Chapter 189
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 189
“...!”
“...!”
“...!”
A massive stir broke out among the nobles.
To think she had been embroiled in scandals with so many men while engaged to the Crown Prince!
Furthermore, there was no way the Emperor would have brought witnesses all the way from the distant Academy to a formal event like this just for mere ‘rumors.’
In other words, at the very least...
It was implied she had shared a bed with those numerous young lords.
‘An engagement to the Crown Prince is on a completely different level than a typical noble engagement.’
‘One or two might be overlooked, but to sleep with that many men?’
‘This is practically an insult to the Imperial Family...’
Sophia collapsed to the floor.
Who had informed the Emperor of her relationship with those men? Who had denounced her?
No, the Emperor must have had people tailing her from the start!
Trembling violently, Sophia called out that name for the first time in her life without a hint of loathing.
“Fer... Ferdi...”
It was only for a fleeting moment. Sophia had a dream. Ferdinand, who had been standing tall before her the entire time, turned to look at her. The dream continued.
In it, Ferdinand—her loyal and beautiful fiancé—would pretend not to know anything and embrace her with a broad heart. He would save her just as he had before, and as a devoted fiancé, he would forgive her...
That kind of...
Dream.
But Ferdinand’s cold eyes only lingered on Sophia for a brief second.
“Did I ever grant the Young Lady permission to use my name?”
Sophia shuddered as a bone-chilling cold washed over her. This was even after Aubrey had slapped her across the face so hard she bled.
* * *
‘Yikes.’
What a mess. How could the banquet the Empress worked so hard to prepare end in such a shambles?
It was a grand event attended by the most powerful figures in the Empire. Empress Carmi must have poured her heart and soul into it, even if she hadn't wanted to.
Thanks to that, the decorations were unique, and the food and wine were of the rarest quality.
However...
Now, no one would remember Empress Carmi’s hard work.
‘That banquet will only be remembered as the site of the gossip of the century.’
The moment the annulment of Sophia and the Crown Prince’s engagement was brought up, the banquet spiraled into a total catastrophe.
The Emperor turned away with a face full of rage, and the Crown Prince and Grandfather were no different.
With the guests fleeing the palace one after another, what choice did the male leads have?
‘I also returned straight to the mansion with Dad.’
I heard a rumor that Carmi had even invited a famous foreign orchestra to impress the Emperor, but in the end, the only ones who heard them play were the palace servants.
‘To be honest, Sophia was destined to die a gruesome death if it weren't for me. I wonder if she’ll ever realize that.’
The annulment of Sophia and Ferdinand’s engagement truly set high society ablaze.
Because I was the owner of a bustling shop called White Tulip Salon, and because Sophia was a lady of House Frezier, the rumors reached me faster and more accurately than anyone else.
“Lady Tulia.”
It was then that Adel entered my study. She closed the door carefully and asked quietly, “What should we do with Young Lord Tedric’s seal?”
“Ah. I plan to return it later. Just leave it here.”
I held Tedric’s seal up against the sunlight.
It was so peaceful.
Everyone must be feeling this peace.
Even Tedric, who was currently being worked to the bone in the borderlands.
‘Sigh. That guy needs to suffer a bit to get his head on straight.’
This was all an arrangement for that scoundrel Tedric. I sipped my tea, lost in thought.
‘He probably doesn't even know his seal is missing.’
Nor did he know that the seal had been used to denounce Sophia’s early infidelity to the Emperor.
‘Well, thanks to that, I prevented the Baron’s entire family from being wiped out, so he should be grateful to me.’
Who was Tulia?
Was she not the true blood of the Grand Ducal House of Frezier?
Even if Sophia’s reputation was shredded, I had at least stopped a branch family from being destroyed for insulting the Imperial Family.
This, too, was a departure from the original route of The Milk Bread.
In the game, Sophia’s filthy deeds were exposed on a much larger scale, dealing a massive blow to the entire Frezier family...
I carefully resealed Tedric’s seal and rested my chin on the back of my hand.
‘Ferdinand is truly impressive.’
He had no interest in Sophia. Despite that, he always did his best because she was his fiancée.
That’s why he never strayed.
Meanwhile, Sophia...
Was cheating on him with dozens of men...
When Ferdinand requested the Annulment Decree from the Emperor this time, he gave only one reason.
He claimed it was due to his own change of heart.
In truth, it wasn't a good reason. Now that Ferdinand’s curse was broken, his value would skyrocket.
Just as people criticize a poor scholar who abandons the wife who supported him after he passes the civil service exam, Ferdinand’s actions had plenty of room to be viewed unfavorably by others.
Since Sophia was an adoptee from a vassal family, if she had clung to that fact, she could have dealt a significant blow to Ferdinand’s reputation.
‘And yet, he insisted it was just his change of heart.’
It was strange.
Didn't he have other grounds for annulment?
The words Sophia had spat out without hesitation.
‘Cripple, monster, disgusting.’
If he had used those incidents as an excuse, he could have easily received the Annulment Decree.
It didn't seem like Ferdinand kept quiet about those things for the sake of Sophia’s honor.
Rather...
‘It felt more like he just didn't want to drag the Frezier name through the mud.’
This wasn't a judgment I made based on hearsay.
‘I had attached Kim Ddong-byul to Grandfather.’
I wasn't qualified to attend the emergency council meeting of the nobility, but I was just too curious to help myself!
Thanks to Kim Ddong-byul, I was able to watch the council meeting vividly from start to finish.
That’s how I was able to observe Ferdinand continuously.
And that’s why...
I had that thought.
It was a guess without evidence, but regardless. Regardless.
“Now that those two have broken off the engagement.”
I lifted my chin and looked at the calendar hanging on the wall. Actually, the calendar didn't mean much.
‘When is Corico going to show up?’
That was the real dilemma.
I scratched my head idly. My pink hair tangled together as sweetly as shimmering sugar dyed with flower petals.
‘Even though I played The Milk Bread like a madwoman...’
Even though it was a game where Corico was the heroine...
The intro always started like this:
—On a special day, a beautiful girl appeared.
The game began when Corico entered the Grand Ducal House of Frezier as a prospective daughter-in-law on some "special day"!
The problem was that now that I had become Tulia, I had no idea when that day was!
‘Shouldn't she be appearing soon? Huh? Normally, Ferdinand is supposed to grow after Corico arrives, right?’
Surely she hasn't appeared somewhere already?
A chill ran down my spine.
“Right.”
Corico’s true male lead is Lisian anyway, isn't it?
If so, she could have appeared before Lisian, who is currently at the Academy!
I jumped up from my seat.
Why didn't I think of this? Just as I was thinking I should send a letter to the Academy immediately to check—
Knock, knock.
Adel entered after a polite knock. She was even accompanied by Luc.
It was rare for those siblings to come together...
‘What is it?’
“Adel? Luc? What’s going on?”
“Lady Tulia. Well...”
Adel and Luc looked at each other. After a brief exchange of glances, Adel gave a light nod and stepped forward.
“My Lady.”
Adel looked at my questioning face and spoke in her usual calm tone.
“Several minor pieces of news have arrived in succession. Which would you like to hear first?”
“Minor news? What is it? Is it good news or bad news?”
“It is good news for you, My Lady...”
Adel wore a slightly troubled expression.
“But it is news that His Grace the Grand Duke and the Marquis will likely not be very fond of.”
“...What on earth is it?”
Did someone propose to me or something?
“Well, you see.”
The words that followed were anything but minor.