That’s right. Aida was beautiful and intelligent—not the type to engage in petty bullying.
More than that, she was perfect.
There was never any need for her to stoop to such behavior.
“No, Mimi. This happened because I failed to reach out to His Highness’s heart. The fault lies with me.”
Aida raised a hand to her lips, furrowing her brow ever so slightly—a delicate, enchanting expression.
If only I could borrow even a fraction of her natural allure.
“But what truly worries me… is you, Mimi.”
Hearing that, I stiffened.
Wait.
Oh no.
Not only was I an unwanted noble daughter sent abroad because no one in my own country would marry me, but now, I had become infamous as a lady who was publicly rejected from an engagement she wasn’t even part of!
“I don’t think people will go that far…”
“Oops! I said that out loud, didn’t I?!”
Aida chuckled softly as I clutched my head in horror.
“Honestly… your bright personality always lifts my spirits, Mimi.”
“R-really? If you say so…”
Trying to appear composed, I smoothed out my skirt and gracefully took my seat once more.
Aida, meanwhile, gazed out the window, her expression poised and demure as always.
But I could see it.
Even though her lips carried the gentle smile of a refined lady, her sadness was plain to me.
And that made me furious.
How dare that idiot prince do this to Aida?!
I was going to utterly destroy him.
Wait. Didn’t he say he would apologize later?
Hmm…
Then, as compensation, I’ll make him introduce me to one of his promising aides. A prince’s command can’t be refused, after all.
Well, that’ll come after I beat him to a pulp, of course.
“Mimi, getting an introduction to his aides is a good idea, but beating him up could cause an international incident. You might want to reconsider.”
“Did I say that out loud again?!”
* * *
A few days later.
As promised, Renato actually came to apologize.
That said, as he could not step foot into Aida’s mansion after annulling their engagement, I was summoned to the royal palace instead.
I was enjoying an exquisite cake—so intricately crafted that I had never seen anything like it—while sipping the finest tea in a lavish reception room, when at last, Renato appeared.
He looked awful.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Lady Annovazzi.”
I was honestly impressed.
Most people stumble over my surname, given how difficult it is to pronounce. The fact that he got it right on his first try, having only learned it a few days ago, showed how sincere he was about this meeting.
As he slowly sank onto the sofa across from me, he placed his hands on his knees.
The exhaustion on his face was obvious.
His platinum hair was loosely tied back, but a single strand had come undone, casting a shadow against his pale cheek, adding to his melancholic appearance.
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