The Marquess’s face flushed crimson after his sore spot was harshly scratched.
“Since you’re of royal blood, I was going to be generous and take you as my second wife. If you don’t want to rot in a convent, you’d better not play hard to get.”
“It seems like it’s not me who’s playing hard to get, but your hair.”
Whether he was angry that things weren’t going his way, he ended up yelling.
“You’re just a war orphan who was sold off! I gave you a chance that no one else would, and instead of being grateful, you act all high and mighty!”
I am a Princess, you know?
I took a deep breath and shouted with all my might.
“How dare you! To a true royal with blood ties to the Severus Imperial Family and the Medea Royal Family, among others, you are being utterly disrespectful!”
The Marquess was startled and stepped back at my thunderous tiger roar.
There’s a reason why blood ties are at the top of the list of connections.
“I will report the act of mocking and insulting me, a royal and the wife of a war hero, to my allied monarchs without fail.”
The Marquess, seeing my fierce gaze, cowered but maintained his pride until the end.
“You act as if you have something to rely on…”
“If you believe in yourself, various paths open up. At least, you won’t be cornered.”
I tensed my stomach again and shouted loudly.
“Daddy-!”
The Marquess looked flustered, probably never expecting this kind of path.
“What are you doing…”
“Now all the fathers with daughters will come running. I’ll have to call Mother soon too.”
Because Moms are the final boss.
The effect was certain.
People of my parents’ age were running from afar.
Major Rodriguez, having recognized my voice, was also running over.
Why is Count Queensguard running over breathlessly too?
“Lady Cynthia, what’s wrong?”
“Who! Who did this!”
More and more people were gathering.
I staggered with a sad face and placed my hand on my forehead.
Major Rodriguez urgently supported me.
I sniffled, looking at Count Queensguard, who had rushed over with a serious face.
“Daddy… that man told me to become his fifth concubine.”
At this, people who were someone’s parents expressed their anger.
“How shameless!”
“No, a second wife! A second wife! And when did she suddenly become so meek?”
The flustered Marquess tried to correct them, but either way. I performed a tearful act with all my heart.
“Whether it’s a second wife or whatever, he spouted unpleasant and dirty words. Daddy, my heart hurts so much that I can’t live!”
“That crazy bastard…”
The Count, utterly enraged, fiercely wrinkled his brow.
He wouldn’t stand by and watch me, who still has a lot of value, being coveted as a concubine.
Count Queensguard began to unleash his specialty, personal attacks.
“It’s disgusting enough to flirt with a woman young enough to be his daughter, but to dare to take a royal as a concubine? The hair on your head must have grown on your conscience.”
“Count Queensguard, how dare you speak so rashly to me, a Marquess?”
“Is a Marquess in name only, who has never even been to the frontier, trying to stand up to a true frontier Count from a military family?”
Fight a madman with madness.
This was a time-honored tactic.
While Count Queensguard was arguing with the Marquess, the ladies who had been volunteering and interacting with me came over and took my hands.
“Princess, are you alright? That man is truly the worst.”
“He’s the type who mistakenly believes that if he puts down someone better than him, he can have them.”
They were Clarence and Elsa, the first members of the International United Foundation and those who continued to believe in me even when various incidents occurred.
I feel a bit overwhelmed. I’ve finally got friends who will always say I’m right!
At that moment, Duke Rukanosa, who had arrived unnoticed, approached the Marquess with a stern face.
“As a relative, I cannot stand idly by. I will express my regrets to the Severus Imperial Family.”
Even though he doesn’t get along with Helene, is it right for him to take my side? It seems like they’re going to break up soon.
Then, suddenly feeling a chill, I turned my head and saw Masera standing with a cold face. In the meantime, the Duke had been pushed far away.
The Marquess, who was furious from Count Queensguard’s attacks, discovered Masera and raised his voice.
“Brigadier General Vicente, you’ve come at the right time! The land you received as the price of the marriage has become useless, so surely the deal is off, isn’t it?”
Whether Masera’s silence was taken as agreement, he swaggered closer.
“I said a word to her for shamelessly acting like she wouldn’t be divorced, and she kept talking back. Having such a disobedient woman as a wife would only be a headache…”
Click.
Without another word, Masera pointed the gun at the Marquess’s forehead.
The Marquess, seeing Masera’s fierce eyes, stiffened and shut his mouth.
“I asked for the marriage in exchange for Nox first. Even if there’s nothing in Nox, it’s the result of my choice.”
Masera looked around, as if wanting everyone to hear.
“Since I swore to devote my life to loyalty, there will be no divorce from my wife.”
At his declaration, I tightly gripped the handkerchief I had been using to wipe away fake tears. I really wanted to cry now.
The Marquess shrank back, making a sound like a mosquito.
“How dare a military dog point a gun at a nobleman of the Lumantis Empire… how do you intend to handle the consequences…”
“Everyone is equal before a gun. Even the noble royals of the defeated empire died by my hand.”
The Marquess, realizing once again that his opponent was a war hero, rolled his eyes and was startled by the sound of the safety being released.
“Besides, it seems like there’s already enough reason to pull the trigger. You publicly insulted my wife.”
“…I was wrong. I apologize for my rudeness.”
I raised my fist at him, who was reluctantly apologizing, as a threat.
“Don’t ever appear before me again. This is your last warning.”
Elsa, with a very angry face, raised her voice.
“Calling the Brigadier General a military dog, when you’re the type to hide when a war breaks out. You live comfortably as a nobleman thanks to your ancestors who suffered in the war, so why do you keep dividing people by class?”
At this, those who had soldiers as spouses chimed in.
“In the old days, they were treated as nobles because they risked their lives to protect the people, but what do they do now besides loafing around?”
“These days, nobles think all they have to do is elegantly drink tea at parties.”
Everyone seemed quite angry at the Marquess’s words.
“Princess, they say that spouses are companions who trust and stay together for life. So, you don’t have to worry too much.”
Clarence, the wife of a non-commissioned officer, held my hand tightly.
I smiled, holding her hand in return.
* * *
Due to the great commotion, Helene also saw the scene.
Contrary to her certainty that Cynthia would be alone, many people were reaching out to her.
Even her own family.
“…”
Everyone was paying attention to her because of the discovery of the Diem gold mine, but she felt empty inside.
“I’ve come to believe in Princess Cynthia even though there’s nothing in Nox. She supported those who lost their homes and helped them relocate.”
“It’s said that the Duchess not only pushed forward with development work that the Diem residents opposed but also forcibly evicted them.”
“Most of the Diem residents are skilled technicians in architecture and carpentry, so Nox will develop in other ways even if it doesn’t have oil. The Hert family, a renowned construction family, is also moving to Nox, isn’t it?”
Everyone who interacted with Cynthia took her side.
On the other hand, those who criticized Cynthia were like light leaves, and they would immediately turn and curse her if the situation changed.
‘What’s so different about me?’
It was then.
“Duchess, a reply has just arrived from the Medea Royal Family.”
The aide approached and handed her a letter with a seal.
The discovery of the Diem gold mine, the declaration of lies about Nox, and now the confirmed investment. It was perfect timing.
“…!”
Helene’s eyes widened in shock as she hurriedly opened and read the letter.
The letter fell weakly to the floor from her pale, trembling fingertips.
「Investment impossible due to the following reasons:
– Exploration results indicate insufficient mining resources and a high-risk area for natural disasters」
