Chapter 5

“Catrin Elemoer, as Your Highness would remember from your academy days.”

In front of the government building’s garden, Caron—dressed in a gardener’s uniform—shivered slightly as if from the cold and spoke.

“She’s one of the greatest troublemakers in the Empire.”

“…”

Etias’ eyebrows stiffened.

His cool blue eyes, under a cold gaze, carried a hint of annoyance, as though something troublesome had just come to mind.

Caron continued.

“Even among the Emperor’s noble faction, people avoid her and whisper behind closed doors.”

Her vile personality was famous across the country. It might have even crossed the Empire’s borders by now.

“Despite that, she’s incredibly beautiful, so men who don’t know any better sometimes approach her or ask her to dance… but the results are always disastrous.”

Caron glanced around and then leaned closer to Etias’ ear, whispering.

“For example, five years ago, the prince of the Kingdom of Liet asked her to dance without knowing any better and ended up getting his wig pulled off. It was a huge embarrassment. The Duke of Elemoer managed to smooth it over, but it almost became a diplomatic issue.”

That Liet prince had been arrogant enough not to greet Etias properly. He sneered, saying there was no need to bow to a puppet prince.

“I can’t begin to imagine how great Philios Regalo’s ambition must be to have tamed Lady Elemoer.”

Catrin, who had been rejected by Etias, had chosen Philios as a substitute.

If Catrin Elemoer was the academy’s top female villain, then Philios was notorious in a different way.

He had a reputation for womanizing—teachers, students, even the principal weren’t off-limits.

“Well, I suppose that’s why he panders to Catrin just to stay by her side.”

Etias briefly recalled Catrin, arms linked with that man, confidently smiling. It wasn’t a pleasant sight.

Caron kept speaking.

“Anyway, the fact that highly classified revolutionary information might be in Lady Elemoer’s hands is not a good situation for us.”

It hadn’t been long since they learned through a defector’s confession that such documents had been passed to the now-deceased Duke of Elemoer and were likely in Catrin Elemoer’s possession.

These were top-secret documents that held the lives of revolutionaries in the balance.

A bomb that could bring down the imminent revolution in an instant.

“Well, if we’re to find some hope in this, it’s that the atmosphere at the Elemoer estate has changed since the duke and duchess’s funeral. Word is that they’ve suddenly started a charity project. And the lady hasn’t left the house since.”

At those words, Etias’ blue eyes rippled with intensity.

“Even that Elemoer girl must have been shocked by her parents’ deaths.”

Catrin Elemoer, once flaunting power behind the Duke’s back as the Emperor’s closest aide, now holed up in her home…

“Once we confirm more of her movements,”

From between Etias’ slightly parted lips, a chilling voice emerged.

“If she seems like a threat—we eliminate her.”

At those words, Caron’s fingers twitched slightly.

A cold wind blew, rustling Etias’ black hair.

Philios looked like he had just been hit in the head with a hammer. His lips trembled as he asked me,

“Catrin, what… what are you saying right now? Are you… okay?”

“Yes. Catrin Elemoer is more okay than she’s ever been since the day she was born.”

At my calm voice, his eyes darted around, full of panic.

“Is it because of those women just now? Ah, why are you suddenly acting like this? Were you really that kind of woman?”

Philios pressed his fingers to his brow and looked at me, clearly unable to understand.

It seemed he had chosen to poke at my pride instead of trying to soothe me.

The ill-tempered Catrin hated being ignored or looked down upon as if she didn’t know something.

So even when Philios—

“In most relationships, women don’t care about their lovers being with other women. Only clingy, insecure women do that.”

—even when he spouted such ridiculous nonsense like it was the truth, I used to act like I agreed, pretending to be cool about it.

Even though, deep down, I had clearly felt bitter.

But I’m not that Catrin anymore.

“No. It’s just that you’re…”

I looked at Philios’s perfectly groomed face and opened my mouth.

“Ugly.”

“…?”

Philios’s pupils trembled violently again.

Then his shaking voice leaked out through his lips.

“…W-what did you say?”

Without the slightest flinch, I continued.

“Exactly what I said. I can’t stand ugly people.”

Then I stood up from my seat.

What was the point in pointing out every fault to a man full of nonsense and stubbornness, who wouldn’t understand anyway?

“Catrin!”

Philios jumped to his feet in shock and called my name.

“Then farewell, ugly man.”

I gave him a slight nod and swiftly turned around, pushing open the door to his office and walking out.

Ahh, that felt good.

Now that I’ve officially told him in person that the engagement is off, all that’s left is to send the documents and wrap up the details.

If Heros says something about it, I’ll just brush it off.

Philios Regalo had been the one exception in Catrin Elemoer’s string of reckless behavior, but even the breakup with him wouldn’t be all that surprising.

And he really is ugly… at least compared to our Etias.

To think the man I dated after getting dumped by Etias turned out to be that kind of trash.

And I was hoping Etias would regret it?

That’s practically blasphemy. I owe Etias an apology—ten times, no, a hundred times over.

I walked boldly out of the building and kept moving forward, but a strong hand grabbed my wrist from behind.

Philios had roughly pulled me back, panting heavily.

His face had gone pale.

“You… you’re saying I’m ugly?”

I nodded calmly.

“Yes.”

Philios let out a frantic voice.

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m considered good-looking! M-my mother always said there was no man more handsome than me! And… and you want to break off our engagement just because you don’t like how I look? You think that’s even possible?”

Oh right, this guy was a mama’s boy too. Always bringing up his mother whenever he had the chance.

“According to imperial law, an engagement can be broken off without the other party’s consent if it’s for physical health reasons.”

“…?!”

I placed a hand on my forehead and spoke.

“Recently, I’ve developed an allergy to ugly men. When one touches me, I get dizzy, short of breath, nauseous… I feel like I’m going to vomit. Ugh.”

I even covered my mouth with my hand at the end for effect. His face gradually turned red.

He looked like he was about to explode.

This level of insult should be enough to keep him from bothering me again, right?

Ugly bastard.

Just as I was about to turn away from him again—

“You damn woman!”

I saw his hand suddenly rise.

What the—he has a violent streak too?

I hadn’t expected this from a weakling who couldn’t even kill a bug and always whined to the servants to handle it.

If he hits me, that would be a definite cause for breaking off the engagement, right? I thought, stepping backward.

At that moment, someone’s hand appeared and harshly stopped his raised hand.

“…”

I had instinctively closed my eyes. Slowly, I opened them.

And there, standing in front of me, was a man with broad shoulders in a uniform, black hair that didn’t lose its luster even under the bright light.

A cool scent tickled the tip of my nose.

Then, slowly turning to look at me—icy blue eyes, a sharp nose, and a beautifully sculpted jawline.

Etias.

“…!”

My heart dropped.