Breaking Off the Engagement with the Demon King - Chapter 10

To intimidate a man making advances on one’s fiancée—

Depending on the degree, such an act isn’t only acceptable—it is, in fact, the expected behavior of a proper fiancé. It protects not only personal honor but also the dignity of one’s house.

And the House of Rudel, famed throughout the kingdom for its martial prowess, had a name to uphold.
If Shou had stood by and let another man flirt with his betrothed, it wouldn’t just be his pride that suffered—it would tarnish the reputation of the entire Rudel line.

In fact, everyone present knew the unspoken truth:
The House of Rudel, with its unmatched military might, held a status in the Kingdom of Randall second only to the royal family—or, some whispered, possibly greater.

Strey Bohring, a duke’s son, held noble rank that in theory stood just beneath royalty.
But within the actual political hierarchy of Randall, the Rudel frontier house eclipsed even that.
To Shou, Strey wasn’t an equal. He was beneath him.

So when a lesser noble dared to encroach upon the prince’s intended, Shou’s reaction wasn’t just natural—it was inevitable.

Still, a faction of the gallery—those who wished for Shou and Kiara’s engagement to end—rallied to Strey’s defense.

“Grabbing someone by the collar and threatening them… it’s hardly becoming of a noble.”

“Is he truly suited to be the princess’s fiancé?”

“His conduct reflects on the royal family itself. This borders on disgraceful.”

“Perhaps he overreacted. And what if this supposed ‘love rival’ wasn’t even serious?”

One after another, murmurs rose from the Strey-supporting nobles.
They deliberately ignored the more embarrassing parts of the story, like the unfortunate accident, and focused solely on condemning Shou’s actions.

Though the air grew somewhat awkward, the momentum had clearly shifted.

Sensing the tide turning in his favor, Strey decided it was time to act.

“That’s not all. I was pushed down a staircase by Lord Shou Rudel himself!”

The room stirred at once.

“Now that you mention it, I do remember hearing something like that…”

“I saw him afterward, injured. So he really was pushed?”

“Could it be? He looked shaken…”

“Wonder if he wet himself that time, too.”

“I heard the rumor as well. Shou Rudel pushed someone down the stairs.”

“So it was true all along…”

Apparently, the tale of Strey falling down the stairs was already circulating, even among neutral guests.
While the collar-grabbing incident had its defenders, the staircase story triggered a growing wave of criticism against Shou.

“Indeed. That too is something I cannot forgive.”

With a crisp snap, Kiara pointed her fan directly at Shou.
But Shou, for his part, remained unbothered.

“‘Pushed,’ huh? That string bean fell down the stairs on his own.”

Wearing a bemused expression, Shou pointed a finger directly at Strey.

The entire room went still.

“…What?”

“Since that whole collar incident, Lord Bohring has avoided running into Shou at every turn,” Soa explained coolly.
“That day, as soon as they crossed paths in the hall, he shrieked, turned tail, and tripped over himself near the stairwell. That’s how I remember it.”

Silence.

“…So he just self-destructed?”

That thought ran through nearly everyone’s minds.

But of course, not all were convinced.

“Even now, he lies to cover his crimes.”

“Blaming the duke’s son—how shameless.”

Some refused to accept Soa’s explanation at face value.

But then…

A man stepped forward.

A man who would shift the momentum once again.