In my defense, I was still reeling from the events at the Imperial Palace. My nerves were frayed from dealing with Loxdian and the theft of the hairpin, and I was naturally suspicious of anyone I didn't know.
I realized I’d overreacted the second the bottle hit the ground.
'Oh no! What have I done?'
The rare vintage wine spilled across the stone floor, soaking into the hem of Ian Child’s expensive trousers and shoes. I stood there, frozen, as the dark red liquid spread.
What should I do? Should I play it off as a villainess who didn't care? Or apologize for my clumsiness? My mind was racing.
I looked up, expecting to see Ian’s true colors. I expected him to be furious, or at least annoyed.
Instead, I found him looking at me with a soft, gentle smile.
"My apologies, Princess," he said, bowing as if *he* were the one at fault. "The wine clearly wasn't worthy of the most beautiful woman in the Empire. I should have chosen better."
I blinked. It was clearly my fault, and yet he was taking the blame with a level of etiquette that was almost frighteningly perfect. He wasn't just being polite; he was protecting me from my own scandal.
"I will prepare a more suitable vintage for our next meeting," he added.
He was watching me, his eyes narrowed slightly. I didn't realize it, but the mask of the "Vicious Princess" had slipped, and for a moment, my true embarrassment was visible.
'I shouldn't be this curious,' Ian thought. 'Everyone in the capital calls her a monster, and yet... why does she have such an innocent expression right now? Is she really the woman the rumors describe?'
"Would you like to have a drink with me then?" I asked, my voice stiff. I was trying to regain my composure.
"I’ve stopped drinking red wine," I added, stepping around the puddle.
"Then there are many wonderful white wines we could explore," Ian replied, unbothered.
"If you're here to see my grandfather, you should go attend to your business with him," I said, trying to dismiss him.
"Actually, the one I wanted to see was you, Princess," he said with a smile.
'What is wrong with this guy?'
I felt my guard go back up. He was definitely someone I needed to keep an eye on. I turned to walk away, but Ian stepped forward and gave another polite bow. He was an incredibly well-mannered man, but something about the way his eyes curved when he smiled reminded me of a fox.
"Princess!"
I heard Susan calling for me. I turned and saw her approaching, but she wasn't alone.
'Askin?'
Standing behind Susan was my fiancé, his handsome face set in a hard, unreadable expression.
'Why is he here?'
To my surprise, Askin’s gaze immediately landed on Ian Child. His eyebrows twitched, a flicker of something that looked like resentment passing through his eyes.
The Child family had offered Askin a partnership to clear his debts. So why was Ian Child here, at the Altsbeit mansion, talking to his fiancé? Was he trying to play both sides?
Askin’s eyes dropped to the broken bottle and the wine on Ian’s shoes, then back to my face. He didn't look happy.
"I’ll leave you to your guest then," Ian said, sensing the tension. He gave Askin a respectful nod. "Duke Lemut, a pleasure to see you again. Princess, I look forward to our next meeting."
* * *
The silence that followed Ian’s departure was cold and sharp, like a dagger to the chest.
Askin didn't say anything for five long minutes. I just stood there, looking at him. He was as handsome as ever, but the atmosphere was suffocating.
According to Susan, he hadn't come to see my grandfather. He’d come specifically for me.
'What could have brought him all the way here?'
I cleared my throat, trying to break the tension. "You must be busy with the recovery efforts. What's going on?"
I tried to give him my most harmless, "pretty" smile. I didn't want him to hate me any more than he already did.
"Do you mean to say that you're free to wander onto my property whenever you like, but I have to make an appointment to see you?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
'Wait, what? When did I say that?'
I took a deep breath. *Be patient. Don't lose your temper.* If I wanted to save my 100 billion gold and my life, I had to keep him calm.
"If you have the time to come here, I assume the restoration is going well," I said, trying a different approach. "You’re very competent in that regard."
Askin’s frown deepened. He looked like a large, grumpy dog that I couldn't quite figure out how to appease.
"Seeing you makes me certain of my decision," he said.
"What decision?"
"Did you think you could use the children on my estate to buy my favor?"
'What?' I was genuinely confused. 'Oh... the children I sent back today?'
He thought I’d treated the village children well just to manipulate him. From his perspective, it probably looked that way.
"No," I said, shaking my head. "That wasn't it at all. My knights were at fault, and I was simply trying to—"
"Your acting skills have certainly improved," he interrupted. "You’re almost convincing."
"Have you even heard the full story?" I snapped back, my inner villainess flaring up. "My escort moved without orders. I sent those children home with things I was planning to throw away anyway. Why are you even arguing with me about this?"
Askin’s eyes searched my face. "Congratulations. You could be the best actress in the Empire."
"What?"
He gave a mock round of applause. "Now, all you have to do is break the engagement."
"..."
"You’ve clearly found another 'option' anyway," he said, glancing toward the path where Ian Child had disappeared.
'What is he talking about? Ian Child? Is he jealous?'
The idea was absurd. I was about to drop my pride and try to explain, but then I heard a familiar voice.
"Ah, you were here!"
My grandfather was approaching, a satisfied smile on his face.
"I hope I'm not interrupting. You two make such an attractive pair. You should visit each other more often, Duke Lemut."
"Actually, Duke Altsbeit," Askin said, his voice cold and firm. "I came here because I have something to say to you directly. I won't do this through letters."
Askin looked at me for a split second. For the first time, his eyes seemed to tremble with an emotion I couldn't identify.
"Duke Altsbeit, as the man who arranged this engagement... I have a formal request."
My heart sank. I knew exactly what was coming.
"I am officially requesting to break the engagement with the House of Altsbeit."