The Young Lady Whose Engagement Was Annulled Decided to Observe What Would Become of the Kingdom thereafter - Chapter 4

The royal palace’s grand hall was abuzz with the festivities of the seasonal banquet. Beneath the glittering chandeliers, nobles dressed in lavish garments exchanged light-hearted banter. Normally, I’d want nothing more than to flee a place like this, but as a prince, my attendance was mandatory.

Florence stood by my side as usual, whispering small warnings in her quiet voice. There was no escape today. The watchful eyes were too many, and even slipping away to see Amaryllis seemed impossible.

“Prince Zain, you’ve had quite a bit to drink. Perhaps it would be wise to slow down a little.”

My hand, halfway to lifting my wine glass, froze in place. If I were just another noble’s son, drinking freely wouldn’t be a problem. But I wasn’t. I was always under her watchful gaze.

“It would be best not to get too close to that count. We’ve received reports of issues with tax collection in his domain. Becoming too familiar with him could damage the royal family’s reputation. Please be cautious.”

Her whispered words in my ear instantly soured the enjoyable conversation I was having. What does she even know? That count was perfectly cordial toward me.

“Your voice is rather loud. Also, please be mindful of your manner of speech. As a prince, a little more restraint would suit you.”

I was truly getting irritated. Each of her words was like a needle stabbing me. Courtly etiquette, political considerations, diplomatic decorum… all of it felt like chains binding me.

In the distance, I spotted Amaryllis surrounded by other nobles, laughing joyfully. Her red hair danced with her movements, and her smile lit up the entire hall. She would understand me. She saw me not as a prince, but as a person.

Anyone would want to complain in my place. I’d held it all in for so long. Even my father and mother weren’t this strict. But she…

“Prince Zain, are you listening? The minister wishes to greet you. Please come this way—”

Yet another warning. I was listening. But at that moment, something inside me snapped.

“I’ve had enough of this!”

My shout echoed through the grand hall. The music stopped. Conversations halted. Every eye turned toward us. A flicker of regret passed through me, but at the same time, an overwhelming sense of liberation washed over me.

I’d finally let it out. Everything I’d been suppressing.

“Prince Zain, please, calm yourself.”

I saw Florence’s pale, stricken face. She was desperately trying to salvage the situation. But it was too late.

“I’m breaking off our engagement! That was something our parents decided on their own. I never wanted to be with you!”

The words poured out of me, fueled by anger and a strange sense of freedom.

“Prince Zain, this is not the place. Let’s discuss this calmly—”

She was saying something, but I wasn’t listening anymore.

“I already have someone I truly love, someone worthy of my true love—Amaryllis!”

When I looked her way, Amaryllis first showed a surprised expression, but then her face blossomed into a delighted smile. She had confessed her feelings to me with such conviction. If she could do that, then I had to be just as resolved.

The words “true love” had escaped my lips. The kind of phrase you’d find in the knightly tales I read as a child. But there was no better way to describe what I felt now. My engagement to Florence was a political arrangement. But what I shared with Amaryllis was born from pure emotion.

“Amaryllis.”

I called her name again.

She slowly made her way through the crowd and stepped before me. It felt like something straight out of a story—an encounter destined by fate.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Her voice was sweet and rang throughout the hall.

“She understands me. She loves me for who I am—not like you, always scolding and correcting me.”

Though I addressed Florence, it was also a declaration to everyone present—and to myself.

As I pulled Amaryllis close, I reminded myself: This is right. This is how it should be. True love is what matters most. No matter what my father says, no matter how furious my mother might be—I would follow my true feelings. I had made up my mind.

“Very well. I accept the annulment of our engagement.”

Florence’s voice was pale but firm. It was the answer I had wanted.

“But allow me to say one last thing.”

She took a step forward and looked straight into my eyes. I felt a pressure from her gaze. The version of me reflected in her calm eyes suddenly felt so small. The weight of her presence nearly made me step back. But I couldn’t. If I backed down now, it would be like admitting I was wrong. I forced myself to stand firm and glare back. I’m not wrong.

“I will watch over your future growth—and the fate of the Kingdom of Grantzwei—from afar.”

For some reason, her words sent a chill down my spine. They sounded like a prophecy—or a warning. But that anxiety vanished quickly.

“I see… In that case, fine. That means we won’t be seeing each other anymore. Just watch and see the kingdom flourish!”

Yes. The kingdom will flourish. I was sure of it.

Believing in that, I took Amaryllis’s hand and turned my back on Florence. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her quietly leaving the hall.

“Prince Zain, we’ll be together forever now, won’t we?”

Amaryllis whispered in my ear. Surrounded by her sweet scent, I nodded.

“I’ll have to be trained as a queen, won’t I? I don’t know anything yet.”

“I hate studying too, but we’ll manage together.”

“Yes!”

Now, I felt like I could finally move forward. Because Amaryllis, always so optimistic, would be with me.

Florence’s final words lingered faintly in the back of my mind. But I forced myself not to think about them. I tried to forget. We had nothing to do with each other anymore. Forgetting her was the right thing to do.