side. Anastasia (5)

Final exams were over, and the results had been posted. Somehow, I’d managed to avoid any silly mistakes and reclaimed my spot at the top of the rankings. Of course, Allen had also earned a perfect score, leaving us tied for first place. Next time, I want to beat him outright—just so I can see the look on his face when I rub it in.

Another highlight was the significant improvement in Margaret’s and Isabella’s grades. After the mess at the Cultural Festival, I’d completely given up on His Highness. Instead of wasting my time on him, I poured those hours into tutoring the two of them.

This meant I’d be in the same class as Isabella next year. With the three of us together, we ought to be able to do something about Allen’s current situation. I introduced Isabella to him with that goal in mind, but something about his expression nagged at me. It was as if he were hiding something behind that smile. I felt a flicker of unease, though I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong.

Not long after that, disaster struck.

To commemorate advancement and graduation, the academy holds a gala at the end of the school year. It is a stage where the "top student" of each year is honored—a title usually bestowed based on political considerations disguised as a "holistic evaluation." Naturally, regardless of actual merit, the top spot was always reserved for the Crown Prince. But this time, His Highness used that stage to say something truly outrageous.

"Anastasia! As of this moment, I am breaking my engagement to you!"

I genuinely questioned the man’s sanity. There he stood on the stage, flanked by his usual sycophants with that woman at the center, all of them looking down their noses at me.

"Your Highness, are you serious?" I asked.

"Hmph. Still as slow on the uptake as ever. A woman with a soul as rotten as yours has no place by my side. Amy, who is kind-hearted and possesses the Healing Power, is the only one fit to be my fiancée."

"Your Highness, are you quite sure you want to settle for a woman who knows nothing of etiquette, the duties of the nobility, or the foundations of this kingdom? Do you truly believe she is capable of serving as the Mother of the Nation?"

I spared a glance for the girl. She reacted with exaggerated distress, prompting His Highness to pull her protectively against him.

"Don't talk such nonsense! It is her kindness that this country needs. I have no use for a woman who does nothing but spin tedious logic. Besides, we are all well aware of the harassment you’ve put Amy through! A woman with your character is the one unfit to be the Mother of the Nation!"

"Is that so? And I assume Your Highness is prepared to take full responsibility for the consequences of this decision?"

I offered him that one last mercy, a chance to reconsider. Instead, he crossed a line that should never be crossed.

"I wondered what you'd say, but this is exactly why those thick-headed Ramsletts are such a nuisance. It’s why you’ll never be more than a family of country bumpkins who do nothing but grow wheat."

"Your Highness. You may say what you wish about me, and I will endure it. However, I cannot overlook an insult to House Ramslett. Retract that statement immediately."

Insulting a Ducal house as "country bumpkins" was beyond the pale. It was the kind of vitriol that could justify a rebellion; no one could complain if one broke out. It was a statement of staggering ignorance.

Furthermore, if I may say so, wheat is the single most important crop for feeding the populace. Without the people, we nobles have nothing to rule. But my words were wasted on a fool who had been thoroughly emasculated by that woman.

"What are you talking about? I only stated the truth," he scoffed.

"Th-That’s right!" Amy chimed in, seizing her moment. "That’s why Karl-sama is so fed up with a bumpkin like you, Anastasia-sama!"

She was digging her own grave with every word.

"Amy. Do you intend to insult House Ramslett as well?"

"If Karl-sama says it, it must be true!"

"Then House Ramslett shall lodge a formal protest against House Braies."

"Using your family’s power is so cowardly!"

This was going nowhere. I turned to leave. "I shall take my leave."

"Wait!" Karl barked. "Amy is right. If you have any pride as a noble, settle this yourself instead of running to cry to your parents. I will not permit you to leave this room until you do."

"Your Highness, what on earth are you implying?"

"What do you think those gloves of yours are for?"

"They are certainly not meant to be used lightly for something like this."

"I see. So the daughter of House Ramslett is too cowardly to fight for the honor of her name? It seems the Duke has no talent for raising children, either."

A few of the guests chuckled at his barb. The anti-Ramslett faction, no doubt.

"Is Your Highness demanding I challenge you to a duel?"

"Figure it out yourself. Must I explain everything to you? You really are as uncharming as they come."

I saw it then. He was using his authority as Crown Prince to force me into issuing a challenge. He was too far gone. There was no reaching him now. Even if this had only been a political arrangement, it was my final duty as his fiancée to try and talk sense into him, even if I had to use a foolish duel to do it.

So, this is the end, I thought.

"Very well," I said.

I pulled off my glove and flung it at the woman.

"Eek! Um, this is..." Amy squeaked, putting on a performance of being startled as she picked it up and tried to hand it back.

"How much more do you intend to mock me?" I snapped.

Karl stepped in. "Amy, this means this woman feels insulted and has challenged you to a duel."

"Eh? Really? But I don't know how to fight..."

"It's fine. I shall stand as Amy's proxy."

I was genuinely stunned. "What? Your Highness, you would order a woman to duel and then stand as her proxy yourself? Are you out of your mind?"

"I don't see the problem. You're the one who threw the glove. I'm simply acting as proxy to protect Amy. It's as simple as that."

He intended to dispose of me right here and now. If I fought the Crown Prince, there was no future for me. Whether I won or lost, the only thing waiting for me was execution.

Then, the other four men under her spell stepped forward to volunteer as well. Five proxies? I had never heard of such a farce. So much for the "sacred" tradition of dueling.

"Well?" the Prince taunted. "Do you have a proxy of your own willing to face the five of us?"

I instinctively looked around the room, but the other students quickly looked away. It was a natural reaction. No one would risk their life against the Crown Prince for a disgraced noblewoman.

"It seems you have no friends to turn to, either."

It wasn't a matter of popularity, but logic was useless now. I resigned myself to my fate; I would have to fight and die by my own hand. But just as I steeled my resolve, I heard the one voice I had hoped not to hear.

"I’ll be her proxy."