I Will Break Off the Engagement Because I'm Jealous - The Untalented Villainess Who Rejected the Prince Searches for a Safe Haven with the Cheat Heroine - Chapter 2.2

The dialogue with the king continued.

“I feel bad turning the question back on you, Emilia, but how do you think he sees us?”

Meeting the king’s gentle gaze, Emilia’s eyes wandered. Beyond them, she recalled the words spoken during their previous encounter.

‘I will become king one day. A king like my father, who cherishes my wonderful queen mother. I cannot lose to my elder brother.’

After telling Emilia—who had been disparaged as ‘talentless’ and was feeling dejected—that “I myself have no talent to boast of either,” Sieg had said that.

‘Of course, you will be my queen. You are the only one worthy… my goddess.’

He had said it. And yet.

(And yet that person… never loved me at all…)

Her mouth was parched and dry. Emilia somehow managed to squeeze out her voice.

“His Highness Sieg once said that you are a good king and queen…”

“Woreenz declared, ‘You’re not a king and queen—you’re just a dad and mom!'”

Aed spat out the words. She seemed pleased, but her mouth was twisted in a sarcastic smirk. Emilia herself felt that the crown prince was indeed likely to say such a thing. And there was a vast gap between him and Sieg.

“If only I could have reduced the number of nobles fawning over Sieg a bit more. They increased a little too much by my father’s generation. This country has grown too large.”

The king’s voice held a faint tinge of bitterness. Startled, Emilia turned her eyes to the queen. Beneath her stern expression, there seemed to be unconcealable regret.

(He is loved. Even though His Highness Sieg has been judged unfit to be king, these two still see him as their child. Then, why…?)

Emilia had also heard that upon his accession, King Aed had taken advantage of the chaos in the succession dispute to purge many tyrannical nobles. But it seemed that among the remaining nobles, those of poor character… had co-opted Sieg. Was that why he had become warped? Had he been swallowed up by foolish people rather than brilliant ones? Had he drifted toward the lowly?

Deep in Emilia’s chest, for some reason, a “cloud of confusion” swelled greatly.

“Th-that’s not true.”

Her words of denial drew everyone’s attention. Aed, Camerina, and even Iris.

They waited.

For Emilia to weave her next words.

“You two have fulfilled your duties as parents. That is surely something His Highness Woreenz has proven. If that is the case…”

Emilia had not spent enough time with the duke and duchess to speak of parent-child relationships. But memories from a distant past life compelled her to express her thoughts.

“Then it is only that His Highness Sieg has not fulfilled his duties as a child. That I could not assist in that. I am truly sorry.”

That a child of good parents becomes a good child was nothing but an illusion. Perhaps if she had stayed by Sieg’s side, things might have been different.

But that was not how it turned out.

“If anything, you are too good a child, Emilia.”

“Her Highness the Queen, raised me that way.”

Praised as if with a sigh, Emilia replied bashfully. She couldn’t bring herself to look directly at the queen’s smiling face.

(That’s right. Even children have their own positions and responsibilities. Their Majesties recognize that in His Highness Sieg and in me as well. And yet, His Highness did not live up to their expectations. No, in the end, I too failed to meet expectations.)

Remembering that she was resigning as a queen candidate and betraying their trust, Emilia hung her head.

She couldn’t face them.

“Even though you raised me, I am truly sorry.”

“As I said earlier, you woke up well. If you had supported Sieg and that child had gained power… this country would surely have fallen into chaos. Besides, with such a mischievous boy, his wife would have suffered. Find yourself a better partner, Emilia.”

“Your Highness…”

Still bowing her head, Emilia covered her mouth with her hand.

She felt sobs and tears threatening to spill forth.

It was unbearable.

“So then. You’re heading to the duchy. No, for both of you to go together, does that mean you’re leaving for the empire?”

Aed cut in, changing the subject. Realizing her destination had been discovered, Emilia’s tears receded in surprise, and she looked at Iris. Iris was also looking at her and gave a slight shake of her head.

“We know the empire is targeting the ‘Maiden of Ten Thousand Talents.’ It would be good for you to study. It’s unclear how that country will evaluate ‘talentlessness’ but be careful, Emilia.”

There was a certain tenderness in the king’s words. Feeling as if she were being sent off, Emilia grew uncomfortable. It felt like being scolded for a prank.

“Is it really all right? For Iris to go to the empire… for the kingdom’s sake…”

“Talent is useless to a country.”

Aed stated firmly. Dismissively.

“A country isn’t built by talent. Even if people are incompetent, it’s built by people coming together. Unless the incompetent can gather and live together, it cannot be called a country.”

Emilia was stunned. But she also understood. If they valued talent, there was no way Emilia, ‘talentless’ as she was, would have been chosen as a queen candidate. If they knew about Iris, they would never let her go.

The middle-aged king flashed a broad grin.

He had a grandeur.

Like vast, expansive land.

“If you ever feel like spending the rest of your lives in idle pleasure, come back anytime.”

“We’ll live long and wait for you. Both of you.”

“Y-yes! Your Majesty! Your Highness!”

The king turned on his heel with a laugh. The queen followed. The audience seemed to be over. In the distance, she thought she could hear voices calling for the king and queen.

“Thank you so much…!”

Flustered, Emilia performed a lady’s curtsy and watched their retreating backs.

(Truly! I can’t believe they’re the same species. How can a country be run like this? Why do so many people follow them?)

She understood. But the king’s words were far removed from what she had been taught.

Above all.

(Why was His Highness Sieg, raised by such people… allowed to become like that? Even though he was loved. Why?)

The prince, whom she thought she had discarded.

(What should I have done?)

She only grew more confused.