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 6.3

“‘Me? Emperor Dian’s woman?'”

Emilia took a step forward. The man retreated further. She could see the panicked faces of the servants standing behind him.

“It makes me sick. If that’s what you claim. If that’s how it appears.”

The murkiness that had welled up from the depths of her chest—

Like flames—

Ignited in her eyes.

Emilia stomped the floor with a THUD.

“This wasn’t the agreement! This violates our contract! I was supposed to behead royalty and put their heads on display! I was supposed to burn this castle to the ground!”

The words wouldn’t stop. The murkiness kept bubbling forth. The Emperor had said he had no intention of keeping her as a woman. She couldn’t forgive him for breaking that promise. Along with that thought, Iris’s face flickered in the corner of her mind, and Emilia surrendered herself to the eruption of rage against this injustice.

“Y-You… Are you insane…!?”

“Oh yes! Those blessed by the spirits—this is our sanity!”

Shouting at the man whose face had turned pale, Emilia hurled her words like weapons.

“You seem utterly cowardly! How lightly do you view the blessed passions! What you should fear isn’t distance—it’s trampling upon the pride of Emily Kranket!”

“W-Wait! Stop————”

As he instinctively reached out with his left hand to grab her—

“That’s enough, Emily, or whatever your name is.”

Someone grabbed her from the side.

(When did she—!? M-My arm won’t move…!)

The slender hand gripping her wrist clamped down like a vise. She couldn’t pull back, couldn’t push forward—even her feet seemed nailed to the floor.

(It’s not a Skill…! Just instinct, but this isn’t even grip strength! It’s rage, or perhaps obsession! I’m————)

Looking up, she saw a young lady with clear skin quietly watching her.

(I’m scared of this woman…)

“We of the ‘Skill Garden’ are His Majesty the Emperor’s personal guard. We are neither consorts nor concubines, Prince Herrick. And as for you, Emily.”

Addressed directly, Emilia unconsciously swallowed hard.

“You understand, don’t you? If you claim to be one of us too. If you even hint at harming Lord Dian further in my presence… you know what will happen.”

Within those green-tinted eyes lay genuine anger. A calm, collected rage.

(This is the anger of a Skill bearer. Calm, yet sharp as a blade. If I resist, it will surely become a fight to the death.)

Like that envoy, Donixbarret, from before. Or like Emilia herself, who had just been consumed by murkiness. Bathed in such emotions, the core of her mind cooled. Even while burning with anger, it chilled with astonishing speed.

“You’re right, His Majesty never said that. I misspoke.”

Though she couldn’t move her body, Emilia obediently bowed her head. Her hand still hadn’t been released, but the pressure seemed to ease slightly.

“I’ll accept your apology. As for Crown Prince Herrick over there, do as you please.”

Told this by the young lady, Emilia raised her face and looked toward the man from earlier. The flashy red-haired man who had backed against the wall, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. What should I do with him—a dangerous twinge rose from the pit of her stomach?

“You damn Garrett! Even though you’re my fiancée, you fawn over Dian and do as you please! Mark my words! You and the ‘Skill Garden’ will both… someday…!”

Watching his back as he fled while screaming, Emilia bit her lip, overwhelmed by the murkiness.

“What a misfortune. Prince Herrick holds a grudge against His Majesty. He’s frustrated because His Majesty keeps bringing in women with Skills. The high female ratio is merely coincidental, though…”

Her left hand was released, and a transparent voice fell upon her. Somewhere between concerned and awkward. An emotionless yet heartfelt voice.

“Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Garrett Marl. My father is Marquis Ox.”

“I’m… Emily Kranket. Lady Garrett.”

Emilia politely bowed and gave her name in return. Relieved that her alias had slipped out naturally, she mentally patted her chest. Remembering she was undercover, she tightened her focus slightly.

“Just call me Garrett. The authority we should protect lies with Skills, not noble blood.”

Her expression had softened somewhat. For some reason, the gaze directed at her seemed to carry something like compassion.

(More than nobles. In some cases, more than even the Emperor, they value high-rank Skill bearers. That’s the Empire—not just a system, but deeply rooted values. Even royalty isn’t guaranteed to possess high-level Skills, so this country’s central authority was practically destined to decline.)

Skill ranks themselves were universal across nations: Stone, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and above those Platinum, then Diamond. Diamond-rank Skills hadn’t been officially recognized for a long time, but Iris’s “Talent” somehow held that status. Meanwhile, the “Sword” Skill residing in Emilia’s holy sword was equivalent to Platinum.

“When you weren’t in your room, I wondered where you were wandering about. I’ll explain about us, the ‘Skill Garden.’ Come along, Emily.”

After Garrett let out a slight sigh, Emilia pulled herself together. Garrett had already turned her back.

“By the way, you…”

She turned her head, showing her profile.

“You have someone you love, don’t you?”

Her lips moved slightly, emitting a sound devoid of emotion.

For some reason, Emilia’s heart—

Thumped.

Loudly.

(Is this jealousy? She’s jealous of me…? Why on earth—)

Seeing the much stronger emotion in Garrett’s green eyes than before, Emilia gasped. That feeling, undoubtedly directed at her, was like flames.

And Emilia—

Understood that tormented, tangled emotion.

All too well.

“…No. I simply can’t stand you arbitrarily deciding my feelings for me.”

She answered honestly. She had no one she loved. She had parted from Prince Sieg. Emilia was alone now. Even if that jealousy were directed at Iris.

There couldn’t possibly be—

Anyone she loved.

“Let’s respect that. As long as you don’t bare your fangs at Lord Dian.”

“Let’s show mutual respect. As long as Emperor Dian doesn’t trample my pride.”

Their emotions eased, and the tense atmosphere flowed away and vanished.

“Rest assured. His Majesty truly understands us, the guardians blessed by spirits. He’s deeply concerned about our future…”

(Our future? The future of Skill bearers? What does that mean?)

Leaving those words behind as she began walking, Garrett scattered a small mystery.

“Follow me, Emily.”

Walking behind her. Feeling the gaze of the maid following them.

(Skills…)

Emilia recalled her own disgraceful behavior from earlier.

Like the Skill users she had defeated until now—

That ugly appearance of wildly scattering emotions.

(Could it be that I’m also being consumed by the holy sword’s “Sword” Skill?)

A chill crawled from her chest to her back and shoulders.

With difficulty, Emilia swallowed hard.

At her own imagination.

She almost felt like screaming.