I thought it was over, but Laryana was still there.
A wave of annoyance, irritation, and fatigue crashed over him. But Yohan suppressed it and maintained his composure.
This was a party for nobles, and she was the Empire’s princess. He couldn’t show the slightest crack.
“…Your Highness. I fear I may not have fully understood your words just now. Could you please repeat them for me?”
Yohan said with an effort to smile, though the muscles in his face twitched as if they might collapse at any moment.
“I told you that I still have a chance.”
Laryana spoke cheerfully, shrugging her shoulders lightly.
“Count Rahardt may have rejected the marriage proposal from the imperial family, but you haven’t refused my proposal as a woman, have you?”
“……”
What kind of wordplay is this? Yohan’s barely maintained smile was on the verge of breaking.
“To avoid any misunderstandings, may I ask? Did Your Highness personally request this marriage proposal?”
Laryana shook her head.
“No? I’m not an immature daughter who begs His Majesty for a marriage.”
She continued speaking.
“This proposal was decided by His Majesty and my brother, the Crown Prince. However, what they say represents the imperial will, so it’s my will as well.”
Even as she said this, Laryana wore a noble smile. But beneath that radiant grin, the sharp determination couldn’t be entirely hidden.
“…So, Your Highness wishes to continue with this forced marriage proposal?”
“Yes. Precisely.”
Laryana added with a bright exclamation.
“Ah, I misspoke. It’s not about discussing a marriage between Count Rahardt and the imperial family. I want to discuss a marriage between Yohan Rahardt and Laryana Rozino.”
In short, she was proposing a marriage purely as a relationship between a man and a woman.
“…I trust Your Highness is fully aware that what you’re saying does not align with common sense?”
It was a polite way of saying Don’t talk nonsense.
“Hmm? And why does it not align with common sense?”
“I am already on the verge of an engagement with Lady Ferbache.”
“So what? As long as you don’t give up, the possibilities are endless, aren’t they?”
“…This doesn’t seem like the right context to say such things.”
“Is that so? But if I don’t say it now, I won’t find a more appropriate opportunity.”
She wasn’t making any sense. Yohan closed his eyes tightly, trying to recall whether Laryana had always been like this.
As the Empire’s third princess, she hadn’t been mentioned much in the original work compared to other characters, so information about her was scarce.
The only time Yohan had met her previously was when she had assigned him an imperial task, during which he visited the Diamond Palace and shared an afternoon tea with her.
“What on earth is she thinking? Was her head always this full of flowers?”
To deal with her appropriately, he needed to understand her personality and motives. However, Laryana gave no clues about either.
“…I thought Your Highness would not be pleased with this marriage proposal.”
“And why is that?”
“Didn’t you mention earlier that this marriage proposal has nothing to do with Your Highness’s wishes?”
Yohan continued speaking as he observed her maintaining her artificial smile.
“And you said you wished to choose the man you would spend your life with yourself.”
“…So you remember that?”
“It wasn’t that long ago.”
“Hmm…”
Laryana’s golden eyes wavered. Yohan quietly gazed into those eyes.
At his steady stare, she flinched slightly but soon offered a small smile, tilting her head just a bit.
“Well, to be honest, I’m not particularly thrilled about this situation either, but in the end, I am discussing marriage with the man I’ve been wanting, am I not? I don’t see it all that badly.”
To put it nicely, it was a compromise. To put it plainly, it was submission.
“So, let’s take things slow and get to know each other. The Count of Rahardt may be engaged soon, but the wedding hasn’t happened yet, has it? People’s hearts can always change, so don’t decide too hastily.”
Yohan’s eyes narrowed. His brow furrowed. At this point, it seemed almost characteristic of royalty—none of them were in their right minds.
“I—”
“I can’t listen to this.”
Just as he was about to speak, a familiar voice rang out. Yohan turned his head. Francia was approaching, her face hardened.
“…Francia?”
When Yohan looked at her, Francia smiled faintly and tilted her head.
“I wondered what could have happened since you weren’t showing up, but here you are, with someone who’s forgotten basic etiquette.”
Laryana’s eyebrow twitched as she realized that comment was clearly directed at her.
“Forgotten etiquette…? Lady Ferbache, are you insulting me right now?”
“Oh? Insult? I don’t know what you mean. I only speak the truth.”
Francia stared straight at Laryana. Her crimson eyes sank deep, filled with displeasure.
Stepping forward, she continued, her tone calm but sharp.
“If showing interest in someone who already has a lover is considered proper etiquette, then who, I wonder, could be accused of lacking it?”
Her voice was soft, but the force behind it was piercing.
“…Ha?”
Laryana let out a hollow laugh, narrowing her golden eyes and curling her lips into a smile.
“I wonder if openly making such remarks is truly a dignified act. Perhaps you haven’t forgotten your manners, have you?”
It was noble speak.
To interpret…
[Where do you get off talking like that? Are you out of your mind?]
“To witness someone coveting another’s lover, at least I can confidently say that I’ve maintained behavior within the bounds of etiquette. Would you not agree?”
More noble speak.
[Compared to a shameless thief coveting someone else’s partner, I think I’m being pretty polite, don’t you?]
The two women’s gazes clashed in the air. The atmosphere turned cold as ice. A silent war broke out to see who would back down first. It was a battle of pride.
As their voices gradually grew louder, Yohan began to worry that someone might notice. He hurriedly glanced around.
Fortunately, they were in a corner of the party venue, a less crowded area that didn’t draw much attention.
Besides, ever since the emperor left, many nobles had already returned to their estates.
Laryana scoffed.
“Hmph. The Lady of Ferbache certainly speaks her mind. Your family’s teachings must be quite unique, how fascinating.”
[You’ve got no manners. Is this what your family teaches you?]
Francia smiled faintly as she replied.
“Watching Your Highness’s actions, I can’t help but think His Majesty might have allowed a slightly freer education.”
[And you’re the one who seems like you weren’t taught manners at all.]
“…Have you truly considered the consequences of your actions? It’s a behavior I find incredibly difficult to comprehend.”
[Are you serious? You really want to pick a fight with me?]
“It was Your Highness who made the first move. Whatever happened to basic moral principles?”
[You started this, remember? Did you leave your common sense at home?]
A strange tension crackled between Francia and Laryana. Their raised gazes refused to back down.
By now, their exchange had escalated beyond what could be called a ‘conversation.’
“Uh, I think things are getting a little heated. Maybe we should…”
Yohan awkwardly laughed, trying to intervene.
“Stay quiet, Yohan. This is a fight between women.”
“Yes, once something begins, it should be finished properly, don’t you think?”
He was shut down instantly.
Feeling the dangerous energy swirling between the two, Yohan kept his mouth tightly closed. His father….Viscount Harssen…had once told him never to meddle in women’s fights.
Given how much trouble his own handsome face had brought him in the past, Yohan figured his father’s judgment was trustworthy. Experience and wisdom couldn’t be ignored.
“Your Highness, perhaps you should consider the consequences of your actions more deeply. Given that the House of Ferbache already harbors displeasure toward the imperial family, I hope you won’t make another mistake.”
[Stop it while I’m still being nice. You know the imperial family already angered Ferbache, right? Push any further, and I can’t promise how things will turn out.]
“Hmph. Lady Ferbache, and what if I don’t stop? What measures could you possibly be considering? I’d very much like to see how realistic those are.”
[And if I don’t stop? What exactly are you planning to do? Are you threatening me?]
“Should I take that to mean you’re prepared to see this through to the end? I trust you can bear the full weight of that choice.”
[So you’re saying we’re going all the way with this? I hope you’re ready for what comes next.]
“Ugh…!”
At a loss for words, Laryana clenched her fists and bit her lips. The golden beauty that had defined her features twisted, though it retained an eerie, chilling beauty.
“The outcome seems clear already. Backing down now would be wiser for both parties. Your Highness should act with a bit more prudence.”
[Looks like I’ve won this round. Let’s stop here. I’ll let you off this time, but there won’t be a next.]
Francia smiled leisurely, lifting her chin with the air of a victor.
“Hoo… Fine. I think the mood has gotten slightly out of hand, so I’ll excuse myself for now.”
In the end, Laryana conceded. Even as the third princess, she couldn’t afford to escalate a conflict further with Ferbache’s heir, not when tensions with the imperial family were already frayed.
“…I’ll see you next time, Count Rahardt.”
“Next time? I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“…..”
Laryana bit her lip hard. Her gleaming golden eyes wavered, and her gaze eventually dropped to the floor. In contrast, Francia wore a soft, confident smile.
“Tch.”
Laryana clicked her tongue sharply, throwing one last glare at Francia before turning on her heel. It was the best display of anger she could manage.
Click. Click.
The sound of her heels echoed softly as she walked away.
“Phew. Picking a fight just to run away like that…..how infuriating.”
With a sigh, Francia scoffed and puffed her chest out proudly. It was a side of her Yohan hadn’t seen before, even though they hadn’t been together for very long.
“Um… uh.”
Yohan said nothing further. At moments like this, silence was golden.
“Shall we head back?”
Francia’s face softened instantly, as if nothing had happened, and she turned toward Yohan with a bright, radiant smile.
“Uh… yeah.”
Yohan stared at her for a moment before nodding weakly.
Simply standing on the sidelines and watching the exchange had completely drained him.