“I understand fully that the princess would be thrilled about the marriage with Duke Vicander. However, if she doesn’t properly understand the intention of ‘oneyear reprieve,’ I worry as a father of a daughter that there may be a problem with her decorum later on.”

“…….”

“The issue of imperial succession is more important than anything else. Though it may be presumptuous to say in front of Duke Vicander, the princess has been the Crown Prince’s fiancée for eleven years. A full eleven years.”

The earl paused for a moment. Then he looked around at the nobles and spoke meaningfully.

“……If there was no affection in all that time, wouldn’t that be a problem too?”

Laughter came from somewhere. The ploy to insult, flaunting her feminine charms, had hit its mark.

The earl looked at Duke Madeleine and smirked.

Even if she’s an illegitimate daughter, she has elevated the family name. How can she sit so calmly like that? Earl Ethel couldn’t understand it.

But what if he couldn’t understand? Thanks to this, he could sweep away Duke Madeleine and the princess at once.

The duke’s eyes, glaring as if to stab me, grew sharper. It sent shivers down his spine, but every time the duke tried to step forward, the princess kept holding his arm.

She seemed to know that if she made the situation bigger now, more damage would be done to herself.

The atmosphere flowed as the earl wished. Drunk on the situation, the earl confidently tied up his speech.

“Therefore, please pay more attention to maintaining proper demeanor rather than preparing for the marriage if you understand the meaning of the ‘oneyear reprieve,’ princess.”

“…….”

“We shouldn’t have any back talk in this situation, should we?”

“Eleven years.”

The earl was startled before even turning around, by the soft voice.

“It’s been eleven years since I was engaged to the Crown Prince. Earl Ethel.”

The halfprincess, who could not even make eye contact a moment ago, was calmly staring at me now.

“I really didn’t know eleven years ago. That I would receive a ‘oneyear reprieve,’ break off my engagement with the Crown Prince, and be engaged to Duke Vicander.”

Olivia exhaled roughly, looking at the earl. Behind the earl, who looked at her as if he was confident, she saw Duke Madeleine.

Even though she saw the duke frowning, she did not feel bitter or heavy. She had never thought a good day would come, even though the duke did not side with her.

So Olivia deliberately bowed to the earl.

“……I will take to heart the worry of a father with a daughter. Thank you.”

The last greeting to the duke, who never treated her as a daughter, and at the same time, a taunt to the earl.

Around the time everyone felt the two meanings, Olivia looked up and smiled brightly.

“So. Please give the same advice to your daughter, Lady Ethel.”

“What, what?”

The earl’s face turned bright red, as if he had been struck.
I didn’t think my engagement that lasted for eleven years would be broken either. Shouldn’t Lady Etel, who merely holds the position of the Crown Prince’s partner, be even more careful with her conduct?

“Princess! Watch your words! Maria is already designated as the fiancée,”

“Count!”

The Emperor roared in anger. The Count quickly shut his mouth, and Olivia looked at the Count as if she were amused.

“Aha. In that case, you must tell us more, Count. We must stop the rumors about your lovely daughter when we don’t even know what will happen with the engagement.”

The atmosphere in the conference hall quickly turned chilly with those biting words.

Olivia politely bowed again towards the Emperor.

“I am thankful, Your Majesty, that you have already prepared for the position of the Crown Prince’s fiancée, which will become vacant. I can prepare for my marriage to Duke Vicander with a more comfortable heart.”

Her green eyes sparkled cleverly. They were not at all frivolous; they were cold.

The Emperor, reminded of the feeling he had a very long time ago when he saw the former Duchess Vicander, muttered lowly.

She was always meek and quiet, but she spoke quite boldly to the Count, even controlling the atmosphere of the conference hall.

There was one more reason why he could not let go of Madelleine’s eldest princess.

The Emperor gestured to the Chief Attendant. As the Chief Attendant approached, the Emperor ordered in a voice that only he could hear.

“Summon the Princess to my reception room.”

The Duke would likely do it willingly, but the Emperor had decided to set the water’s edge. To do so, he had to regain control over the Duke’s leash.

Tightly. Never to let go.

(This is a time separator.)

“Isn’t it a perfect day? Just like Olivia said, I got to attend the noble’s conference, and after receiving permission for the marriage, I can go down to Vicander’s territory.”

After the nobles’ conference had tumultuously ended, it was the Emperor’s garden.

“My lady even seized a perfect victory.”

In the garden bathed in warm sunlight, Edwin opened his mouth, observing Olivia’s complexion.