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 3.5

The next morning.

The “unease” wouldn’t go away. Emilia had been struggling with this feeling for about two months now. Ever since she had left Sieg, it had only grown stronger. If she could be of help to Iris, perhaps it would ease a bit. But in reality, there was little she could do to help.

Amidst all this, Emilia had heard that “there are things Iris cannot do” and had begun to gaze a little at her own future. However, the more she focused on her desire to be of help to Iris, the more the “unease” grew. Even after enjoying delicious meals with Iris, indulging in the mansion spirit’s aromatic massage, sleeping soundly until the next morning, and taking a stroll around the mansion, her heart remained clouded.

The morning sunlight was weak, bringing a slight chill. The air felt a bit transparent, and within it, a distant sound mixed in.

No.

“Voices…? I thought the people from the barony wouldn’t return until noon.”

Emilia strained her ears. Indeed, she could hear voices. But there were only three people in the mansion at the moment. Zlight was supposed to be in the workshop, so if anyone else was there, it would only be Iris.

As she thought that far.

(Could it be, pursuers—!?)

The image of Sieg flashed in her mind, and she immediately shook her head. Emilia hurried towards the direction of the voices. As she got closer, the sounds became clearer. It seemed that two or three men were talking. And very faintly, there was a sound that resembled horse hooves.

As she rounded the empty stable, the entrance of the mansion came into view.

There, she saw.

(Is that, surely the prince’s…!)

A familiar man’s face appeared. Along with him were two men who seemed to be armed attendants.

And in front of them.

Iris.

“Count Dot, Donixbarret Dodgeball here. My lady, I would like to request Baron Fran’s presence.”

The men who had dismounted from their horses were speaking to Iris. The one who introduced himself as Donixbarret was someone Emilia knew.

(So, it is Donixbarret… After his parents passed away, he was saved from being stripped of his title by Prince Sieg and became a count. He was one of those who stayed close to the prince at the academy.)

He was around the same age, and he was one of Prince Sieg’s entourage. Due to certain circumstances, he had inherited the title of count and idolized Sieg. He held Emilia in high regard, considering her “worthy of being Sieg’s partner.” However, he had some intense “quirks” that made him unpopular with those around him. While he was favored by Sieg, Emilia found him difficult to deal with.

(Why is he calling out Baron Fran… Lord Zlight by name? What could be his purpose…?)

Sieg’s loyal follower was seeking the father of Iris, whom he had been trying to kill. Emilia grasped the situation and approached Iris cautiously but quickly.

“Ah, Lady Emilia.”

“What brings you here, Donixbarret?”

Called out by Iris, Emilia interjected while glaring at the count. The attendants were taken aback and readied themselves, but Donixbarret elegantly swept back his hair and restrained them.

“Ah, so you are here too, Lady Emilia. Prince Sieg has been quite saddened, you know?”

After a deep bow, Donixbarret spoke. He seemed to be aware of the engagement cancellation uproar, but rather than reproaching Emilia, he wore a genuinely concerned expression. For a moment, Emilia’s thoughts leaned towards Sieg, but she quickly pulled her focus back to the situation at hand.

“You have no right to speak to me about this. What do you want with Baron Fran?”

“Indeed, you have no right to meddle in matters that do not concern you. But do not be so wary. I have not received orders to bring you back.”

(Donixbarret is a loyal subordinate of the prince. He absolutely will not do anything that hasn’t been ordered. He will fulfill whatever he is told, no matter what. That much I can trust, but I feel nothing but anxiety.)

As Emilia glared at him, Donixbarret met her gaze directly. It was a look that seemed reproachful, yet somehow contained compassion and sympathy.

“Breaking a promise… Those who break a significant promise like an engagement must bear their own punishment and atone for their sins. It would be best for you to return to Prince Sieg on your own feet.”

His tone was exceedingly gentle. It seemed he genuinely wished for Sieg and Emilia to reconcile.

But that only served to irritate Emilia further.

“The one who broke the engagement was him.”

“Did you do anything to maintain the engagement?”

When she shot back with strong words, an even stronger gaze returned to her. In that instant.

Donixbarret’s mouth, his cheeks.

Twisted as if his jaw had dislocated.

“What a promise means! It is something to be fulfilled through mutual agreement and effort! How hard has Prince Sieg worked to welcome you, a ‘talentless’ person! How much has he suppressed the opposition around him! What does it matter that the engagement has been broken!? Did you not even try to overturn that!”

Words poured out rapidly from his wide-open mouth.

A sharp pain pierced her chest.

(I too wanted to be united with him…! But it was impossible!)

Emilia clenched the brooch at her chest.

The “Tears of the Dragonbird,” symbolizing the beginning of love and betrayal.

“You, who know nothing of my efforts, speak so arrogantly! He trampled on that! While I was here, he tried to reach out to Iris…!”

“What!?”

Donixbarret glared at Iris. He stared intently at the brooch on her chest. Then he turned his head sharply back to Emilia.

His eyes were bloodshot.

“You mean to say you had no resolve whatsoever! For one who is a king, it is only natural to have concubines and mistresses! To waver at such a thing… Your attitude is an insult to Prince Sieg!”

“Wha…!?”

Emilia gasped in shock, her voice cut off and she could not continue her rebuttal.

Indeed, the previous king had had concubines. Emilia’s family apparently did not, but she had heard that many high nobles had mistresses. In the noble society she lived in, it was a common culture for one man to be loved by multiple women. She should have understood that.

(But I… I absolutely cannot!)

Yet, she could not forgive it.

Out of the corner of her eye, Emilia glanced at Iris’s brooch. A token of love that Sieg had given her. Or perhaps, evidence that there was no love at all.

Emilia was a reincarnator. She had memories of being born and raised in Japan on Earth. And she had loved a game that resembled this world, an “otome game.” The game’s Prince Sieg had been portrayed with a wonderful facade and a well-expressed inner conflict… he was incredibly charming.

Thus, she had somewhere considered Sieg’s exclusivity to be natural. Based on her own values, and because this was a game. It was unthinkable for her prince to take concubines or mistresses.

She had not shed the values of her previous life or the game-like perspective.

She had let go of something important herself.

She could no longer believe in his love.

She had set up a wrongful accusation against him.

She had brought him low.

(Was I wrong?)

Sieg had committed an injustice—yet in this country, it was not a crime. He had been unfaithful but surely everyone would say that was natural for royalty. She thought she understood that, but Emilia could not forgive it… the feeling of being unable to forgive was something everyone recognized.

Somewhere, she had thought too lightly of it.

With her misguided thoughts, she had done something irreparable. That fact pierced deeply into her heart.

“If you have something to say, it should be Prince Sieg himself who says it. I have no obligation to listen to your words.”

As her voice trembled and her gaze wandered, Emilia managed to squeeze out an excuse.

“That’s right! Prince Sieg’s words take precedence over everything! I must fulfill the important mission given to me by the prince! Lady… Iris Crocus. Is the introduction not yet ready?”

With the focus shifted away from herself, Emilia let out a sigh of relief. Or perhaps, she had let her guard down.

“This is getting tedious. Donix, please wait a moment.”

Iris interjected with a single word and reached for the entrance door.

To her back.

“Wait. What did you just say?”

Donixbarret’s cold voice pierced through.