I've Suffered for Five Years, Now It's Your Turn. ~The Crown Princess Has No Intention of Forgiving~ - Episode 20

“Did you understand me? I have no intention of accepting your terms.”

Now that we had captured the doctor, there was no reason to accept any negotiations.

“Y-You actually prepared this much…?”

“Duke Telmond, I understand a father’s wish to protect his daughter’s dishonor, but you’ve underestimated me far too much.”

“W-Wait, please! Yes, Rosaline committed a disgraceful act… but she is still a daughter of House Telmond. What do you think would happen if she were arrested for such a scandal?”

Duke Telmond pleaded desperately, shamelessly trying to justify himself.

“The people will lose trust in the nobility and the royal family. The peace of the Harvin Kingdom will collapse—”

“Silence, Duke Telmond.”

“…!”

“Destroying evidence is a clear act of hostility against the Sylvan royal family. Therefore, by the laws of our kingdom, you will be judged accordingly.”

“W-What…?”

“Why are you surprised? This isn’t just about your daughter anymore. You’ve declared yourself an enemy of our homeland. So, you’ll be judged with the full force of Sylvan law. Don’t expect to ever return.”

At my words, Duke Telmond’s face twisted in shock.

“No… this can’t be real. I just wanted to negotiate for my daughter’s sake… w-wait. Please wait.”

“How disgraceful. You’ve lost even the dignity of a noble. You’re pitiful.”

I said this with real anger behind my voice.
Maybe that hurt his pride—his face turned red.

“S-Stop this… no, you’re serious!? You’re really doing this!?”

How truly pathetic. A noble falling from grace with not a shred of elegance left.
He begged for mercy, but Ryug restrained him.

“W-Wait! Let go! I’ll even give the entire Telmond fortune to the Sylvan royal house! You’ll profit from it, right!? So just let me go!”

“Stand down.”

“Let go! You’re just a knight! I need to speak to Princess Filia directly—”

“Silence him, Ryug.”

Still trying to negotiate, Duke Telmond struggled.
But Ryug calmly twisted his arm.

A sickening crack echoed through the room.
The duke screamed in agony.

“I dislocated his shoulder. I’ll fix it once he calms down.”

“Thank you, Ryug.”

“A… aah… stop… ahhh…”

He was simply removed from the conversation. It was the right call to keep things moving.
That just left Rosaline, the one guilty of the actual scandal.

“Now then… Rosaline.”

“Eep!”

“You knew everything, didn’t you? You heard it either from the doctor outside or from Erik himself, and that’s why you went through with this, right?”

“Yes, I did… and what’s so wrong with that?!”

Rosaline’s eyes welled with tears. Once again, she played the victim.
Like a frightened little rabbit.
It came so naturally to her—probably the very charm that drew men in.

“I just… just wanted to love Erik. What’s so wrong about loving someone you care about?”

“…”

“I’ve loved him since we were kids. We were forced apart for political reasons, but when I learned the truth about him… I made up my mind to stay by his side—”

“That’s enough.”

To act on emotion alone and break such a taboo—there’s no dignity in that for a noblewoman.
My anger showed in the cold tone of my voice.

“It’s too childish. I don’t want to hear any more.”

“Y-You don’t know anything… You don’t know anything about him!”

“Rosaline, are you saying you do know something?”

“He carries a deep wound in his heart. When I found out… I just wanted to be there for him, to ease his pain.”

“A deep wound?”

When I asked, Rosaline gave a small smile as if saying, Only I know this secret.

“I won’t tell you. It’s something just between me and him.”

“Tell me.”

“No. I’ll never tell you. Even like this, I swear my love to him and won’t betray that.”

“Fine. Ryug, arrest Rosaline too. We’ll make her talk.”

“Understood.”

Ryug stepped forward.
But at that moment, Rosaline pulled out a small hidden knife.

“Don’t come any closer… I still have one last option.”

She showed she was willing to resist.
But instead of threatening others, she pointed the blade at her own throat.

“If you try to arrest me, I’ll die right here. If the key witness to this scandal dies, the truth will be buried. All the people will remember is that I was driven to suicide by your cruelty.”

“…”

“That’s right! It’ll ruin your image, won’t it? The people will talk—how a princess from the royal family drove a duke’s daughter to kill herself!”

“Are you serious?”

“If you try to capture me, I really will die. I swear my love to Erik. If I have to betray that love… I’d rather die right now.”

That’s quite the declaration. She’s even willing to die.
But honestly, now that we have the doctor, Rosaline doesn’t matter to me.
So I stepped toward her without hesitation.

“W-What are you doing?! I’m serious!”

“How foolish. The evidence will be found even without you.”

Rosaline’s hand trembled.
Tears welled in her eyes, and her grip on the knife tightened.
If she has that much resolve, I should give her a little push.

“Still, I respect your bravery—for showing your resolve so clearly!”

“…!”

At those words, she seemed to believe she was being spared. A sigh of relief escaped her lips…
What a foolish misunderstanding.

“And so, with all due respect, I’ll face your death properly!”

“W-What…?”

“What’s wrong? Go on. Die. I won’t stop you.”

“D-Don’t you feel guilty!? If I really die, you’ll be the one who caused it—!”

“Ahahaha! Guilt? Why would I feel any guilt?”

I gently placed my hand over hers.
Her fingers trembled. I applied more pressure and whispered softly in her ear.

“If you’re not going to take responsibility for what you’ve done… then just die already. End your pathetic life.”

“W-Wait… stop!?”

I slowly pressed her hand forward.
The sharp blade moved closer to her throat, cutting just slightly into her skin.

“You said it yourself, Rosaline. That you’d rather die.”

“S-Stop…”

“What’s wrong? I’m only helping you fulfill your promise. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“A-Ahh… stop…”

“Scared now? But this was your idea. If you’re going to show such resolve, at least follow through. Or are you that weak?”

Rosaline’s face twisted in fear and pain.
I whispered once more into her ear.

“Just so you know… your death won’t mean a thing.”

Her eyes widened in shock.
Sweat poured down her trembling face as she stared at me in terror.

“Rosaline… you started all of this, remember?”

And with that, I pushed her hand further.
The knife’s tip crept even closer to her neck.