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 2.5

“Your Highness!?”

“My deepest apologies!”

“Th-those people used an automobile!”

As the boys groveled on the ground, Sieg looked down on them with detached indifference. Raising his gaze, he could indeed see something resembling a vehicle in the distance down the street. He had rushed here after receiving word that Emilia had been spotted along the southern avenue, but it seemed he was one step too late.

“…Right, I mustn’t panic. That Iris who rejected my invitation. Judging by her sudden, hypocritical appearance, she must be the one who deceived Emilia. Yes. There’s no way Emilia would employ such underhanded tricks.”

Ignoring the boys, Sieg muttered to himself.

“That’s right, she wasn’t bullying anyone! My Emilia! My noble partner! That you, who works so beautifully hard, would betray me…!”

He took a deep breath, suppressing the smoldering, itching sensation deep in his chest.

“Everything is that arrogant talent’s doing…”

Sieg had been keeping an eye on Iris’s skills for some time. If his elder brother, the First Prince, were to acquire her, it would be problematic. With that thought, Sieg had aimed to make her his woman and take her as his concubine. But it seemed Iris had gotten close to Emilia, making it impossible to push through at the crucial moment. Just when Sieg was growing impatient… news arrived that Emilia was bullying Iris, complete with evidence.

He couldn’t believe it. That brilliant Emilia would stoop to such things. He had thought he would bear any shady matters himself and elevate her. Yes, that’s what he had believed.

He felt betrayed.

“To think I let that wench deceive me and ended up condemning my beloved Emilia. A lifelong blunder…!”

Though Sieg was aware of his own easily provoked and imprudent nature, he still couldn’t contain himself and went through with the engagement cancellation drama.

Of course, that was all a farce. What problem could there be if the woman destined to be Queen bullied some mere baron’s daughter? It was merely an act to make Emilia reflect a little and behave, while breaking Iris and forcing her submission. After that, all that remained was to confirm their love with the wonderful Emilia and smoothly resolve the situation together. But somehow, Emilia resisted fiercely, he let his guard down and exposed an opening to Iris.

Sieg reflected. He had been too hasty in trying to punish Iris, who was called the “Maiden of Ten Thousand Talents” and had gotten carried away, brushing him off. Like hunting small animals, he needed to release the hounds, drive the horses, use tools, and corner her surely.

“Summon that woman’s father… Baron Fran! Make the arrangements! Send the messengers quickly!”

Swinging his arm, he commanded the boys. They scrambled to their feet and straightened their postures.

“Understood!” “Your Highness, what will you do…?”

“If it’s a car, the Empire must be involved. Perhaps that wench is a spy.”

Bringing a prohibited export vehicle into the Kingdom and using it to escape. While Emilia could have procured it, Sieg was more wary of that enigmatic woman, Iris. Perhaps her goal from the beginning had been to kidnap Emilia. Infiltrating the academy, toying with Sieg, getting close to Emilia—dealing a blow to the future Kingdom. Confident he had seen through the woman called Iris, Sieg puffed out his chest.

“If they’re fleeing to that country, we can pursue them as much as we want. I’ll circle around from the main gate and retrieve them—go! On your feet!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

Watching the “boys (hounds)” run off as if tumbling, Sieg turned his horse’s head.

“The horse surpasses all. Worthy of my legs.”

Since childhood, Sieg had lived with various people expecting him to have “the talent to become King.” But he never understood what that meant.

However, one day when he learned horseback riding, the moment he mounted the horse—he understood. This “height” was the vessel of a King. Neither his father nor his brother could ride horses. Yes, only Sieg… he became convinced that he alone was the King.

“And Emilia.”

Spurring his beloved horse, Sieg raced through the town.

“A beautiful goddess not arrogant about her talents. You are the one I will make shine… I will definitely take you back. Iris, I’ll make you kneel.”

A King is one who stands high. Using all those below to elevate himself. And lifting up the worthy—that was his mission. Holding that belief in his heart, Sieg began his pursuit.

★　★　★

Without any checkpoints or pursuers, the spirit car carrying Emilia and Iris left the royal capital from the outskirts of the slums.

“This is amazing! Did you really make this all by yourself, Iris?”

The car ran smoothly across the pathless grassland without even a shake. Growing bored with the scenery outside the window, Emilia spoke almost in a whisper. Turning to the right, she saw Iris snap her book shut. She seemed to have been studying, having pulled out a table.

“From carving out the parts and such, well, mostly. I had some help procuring materials from that person earlier.”

“Who was that person?”

“That old man is a former vehicle engineer from the Empire. Apparently, due to various circumstances, he fled to the Kingdom.”

(Suspicious beyond belief. More importantly, I have no idea when Iris, who’s always buried in studies, even built this car. Does that mean she frequently slipped out of the academy to go to that place on the outskirts of the capital?)

As Emilia stared intently at Iris.

“You’re wondering when I made this thing, right?” she said with a grin.

“Mm. Yes.”

She smiled smugly.

“You know about the blessing I received, right? Lady Emilia.”

“Well. And?”

“Not just studying, but running, jumping, swinging weapons… or simply walking, standing, sitting, even breathing. Sleeping too… it’s all within this skill’s scope.”

“Could it be you’re getting sufficient sleep in a short time and going out at night?”

Looking at Iris’s smug face, Emilia sighed in exasperation. The blessing of “Talent” that “grows infinitely with effort” was truly like cheating.

“You’re something else, Iris.”

“Not ‘Talent-something else,’ but me?”

“What are you talking about? How much effort did you put in to develop that highly efficient sleep?”

Saying it smoothly, Emilia leaned back deeply into her seat. Feeling an odd gaze, she continued as if making an excuse.

“Talent doesn’t create anything. You built this car. And the fact we’re shaking off pursuers now is thanks to Iris’s choices.”

Facing her blinking companion, Emilia shrugged her shoulders.

She was met with only a gentle smile.

Emilia, embarrassed, averted her face.