TCBUP 37

Chapter 37

 The Formal Family Meeting

The Count and his wife exchanged glances.

They seemed surprised that I wasn’t being as compliant as expected, but it also looked like they had no intention of backing down quietly.

“A marriage proposal has come in.”

“I refuse.”

“You won’t even ask who it is?”

“It’s obvious.”

If it’s anything like what the Count had rambled on about before, it’s not going to be a normal match.

I replied indifferently and lifted my glass of juice.

“It’s a very good match. More than you deserve.”

“Oh, I’m sure.”

Just the fact that someone proposed to me is probably what makes it a ‘good match’ in their eyes.

I took a sip of juice, unimpressed.

“It’s for the position of crown princess.”

Pfft.

I was so shocked I spat out my juice before I could help it.

The Count, now covered in juice, chose silence for a moment before slowly opening his eyes.

“Dear, can we really send a child like this to the Imperial Palace?”

As I sat there, my mouth opening and closing like a fish, unable to say anything, the Count kept grumbling.

Things like, “Do you know how much we spent on etiquette lessons for you to turn out like this?” or “If we marry her off like this, we might be punished for insulting the royal family.”

“Wh-Which prince is it?”

“Prince Aiden.”

“…Ha.”

Do they not know what’s going on in the palace right now?

This is the same Count who once claimed that keeping up with social issues was crucial for staying relevant and subscribed to every newspaper in the Empire.

And now he wants to toss me into that fire?

I stared at him in disbelief, and the Count tried to cover it up with a forced cough.

“No.”

“This is an imperial decree. Do you think, as a subject of the Empire, you can simply refuse?”

“If a useless girl like me enters the Imperial Palace, it would only bring shame to the royal family. For the good of the Empire, you should respectfully decline.”

“Easier said than done. No, more than that—when did you start talking back to me like this? Why are you being so arrogant?”

“Since I was kicked out of the Count’s house and disowned.”

“….”

The Count fell silent, glaring at me menacingly.

I didn’t back down, and in response, the Count awkwardly forced an affable smile.

The Countess had gently tugged at his sleeve.

She must’ve thought that being too forceful would just make me resist even more.

“I understand you’re surprised, Sienna. But becoming a crown princess is an incredibly honorable thing.”

The Countess tried to coax me gently.

“Think about it. After being rejected by Duke Ortiz, wasn’t your pride deeply hurt?”

“That’s right.”

“If you become a crown princess, even Duke Ortiz will have to bow his head to you. Isn’t that alone worth this marriage?”

“Of course.”

Ugh. My head hurts.

They clearly have no intention of backing off.

With the current head of the Imperial family absent for various reasons, the real power in the palace is the Empress.

Do they not realize what it means that the Empress herself picked me as the crown princess for Prince Aiden?

It’s obvious—they want to pair Prince Aiden, who lacks political support, with a noblewoman from a powerless house like mine for easier control.

“Prince Aiden may not be in good health, but there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Exactly. He’s royalty—he’ll get the best food, the best care, and all the rest he needs to recover.”

“You’ll carry the honor of being a crown princess, and Martin will have a guaranteed path to success as your brother. Isn’t this a blessing for the family?”

It’s clear now—they won’t back off easily.

They’re trying to coax me into accepting this with gentle persuasion after suppressing all their anger.

“Sienna, even if you don’t want this, it’s not something that can just be called off. As nobles of the Empire, we are duty-bound to obey the will of the royal family.”

“Your mother’s right. If we refuse, who knows what consequences we might face?”

“Even if something happens to us, would you want your brother to suffer too?”

“As a member of the Hagrives family, if Martin goes down, you won’t be spared either.”

If you’re going to threaten me, at least offer a better reward for my sacrifice.

I’m the one getting married. I’m the one doing just fine without the Hagrives family.

Why should I sacrifice myself for a family that never even treated me like one?

It only makes me more rebellious.

“Sienna. The door’s open. You’re not even pretending to listen, are you?”

“Leon?”

In the middle of this deadlock, that nagging voice was the most welcome sound I’d heard all day.

I instinctively broke into a beaming smile and jumped up.

“Huh? A guest?”

“Welcome, darling. You came at the perfect time.”

“What?”

I quickly ran over to Leon and grabbed his arm.

He looked at me, asking with his eyes what the hell I was doing, but I just gave him a playful wink and dragged him over to my parents.

“Father, Mother, I understand what you’re saying. But there’s one little problem.”

“What problem? No, more importantly—who is this guy?”

The Count’s glare was fixed on my arm, still linked with Leon’s.

“He’s my boyfriend.”

“Wh-What?!”

The Count jumped up so violently that his chair almost flipped over.

His face instantly turned beet red—just the way I remembered it from the past.

And right beside him was my mother, clutching her handkerchief with trembling hands, her face pale.

They weren’t the only ones shocked.

Leon looked between me and my parents, trying desperately to make sense of the situation that only he didn’t understand.

“I knew it. I knew you’d end up fooling around with some nobody! I told you we shouldn’t have let her out!”

Even though it was the Count himself who had thrown me out, he now blamed his wife.

But as always, the Countess couldn’t bring herself to argue or even defend herself.

Same old people. Still blaming others. Still unable to stand up for themselves.

“I have no intention of breaking up with him.”

“Hoo…”

The Count took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

“Fine. I get it.”

…What? Why is he suddenly giving in?

But that confusion didn’t last long. His next words left me completely dumbfounded.

“Just get married first. Then you can meet him again.”

“Dear!”

“What’s the big deal? Even women can have lovers.”

“What did you just say? Please don’t say such disrespectful things in front of my man.”

“What man? You’ve just lost your mind from living alone for too long. Everyone makes dumb mistakes when they’re young.”

“It’s not a mistake. I’m going to marry him.”

If it had come to this, I might as well go all in.

If I didn’t, they’d never give up this golden opportunity to marry into the royal family.

“We’re going to live together! Like a real married couple!”

….

A crushing silence fell over the entire room.

Maybe I’d gone too far.

My parents were speechless, but Leon looked even more stunned—he stood frozen like one of those grand statues outside a museum.

“Ugh.”

The Count suddenly clutched his neck and staggered.

The Countess gasped and reached out to support him.

For a second, I was genuinely worried he might collapse.

“Father?”

“W-What did you say again?”

Ah. Guess he’s fine.

Relieved, I continued in the same nonchalant tone.

“No nobleman would want to marry a woman who dated a commoner and lived with him. If I do meet someone else, I’ll tell them everything.”

“You little—! Ugh!”

“Sienna! Are you really going to drive your father to the grave?!”

At that moment, Leon, who had been standing still like a statue, finally moved.

“Sir, Madam. Please, let’s all calm down—”

“Who the hell are you calling ‘Sir’?! You think I raised my daughter like a princess just to hand her over to someone like you?!”

“Ah, right. I completely understand your anger. After all, I did steal away such a lovely daughter—you have every right to be furious.”

“Wh-What did you just say?”

“For now, why don’t we head home? Once everyone has calmed down, we can have a proper conversation.”

“Say what?!”

Leon stepped in front of me and stood face-to-face with the Count.

Tall, broad-shouldered, and with eyes like a beast gleaming in the dark—his presence was overwhelming.

The Count instinctively backed away.