IBGM 3

chapter 3

Yes, That’s It

The marquis’s residence was unusually lively late at night.

With Marquis Asilius and Lebelina away at the imperial banquet, the servants had gathered together and were holding a party of their own.

“Our young lady is finally going to become the Crown Princess!”

“Sniff… how many years has it been!”

“Just thinking about all the effort she’s put in…”

“And what about all the work we’ve done!”

The servants chatted excitedly as they enjoyed their food.

Then it happened.

News arrived that would bring their celebration to a halt.

A servant guarding the front gate came running in, shouting,

“E-everyone, go to the entrance! The young lady’s carriage…!”

“The carriage? But she went to the banquet…”

“The carriage has returned!”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

The servants waved him off, dismissing it as absurd. It made no sense—there was no way Lebelina would return to the estate in the middle of the imperial banquet.

But their expectations were completely wrong.

The doors of the mansion opened, and Lebelina appeared.

The servants in the drawing room froze, unable to react properly. Seeing them, Lebelina waved her hand dismissively.

“Just keep doing what you were doing.”

“My lady, what on earth—”

“Don’t ask. Just carry on.”

With a sigh, she trudged up to the second floor.

The servants watched her retreating figure in silence until she disappeared completely, then began whispering anxiously.

“What happened?”

“This is bad… something must have happened, right?”

“No way…”

“The marquis hasn’t returned yet.”

“What if she came back alone…?”

Their voices gradually fell silent.

The celebration ended just like that.

Their concern for Lebelina was genuine, and none of them could bring themselves to continue the party.

Soon, the marquis’s residence fell into complete silence.

Inside her room, Lebelina collapsed onto the bed.

Her mind was in turmoil, and sleep wouldn’t come. After lying still for a moment, she suddenly kicked at the air.

When that wasn’t enough, she grabbed a pillow and slammed it down onto the bed.

“Damn it!”

As feathers burst into the air, she felt a little better—and so she kept hitting it.

“That trash actually said he loves another woman right in front of me? Is he insane?!”

The amount of money she had spent on Inferno to maintain the dignity of the imperial family was enormous.

The reason he could dress at the same level as the Crown Prince was because Lebelina personally commissioned the finest tailors in the empire every season.

“He took all the credit with my money and didn’t even mention me once!”

That wasn’t all.

When a sudden drought struck and grain was distributed to the people, the money had come entirely from Lebelina’s own pocket. Yet her name was never mentioned.

Thinking about it now, he had never intended to credit her at all.

Everything she did had only served to elevate Inferno’s reputation.

“Now that I think about it… he’s really a complete bastard.”

When the first pillow had been reduced to a limp sack, she grabbed another and started punching it. Gradually, her anger began to subside.

Then, concern about the future crept in.

Ten years.

That was how long she had lived as Inferno’s fiancée.

If it was announced now that their engagement had been broken off, would the noble ladies of high society—those hyena-like gossips—stay quiet?

Inferno, with his handsome appearance, had always been admired by noblewomen. Lebelina, as his fiancée, had been a public enemy.

She had endured it so far, but now… what would happen?

It’s obvious. They’ll tear me apart.

Even if the breakup wasn’t her fault, they would still blame her.

And it wouldn’t just be the ladies—the young noblemen wouldn’t stay silent either.

Inferno, despite his lack of ability, had made enemies everywhere.

Outwardly, he appeared warm like sunlight, but in truth, he was indecisive and inconsistent. He treated people not by rank or character, but based on his mood.

The one who had prevented rumors from spreading was Lebelina.

No—the House of Asilius.

Their family was skilled at maintaining appearances. Covering up the flaws of the second prince had been easy for them.

They had built his image together… all while waiting for the wedding.

And now this had happened.

Grinding her teeth, Lebelina struck the pillow repeatedly.

Just as the second pillow began to deflate, a knock sounded at her door.

“Come in!” she called, not even bothering to hide the flying feathers.

The door opened, revealing her father—the Marquis Asilius.

“Father…”

At the sight of him, her throat tightened.

But she couldn’t cry in front of him. If she did, he would press her for answers—and she didn’t want to worry him.

“I looked for you at the banquet, but you weren’t there.”

“I was tired.”

“Weren’t you looking forward to today? It was such an important day.”

At his words, she swallowed dryly.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it—that the engagement had been broken off, that Inferno loved someone else.

“Um…”

“Yes?”

“Was Inferno at the banquet?”

“He was.”

“Nothing unusual happened, right?”

The marquis’s gaze grew more serious as she asked about Inferno.

But noticing the worry in her eyes, he quickly smiled warmly.

“Nothing happened. He stopped by briefly, then went elsewhere. I thought he went to find you.”

“I see…”

So he didn’t tell anyone yet.

Of course he hadn’t.

It was an engagement approved by the Emperor. Breaking it for the sake of a mere baron’s daughter would put him in a difficult position. He was probably waiting for the right moment.

She didn’t want this to end so easily.

But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t find a solution.

The harsh words he had spoken replayed in her mind, making the past ten years feel meaningless.

…Should I just give up?

The shock was too great.

The man she thought she knew had shown a completely different, cruel side.

Her head began to ache.

Maybe she should just sleep.

As she yawned, her father gently spoke,

“Are you tired?”

“Yes… Can I tell you everything tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

Without even changing her clothes, she lay down and pulled the blanket over herself. Her father adjusted it carefully.

“Sleep well.”

“You too, Father.”

He blew out the candle.

As darkness filled the room, Lebelina tossed slightly before finally falling asleep.

The marquis waited until she was fully asleep before leaving.

Outside, a knight fell into step behind him.

“Fleur.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“Find out what happened to my daughter.”

“At once.”

The warmth vanished from the marquis’s face.

The gentle father was gone—what remained was the cold, calculating man known as the Iron-Blooded Chancellor.

From the beginning, he had opposed marrying his daughter to the second prince.

If she hadn’t loved him, Inferno would never have come near her.

Lebelina was talented and capable, having earned vast wealth through business from a young age. She lacked nothing.

Giving such a daughter to a man whose only merit was his face had always seemed wasteful.

Inferno’s swordsmanship wasn’t even impressive—something both heaven and the marquis knew well. Surrounded by indulgent palace knights, he had never truly improved.

Still, it had been fine—until now.

Lebelina had supported him, and the marquis had covered his flaws.

But now—

“If he has made my daughter shed tears of blood… he will pay the price, Prince.”

The marquis’s cold voice echoed through the dark corridor.

The servants who overheard it silently nodded.