Was this really for the best?
I clicked my tongue internally, feeling the heavy weight of Charlize’s karma.
"Marriage is the happiest path for a princess," Baroness Cleria’s daughter said, her eyes narrowing as she took my hand with a fake, dreamy expression. "And since you’ve spent so much time pining for the Duke alone, I’m sure he’ll finally recognize your devotion. Cheers, Princess! You must be so happy."
I could feel the malice in every syllable. She was mocking me, reminding everyone in the room that Askin Lemut had spent years ignoring me while I chased after him like a desperate child.
I was sick of it. I was sick of the subtle jabs, the fake smiles, and the constant reminders of a past I didn't even fully own. And in that moment, blinded by a flash of pure, unadulterated anger, my mouth acted before my brain could stop it.
"Actually," I said, a cold smile spreading across my face. "I’m planning to announce my marriage at this banquet as well."
The room went deathly silent.
Not just the Countess’s daughter, but every other woman in the club was frozen in shock. One girl was so startled she dropped her wine glass, the red liquid staining the expensive carpet.
"My god! Princess, really? Congratulations!"
"Finally! I always knew you and the Duke were meant for each other!"
Their faces flipped faster than a deck of cards. The mockery was gone, replaced by a frantic, sycophantic excitement. I realized my mistake the instant the words left my lips, but it was too late. I’d just handed them a nuclear bomb of a rumor.
"I hope you’ll come to the Countess of Lotaria’s proposal party," someone said, trying to regain the social high ground.
"I’ll think about it," I said, my voice tight.
I turned my gaze to the girl who had started it all. She was as pale as a sheet, her mouth hanging open like a fish.
"I’m so glad you’re all so happy for me," I said, my voice dripping with honeyed poison. "And since the Lady of Lotaria thinks so highly of my relationship, I’m truly looking forward to seeing what kind of magnificent gift she’ll be bringing to celebrate my wedding."
The girl looked like she’d just swallowed a whole hive of bees. She couldn't say a word.
"You weren't planning on coming empty-handed, were you?" I asked, tilting my head. "I certainly hope not. Don't let me down."
* * *
I kicked them all out shortly after that, using my "strict health regimen" as an excuse. Once they were gone, I collapsed onto the sofa and let out a long, shuddering sigh.
'What have I done? What was I thinking?!'
I hadn't even been drinking! I’d let a few petty insults provoke me into committing social suicide. I’d been working so hard to fix Charlize’s reputation, to act like a normal, rational person, and then I’d gone and done the most "Charlize" thing possible.
I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I spent the entire night pacing the floor, staring at the walls like a prisoner on death row.
'If those rumors spread... Askin will kill me. Or worse, he’ll think I’m back to my old tricks, trying to trap him into a marriage he doesn't want.'
My only hope was that those women would be too afraid of me to spread the news. But deep down, I knew they were vultures. A rumor this big was too juicy to keep to themselves.
The next day, my worst fears were confirmed.
The designers returned for a final fitting, their faces glowing with a strange, frantic energy. They’d worked through the night to finish the suits, and the quality was incredible. Askin’s suit was a masterpiece—elegant, masculine, and a perfect match for my dress.
I smiled at the work, and the designers practically wept with relief.
"Princess! We worked extra hard because we knew it was a proposal suit!" one of them chirped.
I froze. "...A what?"
"Congratulations! We heard the news! You’re finally getting married!"
"I’m so honored to have made the suit for the Imperial wedding of the century!"
My heart stopped. I felt like I’d been hit by a bolt of lightning.
"Where... where did you hear that?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
"Oh, the rumors are everywhere, Princess! The whole capital is talking about it!"
"We didn't sleep a wink! we wanted everything to be perfect for the big announcement!"
I turned away so they wouldn't see the sheer terror on my face. 'I’m dead. I’m officially dead. My survival coin is gone. My billion-won future is gone.'
"Out," I said.
"Princess...?"
"Everyone out! Now!"
I chased them out of the room and slammed the door. I stood alone in the hall, biting my nails so hard they bled. Those women had done it. They’d spread the rumor as if it were a proven fact, probably hoping to see me humiliated when it turned out to be a lie.
'Did the rumor reach Askin yet?'
If he heard this... after he’d just started to trust me enough to send a letter...
"I thought things were finally going well," I whispered, burying my face in my hands. "I thought I was finally making progress."
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and cursed my own mouth. 'That damn mouth! It’s always the problem!'
But crying wouldn't solve anything. If the tiger was already out of the cage, I had to find a way to catch it before it ate me.
I immediately ordered the carriage to be readied. I had to get to the Lemut estate before the rumor became an unmovable reality. I had to face Askin, even if I had no idea what I was going to say.