MARRIAGE...
IF THE TERM FOR THE TEMPORARY DUKEDOM EXCEEDS FIVE YEARS, I MUST MARRY THE PRINCESS AS SOON AS I OFFICIALLY INHERIT THE TITLE.
THAT SLY EMPEROR... TO THINK HE SECRETLY TUCKED AWAY A CLAUSE LIKE THAT.
THERE'S ONLY ONE YEAR LEFT UNTIL I INHERIT THE DUKEDOM....
DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MARRIAGE IN MY LIFE.
JUST YOU WAIT. EVEN IF I HAVE TO HAVE A FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH THE EMPEROR, I WILL MAKE SURE THIS ENGAGEMENT IS BROKEN....
HMM?
WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT?
Goodness, what a coincidence!
To think we'd run into each other here!
Hugo!
VIVI!
WHAT HAPPENED? WHY HAVE YOU BEEN SO HARD TO FIND LATELY...!
I-I'VE BEEN BUSY! I HAD... A LOT OF APPOINTMENTS AND THINGS.
I MISSED YOU, HUGO.
...OH... YEAH....
HUGO HASN'T CHANGED A BIT....
HE'S INTROVERTED, BUT HE'S A PRECIOUS FRIEND WHO ALWAYS WORRIES ABOUT ME
AND TREATS ME WITH SUCH CARE.
BUT HE'S SO KIND-HEARTED THAT I WORRY IF HE CAN SURVIVE IN THIS HARSH WORLD....
BY THE WAY, HUGO, ARE YOU FREE RIGHT NOW?
OF COURSE! AS YOU CAN SEE, I'VE GOT NOTHING BUT TIME.
THAT'S PERFECT! THEN, DO YOU WANT TO GO GRAB AN APPLE PIE FROM THE BAKERY FOR OLD TIME'S SAKE?
Apple pie?!
YEAH! IT'S THE PLACE WHERE WE FIRST MET, TOO. I SUDDENLY HAVE A CRAVING FOR IT.
I'D LOVE TO. I WAS ACTUALLY MISSING THE TASTE OF THEIR PIES.
VIVI, WATCH OUT!!
GASP?!
THE CAR...!
IT'S COMING DANGEROUSLY CLOSE...!
SILVER EYES... AND BLACK HAIR...!
THERE'S NO DOUBT. THAT'S THE FACE I SAW IN MY DREAM...!
DUKE... OTERO...?
NO WAY...
THE IMPERIAL PALACE
IT IS TRULY WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE WHOLE FAMILY GATHERED TOGETHER AFTER SUCH A LONG TIME.
I SHOULD HAVE ARRANGED THESE GATHERINGS MORE OFTEN.
EMPEROR RODRIGO HESSEN VON GARCIA.
DON'T YOU AGREE, DEAR?
HEHE, QUITE SO, YOUR MAJESTY.
VIVI, WATCH OUT!!
...HA, THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
I'M THE ONE WHO PERSONALLY BROUGHT A HALF-DEAD PERSON ALL THE WAY HOME,
AND YET SHE'S ACTING ALL CUTE IN FRONT OF SOME OTHER GUY?
technically, i should be the one receiving the reward.
HUGO OTERO.
THAT LOOK IN HIS EYES... LIKE A SHAMELESS DEBTOR
DETERMINED NOT TO LOSE HIS MOST PRECIOUS JEWEL.
...THIS IS TOTAL B*LLSHIT.
HUGO OTERO...
YOU'VE TURNED THIS HOUSEHOLD
INTO A COMPLETE MESS WITH YOUR SHAMELESS APPEARANCE....
HOW DARE YOU....
THE MORE YOU ACT LIKE THAT, THE LESS I CAN JUST STAND BY AND WATCH.
JUST YOU WAIT. I'LL MAKE SURE YOU REALIZE THAT SUCH HAPPINESS...
IS A LUXURY YOU CAN'T AFFORD.
UGH~ THIS IS SO ANNOYING!!
WHY DO I EVEN HAVE TO SIT AT THIS TABLE?
ESPECIALLY WITH A PIECE OF "SPOILS" LIKE THAT!
IT’S TRULY UNPLEASANT....
...ERIKA, WATCH YOUR MOUTH!
SHE IS YOUR SISTER-IN-LAW. AND SHE IS MY WIFE AND THE CROWN PRINCESS.
SO? YOU WANT ME TO SHOW RESPECT TO THAT THING?
OUT OF EVERYONE, YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON WHO SHOULD BE SAYING THAT, BROTHER.
YOU, THE ONE WHO WAS SO BEWITCHED BY A FOREIGN PRINCESS WHO WAS NOTHING MORE THAN SPOILS OF WAR
THAT YOU EVEN BROKE OFF YOUR MARRIAGE ALLIANCE WITH THE KINGDOM OF KUTAN?
WHATEVER! IT'S A WASTE OF BREATH EVEN TALKING TO YOU.
ANYWAY. I WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE HER, SO IF YOU'RE PLANNING ON INVITING US TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE, COUNT ME OUT.
ERIKA, YOU...!!
EVERYONE, STOP IT!!
EVERY TIME YOU MEET, YOU LOSE ALL DIGNITY AND DO NOTHING BUT FIGHT!!
YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES!!
TSK, EVERYONE IS DISMISSED!
WE'LL END THE MEAL HERE TODAY!
D-DEAR...!
AND LEOPOLD.
YES, YOUR MAJESTY.
I NEED TO HAVE A WORD WITH YOU.
WHY DO YOU THINK MY FATHER CALLED FOR US TODAY?
DAMN IT, FINALLY....
HAS IT FINALLY COME!!
...EXCUSE ME? I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN....
I'LL SAY IT AGAIN.
THAT BROKEN ENGAGEMENT YOU WANTED SO BADLY. I'M GIVING YOU MY PERMISSION.
In this chapter, the hidden clause of the temporary dukedom title is revealed: if the term exceeds five years, the heir must marry the princess upon inheriting the title. With one year left until the dukedom, the protagonist is determined to break off the engagement. On the other side, Vivi runs into her old friend Hugo and they decide to buy apple pie from the bakery where they first met. A dangerously approaching carriage raises the tension; the silver-eyed, black-haired man resembles Duke Otero from her dream. Then, during the tense family dinner at the Imperial Palace, while Erika insults the crown princess, the Emperor ends the gathering and grants Leopold permission for the annulment he desires.
