Ever since Heidi first showed up three days ago to harass him, and then began pushing her luck even further, Eze had been contemplating coming clean.
He had prepared for many possible scenarios—whether Heidi would fly into a rage, shut down completely, or even charge at him with intent to kill, he was ready to deal with it.
Yet, what happened went far beyond his expectations.
After a bout of madness, Eze watched in disbelief as Heidi quickly returned to normal, her mood inexplicably soaring. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
He couldn’t understand it, but he was deeply shocked.
At this moment, Heidi was absolutely certain that Eze was playing hard to get.
Feeling embarrassed by her earlier loss of composure, she instead doubled down, determined to spar with Eze.
“You said you want to cancel the engagement? But Eze, royal engagements are very serious. You can’t just cancel them on a whim.”
Indeed, by usual protocol, such an alliance required both parties to be well-matched, followed by solemn discussions between families and Church approval.
But the problem was, Heidi’s parents, elder brother, and sisters had all been sent away, hadn’t they?
They had casually arranged it back then, and now it was just a matter between her and Eze.
Taking advantage of Eze’s stunned state, Heidi suppressed the growing smirk on her lips and put on a sad face, then continued:
“Besides, Eze, why do you want to cancel the engagement? It can’t really be just because of that angry thing I said earlier, right?”
“No, that was—”
“That was really just anger! I’ve apologized already, and if you’re still not satisfied, I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I can keep apologizing until you’re happy. Sorry, very sorry!”
Heidi’s little scheme was running at full speed.
Since she was sure Eze’s was a fake cancellation, and all because of something so trivial, this was easy.
Emotional blackmail, arranged!
If Eze could disregard two years of feelings over a single remark, then she could forgive and forget, overlook right and wrong, as long as he stayed—it was all negotiable.
Who was superior and who was inferior? Wasn’t it clear as day?
Though this made her look a little sycophantic, it didn’t matter—no one else was around.
She could always find a way to regain face later.
With this in mind, Heidi squeezed out a few tears, slightly raised her head, and tried to look as wronged and pitiful as possible.
She said, “So, will you forgive me? I won’t say angry things like that again, I… I’m sorry! Sorry!”
“…”
The acting was decent, but unfortunately for Heidi, Eze was just speechless now.
After two whole years together, this was the first time he couldn’t understand what she was thinking.
Crazy?
She must be crazy.
No, no, no—no matter how crazy, she wouldn’t follow a hysterical outburst like that with this kind of reaction, right?
What was going on?
She can’t possibly still believe Eze is just pretending to cancel the engagement!!
That seemed like the only logical explanation.
But Eze couldn’t bring himself to believe it—this wasn’t the kind of thought any carbon-based lifeform would have.
No choice but to keep calm and lay his cards on the table:
“No, my cancellation has nothing to do with that remark. I maintained the engagement before to make the nobility wary of our relationship, so as to better balance the kingdom’s power.”
“Now that I’m no longer the Hero, there’s no need to keep it. Besides… neither you nor I ever really took this engagement seriously.”
Hearing this, Heidi froze, then shook her head abruptly.
“Not taken seriously… what do you mean?”
“You know what I mean.”
Heidi did understand.
Because, as Eze said, she hadn’t really taken the engagement seriously either—it was just a useful tool to secure her royal status.
But that was only on her side. Eze hadn’t taken it seriously either?
That meant Eze had never held any real feelings for her!?
The shock of this almost made Heidi laugh out loud.
Eze didn’t have feelings for her?
What a joke. How could that be?
If he didn’t, why would he run around for her, lick her boots for two whole years nonstop?
Was he some kind of masochist?
So, Heidi concluded, Eze was lying.
Just like before, the cancellation was a trick to pressure her, to draw her attention, just to make her look at him more.
Ridiculous.
But ridiculous or not, for him to seriously say such an absurd thing just to provoke her—if she didn’t teach him a lesson, what would happen next time?
So, Heidi put on a confused look.
“You… don’t take it seriously? What are you saying? I’ve always been serious about our engagement!”
Then slowly turning to anger:
“What exactly do you mean!? You don’t take our engagement seriously!? And you think I don’t either!? That’s too much!!! Eze, this is really too much!!”
Eze gaped at Heidi as she stood up from the sofa, tears streaming down her face as she cried out:
“So I’m the only one who’s serious!? The only one!? Do you know how many difficulties I faced just to be with you? How many nobles opposed it? I don’t care as long as I can be with you! And you… you actually doubt that I’m serious!?”
Her performance was too impactful.
For a moment, Eze even wondered if he was the one who had misjudged Heidi.
Of course, that thought lasted only a moment.
By now, the princess had completely slipped into her role.
She tore the Summons she had just brought into tiny pieces and flung them in Eze’s face.
“I didn’t know you felt this way… you actually think like this… fine, very well, then it’s settled! The engagement is off! Consider me never your fiancée!”
To Heidi, since Eze’s cancellation was fake, he must still not want to lose her.
If he didn’t want to lose her, then if she really called off the engagement, wouldn’t he panic and jump up in regret? Then come find her to apologize?
And to earn her forgiveness, he’d have to work even harder, be more attentive and devoted than before.
This would not only bring Eze back, but also serve as a distraction to teach that bitch a lesson.
Confident in her sure victory, Heidi unleashed her full acting talent.
Completely ignoring the petrified Eze, she cried as she turned and ran out of the reception room, threw open the front door, and fled without looking back.
“No, you—”
By the time Eze reached the door, her figure had already vanished into the darkening night.
Staring after her retreating form, Eze felt his worldview shatter, his head pounding as he nearly collapsed—luckily he grabbed the wide-open doorframe before falling.
Viridian, who had been hiding upstairs watching the drama unfold through her Familiars, now descended the stairs with a sigh.
“How strong-willed is this woman? Her face is even thicker than her shield. In this situation, even throwing a Curse of Death at her probably wouldn’t work…”
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