NOVEL WEB Chapter 22.2
Stage 1-22. The Princess Captured In A Birdcage
That’s why he keeps demanding large sums of money.
“If you do, the royal bloodline will merge with your family. The Rebetzenka house will stand above the other ducal houses. You’ll have an heir. Your father would be overjoyed.”
He knows I can’t ask Father for money…!
If I asked Father, the purpose of the money would be discovered, and the King would hear about it.
Then the Crown Prince would be reprimanded by the King.
Anyone could predict what would happen next.
In a foul mood, he’d call off the engagement.
In short, he never intended to marry me from the start.
Since entering the magic academy, I’ve been covering all his demands with my own personal funds.
But that’s nearly reached its limit.
“Honestly, what’s with Father’s ‘understand the commoners’ feelings’ nonsense? I’m the Crown Prince. If he just gave me the money, I wouldn’t have to bother with this troublesome arrangement.”
That’s exactly how Crown Prince Arnia feels.
He doesn’t want to marry someone like me. He just wants to keep playing around.
His unreasonable demands for money are only because he wants to break off the engagement.
“Well then, see you next week. Have the money ready by then.”
The door closed with a thud.
Left alone, I looked down at my hands.
Palms covered in calluses from sword training.
A body taller than the Crown Prince. Eyes that slant upward.
If I’d been born a man, would I have avoided this misery?
Why was I born a woman?
Lowering my head, my long hair entered my vision.
“This… this hair…!”
I grabbed the knife from the table and tried to cut it off.
‘Your hair is beautiful. I can tell you take good care of it every day. No wonder everyone loves you, Karen.’
“…!”
But his words floated through my mind, and only a few strands of hair fluttered to the ground.
The knife slipped from my hand, and I crumbled weakly to the floor.
“…Help me… help me, Ouga… Ouga…”
Tears streaming down my face, I kept calling the name of the hero who wasn’t here.