Chapter 2
Which one of us is the one who needs to correct their attitude?
I almost said it out loud, but somehow held myself back.
If Chloe were to argue here, he would surely get even more worked up and start shouting.
That would be troublesome, and it would also bother the people around us.
(Well, it looks like most of them are just watching out of curiosity, or because they love other peopleâs misfortune.)
Judging from how women are treated, this doesnât seem like a very good country.
My father has probably told Kirif that Iâm a quiet, obedient girl who will do whatever sheâs told.
In this country, there are still many who believe that women should obey men.
My fiancĂŠ, Kirif, was that kind of man as well.
Even so, lately, under the leadership of the queen, womenâs participation in society has been encouraged.
There are even proposals to employ women not just as maids, but as civil officials.
And yet, despite being the second prince, even if he is the child of a concubine, Kirif turned out to have the same disappointing mindset as my father.
But since heâs the one who proposed breaking off the engagement, I should take full advantage of it.
“Yes, I understand.”
Saying that, I stood up.
Chloe, who had just been sitting there in despair, suddenly stood up with a bright smile.
Naturally, the surrounding people began to murmur.
“What did you say?”
Even though I simply accepted his proposal, Kirif somehow became furious.
“Are you trying to defy me?!”
Defy him? He said he would break off the engagement, and I just agreed.
Why would he say something like that?
Chloe tilted her head.
I couldnât understand his way of thinking.
“I am merely following Your Highnessâs words. If Your Highness wishes to dissolve the engagement, then I accept it.”
With that said, I turned on my heel and left the scene.
(Now then, Iâll be busy from here on out. I have to leave the estate before Father finds me.)
If Iâm found, thereâs no telling what the enraged father might do to me.
Thereâs even a possibility he would order me to beg Kirif for forgiveness.
(I refuse. From now on, Iâll live freely.)
The Chloe from before regaining her past life memories was far too obedient.
The current Chloe believes she shouldnât silently obey those who oppress her.
“Hm?”
Sensing something, Chloe glanced around the hall.
There was a trace of magic somewhere.
Someone might be watching me.
It was something minor, but it irritated the current Chloe.
“Disappear.”
With just that whisper, the magic dispersed.
(Yeah, thatâs better.)
After confirming that the surveillance was completely gone, I started running again.
There are three types of people who can use magic.
Those called magicians are people born with magical power, and they use magic with their own mana.
Those without mana but who study magic and use magic stones created by magicians as a medium are called sorcerers.
Very few people possess mana, and most magic users fall into the latter category.
And the last type are witches.
A trait possessed only by women, they have magical power on a completely different level than magicians, and require neither incantations nor mediums.
It is a power so strong that merely wishing for something can make it come true.
Chloe didnât know it, but she was one of those âwitches.â
Thatâs why ordinary magic would simply be blown away just by her thinking it was in the way.
Behind me, Kirifâwho was my fiancĂŠ until moments agoâwas still shouting.
Even though he got what he wanted and the engagement was dissolved, what was he so dissatisfied about?
(Heâs so noisy. I have a lot to think about, so I wish heâd just be quiet.)
The moment I thought that, the surroundings fell silent.
Now I could focus on my thoughts.
(Yes, this is good. First, Iâll go back to the estate and prepare for a journey.)
Chloe got into the Mertigal family carriage and hurried back to the estate.
Moving at a speed that surprised even the butler and maids who came to greet her, she returned to her room and quickly changed clothes.
Of course, the door had already been magically locked so that the butler and maidsâwho were my fatherâs informantsâcouldnât enter.
I threw off the evening dress and opened the closet.
Taking out a suitable bag, I began preparing for a journey.
“Hmm, there are only dresses that look difficult to move in.”
Perhaps due to my fatherâs orders, they were all plain dresses, but even so, as expected of a noble lady, none were suitable for walking around town normally.
“Well, it canât be helped. This will do.”
After changing into the simplest dress among them, I put all the jewelry in the closet into a bag.
Naturally, I couldnât survive long without any money at all.
What had been given to Chloe was minimal, but if sold, it should be enough for living expenses for a while.
Then, I exited through the bedroom window.
(Father, Brother, farewell. I hope we never meet again.)
Back when I only had Chloeâs personality, my father and brother were terrifying.
But now, all I feel is anger toward their unjust treatment.
Of course, the same goes for my former fiancĂŠ, Kirif.
Theyâre all fairly handsome and seem confident in themselves, which makes me dislike them even more.
(They should all just go bald. I hope they suffer from thinning hair for the rest of their lives.)
Imagining that made me feel just a little better.
The fact that I was a witchâ
And that simply wishing could make things come trueâ
The newly awakened Chloe still didnât know that.
My only lingering regret was my mother.
(Mother, Iâm sorry for leaving without a word.)
I thought about taking her with me, but she too believed that women should obey men.
If youâre told that from childhood, itâs no wonder you end up thinking that way.
If Chloe hadnât regained her past life memories, she would have become a woman like her mother.
A bird raised in a cage from birth cannot live outside.
No matter how much I tried to persuade her, my mother would probably only say that she must not defy my father.
Praying for my motherâs happiness, I had no choice but to part ways here.