Chapter 32: The Two Princesses

“What do you mean I can’t marry Michaelis!?”

The furious scream rang out as emotions were flung wildly into the air, making the maid standing behind her flinch.

The tea set lay shattered across the floor, and each time she rampaged, chairs and tables were knocked over and rolled about.

Now she was enthusiastically tearing apart the tablecloth.

No one would ever guess that this raging figure was the princess of the kingdom.

To anyone unaware, she looked nothing short of a wild beast.

Princess Elmedia had firmly believed that if Count Michaelis won the tournament, he would dedicate his sword to her and propose marriage.

In truth, even for a powerful count’s house, it would have been difficult for a young and handsome count to refuse a royal marriage under pressure—if it were only the royal family involved.

However, no one expected that the so-called “treasure of the Lattiche ducal house”—Albertina, who until recently had been mocked as a “fallen noble lady” or a “monster princess”—would appear at the venue.

Her beauty alone was enough to draw sighs.

She resembled Princess Sistina, famed as one of the most beautiful women in royal history.

Her long, soft ash-brown hair matched the duke’s, and her large, jewel-like bright blue eyes were framed by equally colored long lashes.

Her skin was smooth and translucent like porcelain, her cheeks faintly flushed, and her small, soft lips gently tinted.

Every feature, perfectly balanced within her small face and delicate jawline, was exquisite.

Though her body was almost entirely covered, it still exuded a subtle allure.

Her chest was full, yet her waist, shoulders, and arms were astonishingly slender.

The faint sound of her voice was as graceful and refined as her appearance.

Every movement she made was elegant, and the very air around her seemed different.

Her personality appeared gentle—like the ideal sheltered noble lady.

The duke’s daughter, once mistaken for Princess Elmedia and kidnapped, would undoubtedly be taken as the princess if the two stood side by side.

Meanwhile, the actual princess did not resemble the king much, nor the queen unless one looked closely—and even then, her excessive weight made comparisons unfavorable.

The portraits that beautified her image were practically fraudulent.

With no remarkable talents to speak of, many nobles secretly mocked her appearance.

And each time she learned of it, her tantrums worsened, her gluttony increased, and the whispers grew harsher—a vicious cycle.

At the event, Count Michaelis escorted Albertina flawlessly.

That very count—known for having no romantic rumors despite constant attention from women—was famous for being gentlemanly yet distant.

And yet, he had escorted a young lady so closely.

Worse still, his gaze as he looked at her was said to be filled with such warmth that it seemed ready to melt.

Rumors had long said he loved someone.

Now, that person had been revealed.

Princess Elmedia had no chance.

Though she was the daughter of the queen, she was always treated as secondary to the crown prince.

Her royal status was an advantage—but her appearance, often likened to that of an orc, and her terrible reputation overshadowed it.

In contrast, Albertina possessed unparalleled beauty reminiscent of Princess Sistina and belonged to one of the most powerful noble families.

She was the beloved daughter of Duke Lattiche, a marshal with vast lands, and whose domain had recently flourished commercially.

It was said that all the latest innovations in the country gathered there.

Albertina did not appear in high society due to the royal family’s past failure—her kidnapping.

The kingdom continued to pay compensation for the physical and emotional damage she suffered.

The scars that would never fade became her burden, and the royal family would atone for her entire life.

It was only natural.

Her future had been ruined despite her noble birth and royal blood.

Had that incident never occurred, she would have been the top candidate for the next queen—even if she had flaws in personality.

Instead, she lived quietly in seclusion.

The only things known about her were modest contributions—road construction, city cleaning.

Yet these acts directly impacted people’s lives, creating employment and economic benefits.

Merchants who benefited from the improved roads even worshipped her like a goddess, despite never having seen her.

And now that her beauty had been witnessed, that devotion would only deepen.

Compared to a hastily elevated princess after the fall of two princes, Albertina was the daughter of a true powerhouse feared both domestically and abroad.

In name, the royal family might sound superior—

But in reality, the latter was far more desirable.

Especially with that beauty.

And at the very least, she was not a hysterical “meat princess.”

Several knights had nearly lost themselves at the sight of her, only to be frozen in place by Michaelis’s icy glare.

No matter how much the princess raged, Michaelis was already beyond her reach.

Had his partner been from any other family, perhaps something could have been done.

But with the Lattiche house involved, it was impossible.

The duke was far too dangerous.

Recently, even Crown Prince Lucas had been thoroughly crushed by him.

The aftermath was still ongoing, and the prince had yet to recover.

If Princess Elmedia caused trouble now, even Queen Mesalin’s position could be jeopardized.

Watching the rampaging princess, the maid sighed quietly.

She wished she could clean up, but objects were still flying.

And she thought—

She wanted to admire that beautiful girl just a little longer.

Her hobby was observing beautiful people.

Because of that, she had been assigned as a maid—no, a watcher—over this “meat princess.”

All the sycophantic staff had been purged by the duke.

New teachers were now desperately trying to correct the princess.

But to her, it only meant losing indulgence and being surrounded by strict people.

Her eyes had long since clouded over.

Why was she mocked?

Because her laziness, tantrums, and shallow nature were visible.

Why was she not respected?

Because she did not fulfill the role of a princess.

Why was she not forgiven?

Because royalty exists to fulfill duties—not indulge selfish desires.

She had completely misunderstood noblesse oblige.

The maid felt pity—

But not sympathy.

Afterward, we formally confirmed that there would be no engagement between Princess Elmedia and Michaelis.

After listening to His Majesty’s reminiscing, I was finally able to return to the VIP seats.

The king himself had apologized for the princes’ and princess’s misconduct, so there would be no punishment for the Domitrias or Lattiche families.

Even though we weren’t even engaged, we had gotten involved.

It seemed he wanted us to preserve the princess’s dignity to some extent.

We couldn’t refuse when the king lowered his head.

Michaelis, in particular, was deeply apologetic.

Apparently, His Majesty was also worried about Father becoming upset again.

It seemed Father did not get along with Queen Mesalin.

That was probably the real reason.

The queen had wanted to strengthen her faction by marrying her daughter to Michaelis.

After the crown prince’s incident, her position had weakened.

But targeting someone connected to Father…

That sounded like a disaster waiting to happen.

Jibril’s foresight in preventing it was truly impressive.

On our way back, Michaelis’s escort scattered a group of people waiting ahead with a single glare.

What was that about?

It was unsettling, so I instinctively clung to him.

He only smiled and pulled me closer.

“They intended to pledge their swords to you,” Jibril explained.

“I don’t even know them.”

“They were likely nobles hoping to gain something.”

“They shouldn’t treat a knight’s oath so lightly…”

That’s something serious, isn’t it?

The idea of hidden motives disgusted me.

“It’s fine. I won’t let them near you.”

“Please do. Being approached by strangers is terrifying.”

Please don’t underestimate a shut-in’s social anxiety.

If they got too close, I might climb onto Michaelis.

That would be completely improper.

As I walked beside him, I noticed the stalls outside.

“What are they selling?”

“Skewers, pastries, fried foods, soups, bread, drinks…”

“There’s so much…”

I stared in fascination, but Anna stopped me.

Still, this was a rare chance to see commoners’ food.

…Maybe I could try something?

“Anna… please?”

I tilted my head slightly and pleaded.

Her face turned bright red.

She nearly collapsed.

“That’s unfair, milady…”

“Just one. Please.”

“…Only one.”

“Thank you!”

“But please, never do that to any man except the duke.”

“…There aren’t many people I’d even ask.”

“You haven’t done it to Julius or Kishtarial, have you!?”

“No, you’re the first after Father.”

“…That’s exactly the problem.”

I didn’t understand.

But I got my food.

When we returned—

The room was filled with stall food.

Apparently, “the shadows” had bought everything.

…Of course they did.

I happily accepted it.

Completely unaware of the chaos behind the scenes.