“Congratulations on your engagement, Emma! Now we can always be together!”
At school, Margit showered Emma with enthusiastic congratulations. Becoming the duchess of Rengefelt would naturally mean closer ties to Margit, the future princess.
“It looks like we’re in for a long friendship,” Emma said warmly.
“I always knew it would come to this. Shiller-sama is as remarkable as ever,” Margit replied with a grin.
Barely a month had passed since Emma’s engagement with Nick was annulled, and now she was engaged to the duke’s heir. Though Emma worried about gossip, not a single negative word reached her ears. Classmates congratulated her sincerely, and even students she didn’t know approached to offer their well-wishes. The emergence of a new, powerful figure—the future Duchess of Rengefelt—had inspired both admiration and opportunistic flattery.
* * *
Emma savored the peace and happiness of her days, but beneath the surface, other rumors were circulating.
— “Lord Nick’s womanizing ways are notorious. He’d be a disaster as a husband.”
— “Apparently, the daughter of the Naga family considered him for marriage because of his business talent, but that’s off the table now.”
One afternoon, while working on a design, Margit interrupted. “Emma, could you design another accessory for me?”
“Of course! Shiller recently gave me gold-threaded fabric, and I was thinking of making earrings for you—delicate, with dangling pieces like this. What do you think?”
“They’re perfect! Your designs always captivate me.”
Meanwhile, the rumors about Nick continued to spread.
— “It was wise to avoid him. He’s a habitual liar.”
— “That’s fatal for a businessman. Those accessories he claimed to have designed? They only sold because of the future princess’s influence.”
— “Who would want to associate with someone who steals credit for others’ work?”
* * *
“Shiller, I heard my father was speaking with the head of the Charmant family yesterday. Do you know what it was about? I’m worried…”
“Don’t worry, Emma. Between us, Nick is being sent abroad.”
“What?”
“His actions have tarnished his reputation with the nobility here. He’s being sent to the Western kingdom to start over as a merchant.”
— “The Charmant family has truly fallen. Their second son is useless.”
— “That’s why they’re exiling him abroad.”
— “I heard he might even be sold to the slave traders there. How dreadful!”
Emma sat quietly, processing the news. For the first time, she felt a sense of closure. The past was finally behind her, and her future with Shiller felt as bright as ever.
“Then Lord Nick and Lady Muir will be separated, won’t they?”
“Oh, Emma, didn’t you know? Lady Muir’s family has taken her back. She’s left the academy and is being married off to a wealthy farmer in her family’s domain.”
“Oh my…!”
“They say it’s to an old acquaintance of her family. I think she’ll be happy. Honestly, she’s much more composed than Lord Nick ever was.”
“You’re right. If that’s the case, then I’m glad.”
— “Did you hear? A baron’s daughter was expelled from the academy.”
— “She’s being married off to a commoner old enough to be her father.”
— “With a house of that rank, daring to oppose true nobility was reckless… She’s lucky to be alive at all.”
“Shiller! What are you doing here?”
“I came to pick you up, of course.”
“You always seem to know exactly where I am. How mysterious.”
“It’s the power of love.”
“And you know exactly what I want, too?”
“That’s also the power of love.”
“Then can you guess what I want right now?”
Shiller gently pulled Emma into his arms and kissed her. Whispering softly, he said, “I love you more than anything in the world.”
Emma smiled and hugged him back, saying, “That’s exactly right.”
Emma had long suspected that her maid, her mother, and even her classmates reported her whereabouts to Shiller. However, it wasn’t an inconvenience—if anything, her life had become more comfortable and enjoyable as a result. The only one who ever voiced concern was Margit, who would say, “Are you sure you’re okay? If it ever gets too much, just tell me.”
But for now, Emma had no complaints.
“When my engagement was annulled, the world became so much more wonderful.”
Emma laughed, savoring her happiness.
[The End]
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