The Sickly Villainess: No, I Wasn’t Poisoned! I'm Just Frail! - Chapter 2

“Cheating with another woman and then breaking off our engagement—do you realize how utterly unacceptable that is? And may I remind you, Crain, it was your family, the Percys, who proposed this engagement in the first place. Surely you understand the weight of that?”

“Uh…”

When I confronted him with the plain truth, Crain faltered, his gaze shifting uncomfortably.

So, he hasn’t completely lost his mind over this so-called love. He knows what he’s doing—though that makes his actions even worse.

“How can you say such terrible things? Don’t you have any heart, Kataryna?”

“Excuse me?”

“If you truly loved Lord Crain, you’d let him go gracefully! Trying to tear apart two people in love—you’re acting like a villain from some tragic novel!”

“…”

What nonsense is she spouting? Cathy Brown, this baron’s daughter, is the one tearing apart a betrothed couple, yet she acts as if I’m the one in the wrong. Doesn’t she understand how disgraceful this is? And speaking so informally to me, a marquis’s daughter, as if we’re equals? Unbelievable.

The academy may discourage hierarchy to prevent abuse by those of higher rank, but it certainly doesn’t endorse disrespect from lower ranks toward their superiors.

“What are you even saying? I’m only stating the facts… Do you have any idea of the complications that come with breaking this engagement?”

Suppressing the mounting ache in my stomach, I forced myself to address Cathy calmly. She covered her mouth with her hand, feigning a hurt expression, as if she were the victim.

“Mocking me… Why are you so harsh, Kataryna? No wonder Lord Crain wants to leave you!”

“…”

“True love can overcome any obstacle! We’re bound together by destiny!”

I see now. She doesn’t have a clue.

The Percy family was the one to initiate this engagement with the Celthis family. For them to break it off suddenly, simply because Crain has ‘fallen in love’ with someone else, is beyond unacceptable.

Naturally, compensation will be required. The contracts and trade agreements formed between our two families under the assumption of this marriage will collapse, resulting in penalties and reparations. The Percy family’s standing in society will be irreparably damaged, and Crain will likely be disinherited to take responsibility.

Of course, the repercussions will extend to Cathy’s family, the Brown barony, as well.

These two, with their childish notions and naive fantasies, wouldn’t survive a day after being cast out of noble society.
Watching them cling to each other, oblivious to the ruin that awaited, I sighed and pressed a hand to my aching stomach.