The Duke’s Daughter Is the Knight Captain’s (62) Young Wife Chapter 1

　Formerly, I――Carol Ambrose was the fianceé of this country’s Prince, Reyford el Fureakisuta.

　Even though we were engaged, there wasn’t particularly any love between us. I was the daughter of a duke, and Reyford-sama was royalty. This engagement was just made in the thoughts of『tying pedigree to pedigree towards the next line of royalty.』 Simply said, this was a political marriage.

　Even so, at the very least, being aware that I would become the next Queen I attended cla.s.ses, making an effort to become someone worthy of being the Prince’s fianceé. At the academy I kept my grades at the top, and despite all that I gave up my holidays to take lectures on manners and decorum. I couldn’t shame myself at dance parties, so I also practiced dancing. I gave my utmost. To come even a little closer to what a Queen should be, I encouraged myself and persevered.

　But, those days――Today, I was told they were to end.

「Carol! The engagement between you and I is cancelled as of today! Never show yourself in front of me again!」

　Yes, while holding a woman who wasn’t me, the one who declared such was none other than my fiancé, Reyford-sama.

　In the end we were only engaged, we never exchanged marriage vows, so to the most extent at the academy, I didn’t approach him. This was『to protect one’s purity until their bridal night』, my duty as a n.o.ble. In addition with that I desperately studied and learned etiquette, so at the academy I barely exchanged words with Reyford-sama.

　So, the woman Reyford-sama was embracing, I had no idea who it was.

「……Your Highness, um–」

「I won’t listen to your excuses! Listening to a woman mad with envy ramble will only be unpleasant!」

「I don’t…… quite understand the meaning of what you’re saying, though.」

　That, and please consider our surroundings.

　Not only was this the royal palace, today was also an evening party. As the daughter of a duke, I received a written invitation so I attended together with my father, and I was currently in the middle of talking with my acquaintances.

　I didn’t think that my engagement would be broken off so abruptly and in this manner.

「Silence! The numerous unjust things you’ve done to Mary, I know them! A person with such a filthy heart, as if I could let them be my fianceé!」

「……What…. have I done?」

「You, still trying to dodge the subject when it’s already gotten to this point……!」

　”Tch,” Reyford-sama clicked his tongue.

　Exactly what have I done to anger him so much, I completely have no recollection of it. This is also the first time I’ve heard of this Mary, and I have no idea who she could be. Though judging from His Highness’ att.i.tude, it was probably the girl who was hugging his arm.

　I really don’t remember ever seeing her before.

　Different from me, she was quite a cute girl.

　With blinking eyes and sakura colored small lips. I vaguely felt a charm from her drooping gaze, and she was considerably short.

　I’ll say it once more.

　I really don’t remember ever seeing her before.

「Mary was drawing closer to me, and driven to madness by jealousy, I heard you performed many atrocious deeds! Especially today, before the evening party you tried to push Mary down the stairs!? If I wasn’t still a prince, your head would be gone!」

「……Hah?」

「Listen well, as of today our engagement is cancelled! Never show yourself in front of me or Mary ever again!」

　Our conversation isn’t mes.h.i.+ng.

　What in the world could I say to clear up this person’s misunderstanding? In such a social gathering and having my engagement cancelled one sidedly, I wish he would consider my standing.

　Even so.

　Just like that, while holding the woman next to him he left me.

「……」

「……Carol.」

「………………Hah. Excuse me, dearest Father. It was such a shock, I lost myself for a moment.」

　The one who raised their voice to me, who was blankly staring at His Highness’ back, was my Father, Giliam Ambrose.

　Since the host of tonight’s party was His Highness the King, I asked my Father to be my partner. Normally I would ask my fiancé His Highness Reyford-sama to be my partner, but as everyone saw my engagement being cancelled, I suspect he wouldn’t be my partner anymore.

　Even though it was a misunderstanding, he threw aside our relations.h.i.+p of being engaged and cancelled it. It wasn’t strange that the n.o.bles who saw would say I was problematic woman.

　Towards the gloomy future, a headache began to form.

「What was that just now, Carol?」

「……No, I don’t understand either.」

「You, towards that Mary girl…… I believe she’s the daughter of a Baron, Mary Hopkins……Saying you hara.s.sed that girl, what does that mean?」

「……I completely have no recollection of doing so.」

「What about today, where you tried to push her down the stairs?」

「……How could I to push a person downstairs when I’ve been nowhere near them?」

　Sighing, I wearily told my Father.

　There was no evidence that I had hara.s.sed her or more, and even more so today, the case where I tried to push her down the stairs was without a question, not me. Coming to the royal palace the entire way in a carriage, and afterwards while holding the arm of my Father all along, I attended the evening party.

　While in such condition, pus.h.i.+ng another person off the stairs, I couldn’t possibly do such a thing.

「Then, this is His Highness’ misunderstanding.」

「……That would make it so.」

「I wouldn’t say this in a loud voice, but……is His Highness really a person to make such thoughtless remarks?」

　Sighing, Father held his head.

　And, in the depths of his gaze, a cold anger burned with strength.

「Without a shred of evidence, while holding the wrong impression he denounces his fiancée, and while embracing another woman he forces an engagement cancellation. Furthermore in a place for everyone to see…… Carol, it’s a shame, but give up on this engagement with His Highness Reyford-sama.」

「Well, I suppose……」

　It wasn’t as if I held a romantic inclination towards His Highness anyways.

　Rather, if the heavy responsibility of becoming Queen was taken away, then it would actually make me happy.

　Saying that though, since I was his fiancée, I wanted to support His Highness, but that just made the me who once thought that look stupid, so I became depressed.

　The surroundings whispered indiscernible things towards us.

　Well, that was only natural. We had been engaged since we were young, and our marriage was a set matter after we graduated from the academy. Since it was abruptly cancelled, of course it would become a topic of conversation.

「……Even if I’m told to marry him again, I would like to refuse.」

「I wouldn’t do such an impudent thing. Good grief……This marriage was brought forth from the royalty, so without a choice, I cooperated. To think it would be arbitrarily cancelled in this manner, and furthermore, to be groundlessly denounced in this sort of place…… How foolish. His Highness has made enemies of the Ambrose Ducal House.」

「Father, if you say it in such a loud voice, it will be treasonous.」

「Still……Carol, leave it to me. Without fail, I will make His Highness take responsibility.」

　If Father said so, then I could be at ease.

　As one would expect, having such a long standing engagement cancelled, saying I didn’t feel a thing would be a lie. But, being accused with such childish reasoning, rather than sadness I felt a sense of astonishment well up.

　I never thought that he was a person who wouldn’t listen to people to such an extent.

「But……Carol, you may not get any more marriage offers.」

「……I am aware.」

　On this day, I was affixed with the label of 『a n.o.blewoman whose engagement with royalty was cancelled』. I probably wouldn’t get anymore marriage proposals.

　If someone were to marry me, there would be friction between them and the royalty. Such discord, n.o.bles did not wish for.

　Seriously…… How did it become this way?

　But, this was a good opportunity.

「Father.」

「Hm?」

「If it could be granted, then it would be splendid. If impossible, then it’s fine. I have a wish.」

　While saying that, I stared at the person in the far distance.

　Since childhood, the person I’ve yearned for. But the engagement to the Prince was already decided, so I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to be tied to him.

　But since it’s come to this, then wouldn’t it be fine for me to live for true love as well?

「……Can I propose an engagement with Wilhelm Aibringer-sama?」

　For the longest time, I thought I would have to hide these feelings in my heart.

　If this was possible, then I wanted to fulfill it.

　My beloved Wilhelm-sama.

　From now on, Carol will live for true love.

　Before my eyes, he was silent but he let off a kind aura, and while looking at the white bearded knight captain, I breathed out a hot sigh.