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 4

After Murina left the conference room, I remained stunned for a while.

Breaking off the engagement? I never imagined she would say something like that. I had considered her feelings and offered her the perfectly respectable position of Second Queen. Shouldn’t she be grateful under normal circumstances?

“Your Highness…”

One of the ministers spoke with a heavy tone. His voice clearly carried a critical edge. He stared at me with a stern expression, as if I had done something wrong.

“Regarding this matter, wasn’t it somewhat rash? The Rosewell ducal family is an ancient noble house, and Lady Murina has received perfect queenly education. To treat that lightly.”

“Shut up,” I cursed inwardly. Here we go again. Their outdated lectures. On this memorable day when I finally intended to make my relationship with Carla public, I didn’t want to hear such sermons.

I had already decided. I would make Carla my queen. I wouldn’t consider anything else.

“First of all, the woman Your Highness has chosen is of common birth. She has received no queenly education and possesses no political knowledge or diplomatic experience. There is no precedent for installing someone like this as the official queen.”

“Status doesn’t matter!”

I couldn’t stand them disparaging Carla. When I shot sharp glances at the ministers and nobles who opposed us, they looked back at me as if they weren’t in the wrong. But they were definitely the ones who were mistaken. Why did they look at me like that? It was infuriating.

“We love each other, and that should be enough. Before true love, status is trivial. Education and experience can be acquired later.”

I could see the ministers exchanging confused looks with each other. They didn’t understand. They simply couldn’t comprehend the beauty of my relationship with Carla. The power of pure, beautiful love.

“But Your Highness, royal marriages cannot be decided by personal feelings alone. International relations, the order of noble society, the people’s trust.”

“Enough! The discussion is over!”

I slammed my fist on the table. A dull thud echoed through the conference room. Finally, they fell silent.

Even if we talked, they probably wouldn’t understand. So, it was pointless. Nothing but a waste of time. I took Carla’s hand. Her hand trembled slightly. She must be frightened. Surrounded by these old-fashioned people, it was natural she’d feel anxious.

“Carla, let’s go. Staying here is just a waste of time.”

“Y-yes, Lord Cariotte.”

Carla nodded slightly. Her voice trembled, and she looked like she might burst into tears at any moment. What mattered now was to quickly ease her anxiety. Taking her hand, I led her out of the conference room.

“Your Highness, please wait!”

“Isn’t there room to reconsider this matter?”

“What do you intend to do about the Rosewell family?”

The panicked voices of the ministers calling from behind were no longer worth hearing. After all, they were merely nobles, while I am the crown prince.

They would only spout boring talk bound by old customs. My resolve wouldn’t change. Before love, such political considerations were trivial.

Walking through the finally quiet corridor, my irritation only grew.

Why couldn’t anyone understand my feelings? Why wouldn’t they bless my relationship with Carla? Even though I’m the crown prince, why was I met with so much opposition?

I couldn’t understand it. I simply couldn’t understand.

When I returned to my private chambers, several maids were waiting. They were probably preparing for room cleaning and serving as usual. But now, they were nothing but a nuisance.

“I’m spending today with Carla. So, everyone, get out of the room.”

“Eh? But Your Highness—”

When I gave the order, the maids looked at me with confused expressions.

“Don’t let anyone in today. I forbid anyone from approaching my room without my permission, no matter who they are. Ministers, chamberlains—it doesn’t matter. Understood?”

“Y-yes, Your Highness…”

The maids bowed hastily and quickly left the room. The door slammed shut with force, leaving only Carla and me inside.

Finally, the space alone with her that I desired. Since I had promised to marry her, there was no need to hide anymore.

Now, at last, we could speak honestly.

“I’m sorry for putting you through that, Carla.”

I apologized while holding her hands in mine. In my estimation, I thought things would proceed more smoothly. I never expected to face such resistance and opposition.

“It’s alright, Lord Cariotte. Those people simply cannot understand Your Highness’s determination and feelings.”

Carla’s gentle voice soothed my heart. Her brown eyes held pure affection. Indeed, she alone understood me. Having someone who understood close by—that alone should make me happy.

“Exactly. I was particularly shocked by Murina’s attitude.”

Sitting in a chair, I reflected on today’s events. That woman’s arrogant attitude. Speaking as if I had done something wrong. Such behavior toward me, the crown prince, would normally be unforgivable.

“Even though I made concessions for her, instead of being grateful, she talks about breaking off the engagement. How selfish. To defy the royal family, she has no sense of her place.”

“Truly. Even though Your Highness showed such consideration, she couldn’t understand it.”

Carla agreed with me. Indeed, I had been considerate enough. I had intended to give her the position of Second Queen.

“The position of Second Queen is sufficiently honorable, isn’t it? She would be treated as royalty and have authority. Her life in the palace would be guaranteed. Under normal circumstances, she should gladly accept it.”

“That’s right. I think it’s a great honor. It’s a position so high I can’t even imagine it myself.”

Carla’s brown eyes gazed at me. Her look was filled with pure affection, warming my heart. Why couldn’t the people around us understand this innocent love?

“They must be jealous,” Carla murmured softly. Her voice carried a slightly sad tone.

“Jealous?”

“Of Your Highness choosing me. Lady Murina must be a pitiful person who doesn’t know true love.”

I see, so that’s it. Indeed, Murina probably didn’t know love. She seemed like a woman who valued her position and authority above all. Having that taken away, she showed jealousy. That’s why she couldn’t accept becoming Second Queen.

What a petty woman. And seeing the true love between Carla and me, she must have been jealous of that too. Nothing but the spite of someone who doesn’t know love.

“She’s always been too proud. She thinks she’s perfect. Raised as a queen candidate, she mistakenly believes she’s special.”

“That’s right. It’s truly pitiful that she cannot understand Your Highness’s kindness and depth of love. Her heart must be cold.”

Carla’s words lightened my mood. Indeed, I wasn’t at fault. The people around me were wrong. My former fiancée Murina, the ministers, the nobles—they all simply lacked understanding.