I momentarily questioned if I had misheard.
The Crown Prince was undoubtedly smiling, yet the content of his words was anything but lighthearted.
As I stood there in a daze, he kindly repeated himself.
“Aike. I’m planning to break my engagement with Reina.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means just that. Is there a different meaning to ‘breaking an engagement’ that I don’t know of?”
His nonchalant smile made me want to punch him out of sheer frustration.
However, since there could be some misunderstanding, I gritted my teeth and tried to calm my temper.
“Can I consider this a joke?”
“No? This is 100% sincerity with no jokes involved. I’m ending my engagement with Reina. That fact won’t change.”
Where did my plan go wrong?
It was obvious that the story deviating from the original was expected.
After all, my goal was to change the future.
I wished for Reina to survive and find happiness with the Crown Prince.
Of course, it was unexpected for Rex to come around or for me to end up in the Magic Tower a year earlier.
But I thought it would be okay.
Reina had become close to Sophia, and their relationship with the Crown Prince hadn’t soured.
So why was the Crown Prince talking about breaking off the engagement right in front of me?
“I want to know the reason.”
“The reason? Well, there are plenty.”
The Crown Prince scratched his chin, pondering for a moment before smiling again.
“Well, if I had to summarize it, it’s just too much.”
“What do you mean?”
“The number of times we’ve met alone since our engagement has steadily decreased. Plus, it’s not like I have an exceptionally good reputation at events like balls. Remember when I almost fought with Miss Sophia after we came to Arcana? And as I mentioned before, I don’t have any romantic feelings for Reina.”
The Crown Prince had no hesitation as he listed his reasons.
It was clear that he had already made up his mind.
“…Then why are you telling me this?”
Even if Reina broke off the engagement with the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t directly affect me.
Separating from my own emotions, I struggled to understand why he felt the need to come and tell me.
Surely, there must be another intent behind this.
“Aike. I know you want to become Miss Reina’s knight. So, I thought I should give you a heads-up.”
Even as I glared at the Crown Prince with gritted teeth, he showed no sign of flinching.
He merely stared back, smiling quietly.
“Political….”
“It’s ridiculous to break off an engagement for political reasons. You wouldn’t suggest such a thing, would you? I’ve already spoken with Duke Ricard, and the corresponding costs have been prepared.”
The answer wasn’t coming into view.
“In any case, what I wanted to tell you ends here. The engagement will be announced three days after the semester break, so keep that in mind.”
The Crown Prince was still smiling as he exited the room.
There was no malice in that smile.
Rather, if he had discontent towards Reina, I would have expected him to act on it.
“…What on earth has happened?”
What was the point of all my efforts until now?
No matter how much I thought about it, no answer came.
★
For three days, I didn’t leave my dorm room.
Atal came by about three times, but I sent him away each time, claiming I was tired.
I had no desire to leave my room, even with the news that Reina had arrived at Arcana.
For over three years, I had been rushing towards a single goal.
To have that goal crumble without understanding why brought an immense sense of powerlessness.
“Aike. Are you skipping the second-semester opening ceremony today?”
“…I’ll think about it.”
The clock pointed to 8:00.
The opening ceremony was definitely starting at 9:00.
Was it really necessary for me to attend? I didn’t have any classes today anyway.
“I’m tempted to apply for a leave of absence.”
How was it that I had blocked Reina’s application for a leave of absence, only to now contemplate this?
“Have I wanted too much?”
Aike was merely a minor character in the original.
Wasn’t I supposed to act like a minor character?
Yeah. This whole scenario had been far too much for me from the start.
What talent did I possess that had led me to flounder about foolishly up until now?
Regardless, Sophia and the Crown Prince would save the world even without me.
Reina would likely have no more conflicts with Sophia from here on out.
After all, this world was just a web novel.
At most, I should be a background character…
“Damn it.”
I was disgusted with myself for even thinking such thoughts.
To dismiss everything as fake.
‘The engagement will be announced three days after the semester break, so keep that in mind.’
…The Crown Prince would probably announce the breakup after the opening ceremony.
That means I still have time left.
One last chance, I need to try and stop this.
There must be a way.
I need to buy some time to find a different ending where Reina can be happy.
I refuse to lose to this unreasonable world that seeks to cast Reina out of the future.
With that determination, I slowly rose from my bed.
When I arrived at the auditorium, many students were already waiting for the opening ceremony to start.
“You made it, Aike.”
I shook hands with Atal after quite a while.
There were no other familiar faces around him.
The Crown Prince had likely taken the podium since he had been first in the final exams.
Sophia and Helen were probably nearby too.
Then, where’s Reina…
“The other early arrivals are up front. Ah, come to think of it, Miss Reina hasn’t arrived yet.”
Atal, sensing my reason for looking around, kindly explained.
Even knowing I had been holed up in my room for three days, he still maintained a cheerful demeanor.
“Thank you. And I apologize.”
As I lowered my head to express my apologies, Atal waved his hand and smiled.
“It’s okay. Everyone has times when they feel tired and overwhelmed, and the ways to overcome that vary from person to person.”
As expected from a prospective Pope, his understanding was commendable.
That said, Reina hadn’t arrived yet.
She hadn’t shown up for the entrance ceremony either; was she not planning to attend the opening ceremony?
I could understand why.
The Crown Prince said he was done discussing matters with Duke Ricard.
So, the likelihood that Reina already knew about the breakup was high.
There was no need for her to meet the Crown Prince…
“Long time no see, Aike.”
“…Hello, Reina.”
Well, there was no real need to avoid this.
Reina appeared to be in her usual mood, with no signs of distress.
“Now, for the first years who are still finding their footing, second years who are beginning to feel settled, and third years who see graduation on the horizon, I hope everyone can enjoy the remaining six months ahead. Also…”
Ender Dean’s speech concluded, and after a few more procedures, the opening ceremony ended.
However, most people remained in the auditorium, catching up with long-lost seniors, juniors, and classmates.
“…”
Where was the Crown Prince?
He had just done a light speech on stage as the representative of his year, so he must have been at the front of the auditorium.
He might be chatting with others, but I needed to talk to him…
“Aike, Miss Reina.”
As I pondered, I noticed a path had opened up ahead.
And walking down that path was none other than the Crown Prince himself.
“Long time no see.”
“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”
Reina bowed gracefully, maintaining her etiquette, while I quietly chewed on my lips.
No way.
No way is he going to announce the breakup in front of all these people.
That absolutely cannot happen.
The difference in impact between quietly breaking off an engagement and declaring it openly is as vast as the sky and the earth.
That’s why I had come to the opening ceremony.
To ask for time before the Crown Prince declares the engagement broken.
If the Crown Prince announces it here, there would be no way to turn the situation around.
Not to mention, Reina’s reputation would plummet.
Declaring an engagement’s annulment in front of this many people would mean the opposition had a significant flaw, and it would also bring immense shame upon her.
“Have you both been well during the break?”
“Yes. It was a very productive time.”
“I also had a productive break.”
Fortunately, the atmosphere seemed fine.
Both the Crown Prince and Reina appeared to be in their typical spirits.
Well, there’s no way he’d announce a breakup in a setting like this.
That would be far too extreme of a thought.
“Aah.”
Relieved, I let out a breath and lifted my gaze to meet the Crown Prince’s.
It was merely a coincidence, but he was looking at me as well.
Now would be the right time to set up a meeting.
After all, there were no classes today, so I had plenty of time to negotiate.
“I’m glad to hear you both are doing well.”
“Your Highness.”
Just as I was about to suggest we talk privately…
“Ah, right. I have something to say to Reina. Here, at this very spot.”
The Crown Prince’s demeanor suddenly shifted.
“…Excuse me?”
Hold on a minute.
No way, that can’t be.
“Miss Reina. I hereby declare the breaking of our engagement in the name of the first heir of the Astria Empire.”
The coldness in the Crown Prince’s eyes was palpable.
There was no regard for Reina’s well-being in his tone.
In the original novel, when the Crown Prince declared a breakup with Reina, a similar description was presented:
‘Leon’s gaze was focused on Reina Rozelia. But he wasn’t looking at her. It was as if he were staring at a meaningless rock. The expression bore no emotions toward what had once been his fiancée. It was nothing more than a mere declaration.’
What that meant, I could now clearly understand.
“Your Highness.”
‘But despite that, she remains my fiancée. Regardless of any political reasons entwined, that fact would never change.’
I believed that the Crown Prince had changed.
I thought he was certainly a different person from the original Crown Prince, who had never opened his heart to anyone.
“Your Highness….”
‘I wish for Reina to become happy.’
So I accepted that as truth.
‘Could you grant me that wish?’
My desire to be Reina’s knight surely stemmed partly from that wish.
“Is everything you’ve said back then a lie?!”
But why were you acting this way now?
To my passionate question, the Crown Prince replied as though it were nothing.
“I don’t understand, Aike. More importantly, why are you interrupting this conversation?”
“I—”
“Oh, I get it. Come to think of it, Aike, you said you wanted to become Miss Reina’s knight. So, I guess I can understand. A knight can’t bear their lord’s disgrace.”
The Crown Prince smiled.
And slowly drew his sword from its sheath, pointing it at me.
“Alright. I’ll give Miss Reina a chance.”
He silently aimed at me.
“Aike. It’s a duel.”
My breath began to hasten with anger.
“If you’re truly Reina’s knight, then draw your sword.”
I wanted to expel this fury and heat right away.
“If you want to stop me from breaking off the engagement with Reina, defeat me.”
But the Crown Prince simply stated.
“Come to the Training Hall tomorrow evening by 6:30. If you defeat me in the duel, I’ll pretend this incident never happened.”
His eyes were the complete opposite of mine — shiveringly cold.
