Eze had thought that once he persuaded Heidi to leave, he could finally have a few quiet days.
He never expected that this was only the beginning.
“Eze, Viscount Edgar told me about some scenic spots, and it’s the perfect season for the blossoms. Want to go see them together?”
“Eze, I found a nice café. You’ve been working way too hard lately—you should come have some afternoon tea with me.”
“Eze, there’s a local Antique Dealer who seems to have collected some really interesting items. He invited me to visit and even said he’d give me a few pieces. Won’t you come with me?”
In just two days, Heidi kept showing up with all sorts of excuses, trying relentlessly to drag Eze out, sometimes visiting multiple times a day from morning till night.
Eze spent all day refusing her invitations, unable to get any of his own tasks done.
Counting it all up, she had invited him more times in these two days than in the past two years combined.
It was so deliberate it was practically written all over her face.
And yet, Heidi was still desperately trying to play it cool, as if none of it was obvious.
Whether she was embarrassed or not, Eze certainly was.
On the evening of the third day, Heidi showed up again, handing him an invitation.
“There’s a banquet tonight organized by the Tafia Merchant Guild, and I was invited too. But it’s a bit dull for a lady to attend alone—will you accompany me?”
Eze’s face twitched, his patience running thin.
“Heidi, I’ve told you countless times, I’m not going. I’m not going anywhere these days.”
“Because Viscount Edgar invited you? It’s fine, fine. He’ll be there himself tonight, along with many other distinguished guests. It’s a grand affair, no less than the banquet a few days ago.”
“…No. I’m not going, no matter what you say.”
For Heidi, a lavish banquet was a plus point—it meant more attention and flattery.
But for Eze, the situation was the exact opposite.
A grand event with nobles attending was enough to trigger his PTSD.
Saying this only made Eze’s expression even more sour than before, and his mood even worse.
Over two years, Heidi hadn’t once bothered to learn what Eze liked or disliked—if she had, it would have been strange.
Other than treating him as a useful tool, Heidi had never truly tried to understand him.
Being rejected again made Heidi anxious.
From their first encounter, she had thought Eze still had feelings for her and could be manipulated.
She had been confident about how things would progress.
But after several days of her constant efforts, Eze remained unmoved.
Originally, this wouldn’t have been a problem.
As the saying goes, “good things take time,” and Heidi was still confident about her plan, but the current situation no longer allowed her to delay.
Lia had already given her over half a week, and if there was no result by then, who knew how that lunatic would vent her anger on her?
Meanwhile, Rodrick had grown increasingly impatient since his ploy to lure Eze away had failed.
Fearful for his own life, he had even ordered his men to take action several times, fortunately stopped by Heidi each time.
There was no time left.
Heidi didn’t understand what Eze was doing or thinking.
If he liked her and cared about her, shouldn’t he have dropped everything and come running at her word? What was with all the pushing and resisting!?
How utterly shameless.
Or was it that she was simply giving him too much leeway?
Thinking she was his Fiancé, he must think he could do whatever he pleased.
It was absolutely true!
Fuming, Heidi slammed the table and shouted:
“Eze, you’re going too far!!! Inviting you is giving you face! What right do you have to keep pushing me away like this!? Just because of our Engagement!?”
The moment the angry words slipped out, she immediately froze.
How had she revealed her true feelings like that!?
But once spoken, the words couldn’t be taken back.
She hurriedly changed her expression and apologized:
“Sorry, I… I went too far—I haven’t been myself these past few days without you around…”
Along with the apology, she subtly shifted the blame away. Her Highness the Princess never took the blame.
Feigning guilt, Heidi curled up back in her seat, stealing glances at Eze out of the corner of her eye.
To her surprise, Eze wasn’t angry or sad, just sighed helplessly and shook his head.
This caught Heidi completely off guard.
Her words had been harsh, but if Eze still liked and cared about her, how could he have no reaction at all?
Before Heidi’s mind could catch up, Eze, having made up his mind, said calmly:
“Heidi… no, Your Highness the Princess, if that’s truly how you feel, then it’s simple—we’ll just cancel our Engagement.”
Expecting Heidi to realize this on her own was wishful thinking.
Realizing that, Eze didn’t drag things out further. Seeing her slip, he laid his cards on the table.
Heidi’s mind completely froze at that moment.
For a whole minute after Eze finished speaking, she just stared with her mouth open, eyes wide, unable to utter a single word.
Her mind was blank—no thoughts or emotions stirred.
By the time she finally understood what had happened, she was slumped in her seat, her voice fragile as if it might break at any moment, whispering:
“…W-what did you say?”
“I said, cancel the Engagement.”
“Our Engagement?”
“What else?”
Another long silence followed, then—
“…No, that’s impossible. You… you can’t say that, it’s impossible… You can’t…”
The completely unexpected turn of events threw Heidi into total panic.
Her eyes glazed over and lips pale, she kept muttering as if trying to brainwash herself.
Then suddenly, she lifted her head, as if grasping a last straw, a spark of light flashing in her eyes. Her helplessness instantly turned into anger.
“T-This… this can’t be true. You’re just angry, right? You said it to upset me because you’re mad at what I said earlier, right?”
“I’m serious…”
“No, you’re not—”
Heidi screamed hysterically, staggering to her feet and pointing at Eze as she shouted:
“I know, I know it all!!! You’re just trying to make me angry, you’re doing it on purpose… Yes, you don’t really want to cancel the Engagement, you’re just trying to make me mad!!!”
All her usual schemes and calculations were completely forgotten in this moment—only raw emotion remained.
Her last shred of reason knew she was making things worse, but inside and out, from head to toe, she had lost all control.
In contrast to Heidi’s outburst, Eze simply shook his head calmly.
Whether it was the intensity of the moment or some self-protection mechanism in the Princess’s mind kicking in, she actually calmed down.
Of course, how could Eze really leave her?
Even if he did, he had liked her for two years. Could he be so calm about leaving?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!!!
So there was only one answer.
It was an act, a trick—a trap Eze had set to gain the upper hand!
Holding onto this thought, Heidi’s emotions quickly steadied.
Opposite her, Eze buried his face deeply in his hands.
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