“W-what are you saying!? W-why would Lithia—!?”

“We registered our marriage the other day, and now I’m married. I can’t possibly accept your proposal.”

“—No, that’s not it! Why did you get married!?”

In the quiet hall, Andrew was the first to open his mouth. With disheveled hair and bloodshot eyes, he rushed Lithia and Geo.

“Because I proposed to her.”

“—You! What have you done—!?”

In the Kingdom of Lafizard, while there was precedent for polygamy in the royal family, most practiced monogamy. As such, polygamy and bigamy were frowned upon. Naturally, it was illegal to propose to someone who was already married.

“Lithia, why didn’t you wait for me…?”

While it was possible to remarry after a divorce, that didn’t apply to the royal family. After all, a crown princess had to be chaste.

“You’ve almost completed the princess education…! As for me, I’ve even laid the groundwork…! Not to mention, this man is going to be banished to the farthest region of the country…!”

Even if the princess education could make up for her low status, her history as a divorcee would mar her value as a princess candidate.

Much to Andrew’s dismay, his perfect plan fell apart at the last moment.

“Why would I wait? Especially when Geo was scheduled to depart for Selvi before noon the next day? In order to follow him, I had to marry him.”

“—So that’s how it is…! Did this coward force you to accompany him!? Hey, do you have no shame!?”

Enraged, the prince raised his fist at Geo. But before it was swung down, Lithia went on.

“He didn’t force me. After hearing his predicament, I told him that I didn’t want to leave him. Thus, I asked him to marry me.”

“Wait, I was the one who proposed, though? Didn’t I say, ‘Will you marry me?’”

“But those were just words. When I expressed my wish to not be apart from you, it was akin to conveying my desire to marry you.”

“In that case, I’d proposed first. As in, the day before that, when I swore to be by your side no matter what.”

“But that’s because I asked you to—!”

“Regardless, I said it first.”

On the other hand, the students, who were anticipating a happy ending between the princess and her prince, could only stare blankly at the unexpected development.

“What was she thinking…? Why would she accept a marriage proposal from a mere commoner…?”

“Did he do something…? No, that’s impossible. In the first place, no commoner can force a noble in marriage… Then, did Lady Lithia really…?”

“Wait, then, what about His Highness…?”

At first, the students suspected Lithia accepted Geo’s courtship because she was unaware of her feelings towards Andrew. That, or she was being coerced by Geo.

However, after seeing how eager they were to protect each other, and also, their bickering… They began to realize such didn’t seem to be the case, and a wave of confusion began to spread.

“—No, we should still be able to make it on time! It hasn’t been that long since your married occurred. We can still try to annul it! Lithia, you married him because you were oblivious of my true feelings, right!? You made a mistake. But now, I believe you can make an informed decision. Why don’t we apply to the church—”

“—No, I didn’t make a mistake. So, please spare yourself from the trouble, Your Highness.”

The students clamored at Lithia’s direct refusal. From the exchange up until now, it seemed that their marriage was based on mutual consent.

Nevertheless, the fact remained had been oblivious to the prince’s love. Everyone expected her to regret, but Lithia was unwavering.

Using Andrew’s authority, Lithia could’ve undone her marriage. In fact, it’d be as if she was never married to begin with! As such, she’d be able to become the crown princess—

—Yet, she refused him without a second thought.

“…Even after His Highness had confessed, she still chooses that guy?”

“No way! Is she an idiot!?”

“What am I seeing right now…?”

“Such an abject refusal… It’s as if she never even considered His Highness from the start…”

“That’s impossible—! No, but…”

The students—who’d been swayed by the prince’s theatre of love—began to voice their doubts.

Some tried to defend the love between the princess and the prince, but couldn’t muster a single argument.

“…It can’t be. What are you dissatisfied with, Lithia? I did everything for the sake of welcoming you—a viscount’s daughter—as my wife. I’m truly sorry if it took 10 years. But please understand, I couldn’t pull it off in just one or two years…!”

In front of the crushed prince, the couple held hands. As for the students, they no longer knew which one was the dark horse.

“Please forgive me, Lithia. I needed a whole decade to secure your position, so please…!”

Unaware of the change in the atmosphere around him, Andrew sorrowfully hung his head

‘—Could it be, the creep in question isn’t the commoner?’

Such a question arose within the hearts of the students.

“No matter how hard you worked, it’s meaningless if she doesn’t want it.”

—That’s it.

At the words of the supposed “creep”, the hearts of the students were reunited. It finally dawned upon them—the true identity behind the creep.

“W-wha—!? What stupid nonsense are you spouting—!?”

Full of surprise, Andrew shrieked as if he didn’t see it coming.

“Your Highness worked hard to secure a position for Lithia. Lithia, on the other hand, doesn’t want that position. There, simple.”

“W-what are you talking about!? That’s a lie—!”

“A lie…? For your information, I—”

“—Forgive me, Your Highness.”

When Geo was about to say something, Lithia gently placed her hand on his chest, before stepping forward.

“My husband doesn’t lie. If his words came off as offensive to Your Highness, then I—his wife, shall humbly apologize.”

Then, Lithia bowed her head deeply. Andrew was so stunned that he couldn’t say anything back.

---

***T/N: UGHGHGHGHGHGH AS IF REJECTING HIM WASN’T ENOUGH, THEY WERE BICKERING ON WHO PROPOSEDDDD FIRSTTTTT… GOOOO GEOLITHIAAAA GOOOO

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