I tried to act like a devoted fiancée, but his piercing stares made me uncomfortable, and I could never manage anything more than a stiff smile.
I was constantly told during my queen’s education: “Your greatest weakness as a future queen is your inability to hide your true feelings and act convincingly.”
At every soirée, his gaze would unsettle me, making me so distracted that I often nearly bumped into others.
But every time that happened, a certain person always came to my rescue—the Second Prince, with his black hair and blue eyes.
He was two years younger than me, but exceptionally gifted. Thanks to the academy’s accelerated learning system, he attended the same advanced lectures as I did.
Unlike his elder brother, the Second Prince had no fiancée yet, and he was just as handsome, making him incredibly popular among the female students.
Despite that, he always made time to check on me at the academy.
His kindness made me smile.
If I managed to stay strong this past year, it was thanks to him.
Perhaps I had been lost in thought, reminiscing over the past year as a means of escaping reality. Whatever the reason, the First Prince, furious, stormed toward me.
“Rosie! Admit your sins at once, kneel, and apologize to Lady Tiara!”
Just as he was about to press his accusations further, the Second Prince swiftly stepped in front of me, blocking his advance. His black hair was slightly disheveled—he must have rushed over in a hurry.
“Brother, do not condemn Lady Rosie for a crime she did not commit!”
At these words, the First Prince's rage flared even hotter.
“Lady Tiara herself said it—there is no doubt that Rosie is the culprit! I would stake my right to the throne on it! If, by some impossible chance, I am mistaken, I will relinquish my claim and live as a commoner!”
The Second Prince’s eyes gleamed at the First Prince’s declaration.
“Very well, Brother. Then allow me to prove Lady Rosie’s innocence. I have already gathered information from Lady Tiara regarding the details of the alleged harassment. …First, the torn textbook was discovered in the classroom’s trash bin five days ago, around 5 p.m.—is that correct, Lady Tiara?”
Lady Tiara, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief, gave a small nod.
The Second Prince ran a hand through his unruly black hair before continuing.
“I spoke with the school janitor. He confirmed that the trash in Lady Tiara’s classroom is collected every day at exactly 4 p.m. This means the crime must have taken place between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. However, Lady Rosie has an alibi for that time. Because on that day, at that very hour, she was in the library with me, studying.”
Lady Tiara’s expression stiffened for just a fraction of a second. But almost immediately, she composed herself, replacing it with a frail, vulnerable look as she spoke.
“Perhaps… the textbook incident was not Lady Rosie’s doing, but someone acting on her behalf… However! It was Lady Rosie who pushed me into the well! You must believe me!”
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