The Villainous Young Lady Would Even Risk Her Life for Her Beloved ～ Her Fiancé, the Prince? By All Means, Please Be Happy with the Heroine! - Chapter 1.7

“Lady Lydiana, I’m pleased to see you’ve recovered.”

That was Prince Leonhart’s opening remark.

A textbook, formal greeting—polite, yet completely devoid of any real warmth.

I had to suppress a laugh.

(He doesn’t sound pleased at all!)

(He’s just ten… He’s just ten… He’s just ten…)

I chanted this mantra in my head, remembering Luca’s parting words as I left my room.

“If he annoys you, just remind yourself—‘He’s only ten.’”

(Ugh, he’s cute but so not cute!)

With his golden hair and deep, mesmerizing blue eyes, he was the spitting image of the current king.

A divine, angelic appearance—one that still carried an air of regal dignity.

Most noble girls my age adored him.

In any other situation, I probably would have squealed over him too.

But not today.

“Thank you for your concern.”

I answered coldly.

(Immature? I am ten, you know!)

Since this visit was framed as a “get-well” visit, I was seated upright in bed.

What a ridiculous charade.

Why was I the one expected to act submissively?

This engagement had been Lione’s idea—the First Prince’s mother and her family, the Austins, had insisted on it.

…I had been too blinded by the prospect of marrying a handsome prince to think deeply about it back then.

Honestly, it was surprising that my parents had agreed.

The silence stretched on, making Leonhart’s attendants visibly anxious.

Neither of us had anything to say.

(The first to speak loses…!)

Eventually, one of his aides gave him a subtle nudge, and he finally, reluctantly, spoke up.

“I heard you played a significant role in resolving the Ice Stone Disease.”

Ah, so he wanted to confirm if that was true.

It was probably hard to believe that the infamous, spoiled, and notoriously difficult Lady Lydiana had been useful.

“Yes, that’s correct. Of course, it was only possible thanks to my parents and my aunt—Her Holiness, the Saint.”

I kept my response vague.

To be honest, if he had shown even a little friendliness or sincerity—if he had treated this engagement with the smallest amount of respect—I might have let the wedding incident slide.

After all, he was just a child, too.

But after this surprise visit, I had no expectations left.

(Fine. If that’s how he wants to play, then I’ll respond in kind.)

Because I was ten, after all.

“My mother was delighted.”

“Is that so?”

(Oh, I bet she was!)

After all, her future daughter-in-law’s reputation had skyrocketed overnight.

From Lione’s perspective, the Flores family’s recent success was exactly what she needed.

Not only had we refused to demand compensation for discovering the cure, but we had also extended medical aid beyond just the noble class, reaching remote areas as well.

Public opinion had shifted—especially among commoners, who had previously resented our family.

Our healing magic had always been ridiculously expensive, accessible only to the wealthiest elites.

Mother had wanted to change that, but before regaining my memories, I had never paid much attention.

“Did Lady Lione instruct you to ‘win me over’?”

“W-What?!”

Bullseye.

His face turned red.

Just as I suspected.

In the original story, our house had been scapegoated for failing to cure the disease.

Even as my mother desperately sought a solution, mourning her lost children, the royal family did nothing.

Instead, they made sure the public placed the blame solely on us—specifically, orchestrated by Concubine Serena, the mother of the Second and Third Princes.

She had wanted to undermine the Flores family’s influence.

But this time, that wouldn’t happen.

We had already increased our standing far beyond what it had been in the story.

And I had zero intention of letting Leonhart take credit for it.

“Your Highness, let’s annul our engagement.”

I smiled brightly—completely devoid of any lingering attachment.

“What—?! What are you saying?!”

His shock was genuine.

Did he really think he was irreplaceable?

I supposed most wouldn’t expect a political engagement to be broken so easily.

“WHAT NONSENSE IS THIS?!”

Both Leonhart and I flinched.

Startled, I turned to see one of his attendants shouting, his face flushed with outrage.

“Eliza.”

“Understood.”

We needed to move him out of the room.

He clearly had a lot he wanted to say, but I ignored him.

Not my problem.

Once the interruption was dealt with, I turned back to Leonhart.

“Let’s annul our engagement, Your Highness.”

In the original story, he had been the one to say those words.

But this time, I would be the one to end it.

At least I wasn’t humiliating him by doing it in public.

Leonhart remained silent, clearly struggling.

“Your Highness cares about me even less than the weeds growing outside.”

“That’s not true…”

His voice was barely audible.

“If I had died from this disease, I suppose that would have saved you from having to marry me. My apologies for the inconvenience~”

I let my voice drip with mock politeness, completely unrepentant.

The message was very clear.

“That’s not true! Don’t say such things!”

His voice was firm, his expression serious.

…Okay.

That was not the reaction I had expected.

For the first time in a while, a tiny pang of guilt poked at me.

Sorry. I shouldn’t have thrown out the whole “death” thing so lightly.

“I… I admit my behavior has been inappropriate. I understand that my status is only secure thanks to the Flores family’s support. But I personally do not wish to marry you.”

“How honest of you.”

“Being honest is the only way I can show you even a shred of sincerity.”

(Wow. Big words for a ten-year-old!)

No wonder he was the heroine’s love interest.

“However, I cannot annul our engagement. You understand why, don’t you?”

“Oh, so you’re saying that while I get nothing, you’ll continue to leech off my family’s influence. Did I get that right?”

Leonhart’s face stiffened in shock.

Yeah.

That’s what I thought.

He understood exactly what he was asking for.

Still, he quickly regained his composure, locking eyes with me.

His deep blue gaze was captivating—almost enough to pull me in.

“From now on, I’ll change how I treat you. I won’t let you feel miserable anymore.”

(Oh, so that was intentional?)

I nearly fell for it.

He was undeniably handsome.

But I knew better.

“Actually… there’s someone I have feelings for.”

“Oh? And who might that be?”

I already knew the answer.

But I wanted to hear it from him.

Let me guess—someone whose name starts with ‘A’?

“Well… I don’t even know her name or face. But when I was injured in the Lias territory, she helped me. Even knowing I was the prince, she didn’t hesitate to speak her mind.”

(Oh, so it’s the classic ‘Interesting Woman’ trope?)

It was probably just because she didn’t know proper etiquette.

In the original story, there was even a scene where Iris got scolded at school for lacking noble manners.

Iris and Leonhart’s first encounter actually happened a little before our engagement.

They harbored a faint affection for each other and were reunited five years later at the academy.

“When the time comes—when I’m recognized as king without needing the Flores family’s backing—I promise I’ll set you free. So please, don’t ever say you should have died!”

…Did my sarcasm hit him that hard?

It must have been too much for a ten-year-old to handle.

Kinda cute, actually.

Not that he realizes how selfish he still sounds.

“Rest assured, Your Highness. That was merely sarcasm. I don’t think that way at all.”

“W-What?!”

His face turned red again.

It’s nice that he’s worried, but if he’s misinterpreting my words, this conversation is going nowhere.

“You…! You’re worse than the rumors say! A truly vile woman!”

“Excuse me?! I don’t want to hear that from a selfish and arrogant prince!”

He looked utterly stunned, like a pigeon hit by a slingshot.

Didn’t expect me to talk back, did he?

“Since you seem to prefer women who can speak their minds, let me just say—Your Highness is incredibly spoiled!”

“Wha—!? How am I spoiled?!”

I exaggerated a sigh and shrugged dramatically.

“Your Highness, have you ever considered what happens to a noblewoman after her engagement is broken off? Especially when her fiancé is the prince?”

“…? She can just marry someone else, can’t she?”

“Aaaahhhh!”

Leonhart flinched again.

(Right. He’s still ten. No way he’d get it…)

That was my mistake, bringing it up too soon.

“That’s enough for today, Your Highness. As long as you understand that I want to annul this engagement, that’s all that matters.”

I pointed to the door, subtly telling him to leave.

“I should remind you—annulment would be just as troublesome for your family!”

“Huh?! What do you mean?!”

He seemed pleased to have finally landed a blow, smirking triumphantly at my reaction.

“…I don’t know the details, but that’s what my grandfather said.”

“Wow. That’s pathetic.”

“What?”

“You think you won this argument just because ‘my grandpa said so’? That’s so embarrassing.”

Oops.

Too late.

Leonhart’s eyes welled up with tears—and then, he actually started crying.

(He’s just ten… He’s just ten… Oh, great, too late now…)

Now I was the one panicking.

Oh no.

What if I get executed for insulting royalty?

“…Should I call someone?”

He shook his head furiously.

Guess he doesn’t want anyone to see him crying.

“…I may have gone too far.”

I hesitantly offered him a handkerchief.

He grabbed it a little aggressively, then pressed it hard against his eyes.

After a few moments, he took a deep breath, stood up straight, and declared:

“Next time, I won’t lose!”

With that, he stormed out of the room.