VIP Chapter 67: The Engagement Is About to Be Called Off!
Will faced the crowd, turning his right hand in a circle. He didn’t expect them to see clearly; it was merely a means of display.
“Our engagement has likely been set for a month now. In this past month, I’ve been attacked by witches who hold grudges against the Elf Race, and I’ve also endured unprovoked bullying from unknown individuals at school. As you can see, the injuries on my hand are proof. These strange burn marks, I’m sure you can guess, were left by a witch.”
“Attacked? By a witch?”
“I heard it was the Young Master of the Hysterm Family on his way to Entak First Academy…”
“He’s a Half-elf, so it’s normal for a witch to target him. But what about the bullying?”
“Entak First Academy… could this again be related to the Royal Family…”
“The Royal Family is just like that, isn’t it? To prove their status, they like to…”
“Shh, don’t forget where you are.”
“Heh heh, more entertainment.”
…
Just as Will expected, the two incidents of him being attacked and bullied were not kept secret. Many of the wealthy merchants and dignitaries present were already aware.
As for who spread the news, it was most likely Eugenie.
She wanted to embarrass both Treya’s side and the Hysterm side, and at the same time, provoke the “stupid and uncontrollable” Young Master of the Hysterm Family.
She aimed to make everyone present aware, and also to have the young master of Branton release misleading information to guide Will.
From the environment to the people, everything was being steered to be unfavorable to Treya.
With the already focused attention on the two individuals, a sense of schadenfreude filled the air. The originally pleasant engagement ceremony became tense.
Treya, who was always cold and indifferent, showed a rare flicker of panic in her eyes amidst the murmurs.
She, who was usually slow to react, also felt this external tension.
She knew she had to deliver the correct lines in this social setting where she was most unsuited.
The air seemed to be filled with sharp, cold, gray steel wires. Every movement, every word she spoke had to avoid these sharp cuts to emerge unscathed from this situation, set by an unknown hand.
The once bright world in her eyes was also reflected into a deep gray by the glare of these steel wires.
Treya had never encountered such a situation before.
Was this “dark” person guiding the atmosphere in this direction?
But why?
Why would having an engagement with her lead to these kinds of incidents?
Attacked by a witch?
Bullying at school?
These words were too foreign to her.
“So, Miss Treya, my question is…”
Will turned around and looked at Treya, casually rotating his right wrist and gently touching the scar—though it had mostly healed and didn’t hurt at all.
He looked at her with a somewhat pitiful expression.
“Does our engagement only bring me misfortune?”
Treya froze on the spot.
This…
Was this a question a fiancé should be asking?!
Will, looking like some delicate, pampered young master who lived off his fiancee, spoke with tears welling up in his eyes.
At his words, the entire venue fell into an unusual silence. Everyone knew that with such a negative tone, the engagement would likely be called off.
Such a grand spectacle, they had to watch intently.
The earlier gossip was nothing compared to this. The biggest news of recent times was about to unfold before them.
“I…”
Treya had no idea how to respond.
She raised her eyes and looked at Will. He stood at the outermost edge of those steel wires, so distant from her.
He seemed like a ball of black mist, enveloping him.
“It’s obvious that an engagement with the Royal Family… especially one with a Half-elf, brings many risks. If… if Princess Treya cannot show me your strength… this inequality between both sides…”
Will deliberately paused, shifting his gaze from Treya, who wouldn’t meet his eyes, to Eugenie in the audience.
She fanned herself, appearing unexpectedly pleased that her dear sister was being questioned on stage. Since she wasn’t the sole focus of attention, she showed no restraint.
“I cannot accept this engagement!”
Eugenie put away her fan and was already looking for the stairs to come up to their platform.
Excellent, she took the bait.
[Mission 84 (Revised): Break off the engagement! Break off the engagement! Break off the engagement! Break off the engagement! Break off the engagement! Break off the engagement!]
Breaking off the engagement itself was not a major issue.
After all, he couldn’t marry Treya anyway. Whether he could prevent the engagement from being broken off wasn’t the key. The key was how to eliminate the person behind it all.
Besides, even if Treya truly wanted to marry him, if he were to eliminate all those messy siblings of the Royal Family, and she became the Empress, she could simply have the royal guards tie him to the wedding bed. He, Will, would surrender with both hands raised.
“Um… sir, I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“In other words, I wish to break off the engagement.”
“Huh?”
“After all, I am just a petite and frail Young Master. Not only am I naturally weak, but my magical talent is also at the bottom. I truly lack the strength to contend with witches or participate in royal disputes.”
Will stood tall, but his tone was soft and weak, making him sound easily bullied.
Treya had already disconnected.
“I… I don’t know…”
She seemed to be stuck loading, unable to say anything beyond a few introductory sounds. Her actions were limited to just standing.
“Young Master of the Hysterm Family, I urge you to stop this. This is a formal occasion, and such events do not allow for your capricious jokes.”
Perhaps his performance was too exaggerated; Anna hadn’t interrupted him when he raised his initial questions, only when he described himself as “petite and frail.”
“This is the end of it. It was just a joke. Everyone, please don’t take it to heart, you may disperse.”
As the Queen, Anna exuded a powerful aura, intending to brush aside this serious matter.
But…
“Mother. I believe that since Young Master Hysterm has these doubts, and we will all be a family in the future, it would be bad to let these barriers accumulate.”
Eugenie interjected.
She extended her leg, clad in black stockings.
Surprise, Queen Anna!
Your daughter is stabbing you in the back!
Eugenie twirled her fan. Just as the matter seemed to be resolving itself, she stepped forward.
“Sister…”
As Eugenie stood on the stage, Treya felt a sense of light.
She raised her head from the “darkness” brought by Will and saw the reassuring red of her sister.
It’s sister.
As long as sister is here… as long as she’s here… everything will be fine.
It will definitely be alright.
“Our Treya’s swordsmanship is recognized by everyone in the Royal Family as powerful. Moreover, she has always been dedicated to developing as a swordsman in the Dungeons. She is currently the successor to the very orthodox Entak Magic Sword style.”
—Sister is praising me.
—Sister is speaking up for me.
—Sister would never betray me.
“How can someone like you have the right to point fingers at Treya?”
Treya seemed to regain her confidence and nodded.
“Yes. Therefore… when I heard my fiancé was from the Hysterm Family, I was very excited… I looked forward to cooperating with you and becoming a Dungeon Adventuring Team… becoming one of those closest to the common people. Like my sister.”
Will looked at her.
She still believed her sister so much.
Even though her expression didn’t change much, Will could still feel the hostility when she looked at him, and the warmth when she looked at her sister.
“Then Treya, why don’t you… in the plaza outside the venue, to your fiancé who doubts your abilities… thoroughly display your swordsmanship.”
“As for swordsmanship…”
“How about Entak style XI, the most difficult to learn and least practical foundational sword skill? How does that sound?”
