Odette’s eyes widened instantly at Louis’s words.

“How did you know?”

Only Elliman knew she had intended to propose to Louis.

After her first encounter with Walter, she had thoroughly investigated her surroundings, but she could only confirm that no information had leaked.

So how did both Walter and now Louis know?

Did her face reveal she was going to propose today?

As Odette tilted her head in puzzlement, Louis finally allowed himself a slow smile.

A smile that seemed relieved, or perhaps awkward.

“Your Highness said you had something to tell me. And since you had that encounter with Duke Ertman… it wasn’t difficult to guess.”

“Ah, I see.”

Odette nodded without doubt at Louis’s explanation.

Upon hearing it, the surprise seemed less warranted.

‘Walter may have known somehow…’

Anyway, since he knew, there was no point in hiding it anymore.

“I’m glad you knew. The reason I wanted to meet was to tell you that, as you know, I am to marry Duke Ertman.”

As Odette spoke, suggesting it was no longer a concern, Louis’s gaze scanned her intently.

He was gauging whether she was lying.

‘She probably really doesn’t know.’

He had felt something was off when she claimed not to have received any letters.

That’s why he had deliberately mentioned not only that she intended to propose, but also that he knew this fact, and yet she reacted like this.

If Odette had anything to conceal or fake, she wouldn’t have been so shocked.

Rather, she would have tried to act naturally.

Especially for Odette, who had led a secluded life and rarely interacted with people, it would have been difficult to conceal her intentions.

‘Even the Odette I saw in my dreams was like this.’

It wasn’t that Odette was foolish or careless.

She simply had a trusting nature, was inherently kind-hearted, and unlike other deceitful nobles, she preferred honesty.

If Odette had the same memories as Louis, she wouldn’t have been able to hide her intentions so poorly in a situation where Louis was giving away so much.

The conclusion was one.

‘Walter Ertman is the culprit.’

Louis recalled what Odette had said when they first met at Belfort Academy.

I was waiting at the meeting place when Duke Ertman interfered.

But nothing really happened. It got a bit annoying afterward…

Duke Ertman and I really have no relationship.

When he hypothesized that Odette might share the same memories, he thought those words could be lies.

But now that the possibility was removed, the meaning of Odette’s words became clear.

‘Duke Ertman is interfering between Odette and me.’

Finally, it all made sense.

Why Walter had abruptly talked to Louis about the ‘curse’ at Xavier’s banquet.

It was all a plot by Walter to drive a wedge between Louis and Odette.

‘The letters must have been intercepted by Duke Ertman, too.’

The fact that Odette didn’t even suspect about the letters meant that they had been dealt with before she could notice.

Likely by bribing a maid or servant.

And as a result, Odette, losing Louis as an option, chose to marry Walter.

Unaware that the man she was marrying had manipulated everything around her!

Louis clenched his fist and asked.

“……Do you really intend to marry Walter Ertman?”

“Yes. The marriage announcement has been made, so there’s no turning back now.”
If the announcement of the wedding hadn’t been made, the situation would have been better.

But once the marriage was declared by the Emperor, it couldn’t be cancelled for trivial reasons.

Even if there was internal family opposition, the faltering engagement would persist.

“Damn!”

I should have acted sooner.

The regret of not acting promptly due to hesitation was unbearable.

The grip of my clenched hand tightened, nails digging painfully into my palm.

“I know this is the time to step back.”

Though clouded by emotion, Louis was not blind to the situation.

But a boiling anger was overturning his gut.

If this ‘nightmare’ he saw was real, and therefore Odette used a relic to regret her engagement with him.

And then, she chose Balter with this new opportunity, he wouldn’t have been so angry.

Who could he blame for a ruined chance?

He would have accepted Odette’s decision with a wounded heart.

But,

“This isn’t it.”

This wasn’t Odette’s decision; it was a situation created by Balter.

And he deceived her to make it happen!

“If it weren’t for that man, the situation could have been very different.”

Odette could have proposed to him as planned, and perhaps, this time, they could have found a happy ending.

But Louis couldn’t stand that Balter, who never even appeared in the ‘nightmare,’ has kicked away the second chance given to him.

Even more, it wasn’t a fair choice by Odette; he had been deceiving her all this time!

“This must be disclosed.”

For Odette’s sake, he couldn’t let her be deceived any longer.

And he had to persuade her to break up with Balter.

Once that was arranged, he could find a way to separate them.

“Or even if we don’t break up.”

If only Odette could look at me again…!