3. The Engagement

"My~ Such an energetic little sister I have... So much that it's sickening for me to bear."

I smiled bitterly, a sweet sickening smile that made her cute furious face even angrier.

Her violet eyes glowed with unsaid wrath, ready to erupt at any moment.

"You're trying to meet the Crown Prince on purpose, didn't you?!"

(Ah, so she thought I was looking for the Crown Prince. Let's play along for a bit. Since, I'm bored anyway.)

"Oh? Is it that obvious?"

With a mischievous smile, I questioned her, and she balled her hands into fists.

"How dare you!"

"........."

"Didn't you realize I'm the most qualified candidate to marry the Crown Prince?"

"And I'm sure you're aware that you're not the only candidate, Riona."

"... You-!"

Another familiar voice emerged before she could even yell at me.

"What's with all this commotion?"

Riona's eyes lit up and immediately turned her head to father, the Duke of this Dukedom.

"D-daddy!"

Riona's eyes welled up with tears as she hurried toward her father, who was walking calmly to the garden.

(Ah, here comes her habit of crying.)

"Riona? What are you doing here?"

Father lifted his brow at her as Riona simply shook her head and shifted her gaze to me.

"Did you know that while you were gone, your sister Verena visited the Imperial Palace?"

As his attention was drawn to me, Father's eyes widened. When our gazes collided, I stood up from my seat and gave him a polite curtsy and a charming smile.

"Greetings, father. It is such a lovely day, isn't it?"

I greeted him politely. As he always, he seemed displeased. Even in my first timeline, the way he looked at me the moment he sent me off to the Imperial Family to be experimented off didn't change one bit.

(As always, father, that expression of yours is unpleasant.)

"Verena, what is the meaning of this? Why did you go to the Imperial Palace on your own?"

His gaze was frigid, his voice was harsh and authoritative as he questioned.

"Father, she-"

Before Riona could even finish her lines, I beat her to it.

"Please accept my apologies, father. I visited the palace to see Azazel von Elysian, the second prince."

When I stated Azazel's name, his eyes widened.

"That second prince?"

"Yes."

I replied with a smile.

"What business brings you there? And who is that man standing behind you?"

"Father, it's a young love affair. That man behind me is Azazel's faithful knight, Theodore Clayton, whom he entrusted to protect me as a way of expressing his love for me."

Every one of us was enveloped in silence. Even I could tell that Theodore chokes on air the moment I said that.

"... Young love affair?"

"Yes. Sincerely, I fell in love with the second prince at first sight. It was unexpected that he reciprocated my feelings."

"Would you tell me what you're doing right now?"

"Please bestow your blessings on our engagement."

"Verena!"

His loud, powerful voice cleared the air as he looked at me furiously,

"What nonsense are you saying?!"

"... I'm sorry if it upsets you, father."

For a long time, the Dukedom of Zielle has always been neutral. Father has also decided to change those by getting Riona married to the Crown Prince.

Besides, I could care less if Riona married Drystan von Elysian, the Crown Prince. Since, I have to admit, they're both made for each other.

But if I were to say now that I like the second prince who was abandoned, I wonder what father would do.

He wouldn't give me his blessings, of course.

"Do you even know what you're talking about, Verena? The second prince is-"

"Father, I'm sorry for being rude but-"

I sat back in my seat and adjusted my position to make myself as comfortable as possible.

"Mother told me I could marry whoever I wanted."

My abrupt statement about my biological mother caught both father and Riona off guard.

I'm sure father will be against this marriage. But, if I bring up mother in the discussion, I'm confident he won't be able to refuse me.

"She also writes it down on a piece of paper with the Zielle's seal. She, who is a direct bloodline of this Zielle family."

This is one of his weaknesses.

The fact that he is not a direct descendant of the Zielle family and is simply married to a young Zielle lady.

Despite being a duke, in reality, he does not possess much authority.

That's why I'm able to stay alive and well in this house, thanks to my relatives, who still regard me as the only true successor to this Dukedom's blood.

Father can't do anything without me.

"Then, my dear father. I will repeat it once again."

I smiled at him as he looked at me with a distressed expression.

"Will you kindly give us your blessing for my marriage with the second prince, Azazel von Elysian?"

Silence.

He didn't say anything, but his demeanor indicated that he was in serious trouble. Even Riona is leading for him to approve of my sudden marriage.

I mean, who couldn't blame her?

She loves the Crown Prince. What's more is that she won't regard me as a threat after I marry the second prince.

"Father, I'll give you a week to think everything over."

I rose from my seat and turned to face Theodore, who remained silent throughout.

"Let's go, Theodore."

He obediently followed his way behind me, nodding his head.

"I'm anticipating a good response."

I walked past him and Riona on my way into the mansion with Theodore.

I also need to assure Theodore that I have no intention of betraying or deceiving Azazel so that he can have faith in me.

Gaining more allies and their trust is a lot more meaningful to me. It comes with a lot of benefits too.

"I'm curious as to what you're thinking right now, Theodore."

I said, trying to break the silence between us and trying to get him to talk since he's always been quiet.

"........."

"I'm kidding, of course. Please don't give it too much thought."

-

[A Few Days Later]

"W-what is this...?!"

While reading out the letter from that second prince that had been given to him a few minutes ago, the Duke remarked with a menacing glare.

[Dear Duke Lorcan Zielle

Although this appears to be a little too direct, you are aware that I am a person who will simply go to the point.

I want to ask your daughter, Verena Zielle, for a hand in marriage and properly propose to her.

I'm certain she's the one person with whom I'd like to spend the rest of my life.

Sincerely, Azazel von Elysian.]

As the Duke clenched his teeth in rage, his hold on the letter tightened.

The fact that the letter has no room for rejection or argument makes him stressed enough by the situation.

He put the letter on his desk and walked out from his room, approaching Verena's room.

However, he ran into his son, Aldrich, who was on his way to his office.

"Greetings to you, Father. Why are you in such a rush?"

"... That brat Verena is acting just how she wants!"

"Sister Verena? What exactly did she do?"

"She had to be planning something with the second prince. They're both planning on getting married."

Aldrich's eyes widened in response to the unexpected information he had just received.

"The second prince? I don't remember sister and the second prince being close enough to get married."

The Duke twitched his brow as he remembered Verena's sly smile, which reminded him of his previous wife, the late Duchess of Zielle.

"That what's I'm talking about."

-

"Milady, a bouquet has been sent to you."

A happy, sentimental smile crossed Nesrin's face, my personal maid who taken care of me since I was little.

She held out the bouquet which was practically overflowing from her arms.

(That's a lot of roses.)

"Can you tell me who sent this?"

"It's his highness the second prince."

(Azazel?)

"Thank you, Nesrin."

I returned her smile as I took the bouquet of roses from her and lifted the bouquet to my face.

(They're lovely and smell wonderful.)

I walked over to the table and set it down.

(So he's getting into action now, huh? I suppose I should as well.)

"I'd like you to do something important for me, Nesrin."

I smiled at her and she nodded her head, her eyes glittered with excitement as I chuckled.

"Would you give me information regarding the Vad Clan?"

Nesrin's eyes widened but she didn't question me further and merely nodded her head in obedience.

"I understand, Milady."

Vad Clan.

A clan consisting of individuals who possess strength beyond those of ordinary humans.

The only clan that does not have elemental power but can cause harm to an elemental user.

A clan that was forced to obey the Imperial Family.

If they were to disobey, then they're prepared to lose their heads as a punishment.

Vad Clan, the dog of the Imperial Family.