even if his coloring is like our father’s, if his aura and features are like our mother’s, then to Agnes, it didn’t matter.

“Father and Mother will be recuperating on the estate from now on. Frankly, there’s no clear prospect of recovery.”

In fact, it might be a form of happiness for them to live out their lives as invalids. Even if they regain their will, what awaits them is hell.

“Is there no way to cure them?”

“If there were, I would have said so already.”

“That can’t be…”

“Father and Mother have been under the long-term influence of Aunt’s charm, making treatment extremely difficult. Even if we continue administering sedatives, it’s questionable whether it would be meaningful. So, I thought it might be better to let them recuperate on the estate and leave the affairs of the ducal house to you, Brother.”

Bianco, who originally followed our father around and performed his duties as a young duke managing the estate, should be able to handle things smoothly even if Father is suddenly gone. Releasing Clarissa, Bianco, who had been lost in difficult thoughts, suddenly looked up.

“What about you, Bertina?”

“I…”

“What should I do?!”

Just as I was about to clearly state in front of the King and Queen that I had no intention of becoming the Crown Princess, Clarissa interrupted, asserting herself. Her eyes were still red from crying earlier, and her pupils remained moist. Looking around, Clarissa spoke again.

“What will become of the Moldio family?”

It was Riet who answered this question.

“The Duke used others in an attempted assassination of the High Priest, and the Duchess manipulated His Majesty to get her way. Since neither can escape severe punishment, the Moldio family will likely either be stripped of their title or, at best, demoted to Viscount.”

“That can’t be!”

Even when Clarissa looked pleadingly at the King and Queen, they shook their heads. It was Bianco who comforted Clarissa as she slumped down weakly.

“Don’t worry, Clarissa. Even if you have nowhere to go, I’ll take you in.”

“Brother Bianco!”

“Father and Mother will spend the rest of their lives on the estate. If Aunt is gone, I hope that, even if it takes time, they will eventually return to their senses. Clarissa, from now on, let’s support Bertina, who will become the Crown Princess.”

“Yes, Brother.”

“Brother, Clarissa.”

Just as the two were starting to cheer up, setting goals for the future, Bertina’s cold voice cut in.

“I have absolutely no intention whatsoever of becoming the Crown Princess.”

Bianco and Clarissa stared at Bertina in shock, as did the King. The Queen looked somewhat understanding, while Riet, unable to hide his shock at her reiterated words, gazed intently at Bertina with shadowed eyes.

“After being forced to watch your relationship with Clarissa so extensively, and even though it was based on lies, you declared the annulment of our engagement to His Highness. I don’t believe our relationship can be repaired now. So, I will simply leave the ducal house.”

Let some other young lady become the Crown Princess. Even if there’s a bit of an age difference, it’s not an unusual story.

“…I understand.”

Relieved that he seemed to finally accept it after a long silence, I was interrupted.

“Wait!” It was Clarissa who voiced the objection. The noble young lady who claimed to have saved Riet from drowning in the lake was Bertina, and even if Riet, who had always loved Bertina, cried out that it was unfair, it was too late now.

Another problem surfaced for Bertina herself. Should she tell him that his first love wasn’t her, but Argent cross-dressing to look just like her, or not?

The shock Riet, with his high pride, would feel upon learning his first love was of the same sex would likely be immense. Moreover, not only the King and Queen were present, but also Clarissa and Bianco. If it were only Riet, she might have told him the truth as a bitter choice.

Even if she denied it, Clarissa stubbornly refused to accept it. The fact that Riet himself believed it was Bertina played a big part. As Bertina agonized over how to resolve the situation, a hand landed on her shoulder.

It was Argent.

“Bertina, just go ahead and tell him.”

“Don’t say it so lightly. Besides, there are people here.”

“If he’s going to find out someday anyway, telling him now won’t change much.”

It would change. Depending on who was present, it would change a great deal.

Even stopping Argent was too late.

“Your Highness, I’m the one who saved you when you were drowning in the lake.”

“Huh?”

“I’d completely forgotten until you mentioned it. I do remember saving someone drowning in the water.”

“W-wait, are you saying that was me?”

“The blue-tipped blond hair and purple eyes—that’s because I asked Bertina to watch over you after I pulled you out. Probably, when you regained consciousness, the person you saw was Bertina leaning in to check on you.”

With Argent having spilled the beans, there was no turning back. Though utterly exasperated, Bertina explained the circumstances.

At the time, they were the same height and would sneak out, pretending to be twins to play. They happened to reach the lake thanks to Argent’s abilities, where Argent found Riet drowning and rescued him. To dry his wet body, he wiped him down with a towel, and since he left him in the sunlight with only his eyelids, nose, and mouth exposed to avoid sunburn, he hardly saw his face.

Argent had the impression of having pulled a drowning child from the water, so he didn’t feel like he’d “saved” anyone.

Bertina, since Argent was the one who did the saving and she was just watching, naturally didn’t feel like she’d saved anyone either.

Because neither had the sensation of having saved Riet, they hadn’t realized it until very recently.

The stunned gaze of Riet and the disappointed looks from the King and Queen were unbearable. This was exactly why she hadn’t wanted to say anything. If she had to tell him, she wanted it to be in a setting where no one else was present besides Riet.

“This is the truth. I am deeply sorry to Your Highness.”

“…”

He didn’t react at all, as if the shock was indeed too great.

Just as she decided it was better not to say anything more, a high-pitched voice accused her.

“That’s just too cruel, Sister Bertina! I know how much His Highness the Crown Prince cared for you!”

“Even if you know, I don’t. Aside from the lake incident, I’ve already settled matters with His Highness.”

“But—”

“Worry about yourself more than others. Brother said he’ll take you in, but the crimes of the Moldio Duke and Duchess will soon become known. When that happens, you won’t get off unscathed either.”

The crimes they committed were too severe; surely no family would want Clarissa as a bride. There might be proposals from nobles with significant ulterior motives, but she wouldn’t recommend it.

“Then, please let me marry Argent! Sister Bertina, since you’re leaving the ducal house, you don’t need Argent, right?!”

“Yes, I do. Even if I weren’t leaving, I wouldn’t hand Argent over.”

Besides, before that—

“Didn’t Argent say earlier that he’s a demon? Even so, you still say you like him?”

“I don’t really understand, but I like Argent.”

“Well, that’s true, but…?” She turned to Argent. He shrugged his shoulders, gave a wry smile, and said nothing. Completely fed up, Bertina turned from Clarissa’s intense gaze to Bianco, who was staring hard.

“What is it?”

“Y-you’re leaving the ducal house?”

“Yes.”

“If we’re family, it’s normal to help each other!”

“Family? Between whom and whom?”

“Huh?”

“Since there’s no other way to address you, I call you ‘Brother,’ but I don’t consider you my brother.”

“W-what? I am your brother!”

“Let me make this clear. Unlike Father and Mother, you were not under Aunt’s charm. So, all your attitudes toward me until now came from your true feelings. With your true heart, you always sneered at me as the failure, the unloved sister, so don’t act like a brother now.”

When she first heard the story, she thought Bianco’s harsh attitude might be due to the charm as well, but after hearing from Inanna, she realized it wasn’t. She concluded that all his actions until now stemmed from his own will. Learning that he was a truly pathetic brother who would cry and cling to their parents to scold her when he was blamed brought her immense despair and disgust.

At the same time, she felt relieved.

Looking at Bianco, his face pale as he repeated, “No… no… I’m your…” she felt neither pity nor schadenfreude.

“Hey, I think it’s about time for my request?”

A leisurely voice rang out the moment the door opened.