As I was sit down across Cecile I wondered if she only made something up to meet me, if it was so I would leave there immediately. After all, for me every time lost there was a time that I could have been with Julia.
However, once she starting talking I couldn't believe what she was saying my head was a mess. She knew I wanted to break up with her and she was fine with it? Why? Didn't she always loved me? Plus, I planned everything to break this up. If we talk this peacefully I would have to pay a huge sum to her family. So I started to argue with her. I did my best to show my contempt to the actions she had done in the past year, not only she was unmoved by my display and made sound arguments that justify her actions and painted me in a bad light, she even had the audacity to say that if she could she would have the engagement broken already.
I couldn't believe what she said. Did she have a lover? As I thought of her being in the arms of another man, something snapped inside my head. She was MINE, I never thought of her being in the possession of another man, even if we have broken up she would go to a monastery, or so I planned. She needed to remember who she belonged to. As I tried to convey this to her, the eyes that always showed me an affection gaze, coldly looked at me. As her words pricked my consciousness all the anger that was built crumbled.
Yes, she was right, I have Julia. I was the one who is sorry for her. I should let her go.
"... yes, I will talk with my father. You will probably be summoned next week."
"I see. I hope you will truly be happy with Miss Julia. If you excuse me, I still have another appointment. Until next week Your Highness."
Saying so, she left without even looking back. She looked like someone took off all the weight from her shoulders. Was I a burden to you Cecile? Lost in thoughts, I went directly to my Mother's study.
Always when I was confused when young I would come to my Mom for advice.
Seeing my appearance she asked me worried about what happened. After I told her all the story the only answer she gave me was a sound slap and told me to talk to my father because she couldn't look at me right now without being disgust.
Being bewildered I went to my Father's chambers. After waiting for his break, not even waiting for him to ask me what happen I explained my situation and ask him to grant my wish.
The day was way beyond my expectations and I could not tell right from left anymore.
"Haa... you are simply too foolish. I understand you love Miss Julia but put yourself in Cecile-chan shoes. She chose to silently endure your betrayal and your attempts against her family. That she didn't come herself to ask for to be free from you is simply your heavenly luck, because I would surely grant her. Plus, I'm sure that if Cecile did half of your love show, you would rack the brain of the fellow she was related to"
Sure, I would do that but I simply could not control my love towards Julia. Staying silent was the best option now.
"*sigh* next week I will summon then"
Waving for me to leave Father went back to work.
My last thought that day was: Was I truly wrong?
...
Having Duke Dubois and Cecile in front of me I was slightly nervous about today, what if they refuse?
But Cecile herself seemed to want this.
"... and that is why I think you should still be the Queen, while Julia-Chan can be the second wife what you think?"
What Father? You didn't discuss this with me. Julia is supposed to be my one and only Queen.
Before I could even say anything Cecile and her father rejected the King's proposal and ask for parsimony. I can't let that happen otherwise we will have to pay a huge sum.
"Prime-Minister, this is not true right? Cecile made an attempt to Julia's life"
I can see the noble mask that she always has starting to crack. In someway this gave me some kind of pleasure, finally, I can see my bunny.
"Y-Your Highness, please don't slander me! Do you have any proof of it? I don't even know in which building she studies how can I push her?"
"Julia told me that you ordered your followers to push her!"
"To think you would discredit me just because of her words. You're taking this to far Prince Albert. I beg Your Majesty to investigate this matter, not only to prove my innocence but to punish those who hurt our future Queen"
Looking at her frail look who wanted to stay strong maybe I have really gone too far. All the pleasure of having her finally showing her true feelings vanish and now I only had an urge to hug her and ask for forgiveness. But at this time the Prime Minister came with a dossier with huge losses from their household presumably because of me.
'Old fox'
Seeing the numbers I got slightly dizzy.
*gulp*
Let's diminish our sense of existence.
After negotiating with Father, Father granted Cecile a wish. I wonder what that little bunny will ask, will she ask for a new marriage? Surely not, I can see she still loves me.
"I am planning to open my own conglomerate and hope that the royal family won't interfere with it"
Conglomerate? How could I never know about this plan? Think about it, I actually don't know many things about Cecile. I know she opened an orphanage and that she sometimes make some weird things that seem to be highly accepted by the noblewomen, but even what it is I am not sure. At this time I understood that maybe I never knew this fiancée of mine. And I only had myself to blame.
Leaving with the truest smile I had ever seen her make, she walked away from my father's study. She seemed so happy that she could fly.
"I hope you don't regret this decision "
"Absolutely not I love Julia"
Yes, I love Julia. It's just because Cecile was always something that was mine, it felt uncomfortable when suddenly it was not. It will pass with time.
"I sure hope so. I truly liked that girl. Right, Miss Julia is the illegitimate daughter of Baron Hartmann right? She needs something to upgrade her identity if you want to make her Queen. I will talk to your Mother so that she can instruct the tutors to give Miss Julia her Queen training. Furthermore, she has 3 years to prove to us that she can be a good Queen as good as Cecile-chan, otherwise, we will not accept her. You can only engage a year from now"
"But Father-"
"Shut up, that I even agreed to this absurdity is incredible. If you don't agree you can give up your rights to the throne. You have a younger brother who is just a bit worse than you, but still would become a good king. You are lucky that he chose to support you and help you become the king instead of becoming your rival"
Gritting my teeth I nod to my Father.
"Also, I want all the money I just gave them back in 2 months. If you will open a business or take it from your private possessions it doesn't matter to me. It is your mess, take care of it"
Waving his hand to me Father let me leave. I closed the door and started to think about the future.
What now? I need to discuss with my aides what to do to have Julia status to rise and how to raise money in 2 months.
*sigh*
I hope that everything goes well from now on. Lets first meet Julia to tell her the good news.