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 6

Incidentally, I’ve had the king’s permission to speak openly for quite some time.

…Wait. Does this mean they dumped the crown prince’s mess on me intentionally?

“And about the claim that Lady Lilia tore dresses and textbooks?”

Oh, now Lady Lilia’s brother steps forward.

…So when’s my turn, exactly?

“As His Highness is surely aware, my sister’s education as the future crown princess keeps her extremely busy. She rarely even attends the academy. When she does, she often has private lessons in separate rooms and is constantly under scrutiny due to her status. She has neither the opportunity nor the time to tamper with others’ belongings.”

He paused, then asked the crowd of onlookers—his voice sharp and commanding—whether anyone had ever seen Lady Lilia committing such acts.

Not a single hand was raised.

Smiling brightly, he continued. …Ah, the siblings really are alike. That smile carried the same crushing pressure as Lady Lilia’s icy gaze.

“As you can see, there’s no evidence. So, how has it come to this, where my sister is accused of harassing that young lady over there?”

He said “young lady”! He totally called the heroine a “young lady”!

This is the same brother who could’ve been swayed by the heroine in a different scenario… My efforts are paying off! Rejoice!

Under the brother’s sharp questioning, the crown prince turned to the heroine for support. She faltered under the scrutiny, her gaze darting nervously, but she somehow managed to compose herself.

…Honestly, I already knew it, but she’s tough in all the wrong ways.

“T-There’s more! She tripped me in the hallway—”

“I saw that! You suddenly tripped yourself near Lady Lilia!”

“She shoved me in the dining hall and spilled soup all over me—”

“I saw that too! You tripped yourself near Lady Lilia and knocked over your food!”

“She called me to the courtyard and pushed me into the pond—”

“We all know it was you trying to call her out. Lady Lilia ignored you because she thought it was suspicious!”

…Oh… Everyone…!

(The crowd, filled with students who had likely grown tired of the heroine’s antics, jumped in to refute her claims one by one.)

In this situation, Lady Lilia was supposed to be the one isolated and condemned. Yet now, everyone had come together to defend her.

This was, of course, thanks to all the effort Lady Lilia had poured into building her reputation. But still, seeing this, I couldn’t help but feel that my hard work had also contributed, and it made me happy.

Ugh… I’m tearing up…

“Why… Why is everyone blaming me?! This is so unfair!”

“Good grief. It seems things have unfolded exactly as many of us feared.”

What?! The King and Queen are here?!

I hurriedly bowed deeply as a loyal subject should. I wasn’t alone—everyone else did the same, except for the crown prince, who stood there dumbfounded, and even the heroine, who remained stiff and unmoving. It was honestly shocking, but the fact that I could take it in stride just confirmed how much I had already resigned myself to their idiocy.

The King’s authoritative voice carried across the hall as he instructed everyone to raise their heads.

“F-Father… Why are you here…?”

“Well, I believed it was time to put an end to things.”

“An end…?”

The crown prince, looking pale and confused, tilted his head at the King’s cryptic words.

…Oh no. Could it be? Has the crown prince’s fate finally caught up with him?

“Now then, Foren. Is it true that you wish to annul your engagement to Lilia?”

“Ah, well, um… that is…”

“Speak honestly.”

“It’s true! I—I mean, yes, Your Majesty. I wish to end my engagement with Lilia and spend my life with Meisia instead.”

Wow. He actually said it.

To blurt that out without a second thought when told to be honest… in a way, that’s impressive.

Honestly, I’m ready to completely give up on this guy.

The King narrowed his eyes slightly, but just behind him, the Queen’s face was an expressionless storm of icy fury. Even a blizzard would pale in comparison.

“Understood. The formalities will be handled later, but as King, I approve. Your engagement, and any subsequent marriage, will proceed.”

“F-Father!”

“Oh! Truly?!”

“Congratulations, Meisia!”

“Yes, Lord Foren!”

What?! Is this for real?! Are we seriously going to let this slide?! Lady Lilia is being treated so unfairly!

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