”First, I must apologize to His Majesty and the important guests for this trouble at such a public occasion. Ideally, I would have left immediately and solved this privately. However, faced with one-sided accusations of a completely false crime, I have no choice but to defend myself. Since Baron Silver’s daughter has neither taken back her words nor apologized, I respectfully ask for the time to prove my innocence here.”
I curtsied and asked permission from the high table. His Majesty granted it with a single word: “Proceed.”
”Well then.”
Time to fight back.
The ballroom was empty of dancers now. A quiet song hung in the air, the kind that makes you think of the stillness before a storm. The orchestra, true professionals, kept the sound low enough not to interfere.
At this point, I might as well give a performance myself, the “villainess” that Charlotte wants to see.
”First, about what Baron Silver’s daughter called ‘bullying’… I offered the most standard observations of noble etiquette. She speaks to those of higher rank without permission. She clings to a man who is already engaged. At parties, she asks for multiple dances. Friendliness is a virtue, yes, but only when those of higher rank have given their leave. Was my observation off the mark? Consider the feelings of a lady whose fiance is being clung to by another woman. Is that not basic consideration? Dancing multiple times in a row is only acceptable with a prior arrangement. Since she seemed unaware of common protocol, I pointed it out.”
”Bullying is bullying the moment the victim feels bullied!”
I ignored her and pressed on.
”Next, personal belongings. You claimed I broke or stole your things. I had no involvement. That is a blatant lie. Let me ask you instead: what exactly did you lose or have damaged, and how much did you ask Garrett-sama to replace? By the way, I imagine he’ll be disappointed when he learns those items were sold off.”
”What…! Don’t talk nonsense! Where’s your proof?”
Charlotte turned shifty. She wasn’t clinging to Lord Brandon anymore; he had her locked in a firm grip, preventing escape.
”I am the fiancee of His Highness Prince Garrett. My actions are monitored by my guards, and they will testify to my innocence. As his fiancee, I also stay alert to anything happening around Garrett-sama. As for your requests for replacement funds… oh, you didn’t know the guards were watching?”
Several of the sold items had been purchased by Amber or other Shadow members in advance, with receipts to prove it. The evidence was airtight.
”As for the dress… I shudder to mention it, but you’re referring to that scrap of fabric that bared your back, aren’t you? To attend a party in such an indecent garment. I cannot imagine that behavior from an unmarried lady. You modified it yourself, I hear… quite eccentric. I admit I spilled a drink on its hem before you entered the venue. But had you worn it as it was, you’d have been the one embarrassed. If anything, you should be grateful. You have no grounds to blame me.”
”I was the one who consulted Lady Rebecca about that dress.”
Sophie spoke up. “I share a dormitory floor with Baron Silver’s daughter… I couldn’t believe my eyes. I didn’t know what to do, so I left the matter to our dormitory head, Lady Rebecca.”
I hadn’t meant to drag my friends into this, but good-hearted Sophie couldn’t stand by.
”I was also present when the drink was spilled. What Lady Rebecca says is true.”
Lady Samantha, standing beside me, added her support. I gave them both a grateful smile.
Meanwhile, murmurs had begun at the high table. The royal guests were clearly unsettled by the facts being revealed one after another. The stares directed at Charlotte were growing colder, and still she wouldn’t say, “I apologize, please stop.” She’s got guts, I’ll give her that.
”Additionally, you claimed your dress was torn, but there’s testimony that you cut the seams yourself. Do you think servants have no feelings? When you nitpick every minor failure, they lose the will to protect their master.”
”Servants are commoners! Testimony from people like that…!”
”You, who have ignored the very hierarchy of noble society, are in no position to say that. To damage your own dress, then claim harassment to get a new one… that is unacceptable.”
A clean cut.
”Lastly, the assailant. If you sneak out of the girls’ dormitory at night and wander around, it’s only natural that the guards would spot you and detain you. I saw it from my window and was shocked. I hurriedly sent a maid, convinced the guards to keep quiet, and tried to keep the matter from becoming public. And yet you believed I was the one who set it up?”
I shook my head sadly. Sympathy rippled through the hall.
The conductor played a mournful melody that settled over the ballroom like a dirge.
”Even so, I was unable to guide a junior student onto the right path. As dormitory head, I failed to maintain order. And worse, I ruined this occasion, a once-in-a-lifetime day for the graduating students. I cannot claim to be worthy of becoming the prince’s consort. Prince Garrett, as wise as ever, saw this clearly… his silence on the engagement dissolution, I take that very seriously. I therefore humbly accept the dissolution, and intend to retire quietly to my father’s territory, to live in peace.”
”Wait… WHAT?”
Gasps erupted from every corner of the hall as I sank into a curtsy, head bowed.
The reasons I gave for stepping down were close to a stretch. But in noble society, it’s difficult to stop someone who chooses to take responsibility without sacrificing a pawn. As long as I keep my family name intact, secure the dissolution cleanly, and humiliate Charlotte just enough that Garrett’s punishment is lenient, that’s enough. She’s the one he cares about, so the outcome works. If he truly loves her enough to re-educate her into a worthy consort, then by all means.
I had sent the evidence of false accusations to my father the day before. He had never been enthusiastic about my marriage into the royal family. As a vassal, he couldn’t refuse the royal house’s overture outright, but if I wanted to return to our territory and work there, he would use every resource and argument he had to pry the dissolution from their hands.
”…We will hold further discussions at a later date. Facts must be verified, this session is concluded. Until a final decision, this matter is not to be discussed outside this room. That is a royal command.”
”As you command!”
The hall filled with murmurs of obedience and formal bows.
Completely satisfied, I kept my lips pressed tight and maintained a sorrowful smile as I received permission to leave. As I made my exit, the orchestra struck up a cheerful tune.
Summary:
Rebecca dismantled Charlotte’s false accusations using evidence and witnesses, gaining sympathy from the royal assembly. She accepted the engagement dissolution she had secretly wanted all along, framing her exit as humble resignation while privately celebrating her victory. The king concluded the session and imposed a gag order. Charlotte’s fate and the engagement remained unresolved.
Trivia:
Rebecca’s father was never enthusiastic about her royal marriage and will now help dissolve it.
The evidence against Charlotte was gathered days in advance through Amber and other agents.
Prince Garrett’s silence throughout the accusation is explicitly noted as meaningful.
The orchestra’s music changes twice: mournful during Rebecca’s speech, cheerful as she exits.
Rebecca admits she genuinely smiled at her friends’ support, the only sincere emotion she shows.
She calls Charlotte a “lizard” in internal narration, using the reptile as an insult.
The engagement dissolution is framed as punishment but is actually Rebecca’s escape route.
Rebecca’s formal address to the king includes a deliberate performance of sorrow and submission.