I Will Not Accept It — Since He Said He Would Demote Me to Second Queen for the Sake of His Own Love, I Will Break the Engagement - Episode 20

Staring out the window, filing my nails, playing with my hair—in this empty mansion, that was about all there was to do.

Another day with nothing happening.

Lately, Cariotte had been acting suspiciously, and he was spending less time with me. He was always leaving me behind with excuses like “I have an important meeting” or “I need to finalize the plans.”

Could he really reclaim the throne?

My anxiety only grew. To be honest, I thought his so-called “perfect plan” was dubious at best. Based on past experience, it was pointless to put much faith in Cariotte’s schemes. But if he didn’t succeed, nothing would change. I’d just be stuck with more boring days. I guess all I could do now was quietly hope for his success.

Just as I was thinking that, the door to my room suddenly burst open.

“Eek! Wh-what’s the meaning of this, all of a sudden?!”

With a loud crash, armed soldiers flooded into the room, and I shrieked, stumbling backward. My heart pounded violently, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

The soldiers swiftly took control of the room, pointing their swords at me. Seeing the cold glint of their blades, my legs froze.

“We are the Royal Army Special Investigation Unit. You are under arrest for treason against the royal family.”

One of the soldiers declared in a formal tone. His voice was cold and devoid of any compassion.

Treason? Me?

“I don’t know anything about that! I’m not involved!”

I vehemently denied it, waving my hands in protest, but the soldiers’ expressions didn’t change in the slightest.

This is all Cariotte’s fault! Really, I haven’t done anything!

“I’m a victim! I was just dragged into this! Please, believe me!”

Even as I pleaded tearfully, the soldiers only gave me cold stares.

“Why do I have to be arrested too? No! I don’t want this! Let me go! Eek?!”

I resisted desperately, but the soldiers mercilessly grabbed my arms. Their grip was like iron, and there was no escaping.

I never agreed to this!

I cursed inwardly. Cariotte, that fool! Why do I have to be arrested too? Why did he drag me into this?!

Because of that man, I’m going to be arrested too! I can’t stand it. I’m not even involved. I just want to save myself somehow. That was my only wish now.

“Please! I really don’t know anything! I was just used by Lord Cariotte!”

As a last resort, I desperately begged the soldiers. But still, their expressions remained as hard as stone.

“Resistance is futile. Come quietly.”

With those cold words, handcuffs were clamped onto my wrists. The chilly sensation made me realize the weight of reality.

Is my life going to end like this?

As I was forcibly taken away, I spotted a familiar figure outside the mansion. A man, also in handcuffs, being led away by soldiers in a pitiful state.

“Carla!”

“Lord Cariotte!”

Reunited with Cariotte, who had also been captured. But what welled up in my heart wasn’t relief, it was intense anger.

Because of this person… because of this man, I…

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this!”

Cariotte offered an apology, but it was too late for that now. He wore a pathetic expression, and even that was infuriating.

“I don’t need your apology! I don’t want to die! Do something about this!”

“I’m truly sorry. But I’m sure we’ll manage somehow. Don’t give up yet.”

Hearing his pitiful apology did nothing to ease my feelings. His naive words only fueled my irritation.

An apology won’t fix anything!

Manage somehow? How?! We’re beyond saving now!

I was wrong. Getting involved with a man like this was the biggest misfortune of my life. Meeting him wasn’t fate—it was just a calamity.

“I wish I’d never met you!”

My true feelings spilled out. All the emotions I’d suppressed until now came pouring out, one after another. I couldn’t stop.

“Wh…!? Carla, even you would say that to me?”

Cariotte seemed shocked, but it did nothing to clear my feelings. All my dissatisfaction and anxiety exploded at once.

And Cariotte didn’t stay silent either. Anger flashed across his face.

“You’ve had your freedom all this time, haven’t you?! After all the benefits you’ve enjoyed, you say that now, at the last moment?”

Now he was counterattacking. His words only made my anger burn hotter.

Benefits? What benefits?

“Of course! I was supposed to become the queen! You said you’d protect me, but it was all a lie, wasn’t it?!”

“A lie? I was trying to reclaim the throne for you.”

“The throne? You’re the one who lost it and now you want it back! Don’t pretend it’s for me, it’s for yourself!”

I retorted mercilessly.

“I was just deceived by you! I’m the real victim here!”

“Victim? You enjoyed a life of luxury with me, didn’t you?! The expensive jewels, the beautiful dresses—I gave you all of that!”

“That was my rightful due! You gave them to me of your own accord! I never asked for anything!”

“Rightful due…?”

I could hear the disbelief in Cariotte’s voice, but I pressed on.

“Besides, if you had handled your relationship with that woman, Murina, properly, none of this would have happened! It’s all your fault!”

“About Murina… if you hadn’t egged me on, I wouldn’t have.”

“Egged you on? If I hadn’t pushed you, you’d never have made up your mind! You were always so indecisive!”

“Pushed me? You told me you loved me! In return, I loved you sincerely!”

Cariotte’s voice grew rougher. I noticed the soldiers watching our ugly argument with scornful expressions. But I couldn’t stop.

“So what?! You just took it the way you wanted to! I only said I loved you!”

I shouted back. I was truly disgusted—with this situation, with this man, with everything.

“So, you were just using me too!”

Cariotte glared at me accusingly.

“Of course! I was desperate to survive! To climb up from being a merchant’s daughter!”

“Desperate? How were you desperate?! All you did was accept gifts, you never did anything!”

“I endured being with a man like you!”

“Endured? Being with me was an endurance?”

Cariotte’s voice held a wounded tone.

“You… you said you loved me.”

His voice trembled. How ridiculous that he still clung to that illusion.

“Love? Unconditional love? There’s no such thing! It was all calculation! I only went along with you because you promised to make me queen!”