The Young Lady Has Reached the Limit of Her Patience

by Minato

“I mean, you’ll forgive me, won’t you?”

The man—Claudia’s fiancé, Arnold Lakesandria—smiled innocently as he said this.

After all, it is one of only two Ducal families in the kingdom, a venerable family descended from the former king’s younger brother, and the current Prime Minister is none other than Duke Lakesandria himself. Furthermore, this Ducal family has produced many crown princesses and concubines, and has numerous political achievements.

This prestigious Ducal family chose Claudia, the daughter of the Count of Alresford, as the fiancée.

When Claudia asked why she had been chosen, he succinctly replied:

“It’s because of your abilities. After all, your abilities are irreplaceable.”

“Oh…… I see.”

Claudia possesses the special ability that is most strongly inherited by the Alresford family.

According to legend, this ability originates from the fact that the Alresford family ancestors were elves. By listening to and resonating with the voices of plants, vegetables, fruits, and grains can be cultivated more abundantly than usual.

Flowers last longer than ordinary ones, their petals are vibrantly colored, and their fragrance is neither too strong nor too weak, making it a truly wonderful flower. This ability is commonly known as “Blessing of Abundance” or the “Blessing of Harvest”.

Since this kingdom is one of the world’s leading agricultural powers, the Duke was very enthusiastic about marrying her into the family to further develop the nation.

Also, the Alresford family was overjoyed, saying, “We never thought that our County would marry into a Dukedom and contribute to the kingdom!” However, ever since they first met, Claudia’s smile had gradually been fading away

“(Ah, not again……)”

A date was set for a tea party, yet he casually showed up late.

She had been told to accompany him, so she dressed up and waited. However, the person who had invited her said, “Oh, was it today?”. He had forgotten the date for some reason, so she ended up going alone and became the laughingstock of the venue.

“…… Master Arnold.”

“Oh, Claudia! We didn’t make any plans for today, did we?”

“…… There’s a dinner party for both families this evening.”

“…… huh, is that right?”

Arnold never means any harm.

However, he has a rather unbridled personality and often forgets appointments or arrives late without any ill intent. The Duke of Lakesandria thought that if he were to be engaged to the serious and responsible Claudia, it might help tame his carefree nature, but it was to no avail.

Was the engagement to correct his personality, or was it just for the sake of Claudia’s abilities? After she protested once, things seemed to improve slightly, but never significantly.

“I have informed you, so please do not forget.”

“Yes…… I had another appointment today…”

“…… I understand there will also be a discussion about my future with Master Arnold.”

“…… Well, in that case, I can’t very well not attend… I guess there’s no other way.”

Claudia saw Arnold sigh dramatically and thought to herself, “I’m the one who wants to sigh!”. She was grateful that she didn’t actually say it out loud.

She also wondered how he managed to get by so well despite being so careless. The truth is that Arnold is incredibly intelligent.

Arnold is three years older than Claudia and has an impressive track record from his days at the Royal Academy. He submitted a botany paper that caught the attention of a famous professor. Despite being forgetful, he never forgets important meetings or deals. There are many such anecdotes about him.

“…… Then, I’ll take my leave.”

“Huh? Your leave?”

“…… Anyway, since Master Arnold will be having lunch with another lady after this, I thought it would be better if I weren’t present.”

Despite Claudia’s cold-hearted response, Arnold laughed cheerfully and said “Oh, that’s right!”, so Claudia could only give up and smile awkwardly.

“No, I’m sorry for my foolish son’s behavior, Miss Claudia.”

“…… No, Master Arnold is a very busy man, so it can’t be helped.”

Even at the dinner table where members of both families were gathered, Claudia was smiling.

She was simply following her mother’s advice that a young lady shouldn’t change her facial expression too much. More than anything, though, her parents’ desire not to upset the duke was probably the most important factor.

After all, the parents of both families, rather than the couple themselves, want this marriage to succeed at all costs.

“(…I wonder what would happen if I revealed here that you’ve even made me manage schedules for the young ladies you wanted to ‘play with’ before marriage.)”

Though Claudia was thinking quite dangerous thoughts inside, she still smiled and gently shook her head.

Yes, this is fine, Claudia told herself, but a sense of emptiness slowly crept into her heart.

“Huh……?”

“So, my cousin wants to see the same play we’re going to see tomorrow.”

“Um …….”

Claudia had invited him to enjoy a leisurely play together, which was unusual for her, and he had agreed. Now, she wondered why it had turned out like this.

“Oh, it’s okay. I’ve already bought an extra seat.”

For the first time, Claudia felt a sense of disbelief toward Arnold.

She was sure that he would eventually settle down once they were married.

After all, it was not the couple themselves who had wanted to marry, but their parents. It was like a so-called contract marriage, and she thought that the Duke’s son, who would understand the importance of the contract, would behave properly.

“…… Go ahead, do as you please.”

She wanted to argue, but knew it would cause more trouble if she upset Arnold. By that point, Claudia’s heart had grown completely cold.

She wanted to ask, “Who is yours?”.

But she stopped herself.

She decided it would be too much trouble, so she gave up.

“By the way, Claudia, I’d like to take you somewhere for lunch that day, so could you let me handle the reservation?”

Ah, so that’s what you’d expect from a fiancé. She thought and sighed in relief as she left the Duke’s mansion, but it didn’t take long for her to realize that thinking that was a mistake.

On the day of the play, Claudia waited at home, wearing the dress and jewelry that Arnold had specified.

“Claudia, you look wonderful!”

“Dear, that’s disrespectful to my Claudia! Our child is recognized as a very good girl by the Duchess herself, and she’s a lady of good reputation in society!?”

“Ha ha ha, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Claudia had a somewhat bitter expression on her face, but it quickly disappeared as her parents smiled cheerfully.

Arnold’s face lit up when he saw Claudia’s outfit that day.

He has a very well-proportioned face to begin with, so that expression certainly suits him.

With his short, trimmed silver hair, beautiful sapphire-colored eyes, slightly droopy eyelids, gentle smile, he is even called “The Smiling Prince” in social circles.

“That’s right, Liliane. Say hello.”

“…… Haa~.”

The delicate girl, clinging tightly to Arnold, her arm linked through his like a lover’s, glared at Claudia with obvious hostility.

Claudia has long, gently wavy hair, clear and beautiful amber eyes, and sharp, slanted eyes that are unusual for a woman, so she looks cold on the outside, but she usually has a smile on her face and gives off an air of, “I want to talk to her”.

In contrast, Arnold’s cousin, Liliane, has straight golden hair that reaches her waist. Though she wore it in a modest half-up style, she adorned it with a beautifully crafted hair ornament. The gemstone’s color matched Arnold’s eyes. Perhaps due to her lineage, she had drooping eyes, large pupils, plump, alluring lips, and cheeks with a faint pink blush—a face that was the exact opposite of Claudia’s, yet still beautiful.

“My name is Liliane di Lakesandria. Nice to meet you…… Claudia?”

“…… Claudia Alresford, at your service. The pleasure is mine, Miss Liliane.”

“My~! What a delightful person!”

Claudia could have sworn she heard a whisper saying, “At least she knows her place.”, but she thought it was just her imagination.

Liliane clearly has hostility toward Claudia, enough to make her wonder why she needed to be so confrontational, even though they’re cousins.

“Great, I knew you two would get along!”

Claudia was wondering what he was thinking, but she didn’t say anything or show any expression.

She just smiled because she thought it was pointless to say anything to this person. That’s all.

Arnold probably doesn’t realize it, as he and Liliane are laughing together, but he really doesn’t mean any offense.

“Come on, Claudia. Let’s go to the play! Lily, shall we go?”

“…… Yes.”

She answered simply and got into the carriage bearing the Duke’s crest.

As if it were the most natural thing to do, Claudia sat alone, while Liliane and Arnold sat side by side.

But Arnold seemed utterly unfazed by this arrangement.

At first, Claudia had protested.

She tried to argue against it, but it was literally “pointless”.

Arnold replied, “We’re getting married anyway, so if you get too worked up about it now, you’ll just tire yourself out. I may be like this, but I care about you deeply, so let’s not waste our time on useless things.” with a carefree laugh.

This made Claudia feel uneasy, and she slumped her shoulders.

“I forgot. I wasn’t interested in her until we met.”

If she told her friends about today’s events, surely they would all be furious and ask, ” What the hell is wrong with these people?”

No, but she wondered if this is just how cousins act. And even if Arnold explained it to her, she wouldn’t understand or remember. So, Claudia didn’t think she needed to explain anything, but Arnold smiled and looked at her.

“Claudia. I’m sorry, could you please explain?”

“Yes. It’s called the ‘Blessing of Abundance’ or the ‘Blessing of Harvest’…… “

“Ah, so in short, it’s a blessing that is beneficial to our kingdom’s industries. Hmm, that’s all it is?”

“Lily, Claudia’s abilities are really amazing, you know?”

Liliane smiled cutely, but her expression clearly showed that she thought it was just a minor blessing.

It didn’t matter anyway. Even if this person doesn’t recognize her, the Duke and Duchess do, so there’s no problem.

She wasn’t spoken to, and even when she tried to start a conversation, it was cut short with just a word or two. Liliane would bring up topics about herself or her relatives in the Duke’s family, leaving Claudia unable to keep up.

There are probably many things that she will learn once she is married, but her relationship with Arnold is not at that level yet. Or rather, the Duke and Duchess have told her to focus on deepening her relationship with Arnold first.

Claudia had been treated with such consideration that she had been determined to try her best. Now, however, she felt exhausted even before the play began.

However, she thought that if she enjoyed the play, her gloomy mood would lift, so she decided to enjoy the view from the carriage window.

“(I hope we’ll arrive soon…… this time is hell, but I’m really looking forward to the play…!)”

All she could think about was getting to the theater quickly.

“Wow… Elder Brother, it’s so wonderful! Look, over there….”

“Claudia, come on. Take my hand.”

At that moment, Claudia reached out to take the hand that had been offered to her.

“Oh, wait.”

“Don’t just ambush me like that—”

“It’s your fault for ignoring me in the first place, Elder Brother!!”

“(This person…… a Lakesandria family relative…… is she really? If she were a child, maybe I could overlook it, but she looks to be around 16 years old…… ）」

Claudia is 18 years old this year. Arnold has completed his coming-of-age ceremony and is now 21.

Since they were engaged, the wedding itself was just a matter of time. However, Claudia wondered how old Lillian really was… As she was thinking this, Arnold finally turned his gaze toward her.

“Claudia, I’m sorry, Lily is 15 years old now, yet she’s still clinging to me.”

“You two seem so affectionate. It’s really heartwarming.”

As she spoke, Claudia quietly stepped down from the carriage by herself.

She thought she heard Arnold mutter “Ah”, but ignored it. After all, even if she had reacted, he would have just responded with his usual words: “We’re getting married anyway.” or something.

However, as expected, there were too many people around.

Although it would make Claudia feel uncomfortable if she were alone, it was necessary for them to show off their loving and harmonious relationship to maintain the reputation of the Duke’s family. Thinking about it that way made her feel a little bad.

However, since Liliane was clinging to him and he couldn’t pull her away, her thoughts started going in a negative direction, to the point that she probably didn’t think anything was wrong.

Having been completely cheered up by the words “affectionate”, Liliane smiled triumphantly, pulled Arnold’s arm, and led him into the theater.

“(I should go too……)”

By the time the play began, Claudia was completely exhausted, but once she sat down and started watching, she was so engrossed that she forgot all about Liliane.

The seating arrangement was, as expected, Arnold, Liliane, and then Claudia.

In any case, Liliane was acting as if she were trying to tear Claudia and Arnold apart, without the slightest hesitation.

When the play ended, there was a loud round of applause, and the actors bowed together toward the audience.

Claudia gazed at them with a dreamy expression, clapping repeatedly until her palms started to hurt.

Ah, the plays by this theater troupe are so much fun! She thought, and just as she was about to speak to Arnold, Liliane pushed Claudia’s shoulder.

“Huh?”

“You’re such a pervert! Staring only at the male actors all the time!”

“…… Hah?”

Claudia frowned, wondering what this person was talking about, but for some reason, even Arnold was looking at her with a stern expression.

What on earth is going on? Claudia frowned, and when she saw Arnold sighing loudly, her irritation grew.

“Master Arnold, if you have something to say, please do so.”

“…… Huh?”

It’s only natural to watch the actors, she thought, but Arnold was frowning unhappily.

“(…Who does he think he is?)”

The more she thought about it, the more disgusted she became, regardless of whether he was her fiancé.

All this time, Claudia has always been the one to give in, desperately enduring all sorts of things. Yet, for just one theater performance, and for merely watching the actors, she’s being treated like this.

She wanted to scream that he was the one who made others put up with everything, but if she shouted here, Claudia would end up looking like the villain.

So, Claudia deliberately made a troubled expression and sighed softly, deciding to counter with a bit of sarcasm.

“Well…… if you are going to blame me, then you, Miss Liliane, are the same. Isn’t that also the case with Master Arnold?”

“………… Eh, well.”

“Please enlighten me. Come on, Miss Liliane, Master Arnold.”

Claudia’s unassailable counterargument left Liliane speechless, turning her face bright red.

She probably tried to give Arnold a bad impression of Claudia, but unfortunately for her, even Claudia would not show any mercy if continually attacked like that.

It was a minor act of revenge, but Liliane’s eyes darted around wildly, and Arnold looked flustered.

More than anything, though, they were enduring the stares from those around them.

“Oh no, I was also looking at my favorite male actor, so my fiancé might scold me.”

“No, no, I couldn’t take my eyes off the beautiful female actress who gave that wonderful performance either. How could I blame you?”

An engaged couple who happened to overhear them delivered a devastating blow.

Serves you right, Claudia thought, but her heart felt more refreshed than she thought it would. In fact, even if she could enjoy the play absentmindedly, there are inevitably actors who catch the eye, so isn’t it natural to follow actors of the opposite sex with your eyes?

Liliane, who had been listening to the conversation and seemed frustrated, looked away.

“Big brother! But Lily…!”

“Just do it!”

Perhaps it was enough that she had been prompted to apologize.

“(What should I do? I don’t feel anything of it.)”

She felt refreshed, but that was all.

After all, Claudia and Arnold were supposed to enjoy today’s play alone together, but because there was an extra person, she never imagined she would feel so unpleasant.

She wanted to break off the engagement somehow, but how could she do that?

Her inner monologue, which would receive no answer, melted away and disappeared.

As she stood there in a daze, a carriage arrived, and Claudia quickly got in. Liliane was making a fuss behind her and Arnold was desperately trying to comfort her, so Claudia closed the carriage door without mercy as soon as she got in.

“…… Huh, Claudia!?”

She signaled the driver, and the carriage started moving.

She had heard that someone from the Alresford family would come to pick her up at this time, so she had simply boarded the carriage to return home.

Arnold could call a carriage for himself, that’s all. Since he is already an adult, he should have been able to figure that out on his own. Oh, that’s right, there was going to be a dinner party at the Alresford house today, but if she returned there with Liliane, she didn’t know how her parents would react.

Claudia decided that she couldn’t bring an uninvited third party with her, so she returned home. The moment she arrived, her father slapped her hard across the cheek.

The heavy sound of the slap and the unpleasant sensation of her head swaying from the impact.

As she held her cheek, her father immediately shouted angrily, but it was as if she were underwater, and Claudia couldn’t make out what he was saying. However, it seemed to boil down to the following.

According to her father, “Why didn’t you bring Arnold?”, “It’s no problem if Liliane is there”, and “A true lady is open-minded enough to accept such things”.

As far as Claudia is concerned, she’s “completely irrelevant”, but her mother was desperately trying to protect her, it seems.

However, since her mother also wants a connection with Arnold, no, a connection with the Lakesandria family, so in the end, she concludes that “Arnold’s actions weren’t bad,” and Claudia unconsciously realizes that expecting anything is pointless.

“Alright, go to another play or whatever and invite Master Arnold!”

“……”

“…… Understood.”

“Hmph. You should have done that from the start. Stupid girl!”

Apparently, it doesn’t matter anymore as long as her father can confirm that he had scolded Claudia and that he could maintain the current relationship with Arnold.

As she watched her parents walk along, laughing cheerfully and saying, “Okay, let’s pull ourselves together and get back to the meal!”, she felt her heart grow cold.

She had no complaints about entering into a marriage for the sake of the family.

But she didn’t want the “heart” behind it to be disregarded. Claudia’s feelings of resignation grew stronger, thinking that such cries of the heart would never be heard. However, a change was surely coming.

“…… What? The crop yield?”

The report that the King and the Crown Prince received from the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry was astonishing.

“However, as long as the Alresford family’s abilities remain intact, there should be no issues with agriculture, right? Of course, there are conditions…”

“Hmm…… that should be the case.”

King Dante Di Kielmeyer pressed a hand to his temple, his expression grim as he pondered.

The current bearer of the ability is reported to possess considerable power.

Therefore, in order to ensure her safety, the royal family issued an order to the Lakesandria family, stating, “Ensure her happiness and safety, for a contented heart magnifies the Blessing of Abundance tenfold. Strengthen this kingdom’s foundation: its agriculture.”.

They had been informed that Claudia’s relationship with Arnold, the Lakesandria family’s son and her fiancé, was going well.

If that’s the case, there should be no problem, he thought reassuringly.

After all, both families should know that the most important condition for maintaining the ‘Blessing of Abundance’ is the happiness of the person with the ability. That’s how it has to be.

However, upon reviewing the data submitted, it was confirmed that production has indeed decreased slightly each year since the engagement was reported. Surveyors were sent to investigate, considering the possibility of weather or soil conditions being the cause, but the soil properties themselves had not changed.

A thorough investigation was conducted, including measuring the acidity of the soil and checking whether any fertilizer or cultivation methods had been changed, but no clear cause was found.

Nevertheless, even without the “Blessing of Abundance,” the Kingdom of Kielmeyer’s agricultural production is considerably higher than that of other countries.

“…… But still.”

“Father, if there is a clear decrease…… then surely the cause could be that the bearer of the special ability is suffering from an illness or something!”

“It’s a possibility.”

Leoncio, the Crown Prince, rose to his feet, determined to investigate all possibilities.

“No, wait. If we act and something goes wrong, that won’t do.”

“…… then …….”

“I believe the bearer of the ability is the daughter of the Count of Alresford. She is set to graduate from the Royal Academy this year and marry into the Lakesandria family, but…”

“If that’s the case, let’s send an investigator to the academy discreetly.”

Both nodded in agreement, and it was decided that Angelina, Leoncio’s wife and the Crown Princess, would conduct a discreet investigation.

“I’m sorry, Angie.”

“No, it’s fine. Besides, Claudia and I are in the same class, so I’ll do my best to be of help!”

This was truly a coincidence.

Claudia and Angelina were both outstanding students, so they were in the same class with other top students. They had spoken a few times before, but Angelina suddenly remembered something and gently tugged at Leoncio’s sleeve.

“Angie?”

“Now that I think about it, Miss Claudia seemed a bit down lately.”

“…… she is feeling down?”

“Yes, well, I don’t usually see her like that, but the other day she said she was feeling ‘exhausted’ …….”

“Exhausted, you say…….”

Leoncio thought it was just fatigue, but Angelina seemed to think differently.

“It may be a bit sudden, but I’ll ask her about it tomorrow.”

“Yes, please do.”

After smiling at each other, Leoncio and Angelina ended their conversation.

Neither of them could have imagined that what they would hear the next day would lead to such an incredible situation.

“G, good…… morning.”

Claudia, who rarely spoke to Angelina despite being in the same class, was taken aback when Angelina addressed her. It was an honor to be in the same class as the Crown Princess of the kingdom, but the suddenness of the encounter left Claudia unsure of how to respond.

“U, um… is something wrong??”

“Don’t be so nervous. Miss Claudia, you don’t seem to be feeling well lately……”

Claudia was taken aback by Angelina’s words.

However, she felt embarrassed that others had noticed, so she quickly bowed to Angelina.

“I’m so sorry…! I’m sorry for causing you trouble, Lady Angelina!”

“W, wait……! Miss Claudia, please come with me for a moment….”

“Huh?! No, I have class now…!”

“An hour won’t hurt!”

“Eeeeeeeeh!?”

Angelina grabbed Claudia’s arm and ran to the backyard, which wasn’t frequented by many people, even though class was about to start.

“…So, um… well, class….”

“Yes!”

“Gah!” Angelina grabbed Claudia’s shoulder.

“What in blazes is troubling your heart so, Miss Claudia!?”

Her tone practically screamed, “What happened to ‘discreet investigation’!?” as she loomed over Claudia.

Furthermore, still holding Claudia’s shoulders, Angelina shook her violently, causing Claudia to let out a scream-like sound, “Um, wait, no, please!”.

“Did something happen? If there’s anything on your mind, I’m always here to listen!”

“Uh, Your Highness, erm.”

“…Ha, I, I just….”

At that moment, Angelina finally came to her senses and stopped shaking Claudia.

Holding her swaying head, Claudia herself hesitated, wondering, “Is it okay to talk about it…?”.

“U, um.”

“Is something wrong… ? Lately, you really don’t seem to be doing well…… I’m worried.”

She wanted to say it.

Her fiancé treats her with utter disregard, breaks his promises, and casually brings others into the relationship who were never part of the original agreement. Such criticism of the heir to a duke’s house could lead to punishment.

Moreover, this engagement is meant to strengthen the bond between the two families, as required by the kingdom. There are various reasons for it, such as maintaining control over the Alresford family’s unique abilities.

If the engagement were to be dissolved for unintended reasons due to careless consultations, wouldn’t it damage the relationship between the two families? In the first place, the engagement is by royal decree, so to break it… such thoughts swirled endlessly in her mind.

However, Claudia thought this was a good opportunity to ask for advice, so she clenched her fist.

“…… Where should I start…?”

“Anything is fine.”

Angelina’s firm assurance was very encouraging, and the devilish Claudia inside her urged her to speak up already. No, in fact, she joined forces with the angelic Claudia, they all chanted “Ready, set, go!” and pushed her with all their might.

“…… Ah!”

Before she knew it, her true feelings slipped out.

Claudia hurriedly closed her mouth, but Angelina was stunned. However, she immediately decided that there must be a reason for this, and gently took Claudia’s hand.

“It’s okay. Tell me anything.”

Claudia calmly observed how quickly Angelina responded. However, after seeing Angelina’s goddess-like smile, Claudia blurted out various things about Arnold.

After hearing everything, Angelina was appalled, and immediately searched her mind for a response, but no matter how many times she thought about it, she came to the same conclusion.

“Break off your engagement with that loser and find someone else” was her only thought.

Given Claudia’s abilities, good nature, and excellence at the academy, candidates would appear in no time if she were to search for another fiancé.

Angelina realized that if Claudia wanted to marry someone of a higher social status, she would likely succeed effortlessly. That’s why she clenched her fist tightly.

“Miss Claudia, please leave it to me!”

“Uh, ah, um.”

Oh no, I said too much! She thought to herself! However, the conversation had already taken an unexpected turn. But… Claudia’s mind was made up.

“(I see, I should have consulted with others sooner.)”

She finally felt her body relax and let out a small breath.

Then, a tear fell from Claudia’s eye.

“Huh……?”

“Miss Claudia! It must have been so painful for you… how pitiful!”

Following Claudia’s lead, tears fell from Angelina’s eyes, too.

“What are you saying!? Just because it’s a marriage ordered by the royal family to strengthen family bonds and the kingdom doesn’t mean it’s okay to disregard Claudia’s feelings like this! This is no different from being held hostage.”

Yes, there was someone who would get this angry for her sake, and Claudia’s heart finally felt a little lighter.

“Better late than never. Miss Claudia, you’re taking the day off from school and coming with me to the palace.”

“But, um, I have an exam coming up….”

“It doesn’t matter! Miss Claudia, I cannot tolerate the fact that your heart has been disregarded like this!”

“…… Lady Angelina……”

Seeing someone who could empathize so deeply with another person’s feelings, Claudia finally smiled. She thought that if the Crown Princess, who would one day become Queen, could be like this, then the kingdom would be in good hands.

“…… Finally, you smiled.”

“…… ah”

Realizing that she hadn’t even been able to smile brought tears to Claudia’s eyes again.

That was the moment her frozen heart thawed just a little.

From there, things moved incredibly quickly.

First, Angelina reported Claudia’s current situation to the King, and then to the Crown Prince, Leoncio, causing him to slump in disappointment.

As a man, he was shocked to find that Arnold could be so insensitive, and immediately summoned both families to discuss the matter.

The members of the Duke of Lakesandria and Count of Alresford who had been summoned looked very puzzled.

They couldn’t think of any reason for what had happened.

So, while thinking about it, the King and Queen arrived at the audience chamber, followed by the Crown Prince and Princess, and Count Alresford was utterly shocked to see Claudia standing there.

“Wh, what are you doing there?! How dare you!”

“I gave permission, so do be quiet, Count.”

Before Claudia could explain it, Angelina spoke firmly, causing Count Alresford to instinctively stiffen.

He hadn’t done anything wrong, so he should just stand dignified. That’s what he told himself, but seeing Claudia clearly being protected by Angelina, he couldn’t help but be suspicious.

“(That girl… why was she there?)”

“At this time, we will dissolve the engagement between the daughter of the Count of Alresford and the son of the Duke of Lakesandria. Additionally, I wish for the Count’s daughter to work as my personal maid. After she graduates from the academy, she will begin working as my maid’s apprentice.”

Of course, the Count of Alresford and the Duke of Lakesandria would not accept this.

However, when Angelina and Leoncio calmly explained what had happened, Arnold, who only had a vague idea of what was going on, turned pale.

“…!?”

“Well, you had an idea. That’s good, I’m relieved.”

Although Angelina said, “That’s good,” her eyes did not smile.

“Even if your engagement is designated by the kingdom, that does not justify treating your partner with contempt.”

Seeing Angelina continue nonchalantly, Arnold’s face grew increasingly pale.

However, he had unfounded confidence. He was sure that if he deeply reflected on his actions, Claudia would forgive him, because she loved him so much. Perhaps because of this unfounded confidence, he looked at Claudia with pleading eyes.

“……”

“It’s a misunderstanding! You understand, don’t you? After all, you’ve always forgiven me before!”

Seeing Arnold smile in a way he never usually did, Claudia grew increasingly exasperated.

Although she had feelings for her fiancé, it felt as though those feelings had shattered into pieces with a single crack.

“…… I’m tired. I’ve reached my limit. I can’t endure being in a relationship with you any longer. If you ever find a new fiancée, please refrain from being unfaithful to her.”

“…… Huh?”

Arnold didn’t understand what Claudia meant by “limit”. Wasn’t he a good fiancé?

How exactly had he been unfaithful?

He hadn’t cheated on her. He had just broken a promise.

“Although our engagement was arranged by the kingdom…… Being by your side will only make me unhappy. That’s why I asked Lady Angelina to protect me.”

“Because……”

“I should have consulted with others around me, I should have pleaded more earnestly, I should have complained about what I don’t like. …… Even though it was a marriage between nobles, I am also at fault for just enduring everything. But who could have imagined that I would be treated so arbitrarily?”

Claudia paused again, and tears welled up in her eyes.

“I’m tired, so now, let me do as I please.”

The Count of Alresford glared at Claudia with a look of anger.

However, while in the past Claudia would have been frightened of her father, she now didn’t care at all and only wanted to distance herself as much as possible.

“You ungrateful child! How dare you ruin the bond His Majesty the King has bestowed upon us!”

As Count Alresford shouted angrily, Angelina, who was even more furious, stepped forward.

“It was I who made this proposal. Furthermore, the investigation was requested by His Majesty the King and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

“…… Huh?”

“Because it’s clearly having an impact. There’s even a possibility that the abilities residing within the Count of Alresford’s daughter are gradually weakening. We can’t overlook such a situation, and above all, it could become a matter of national importance.”

The dumbfounded Count and Countess of Alresford, who were staring blankly, had assumed that their daughter was happy. They had also believed there was no problem at all, but none of it mattered at all.

The only thing that mattered to them was maintaining their connection with the Dukedom.

The Duke of Lakesandria had also thought that once the engagement was finalized, there would be no problems.

He may have appeared to care about her on the surface, but deep down, he didn’t think about her at all and didn’t care about her. His daughter was secondary, and it was doubtful that he had given her abilities proper consideration.

“…… even though she’s your own daughter.”

When the King said this with a sigh, both of them tensed up.

Their lack of attention to Claudia until now, combined with Angelina’s strong desire to prioritize her feelings and Claudia’s wish to “leave home,” led to this summons.

“That’s… not possible.”

“Claudia, your father and mother are at fault! So please come back once more!”

“Our relationship was very good, wasn’t it, Claudia? You and Lily were such good friends, too. I see. You’re sulking! Then, I promise that from now on I’ll put you first!”

Claudia’s mother was stunned, and the Count of Alresford and Arnold pleaded with her to come back.

Even after seeing the three of them that way, nothing resonated with Claudia’s heart. She softly whispered to Angelina.

“That’s right, Claudia has to prepare for her exam, so please leave now. I, Leoncio, and the King and the Queen will handle this.”

Angelina patted Claudia on the shoulder in an encouraging manner, then called over to her lady-in-waiting, giving her a nod.

The savvy lady-in-waiting nodded, and gently addressed Claudia, saying, “This way”, and they both left the audience chamber together.

“Claudia!! Wait, Claudia!!”

“Oh, Young Master Lakesandria. Does it truly vex you so, to lose hold of the bearer of the Blessing of Abundance?”

“That’s not it—I love her!”

“And yet you trampled her heart and left it broken.”

“Leo…… I mean, that’s not……”

“Isn’t it? Why else would the kingdom itself intervene?”

The difference in attitude between Arnold and Leoncio, who had been friends since childhood, was enormous.

First of all, he felt sorry for Claudia that things ended up like this, even though the engagement was for the sake of the kingdom, but on the other hand, it was humiliating that his friend had revealed himself to be such a tactless and indecent man.

“Claudia, those flowers. Can you adjust the colors a bit more?”

“Yes. Ah… let’s do this then!”

At the behest of the senior maid, Claudia quietly offered a prayer. As a result, the buds bloomed gently, and the colors were quickly arranged.

Furthermore, she accidentally prayed for the flowers in the garden to become more vibrant. Now, there are cries of, “What?! More flowers have bloomed!?” “The roses I thought wouldn’t bloom are in full bloom! But it’s not the blooming season!” and “Hey, there’s a new species of flower over here!” from all around.

“…… ah”

“Um… I was having so much fun, I couldn’t help myself.”

“Oh my, the garden is looking very colorful. Was this pavilion ever this beautiful?”

Angelina and Leoncio arrived together, laughing happily at the sight of the panicked maids and other servants.

“Your Royal Highnesses, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess!”

“Dear, you look so lively.”

“Yes, I… I liked studying, but I think I like taking care of flowers and doing research even more!”

Since then, Claudia left home without a word.

As Angelina’s maid, she studied various subjects and obtained her civil servant certification. In addition to her duties as a maid, she was involved in civil service assistance and botanical research.

For Claudia, it was a win-win situation because she could combine her work with research on her abilities. More than that, however, the environment here, where she could fully dedicate herself to her work, seemed to suit her perfectly.

Compared to before, she is now vibrant and able to express her thoughts clearly. Additionally, she must find it incredibly enjoyable that she can use her time to pursue her own interests.

Claudia thought about what might have happened if she had married Arnold, but it was clearly impossible.

Since she works at the royal palace, she might encounter Arnold, but now that she’s with Angelina, she has guards. Even though half a year has passed since they broke up, Arnold still begs her to get back together. Every time, she responds like this:

“Please find a wonderful young lady who will act according to your wishes.”