The End of First Love - Chapter 42

With his wedding to Maria scheduled for tomorrow, a formal evening ball hosted by the royal family is being held tonight at the royal castle. Attendance is mandatory for all prominent nobles when it’s a royal-hosted event. William couldn’t help but laugh when he thought about tonight’s ball.

With rumors tarnishing his former fiancée Elizabeth now widespread even among commoners, William’s popularity was soaring. He was hailed as the heroic second prince who saved a kind-hearted baron’s daughter from a vile villainess and found true love. A popular play mirroring this tale even helped cement his engagement to Maria in the public’s eyes.

(Now, my popularity is rivaling even the Crown Prince’s. If public favor continues to rise, dethroning my brother and becoming the next king myself is no longer just a dream.)

The only concern on William’s mind was the movements of Heinz, Duke of Schwein. Rumors claimed he had gotten engaged to Elizabeth—but why? There was likely more to it than Elizabeth herself; perhaps it was a calculated move to tie himself to the powerful Duke of Baker’s house.

(Well, it’s a minor worry. There’s no way they’ll ever be allowed to marry. His Majesty would never permit a union between two ducal families.)

William made his way to Maria, who was preparing in a room hastily set up in the section of the palace meant for lower-ranking nobles. Shockingly, not a single guard stood outside.

What would they do if something happened to the future queen?! Worse yet, despite her status as tonight’s main attraction, Maria had been given a room as far as possible from the royal quarters, in the area meant for lesser nobles.

Once the wedding is over, the security chief for tonight is getting fired!

Suppressing his bubbling anger, William knocked on the door of the waiting room.

“Oh, how adorable Maria is—like a fairy blossom,” he murmured.

“Oh, Prince William! You came!”

Dressed in a soft yellow gown that billowed elegantly, Maria truly did resemble a delicate flower fairy. Her dress featured a daringly low neckline.

Just the thought of fully enjoying that voluptuous body after tomorrow’s ceremony was enough to make his earlier irritation vanish.

Walking swiftly toward Maria, William embraced her tightly, indulging in the softness of her body for a moment.

“Oh, how lovely you are. You look even more radiant today.”

“Thank you, Your Highness. I’m so happy. Tomorrow’s our wedding day—it still feels like a dream.”

Her sweet words brought a smile to William’s face.

So different from that wretched woman. So modest, so refined. That haughty Elizabeth could learn a thing or two from Maria.

“I’m lucky to be marrying someone I love like you, Maria.”

“Your Highness, it is time. Please make your way to the ballroom,” a steward interrupted awkwardly.

Their moment was cut short. Reluctantly releasing Maria, William escorted her toward the ballroom.

“Congratulations, Your Highness…”

As William and Maria dealt with a steady stream of noble greetings, he began to feel an unsettling sense of confusion.

(Why… why haven’t any of the neutral nobles come to greet us…?)

So far, only nobles from William’s own faction—the Second Prince’s camp—had approached them. It made sense that the Crown Prince’s supporters wouldn’t, but the absence of even the neutral lords was suspicious.

I’m the main figure tonight!

His unease turned into anger. Even the sight of neutral nobles happily chatting nearby irritated him.

Just as William was about to confront them, a commotion near the entrance caught his attention.

What’s going on?

The murmuring grew louder and closer until the crowd parted, revealing none other than Heinz von Schwein—with his arm wrapped around Elizabeth.

Elizabeth wore a vivid crimson gown.

It was the very image of a villainess from the theatrical plays—an outfit that should have sparked scorn. Yet William found himself unable to look away.

With a bewitching smile, Elizabeth mesmerized the room. She wasn’t just present—she commanded the ballroom. Not William, nor his stunned fiancée Maria, but Elizabeth—the woman cast off and condemned—had taken center stage.

(Who is this Elizabeth…?)

Her red dress bloomed with black roses. A necklace adorned with black diamonds glittered at her chest—Heinz’s colors.

William couldn’t tear his eyes away. Then came the surge of unplaceable rage.

Why isn’t she wearing my colors? Yellow or sky blue—those were the only shades she should be allowed to wear!

Fueled by fury, William stepped toward them—but Heinz moved in front of Elizabeth, shielding her, and William couldn’t get any closer.

The murmurs of watching nobles stung William’s ears like needles.

“You! Why are you here?! You weren’t invited!”

“That’s odd,” Heinz said coolly. “Tonight’s ball is hosted by His Majesty. You don’t have the authority to decide who attends, Prince William.”

“Fine, I’ll give you that. But Elizabeth shouldn’t be allowed here! The Duke of Baker’s attendance alone should’ve been sufficient. She’s a disgrace—accused of insulting a lesser noble and had her engagement to me annulled. How dare she show her face here on this joyful day?!”

Gasps rippled through the hall. Whispers of “So the rumors were true” rang in William’s ears, and his lips curled into a grin.

“Elizabeth! I can’t believe how shameless you are. I was too lenient… I kept your crimes quiet until now, but I’ve had enough. Are you here to sabotage my wedding out of jealousy?! What are you plotting?!”

He stepped in front of Maria protectively, but Elizabeth’s expression remained unreadable—no anger, no sadness, nothing at all. Her beautiful doll-like face was emotionless.

(Why isn’t she upset? Why isn’t she angry?)

He used to revel in her small reactions—those fleeting looks of hurt, of quiet loneliness whenever he flirted with other ladies. Elizabeth, the darling of the aristocracy, admired by nobles far and wide, had eyes only for William.

No matter how many women he seduced, how often he abandoned her at events, or what unreasonable demands he made—Elizabeth never once complained. Emboldened by that, William’s cruelty only worsened.

I was invincible. And now… is that about to fall apart?

Trying to drive away the fear creeping in, William shouted:

“You let your jealousy consume you! You tried to get rid of those you disliked! Did you really think I wouldn’t find out? You used the Baker family’s influence to do whatever you wanted. We have the proof!”

“—You mean the fabricated documents presented at the time of our broken engagement?” Elizabeth replied calmly.

“What?! Heinz, how dare you—!”

“Fabricated, you say? Curious. We had those documents investigated.”

At Heinz’s gesture, an older man stepped forward with a stack of thick papers and handed them over.

“Why do you have that?!” William barked.

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m the Chief Inspector of the Royal Guard. It’s my duty to investigate noble crimes.”

William’s heart pounded. That wasn’t the issue—he knew that. What mattered was how Heinz got those papers.

They were the very documents fabricated to ensure Elizabeth’s disgrace. Only two copies existed: one submitted to the king and one kept by William himself.

Which meant… the king had allowed Heinz to investigate them.

William spun around—and there was his father, staring directly at him with icy eyes.

What is he thinking? Has he… abandoned me?

“Well then,” Heinz said smoothly. “Let’s put the document’s authenticity aside for now. I’m sure His Highness William has his own version of the story. But for now—”

His polite demeanor vanished, replaced by something cold and commanding. The air in the ballroom froze under his presence.

“—Let’s begin the roundup, shall we, Miss Maria?”