I've Suffered for Five Years, Now It's Your Turn. ~The Crown Princess Has No Intention of Forgiving~ - Episode 25

“Princess Filia, will you accept? This is for my sake as well.”

“Luans…”

I could understand why he would make such an ambitious request.
As the second prince, Luans had been kept down all this time, unaware he was the son of a concubine.
Now that he finally had the chance to become crown prince, I understood his desire to secure that position completely.

But… this was just too shameless, too rude, and hard to believe.

“Luans, are you seriously saying this?”

“Of course I am.”

I truly believed that Luans, at least he, was the only decent one in the Harvin royal family.
But now…
I never expected him to cling so desperately to the evidence I’d gathered. I was disappointed.

“Princess Filia, this is the best opportunity I have. Please accept it.”

So in the end, he’s no different from the Harvin king and his followers—just another man chasing after power and greed.
I was about to firmly reject him and cut ties for good.
But then—

“!”

I noticed Luans holding a small slip of paper.
He angled it so only I could see what was written.

“We’re likely being overheard. Please hesitate and turn me down.”

What…?
I couldn’t hide my surprise at the message.
But I couldn’t ask about it. Luans kept smiling as he continued speaking to me.

“Princess Filia. I truly hope you’ll accept my proposal.”

His words didn’t match the note at all.
It was clear he had a deeper plan… I hesitated but slowly shook my head.

“I want to accept… but I cannot agree to your request.”

“!!”

“Erik and the others must be judged by me. That won’t change… at least, I don’t think it will. I’m still unsure.”

Just as the note instructed—though my answer wouldn’t have changed anyway—
I refused, pretending to waver.

“Princess Filia, if you’re still unsure, that means there’s room for discussion, isn’t there?”

“…”

“In that case, I won’t give up. Please allow me another chance to persuade you.”

With that, Luans looked toward Erik.

“For now, I’ll take my brother to the knights. Then… we’ll talk again. I want another chance to convince you.”

“Luans… I have things I must say to Filia—”

“Brother. Do you really think you’re in a position to refuse? After bringing disgrace to the royal family?”

“…”

Because I’d refused just as the note instructed, Luans now asked to meet again.
I didn’t have time to ask him what he was planning, but as he turned to leave, he looked back at me.

“Princess Filia, please allow me to sway your uncertain heart. Entrust the evidence to me. Let’s talk tonight… in the garden.”

As he spoke, he flipped the slip of paper in his hand to show the back.

“Please go along with this. It’s necessary. I’m trying to lure out whoever’s listening.”

After reading those words, I had no choice but to agree.

“…All right.”

I was full of doubts and confusion, but Luans wasn’t being driven by ambition.
I’d been completely fooled.
He had a deeper reason for approaching me.

“…Maybe he’s more cunning than I thought.”

I whispered to myself, watching him leave the room.

That night, as promised, I went to the garden.
Ryug, my guard, was with me as always, and we waited for Luans to arrive.
But the person who appeared… was someone else entirely.

“What a coincidence to find you here, Princess Filia.”

“! King Harvin…”

It was too strange to be a coincidence.
The king, alone, without guards, coming here late at night?
Realizing Luans’ plan, I immediately became alert.

“This works out well, Princess Filia. You’ve been avoiding me, so I haven’t had the chance to speak with you. I have a request.”

“A request?”

“I want you to hand over all the evidence you’ve gathered to Luans. If you’re unsure, then do it for his sake—please.”

Maybe it was pressure from the nobles before, but the king’s demand had changed.
It was as if… he had heard the earlier conversation with Luans.

“We need to protect the dignity of the royal family. That’s why it’s best if Luans handles the judgment of Erik and the others. All I ask is for you to give him the evidence. For the good of the kingdom.”

“I refuse.”

I knew what it meant to defy the king.
Even so, I stood firm and said no.

“Why do you refuse, Princess Filia? Is it just pride after a year of preparation? Don’t let your personal feelings distort what’s best for the kingdom.”

“Can’t you understand how heavy this evidence is? I spent five long years in hardship… living in lies. Judging that truth is my duty, as one who bears the name of the Sylvan royal family!”

“You hesitate for Luans’ sake, don’t you? Then just give it up already!”

The king stepped toward me, but Ryug quickly moved to block him.

“Stand down! A knight like you dares lay a hand on your king?! That’s a serious crime!”

“I don’t care. I am a knight of the Sylvan royal family. You may not approach Princess Filia without her permission.”

“Outrageous. Then you’ll face the consequences. A mere knight defying me—”

Just as things were about to explode, I was about to speak up when—

Footsteps approached. A voice called out.

“Father… so you did come.”

“! L-Luans…”

“With things so tense before the tribunal… I figured if I left that note, the one responsible would show up.”

Luans arrived in the garden, leading a small group of knights.
He didn’t speak to me—his words were directed at King Harvin.

“You’re here… that means you heard everything that happened in the room from one of the knights, didn’t you?”

“Luans… what are you saying? I-I was just—”

“You’re going to say it was for the kingdom, right? But knowingly allowing these crimes to go on—is that really for the country, Father?”

Now I finally understood what Luans had been aiming for.
The answer was in something King Harvin had said earlier:

“Why do you refuse, Princess Filia? Is it just pride after a year of preparation?”

The fact that I had been preparing for this over a year—
Only one other person besides me knew that.

The one who had once worn the Sylvan knight’s armor…
The same person who left the mysterious letter for Luans.

That’s who Luans had lured out.

I was starting to see the truth.
And I turned my gaze toward King Harvin.