The Lady Who Was Rejected with 'I Love Someone Else' Turned Out to Be the Strongest Sorceress – The Fate of the Prince Who Abandoned Her and the Lady Who Found Freedom - Episode 1

One afternoon, I was summoned by Prince Alfred, my fiancé.

“I have something important to discuss. I need you to come right away.”

The words of the prince conveyed through the maid were unusually curt. With anxiety in my heart, I hurriedly made my way to his room.

I haven’t heard the reason. But the sudden summons from the usually calm prince gave me a bad feeling. It’s probably not good news.

Lately, he has been frowning and showing awkward reactions in front of me more often. And now, this sudden summons. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was about to happen.

When they arrived in front of Prince Alfred’s room, the maid who had guided them so far knocked on the door. From inside the room, a voice that was lower and more subdued than usual said, “Come in.”

After confirming the response, the maid opened the door to the room. He stood by the window, staring at me with a cold expression. His eyes were icy, and there was no trace of the kind prince I once knew. In the corner of the room, the maids stood quietly, blending into the background.

“Please sit down.”

“Excuse me.”

Prince Alfred signaled to me while still sitting on the sofa. As we took our seats facing each other, he wandered his gaze as if searching for words. He seemed hesitant to bring something up. As I thought, my bad feeling might actually be coming true.

Seeing his reaction, I somehow figured it out.

“……”

“……”

A period of silence continues for a while. Finally, the prince, who had been observing my expression, opens his mouth. Finally, he is going to talk.

“Eleanor, I want to tell you something right away.”

“Something you want to convey? What on earth could it be?”

When I asked him, he took a deep breath and replied with a serious expression.

“To be honest, I love a woman named Vanessa more than you.”

“Eh…”

It was sudden. I had expected bad news, but this was unexpected. My mind went blank. What did he just say? I can’t believe it. When I looked back at him, Prince Alfred continued with an apologetic tone.

“I’ve been meeting with Vanessa secretly for a while now. I want to be with her. So… I’m sorry, but could you please call off our engagement?”

“Huh…?”

I could only manage a strained voice. A sudden betrayal from someone I had been told since childhood that I would be with in the future, someone I had believed without a doubt I would marry someday.

Prince Alfred was secretly meeting with another woman behind my back? And he chose her over me? I’m overwhelmed by a pain that feels like my heart is being torn apart.

“Alfred, do you truly love that person?”

“Ah, of course I’m serious. Would I lie?”

He looked straight at me and said it decisively. There was no hint of a lie. That only made it more cruel, tightening my heart. It was not me, but another woman who was chosen.

“I’ve already spoken to Father about it. Besides, Vanessa is an exceptionally skilled magician. She possesses a talent that the royal family should cherish. I want you to understand that too.”

Prince Alfred repeatedly praises Vanessa’s talents as wonderful. It felt like he was indirectly saying that I have no value. He judged that the woman is more valuable than me.

“Why do I have to be the one to break off the engagement…?”

I can’t accept that either. You were the one who called off the engagement. Prince Alfred sighed as if it were a bother. He didn’t care about my feelings at all.

“Please understand. If we don’t do this, my reputation will be damaged. It’s not just that. If rumors spread that Vanessa and I are having a physical relationship for the sake of power, it would be unbearable. She has no such intentions. So, I’m asking you to help avoid these rumors.”

“……”

While he cherishes the woman he claims to love, he treats me like an obstacle with his terrible attitude. I was made painfully aware that he has no feelings for me whatsoever. I never knew he could be such a heartless person.

In a short time, my affection for Alfred completely faded. I believed he was a sincere and kind person, but that love was directed only towards someone other than me.

I really had no judgment when it came to people. I can’t believe I loved a man like that. But I’m glad it was discovered before we got married. I thought I needed to calm myself down by thinking that, or I might go crazy.

“I won’t hold back on the compensation. Please, listen to my request.”

“……!”

In short, he seems to think he can solve everything with money. As if that would be enough. His heartless words shattered something inside me. That’s enough.

For the sake of the kingdom, I have tried to love Prince Alfred as his wife. But the prince rejected my love and treated me like a convenient tool. When he became interested in another woman, I was no longer needed. I was discarded.

Never again will I entrust my heart to a man like that. Suppressing my own feelings, I said it without any emotion. At least a form of resistance.

“Understood. I’ll propose the cancellation myself.”

“Please do that.”

Hearing such an answer, he had a pleased expression on his face. That expression was utterly unpleasant.

Thus, I ended my engagement with Prince Alfred. At the same time, I also solidified a new resolve.

Someday, I will make him realize that this decision was a mistake――.

I vowed in my heart to do so.