Do they think I'm someone who can be placated with sweets alone? Seriously!
Is it so hard to ask, "Are you okay? Were you surprised? How have you been?" That's basic decency or at least good manners—either one would have sufficed!
He's never been a paragon of kindness, but he seems worse since the hunting competition.
I have a hunch why.
Maybe it's because I asked, "Hey, do you like me?"
It was fine when we were just keeping up appearances as an engaged couple, but bringing emotions into it must've annoyed him.
His colder behavior now feels like a deliberate emphasis: "Don't forget, this is a business relationship."
…But if that's the case, he shouldn't have kissed me!
Just as fresh irritation bubbled up inside me, making me want to kick the palace walls, I heard a saccharine laugh.
"Ahaha! Your Highness, don't say that. It'll get my hopes up!"
"I'm saying it to get your hopes up. No matter how high your expectations, they won't outshine the grandeur of the stage that will belong to you on that day."
"It's not my stage alone. The ladies of the court… Wait, I'm still talking! If you keep this up, I'll leave!"
The smacking sound of kisses followed by a syrupy voice, pretending to threaten but clearly not serious, filled the air. I didn't know who they were, but they were definitely people I didn't want anything to do with.
Isn't this technically a public space? Historically, the royal palace wasn't just the residence of royalty but also a place of education and socialization for nobles!
I decided to ignore them and pass by quickly, but—
"Haha, gotcha!"
"Oh, Your Highness, you're quick only in times like this!"
…A lovesick couple burst out of a tearoom and blocked my path.
The woman was a stranger. The man was none other than the Second Prince, Percival.
There was no way I could just ignore this now!
As Percival's gaze flicked over to me, I offered an awkward curtsey.
"Your Highness, I hope you've been well."
"…Ah. You're the daughter of House Redfield, aren't you?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I am Dorys, the youngest daughter of House Redfield."
"Ah, right! The youngest with that stunningly beautiful older sister!"
Percival snapped his fingers. His dismissive attitude was already annoying, but the way he spoke—what was that supposed to mean?
He even danced with my sister during the hunting competition!
The woman next to him leaned into his side and poked his chest playfully.
"Oh my, are you really going to talk about another beauty in front of me? I'm not inclined to let it slide, even for Your Highness."
"Ah, but a beauty like that is practically a force of nature. Haven't you seen it for yourself? Just let it go, won't you?"
"Honestly! This isn't the time for that kind of talk!"
This isn't the time for you two to act all lovey-dovey in front of me either.
As my patience waned, Percival finally turned his attention to me.
"Did you come to visit my brother?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I was relieved to see he's in good health."
"We were surprised too. With that kind of talent, he would've been better off being born into a mercenary family rather than the royal one, don't you think?"
"…"
"It's a joke. You can laugh."
Of course, I didn't laugh.
He chuckled to himself as he nudged the woman back toward the tearoom. She giggled and disappeared inside.
"Dorys Redfield, is your sister doing well?"
"Yes, Your Highness. She is in good health."
"That's good to hear. Do both of you sing at all?"
"Sing?"
"We're thinking of hosting a charity concert for the summer event. Naturally, the front rows should be filled with young ladies. It could be a great opportunity for you both, don't you think?"
How is that a good opportunity? It reminded me of that library director who, after not showing his face for ages, popped up one day suggesting our librarians—who happened to be lovely young women—should dress up and perform girl group dances for a library fundraiser. The thought alone made my skin crawl.
…But I swallowed my retort. The context was different here.
In this era, noblewomen did sometimes perform plays or sing in choirs for charity events.
"Well, I'm not particularly talented, but I'll have to ask my sister what she thinks."
"Is there anything to ask? Lady Natalie loves events where she can stand out, doesn't she?"
She doesn't.
I can say this for certain. My sister doesn't enjoy events where she stands out; she enjoys events she can control. Those two things are vastly different.
But, of course, I couldn't just say that outright to a prince.
"I'm not sure. Even between sisters, there are many things we don't know about each other."
"True. Even between brothers, there's plenty we don't know. Like when my younger brother suddenly revealed a talent we never expected."
"Haha… Well, I don't have much to offer, so I'll just have to rely on my sister."
"Please do. And what you saw today—"
"I only saw the two of you, Your Highness."
"I like that answer. Farewell, then."
Percival gave me an unnecessary wink and returned to the tearoom he had emerged from earlier. From behind the closed door, I could hear the woman laughing.
"Did you have fun chatting with that lovely lady?"
"What's fun about that? Ah, if only I had time to watch your performance instead."
"You're the one keeping me from practice…!"
Ugh, these lovebirds make me sick!
I quickened my pace, wanting nothing more than to scrub the conversation from my memory.
***
Of course, I told my sister everything honestly.
"You danced with the Second Prince at the last hunting competition, didn't you? He brought it up at the palace today, so if he starts pursuing you, be careful."
My sister replied without hesitation.
"95% of men who approach me only care about my looks. I've long since stopped expecting anything from their character, dear sister."
"…"
"Remember this: life is about choosing the least terrible trash available."
"I'd prefer no trash at all…"
"Most humans end up being trash."
That's… a little too far, isn't it?
But before I could protest, my sister handed me a cake that seemed prepared just for me. Silently, I focused on eating.
After the hunting competition, our parents' feelings about our achievements were complicated.
My sister had, as they had hoped, returned crowned as the Queen of the competition.
"Natalie, who gave you the most hunting trophies?"
"I don't know. I told them to drop off the game and leave."
"…"
"You only wanted me to bring back the crown, didn't you? Why ask now?"
If I were the parent, I'd have lost my mind, too.
Unable to bear the tension, I mentioned that my sister had danced with the Second Prince. But my parents' reactions remained lukewarm.
"At this point?"
"The last proposal failed because of the prince's mistake. Suddenly seeking a domestic fiancée now doesn't seem very promising."
From what I've heard, the Second Prince's reputation in high society is shiny on the surface but hollow underneath. While he could offer a stable life within the country, that's about it.
What's more concerning is this: "Still, even a scandal with him would be more than Natalie deserves."
The fact that my parents seemed to value that prince higher than my sister.
Meanwhile, their gaze toward me became increasingly complicated.
"The prince hunted a monster and dedicated it to you?"
"It wasn't exactly a dedication!"
"What do you mean, 'wasn't exactly'? Everything depends on how you phrase it!"
I half-expected them to scold me for clinging to someone who's drifted far from the Blue Atrium, but it seemed the story of Tristan hunting a monster had started altering his reputation.
Even so, there was a limit to that.
"That doesn't mean you should close yourself off to other opportunities. Nothing is set in stone yet."
Other opportunities? There are none.
Who would suddenly take interest in Dorys Redfield, unpopular for the past twenty-something years?
Even my fiancé is the way he is!
Fuming, I focused on shoving cake into my mouth. Meanwhile, my sister asked:
"If there's a charity concert, are you planning to participate?"
"No, absolutely not."
"You're quick to answer. But if the Crown Princess attends, you won't be able to avoid it."
"Even though I'm just a fiancée?"
"Of course. As you've said, unless your engagement is broken, there's only one outcome."
"…"
That much is true.
I'm one of the parties in this engagement, but I have the least say in it.
And the other party—Tristan—has no feelings for me either, yet continues to endure this engagement.
This engagement will lead to marriage.
No matter how much the prince hates it, he will marry me.
That's the only reason I've been enduring this, but…
Do I really have to keep smiling and chatting with someone who can't stand the sight of me, someone who pretends to sip from an empty teacup just to avoid interacting with me?
The unfairness of it all suddenly overwhelmed me, and tears welled up in my eyes.
"…Wait, Dory! Are you crying?"
"Huh? Oh, no, no, I'm not!"
"Your eyes are already glistening with tears! Spit out the fork!"
My sister snatched the fork from my hands and grabbed my hand tightly.
"Dory Redfield. Look at me."
"Yes…"
"Tell me the truth."
She looked at me with those fiery, beautiful eyes and asked:
"Is there a problem with your engagement?"