The final exam is over, and the grades are posted. I managed to finish without making any mistakes and was able to regain first place. However, Allen also got a perfect score, so we were tied for first place. Next time I would like to take the first place alone and tell him how about it.
And one more thing that made me happy was that Margaret and Isabellaâs grades went up all at once. After the incident at the school festival, I gave up completely and began to spend the time I had been devoting to His Highness trying to improve their grades.
It means that next year Isabella will be in the same class as us. With the three of us, we should be able to improve Allenâs current situation a little bit.
I introduced Isabella to Allen with that in mind, but I was a little bothered by the expression on Allenâs face as if he was regretting something.
I felt uncomfortable, but I didnât know what it was. And soon after that, a big incident occurred.
The school holds a dance party at the end of the school year to celebrate promotion and graduation. Here the best student of each year selected by a political decision in the name of diversification is awarded.
Naturally, no matter what we did, the best student will always be His Highness, but he said something outrageous here.
âAnastasia, as of this moment, I am breaking off my engagement to you!â
This declaration was too much that made me doubt His Highnessâs sanity. The usual members with that woman in the centre were looking down at me from the stage.
âYour Highness, are you sure you want a woman who knows nothing about etiquette, nobility, or even what a country is? Your Highness seriously thinks that this woman will be the Queen of this country?â
When I glanced at her, she responded exaggeratedly, and His Highness gently embraced her.
âDonât be ridiculous! Her kindness is what this country needs. It doesnât need you who tries to find logic in everything. In the first place, we know of the many harassments youâve perpetrated against Amy. I know harassment! A woman with characteristics like you is unfit to be the Queen of our country!â
âIs that so? Then your Highness will take responsibility for the result, right?â
I will confirm his will with this last mercy. However, in response, His Highness uttered words that he should not have said.
âI thought what you would say but, this is why I donât like the big-headed Ramslett. Thatâs why Ramslettâs are bumkins who can only make wheat forever.â
âYour Highness. I donât care what you say to me, but I canât overlook the insults against the Duke of Ramslett. Please take back what you just said.â
Insulting the dukeâs family as country bumpkins is just outrageous. You canât complain if they start a rebellion.
And let me tell you, wheat is the most important grain to feed the people. Without the people, there would be no aristocrats.
However, my words do not reach His Highness who has been reduced to a fool after being mutilated by that woman.
âWhat are you talking about? Iâm just telling you the facts.â
âThatâs right. Thatâs why Anastasia-sama, who is from a provincial family, is disliked by Karl-sama., you know?â
That woman is accusing me here and there, but her comments are going to choke her only.
âAmy, are you also going to insult the Ramslett family?â
âItâs true because Karl-sama said it.â
âLetâs get a formal protest from the Ramslett family against the Brayes family.â
âItâs cowardly to use the power of your parentâs house.â
âEnough of this useless talk. Iâll leave you to it.â
I declare so and try to leave, but His Highness spoke some meaningless words.
âWait! Amy is right. If youâre proud of yourself as an aristocrat, solve it yourself before you cry to your parents. Until then, I wonât allow you to leave this place.
âYour Highness, what are trying to say?â
âWhat are your gloves for?â
âAt least itâs not meant to be used lightly in matters like this.â
âI see. The daughter of the Duke of Ramslett canât even fight for the pride and honour of the family? It seems that His Excellency the Duke has no talent for raising children.â
His Highness snickered as he said this, and some of the guests who saw it were also laughing. It looks like they are from the anti-Ramslett faction.
This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org
âDoes your Highness asks me to apply for a duel?â
âThink for yourself. Donât you understand, unless I, the crown prince, tell you everything? As usual, what an obnoxious woman.â
I see. So youâre using your power as the Crown Prince to order me to challenge her to a duel.
I replied that then took off the gloves and threw them at that woman.
âOh! um, this is âŠâ
Amy, deliberately startled by the gloves I threw at her, picks it up and hands it back to me.
âHow far will you go to make me look like a fool?â
âAmy, this means that that woman, feeling insulted, has challenged you to a duel.
âWell, is that so? Iâm fighting âŠâ
âItâs okay. Iâll fight this duel on behalf of Amy.â
As expected, even I was surprised at this.
âWhat? Your Highness? Ordering a woman to fight a duel and then acting as her opponentâs proxy in the duel, are you insane?â
âWhat are you talking about? You asked for a duel on your own. I want to protect Amy, so Iâll act as the proxy, thatâs all.â
It seems that His Highness is planning to dispose of me right here and now. Whether I win or lose in a duel with His Highness, I will probably end up getting executed.
And even the four people who had been ensnared by that woman had come forward to represent her. Iâve never heard of five representatives.
Where was this duel sacred?
âWhat about you? Do you have any representative willing to fight against the five of us?â
I couldnât help but look around, but all the students in the room looked away. It was a natural reaction.
âIt looks like youâre not popular.â
His Highness said so, but it was no way a matter of popularity. The moment I gave up and prepared myself to fight and die, I heard the voice of the man I didnât want to hear the most. (TL:- she has unknowingly started liking him.)