Betrayed by My Fiancé, I Changed My Role from a Viscount’s Daughter to a Lady-in-Waiting to the Quee

「You’re not angry, Marsha-san? Don’t you hate me?」

「Why I would get mad… that’s not what I would do.」

I don’t like you, though. But I’m not angry to you, not at all.

「How can that be…? Even though I didn’t know it, it’s as if I was usurping Raul’s feelings for you all along…」

“Uugh,” the Royal Princess cries again.

「There is no such thing as usurpation. Raul’s feelings belong to Her Highness, so there is no such thing as taking over his feelings for me. So you don’t need to worry about it.」

That’s why, I’ll stop opening the flower garden theater.

「No way, how could you say that, Marsha-san. How can it be that Raul doesn’t have feelings for his fiancée, you, Marsha-san?」

「That’s right, Marsha. You’re my dear fiancée, aren’t you?」

Aside from the Princess who was already crying, why such teary eyes, Raul?

「I’m sorry to hear that…」

I guess you’ve forgotten what happened 10 years ago. You were so crazy in love with her. It’s a fact that was never there in reality, but it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t there between us, the parties involved.

「Umm… To put it simply… why are you talking about something already too late? But do you understand it?」

It’s getting to be a chore to keep up with these two.

「It’s… too late… now…?」

「Yes, that’s correct. It’s too late now.」

To persuade? To clear up a misunderstanding? Such things should have been done 10 years ago, and there is no way to make excuses or second-guess them now. Or what? If they still think they can get by, they are licking me very well.

「Haah… Let me explain in simple terms. May I take these in hand?」

I asked Raul, the owner of the jewelry. The reason was not because of the Princess but because this jewelry is something that was supposed to have been given to me.

「Of course. Because it belongs to you.」

「Well, then, I will not hesitate.」

With that said, I took one earring and hold it close to my ear.

「How is it? Does it fit me?」

Large, bright red rubies and pure gold make up these luxurious earrings.

「…」「…」

「Fufu, that silence is the answer, isn’t it? I don’t think it looks good on me… and besides, I don’t have any piercings open to begin with.」

「Eh?」

「That’s why, I can’t wear them because my ears don’t have piercing holes.」

How could he had thought of giving me earrings without knowing that?

「That’s ridiculous… As I recall, you wrote in your letter that you were going to get your ears pierced…!」

Heh, I remember such thing a long time ago.

「I wrote『I want to open it,』but I didn’t write『I opened it.』」

「That’s a lie…」

It’s the truth.

「Now let’s move on to the next one.」

That said, now the bracelet.

「…Ah.」

The Royal Princess noticed and made a small noise.

「Do you understand? It doesn’t fit. It’s not usable because it falls out.」

I am more slender than the average woman. Or, I am lacking. I can’t help but feel that average sized items are too big, and no matter how nice the design is, it looks awkward.

「Have you gotten your mind off of it? It’s a bit of a stretch to say this is for me. Perhaps you wanted me to use this as a reason to call off the engagement, but you already know that’s impossible, don’t you?」

I don’t know why he’s so reluctant to break off the engagement, but it’s already behind me.

「…」

Without any words to reply, they both fall silent.

「Is that all? If it’s all over, I’d like to go back to work.」

I don’t want to waste any more time on them.

「Wait, Marsha-san. I know your intentions are firm. But I need you to do me this favor.」

「…What is it?」

I have a faint hope that if I hear that request, they might stop following me around.

「Even though Marsha-san is no longer Raul’s fiancée, I still need you to be my lady-in-waiting.」

「Your Highness…!」

Raul is upset, as if to say, why? I was not surprised, but simply dumbfounded. What kind of stupidity is this person talking?

「I’ve been asking you to do this for a decade now. I asked you to be my lady-in-waiting. If I wanted, I would have asked Raul and you to become husband and wife and have you both support me, but I won’t say it now. So please. I want you to come to me…!」

「Hah, that is out of the question.」

「No way, I’m asking you to do this!?」

Of course it’s not going to work!!! You’re giving the impression that you’re making some kind of concession, but you’re not giving up or conceding at all. In the end, it doesn’t matter whether Raul and I are married or not, you want us both by your side!

I wonder why she is so obsessed with me. Somehow, if my guess is correct, I think she’s someone who counts the raccoon dog skins before they’re even caught.

「Your Highness, the Royal Princess. I am the head lady-in-waiting of Queen Myra-sama of the Kingdom of Gran. I have no intention of quitting, and I will never go to you. I appreciate the sentiment, but I will decline. And please don’t ever say such nonsense again.」

「That’s terrible of you, Marsha-san.」

Which is worse? Your selfishness and disregard for my convenience and feelings. I really want you to stop this.

「Please, take it back. I have nothing more to say to you. Or shall I leave?」

I am aware that I am behaving in a way that is beyond rude. But it’s okay. You declared that you are here as an individual, not as royalty, and if you want to punish me, be my guest? I won’t be silent, unlike in the past.

She stood up silently, not glaring at me, but calmly, but with a strong tone, as if she realized that there was nothing more she could do to move me.

「Please take this one back with you. I don’t want you to leave it like this.」

When I pointed to the jewelry, the servants quickly begin to put it away.

「…Marsha-san. I will never give up. I will make you mine…」

The Princess, with tears filling her eyes, looks at me with a glazed look.

「Such a future will not come. That is all I have to say.」

The rest is yours to do with as you please. No matter how much you cry or scream, there is no way I will ever be the Royal Princess’s lady-in-waiting.

「See you soon. Marsha-san.」

I never want to see her again. But as long as she is royalty and I am the queen’s maid of honor, we cannot avoid seeing each other.

「Good day to you, Your Highness.」

So I said just that. I dared not say anything because I am sure that ladies would know what I meant.

I took one look at the back of the departing Princess and breathed a deep, deep sigh.

「Why are you not leaving, Raul?」

What are you waiting for when you should be back with the Royal Princess?

「I wanted to talk to you alone for the last time… Is there nothing more you can say to me?」

「Let’s see. I’m calling off the engagement. So I will no longer have anything to do with you, and we will be strangers.」

I should have had the courage to do so earlier. Because if I had done so, there would definitely not have been a woman who would have been unhappy.

「Maybe it’s too late, but that accessory really was a gift to you. They may have been ill-fitting or one-size-fits-all, but they were my feelings to you.」

「…I see.」

There is no lie in his serious gaze.

「If so, it was a very off-the-mark feelings.」

「Well, when you put it that way… there’s nothing I can say.」

Yeah, that’s correct. I think I was a bit mean-spirited myself. But I want to end it now. No, I think it has to end.

Alia Bollelan. Every time I thought of her, I began to see myself in her image.

The figure that said she would expose the unfaithfulness of the Royal Princess and Raul and bring down the hammer, that is definitely in me. She was now and will continue to be in me, as long as I, as a 15 year old, cannot forgive them.

But now I am a 25 year old adult. I don’t want to be trapped by them forever.

「Goodbye, Raul. I don’t need you anymore.」

「……That’s harsh…」

Raul’s face is contorted with a crumpled smile. If it had been me as a child, I would have tried my best to comfort him, but his expression is painful. But it’s true, so I won’t take it back.

「I’ll give you one last piece of advice.」

But, for the love of my childhood friend, I’ll tell you this for the last time.

「I think you should properly face the reality of Her Highness, not the Princess in your own mind.」

「Eh…」

I continued to say to Raul, who had a look on his face that said, “I don’t understand what you just said.”

「If you don’t know what it means, that’s fine. But hey, you really didn’t know, did you?」

And about Alia Bollelan. And about this jewelry.

I took one look at Raul, who was stunned by my words, and left the reception room.

I then submitted a document requesting the annulment of the engagement, which was accepted without any problems, and it happened to be the same day as the New Pillow Ceremony between His Majesty and Myra-sama.

Subsequently, the dispositions were handed down to the Captain of the 4th Kingsguard Unit and to the 4th Unit itself.

Raul Colden, Captain of the 4th Kingsguard, was demoted and appointed Deputy Commander of the 4th. In addition, the current Deputy Captain was promoted to Captain of the 4th Unit. It was decided to dismantle the 4th Unit and then rebuild it.

Darryl Brace, a member of the 4th Unit, was discharged from the army. He was also expelled from the royal capital of Gran Kingdom. The other three members of the group involved were demoted to knight apprentices.

Furthermore, he was ordered to pay fees and damages to the falsely accused Marshallie Gracis.

However, this case was deemed to be the fault and mismanagement of the 4th Kingsguard Unit, and no responsibility was placed on Royal Princess Priscilla, the master of the Royal Princess’ Palace.