Ah, there's no stopping now. I glanced at the Duke. He was giving me a strained smile.
“To be so concerned with commoner trends... And to think that everything I do is for your sake, Your Highness—what an impressive display of positive thinking. Given that you've chosen a baron’s daughter who seems light both in mind and... other areas, I suppose it's only natural.”
“Don't you dare insult Lilian.” The Crown Prince raised his voice, glaring at me.
At this point, my mouth couldn't be stopped. I, Iris, resigned myself to the situation.
“It's not an insult; it's a fact. After all, isn't she quite... simple-minded? Both you and Lady Lilian. I was her peer at the noble academy, but she was by no means a top student. She also seems to lack noble etiquette. Moreover, it's quite well-known that Lady Lilian has been involved with many noblemen. Using her teary-eyed ‘special technique’ of looking up at them to win their hearts. Didn't she use that on you too, Your Highness? How unfortunate. In the first place, you had me as your fiancée, and for her to use that technique on you speaks either to her foolishness or her lack of manners as a lady. Not that it matters to me, of course.”
I recognized a few of those noblemen among today's gathering. Their hearts must be pounding with dread right about now.
The dashing Duke finally put his hand to his forehead.
“Lilian, is what she’s saying true?”
There’s no point in questioning Lilian, Your Highness.
“That’s a lie! A complete fabrication to tarnish my reputation!” Lilian weakly replied, her words clearly designed to stir up a man’s protective instincts. “Iris, how cruel. Are you so desperate to win back His Highness' heart?”
“Lady Lilian, are you truly that foolish? I just told you that I no longer have feelings for His Highness.”
Lilian had no response. That’s probably because her mind isn’t sharp enough.
In her place, the Crown Prince looked at me for a moment before speaking.
“Iris, have you forgotten? You once told me you loved me. You said, ‘I'm so happy I can be your bride.’”
“‘I’m so happy I can be your bride.’” That was simply a formal courtesy I was taught by my parents. I was seven years old at the time and merely said what I’d been told. For my parents' sake, I should probably keep quiet about that.
As I glanced over, I noticed the Duke had slipped behind the Crown Prince and was waving frantically at me. How wonderful, he's supporting me!
If I held it in any longer, I might burst into laughter, so I flashed the Duke a radiant smile. That helped calm me down a bit.
The smile, the first ever seen from Iris, who was often called the “Iron Mask,” bewitched everyone who witnessed it. There were gasps of admiration throughout the hall.
Even the Crown Prince, no exception, was momentarily captivated by Iris’s smile.
“If you had shown me that smile from the beginning, I would never have mentioned breaking off our engagement. I understand now. I’ll revoke the annulment.”
The Crown Prince closed the distance between us slightly.
Understand? Understand what, exactly?
I took a step back, erasing the distance he had just closed.
“How many hectares of flowers do you have blooming in that head of yours, Your Highness? You’re bringing up something I said when I was seven. It’s been ten years since then. You’ve taken advantage of your birthright as the Crown Prince and haven’t even learned how to treat women properly. Even if it wasn’t me, anyone would find that off-putting.”
What in the world is going on inside his head? I couldn’t help but let out a small sigh, hiding it behind my fan.
The Crown Prince gazed at me with pleading eyes.
“So you’re saying you no longer love me?”
“Yes, Your Highness, that is correct. I am so pleased you’ve finally understood.”
The Crown Prince murmured sadly.
“But I love you. I just wanted to make you jealous.”
“Your Highness?” Lilian cut in, looking as though she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
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