I Seem to Have Been Reincarnated, So I Tried to Get Everyone to Sensibly Handle the Broken Engagement—In the End, I Didn’t Even Know What "Serves You Right" Meant — Part 9

No, no, that’s impossible. Surely not… Right? I mean, just because I’m reincarnated and happen to look good doesn’t mean I should let my imagination run wild.

“As I had a fiancée, I tried my best to seal away my feelings, to lock them away forever. But now, there is no longer any need. Our engagement has been annulled, and I am free. Therefore, I can say with certainty: I never harbored jealousy toward Your Highness or… your new fiancée. Such an idea is utterly preposterous.”

Her words were sharp and resolute. Foren, however, seemed too overwhelmed to process them, staring at her in stunned silence, his face frozen in a stupid expression.

Well, I mean, it makes sense. He’s been hit with blow after blow, completely and utterly defeated. While it’s no less than he deserves, I can’t help but feel a tiny shred of pity.

After all, they did spend years together… Not that I plan to defend him.

Satisfied that she had corrected Foren’s ridiculous misunderstandings, Lady Lilia turned gracefully to the King, offering the most elegant curtsey imaginable.

“Thank you for allowing me to speak.”

“Very well. Let the judgment be rendered. As previously stated, Foren will be stripped of his royal title and made a commoner. Furthermore, he will marry this woman, Meisia, and they will live on their own means from now on.”

“S-Such a thing…”

“This is cruel! Stripping me of my title is unfair!”

“Silence! You no longer have the right to speak!”

The King’s thunderous voice echoed throughout the hall.

“If either of you utters another word without my permission, I will impose a severe punishment. Understand this: the leniency you have been granted is solely due to Lady Lilia’s kindness. Were it not for her mercy, your actions would have warranted far harsher consequences.”

Ah… That’s right. Foren and Lady Lilia’s engagement was a contract endorsed by the state. To annul it so recklessly, without proper procedure, is something even a crown prince cannot be excused for.

I thought I had made this clear during all my efforts to guide him…

The weight of the King’s judgment, coupled with the threat of severe punishment, finally seemed to sink in. Foren and Meisia fell silent, likely realizing that further defiance could lead to exile—or worse, execution.

And honestly, that wouldn’t even be an exaggeration. Violating a royal contract and falsely accusing a duke’s daughter of heinous crimes is no small matter.

Thanks to Lady Lilia’s mercy, they’ve avoided a worse fate. They should be grateful to her. But knowing these two… I doubt they’ll ever understand that. They’re truly beyond saving.

After confirming that the two troublemakers had finally gone silent, the King resumed speaking.

“And under my authority as King, I hereby acknowledge and declare the engagement of Farsil and Lilia.”

...What?

“W-What? W-Wait, what?”

What’s going on?

Hearing my name brought up so suddenly and out of nowhere left me completely bewildered. Around me, the crowd erupted into cheers.

“Farsil, I must apologize for all these years. Despite your deep feelings for Lilia, you held yourself back out of respect for my foolish son. I can’t imagine how much you must have endured. It is truly unforgivable that your restraint went unrewarded. Though it may be presumptuous to call this an apology, I wish to see your feelings realized here and now.”

“W-Wait, what? My feelings? Hold on a moment. I… had feelings for Lady Lilia?”

“Congratulations, Farsil. All your passionate speeches about Lady Lilia have finally paid off!”

The prime minister’s son, who had come up beside me, gave me a hearty pat on the shoulder and flashed a bright smile.

...Wait. Passionate speeches? About Lady Lilia?

Could it be… all those times I was fighting to rally support for her, could that have been misunderstood as…?

“Oh, don’t worry about the crown prince’s position. The second prince, as his younger sibling, will inherit it. Although still young, he is wise and won’t make foolish mistakes like this one.”

“Yes, while it’s disappointing about Lilia, his fiancée is a responsible and wonderful girl. Oh! Lilia, would you consider becoming her mentor? She looks up to you so much and would be thrilled.”

“Oh my, if you think I’m suitable, I would be honored.”

“And for Farsil, he can serve as the second prince’s personal guard. That would be ideal.”

“Oh, Your Majesty, that is an excellent idea.”

W-Wait a minute… What is going on?

I’m supposed to be one of the people directly involved in all this, and yet I can’t keep up!

Wait… did I unknowingly set myself up for this? Did I… dig my own grave?

As I stood there, dumbfounded, Lady Lilia finished her conversation with the King and Queen. She turned toward me and approached with elegance.

“Sir Farsil, ever since the day you saved me in the castle hallway, I have held deep feelings for you. Hehe. From now on, I look forward to spending our lives together.”

Her smile was radiant—absolutely beautiful.

Ah, yes. Whether I had unknowingly built the foundations for this or whether they were built for me, it’s all settled now, isn’t it?

“Well then… I look forward to it as well.”

How did this even happen?!

        

[The End]

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