27.1 The Miscalculation
Side: Wagner
āāW, what did you say!?ā
My house arrest was lifted that day.
That was correct. Because of that pathetic woman, my father punished me. How did such a mediocre woman become my fiancĆ©e in the first place? Even if she was a dukeās daughter, she was below me.
Hence, I decided to take the matters into my own hands. After all, I deserved a woman of matching looks, personality, and status.
I considered Aries the perfect candidate.
Not only was Aries good-looking, her personality was also that of a saint. Unlike Sofia, Aries had a good relationship with the duke. The only drawback was her low status. However, there shouldnāt be a problem, since the duke had promised to adopt Aries.
On the other hand, despite being his biological daughter, Sofiaās relationship with the duke could only be described as terrible. By marrying her, I wouldnāt gain anything. For that reason, I annulled my engagement with Sofia and got engaged with Aries…
ā…You wonāt be able to become the dukeās daughter? Aries, what do you mean?ā
As soon as my house arrest had ended, Aries tearfully came to me. Then, she told me that she was to remain a baroness. Not only that, she was required to pay the debt her parents owed to the duke family.
That was a miscalculation.
āMy sister resents our engagement, Iām sureā! The moment she became the duchess, she immediately accused meā! She told everyone that I was the reason behind her broken engagementā! Because of that, everyone thinks of me as some sort of cuckold and wonāt associate with me anymoreā!ā
Aries surmised everything that had taken place in my absence.
ā…Has Sofia indeed become the duchess?ā
ā…Yes.ā
…Was I mistaken?
Should I have wedded Sofia instead? Later, I could have made Aries my concubine just fine.
…Although, I much preferred Aries. Oh, I have an idea. Aries can conceive an heir and then we can get Sofia to raise him afterwards.
After much consideration, I finally came into a conclusion.
Nope, no can do. As a prince, I refuse to be married with such a woman, even if itās in name only.
ā…Iāll go see Sofia.ā
āPlease do your utmost to persuade my sister, Your Highness Wagner!ā
That was only to be expected. After all, a lady of my choosing couldnāt be a mere baroness. At the very least, she had to be a dukeās daughter.
āDammitā!ā
As frustration welled up in my heart, I rushed to the dukeās house.
āGo get Sofia, nowā!ā
At the entrance hall of the dukeās house, I immediately ordered such of a servant. Heeding my words, the servant soon left the drawing room. I expected for Sofia to appear soon.
…However, I waited and waited, only for no one to come. Sofia only showed up after I finished with my third cup of tea.
āSofia, now that youāre a duchess, arenāt you getting too carried away? To make a prince wait for you, youāre so full of yourself.ā
ā…My apologies, I couldnāt afford to respond immediately because you came without any arrangement.ā
Sofia didnāt even try to bow her head. Apparently, she was truly getting ahead of herself. Then, it was necessary to remind her of her position.
āOh, I pity you, then. The responsibility of a duke is too burdensome for a woman like you, it appears.ā
āNo one should visit a duchess without making prior arrangements. That goes for everyoneāeven more so to you, prince. Have you ever considered that as someone with a high status, you should be setting a good example for everyone?ā
Did Sofia just mock me?
In anger, I slammed my fist against the table, but Sofia only stared at me quietly. Usually, Sofia would be too much of a scaredy-cat to say anything back.
āAlso, Your Highness? Please refrain from referring to me so intimately. Weāre no longer engaged.ā
āāYou dare dictate me?ā
I was about to burst a blood vessel.
āBut it is indeed fact that by referring to someone who isnāt even your fiancĆ©e so intimately will lead to grievances. Your Highness, I advise you against saddening your new fiancĆ©e, Aries.ā
As if you care about Aries.
Did she want to make herself look good? How tasteless. Aries had told me of all the mistreatment she had suffered under Sofiaās hands.
Not like Iād be fooled by this womanās stupidity.
āDo you think I donāt know? Iāve heard everything from Aries. Not only did you refuse to adopt Aries, youāve also been pestering her to repay her debt.ā
āāAnd whatās wrong with that?ā
Sofia went on.
āTo return something you oweāisnāt that considered common sense? Surely, even children know that.ā
āRegardless, Aries wasnāt the one who borrowed it.ā
After all, Ariesā parents were the ones foolish enough to borrow money from that malicious womanās house. The sin of a parent had nothing to do with the child. As such, Aries shouldnāt be forced to shoulder it on her back.
āDonāt forget that we also cover for Ariesā life expensesāsuch as her food, dresses, and jewelry. After hearing that, do you still disagree with my previous statement?ā
Despite being a duchess, Sofiaās greed knew no bound! Well, at the end of the day, she was still the same old Sofia. I shouldāve expected that.
āIf not for Ariesā lavish spending, the dukeās family would be significantly better off. Therefore, I believe that sheās obligated to pay.ā
āBut Ariesā!ā
āThatās right. As it is, repaying the debt is beyond Ariesā capability. In that case, her fiancĆ©e may assume it.ā
With that said, Sofia showed me a copy of the documents pertaining the amount of money owed by the baronās family. The amount written there was equivalent to 10 years worth of the annual income of the kingdom.
I couldnāt possibly pay that.
The budget the kingdom gave me, the third prince, was small. Besides, I needed it to customize my wardrobe for public affairs. Due to that, I only had a little bit left.
āThe problem will be resolved if you just adopt her into the dukeās family.ā
āThatās not a solution at all. I wonāt adopt Aries. Not like thereās any reason to.ā
āāBut there is! Youāre a duchess! Besides, how will you even conceiving an heir for the dukeās family? Itās not as if you, someone who had her engagement annulled with me, will have a decent marriageā!ā
āThat has nothing to do with you. No matter what you say, I refuse to adopt Aries. Even if I do face any difficulty, Iāll simply adopt from the highest branch family. Above all, why should I choose a lowly aristocrat as my successor? Not to mention, a fallen noble. Moreover, the royal family has no right to intervene in the issue of succession. As the third prince, shouldnāt you be aware of that?ā
Does it matter?
I was Ariesā fiancĆ©e. As such, there was no way it had nothing to do with me. Or, could it be, Sofia was jealous? Was it because I had chosen Aries?
Then why wonāt you just say so?
As long as Sofia stayed obedient, I could bear with making her my mistress. Despite being a dull and mediocre woman, she had a decent body. Certainly, sheād make a subpar candidate for my mistress.
āAs Iām Ariesā fiancĆ©e, it totally has something to do with me.ā
āBut it doesnāt. While Aries is certainly my cousin, sheās not a member of the Lark family. Therefore, she has no inheritance rights. At best, she can only inherit the title of Baron Heldin.ā
What?
How preposterous. I am royalty, you know? Therefore, how can I be married to a baroness? Simply outrageous. The wife to one of the royal family should come from a high-ranking family, as well. For a prince to marry someone from a baron family, that was simply impossible. It was common sense.
Canāt you understand that?
āDo I need to point out that youāre the one who chose Aries, a baronās daughter? Back then, you decided to chose love over status. How romantic, if I do say so myself.ā
āā!ā
Are you kidding meā!?
āBut Iām a prince, you knowā!? As if Iād get together with a mere baronessā! I simply chose her because she was going to be adopted into the dukeās familyā! If I had known, I wouldnāt have done soā! Iāll annul my engagement with her this very secondā! Rejoice, Sofia, for Iāll finally be your fiancĆ© againā! Therefore, surrender your title as duchessā!ā
***T/N: HAHAHAHAHAH THE AUDACITY OF THIS NEANDHERTAL //HAMMER HIS DONG//
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Wait, previously it was mentioned that Sofia could pay back the debt by simply working as a maid in Countās house for the rest of her life, now that debt is supposedly equal to Kingdoms income for TEN YEARS?
Not pay back exactly, but that they would be more lenient on the debt or give more time to pay it back.
Translators, calling this prince a Neanderthal is an insult to Neanderthals! They may have been primitive, but they were decent and honorable!
Wow what a bloated ego you got there crazy, stupid Prince! You deserve everything that’s coming your way! Do you think the duchess will pick up a trash like you?
Gosh! SofĆa let weiss go to do what ever he wants to this… Selfish subhuman