I took a shaky breath.
Okay, Liliane, focus. You are not here to faint, or scream, or collapse dramatically into Duke Tristan's chest like in those silly fanfics you wrote in middle school. You are here… to shine. To act. To—God help me—to outrun the doom that is about to catch up to me.
The Duke's low chuckle broke my concentration. That laugh. Ugh. It was soft, rich, and dangerous enough to make my knees wobble like jelly left out in the sun.
Then, with a slight tilt of his head, he spoke seriously. "If Lady claims she can make me happy… then who, I wonder, will make Lady happy? Your fiancé is right there, is he not? The Crown Prince himself." His dark gaze pinned me down, almost making me want to hide under the tablecloth. Honestly, it looked terrifying, but I... liked it. "So, how does Lady feel now?"
Boom. A straight-to-the-heart question.Goodbye, pulse. It was nice knowing you.
I forced a sweet smile, though inside my stomach was flipping like a pancake. "That doesn't hurt me, Duke. Because… I do not love the Crown Prince."
His brow lifted faintly.
"And," I added quickly, leaning slightly closer, lowering my voice as if sharing national secrets, "actually… this is a secret. But I'll tell only you. I intend to break off that engagement."
BOOM.
Secret bomb dropped.
My heart pounded like a marching band at a harvest festival.
Duke Tristan's expression froze for a moment. Then...
"Lady Liliane, what did you just say?"
Oh. My. God.
That voice. That annoying voice that I somehow recognized.
I turned slowly, stiffly, like a rusty door hinge. And there he stood—the Crown Prince himself, tall, his face startled.
And… oh, calamity! Behind him, walking gracefully like an angel fallen from the altar, Lady Genevieve. Her blue gown shimmered, rivaling the stars.Good heavens. Of all the ears to overhear my stupidity, why him?! And why did the Holy Lady have to appear right behind him, complete with a heavenly spotlight aura?Wait, I wasn't ready to announce this at this exact second.
Lady Genevieve looked at me, her lips slightly parted. "Lady Liliane…" her voice trembled, a mixture of pity and shock. As if she had just witnessed the most tragic royal drama of the century.
I instinctively shot a disgusted look at the Crown Prince.
It was pure reflex, I swear. Luckily, I quickly straightened my back and fluttered the fan in my hand.
"Ah," I smiled sweetly, pretending to be calm. "The music has started. The party is officially beginning."
"Liliane—" the Crown Prince tried to speak.
"Duke Tristan," I cut him off with a bright voice. "Would you do me the honor of dancing with the lady beside you?" I winked mischievously, then mouthed words at him, shielded from the Prince's view, "(I'm helping you. So, enjoy yourself.)"
He raised one eyebrow, looking amused but also full of suspicion as he stared at me. But he said nothing.
I turned back to the Crown Prince with the most innocent-version-of-Liliane face. "Just let them be. Don't you rather want to talk to me?"
The Crown Prince looked confused. And that was perfect. Because confusion meant time. And time meant I could think.
So what did I do?
Head straight for the buffet table, of course.
The table was paradise. Tarts, pies, tiny sandwiches, and glittering fruit arrangements. I stuffed a tart into my mouth, then proceeded to talk and talk and talk. Completely unnecessary topics, too. I rambled about the chandelier's crystal pattern, about why strawberry jam was clearly superior to raspberry, even about the time I sprained my ankle because of heels while being chased by a dog.
Nobles passing by stared at me as if I had grown a second head.
The Crown Prince tried to interrupt. "Lady Liliane, are you seriously—"
"Yes, yes," I cut in mid-chew, "but have you ever considered how bread tastes better when toasted on only one side? Fascinating, isn't it?"
Inside, though, I was thinking furiously. If I announce it now, this party will erupt. All eyes will turn. And Duke Tristan won't be able to dance with Lady Genevieve in peace. No! I had to wait for the perfect timing.
So, I waited.
One whole song, the couples twirling under the candlelight. I watched Duke Tristan and Lady Genevieve dance, and my God, they looked like a fairytale illustration. But strangely, the Duke occasionally glanced in my direction with an unreadable expression.
Then, when the music stopped, I knew it was time.
I looked at the Crown Prince and gave him a big smile.
I raised my glass, stood tall, and announced loudly, "I, Liliane von Hohenberg, hereby declare my wish to annul my engagement to the Crown Prince!"
BOOM. Social explosion.
Gasps echoed throughout the hall. Someone dropped a tray of champagne; a woman even fainted into her husband's arms.
The Crown Prince's face flushed red as a boiled shrimp. He took quick strides toward me, his eyes full of fire. "Liliane, what did you say!"
I spun dramatically, my gown swirling perfectly. "The fact is, I don't love you. Simple as that."
His hand grabbed my wrist, his grip harsh. "You will take back your words now!"
"Ow! Ow! My fragile wrist! You're hurting me!" I winced, launching my Oscar-worthy performance, plastering on the most pitiful face in the world.
The nobles gasped in horror. Panic whispers spread.
And suddenly...
"Release my sister, Your Highness."
That heavy voice made my blood stop flowing. Maxmillian. My eldest brother.
I froze. Wait, what?! He's my stiff brother? The one usually stiffer than the garden statue? He's the first one to defend me? Well, it's true that even in the novel, Brother Max loved me very much. But I didn't think he would defend me this quickly.
"This is between us!" My sparkling eyes immediately dimmed upon hearing the Crown Prince. Good heavens, what else is he doing? He's cheating but doesn't want to let me go?
Whatever, at least another hero arrived. With a cold, bone-chilling voice."I humbly request, Your Highness. Release my sister's wrist before your own hand is injured for acting beyond reason."
I turned. Dominic. My second brother. His gaze was dark, so cold that I nearly trembled. Good heavens, my gentle-looking brother can actually be this terrifying. Dominic, I'm with you... (love)
Even though my two brothers had set up a war like this, the Crown Prince still wouldn't back down.
Is it over? No!
My biggest handler hadn't appeared yet. And just a few seconds later, my perpetually young father slowly stepped forward.Take that, Crown Prince! Fight my father!
"Your Royal Highness, stop. What are you doing to my daughter?"
The air tensed. Everyone was silent.
The Crown Prince restrained himself, then finally released my hand with a rough motion.
I almost sighed in relief—until a heavy, majestic voice rang through the hall.
"Enough."
The Emperor.
He stood, his gold robe shimmering. His gaze swept across the entire hall. "Crown Prince, control yourself. And Lady Liliane, it seems we need to talk right now."Good heavens, why did it have to be this dramatic? Honestly, I'm not strong enough to face the Emperor right now. From the corner of my eye, I saw Duke Tristan still standing in his original spot, his face unreadable.
"Your Majesty, I apologize. Could this matter be resolved just with me? There is something I wish to convey, for now..." My father paused briefly, looking at me who was shocked by my own doing. "My daughter is not in a good condition."
Whispers erupted excitedly. The nobles collectively bowed. The Crown Prince restrained his fury, biting his lip.
I lowered my gaze, suppressing the fear within me. But beneath all this chaos, one thing was certain—I had no regrets.
Everything will be fine... right?