How to Perfectly Break Up with You

As they traveled from Lopwell to the capital, it took several days.

While Jane was constantly fidgeting, unable to adjust to riding in a carriage for the first time, Sienna remained absorbed in watching the scenery rapidly passing by outside the window.

It wasn’t until quite some time had passed that Jane noticed something odd about Sienna’s appearance. Upon finally noticing Sienna’s red cloak, she asked with a puzzled expression, “I don’t recall seeing that cloak before. Where did you get it?”

At those words, Theodore, who was following alongside the carriage on horseback, leaned forward to examine her attire through the window. He too wore a perplexed expression.

After all, even if one searched all of Lopwell, there wasn’t a single shop that could provide such high-quality fabric.

“The Abbot’s priestly robe,” Sienna replied casually, resting her chin on the window frame. Then, as if making an excuse, she added, “I couldn’t exactly go to the Imperial Palace wearing rags.”

Only then did Theodore recall the Abbot’s glossy garments. Looking at it now, the cloak the princess wore resembled the Abbot’s vestments with all the colorful medals removed.

When this realization hit him, he couldn’t help but laugh. Though he could feel Sienna’s disapproving glare, he couldn’t suppress his chuckling.

While he felt no sympathy for that old man, thinking about how bewildered he must have been after suddenly losing his clothes actually made Theodore feel somewhat satisfied.

After laughing to himself for a while, Theodore cleared his throat and said in a stern voice, “Your Highness. Even if His Majesty says something to upset you at the palace, you absolutely must not react like last time. Do you understand?”

Here we go again.

Sienna responded by displaying her annoyance plainly on her face, but Theodore continued his lecture regardless. Even Jane’s meaningful glances didn’t help.

“Even if you hear unreasonable things, just let them go in one ear and out the other. It’s not like His Majesty hasn’t been getting on your nerves for ages now. Of course, nothing should happen that would anger Your Highness more than that time, but…”

Theodore repeated the same warnings throughout their journey to the capital, mainly about not doing anything to displease the Emperor. Sienna just stared out the window, letting Theodore’s constant chatter go in one ear and out the other.

As they left Lopwell’s barren region, trees began appearing one by one. The increasing number of trees with green leaves indicated how far they were getting from Lopwell.

They occasionally passed villages where people lived together. Unlike Lopwell, these were villages full of people living vibrant lives.

Finally, after passing through a dense forest and entering a well-maintained road, Sienna closed the window.

They were approaching the capital.

As the carriage passed through the city gates and the sounds of people outside began to filter in, her feelings became more complicated.

Since she had already died once before, she wasn’t afraid of death anymore. Even if the Emperor tried to kill her for whatever reason, at least there wouldn’t be any dishonorable false accusations like in her previous life.

She didn’t particularly have any attachment to her life or lingering regrets about the world, so if she could end her life properly like this, Sienna would be satisfied with just that.

“We have arrived, Your Highness.”

As soon as the coachman spoke, Jane opened the carriage door and jumped out. She must have been quite motion sick.

Following her, Sienna carefully stepped down while holding Theodore’s hand.

Only after placing both feet on the ground did Sienna carefully survey her surroundings. The Imperial Palace was just as she remembered it.

This palace, unchangingly magnificent and austere, was where she was born and raised.

As she stared blankly at the empire’s flag fluttering in the air, the head chamberlain appeared from somewhere and approached her.

“Princess, His Majesty is waiting.”

Sienna finally looked at the head chamberlain.

Instead of answering, she nodded and followed as the head chamberlain led the way. Theodore’s voice rang out clearly from behind her, shouting, “Your Highness! Don’t forget everything I advised you about!”

****

The long corridor leading to the central building of the Imperial Palace was smoothly paved with white marble, with majestic high-arched columns standing alongside it. The Emperor’s office lay at the end of this path.

For Sienna, it was a path both strange and familiar.

After her mother’s death, she had no reason to enter the Emperor’s space.

The Emperor never sought out Sienna again. Nevertheless, in her childhood, she had naively believed she could regain her father’s love.

Desperately hoping to receive his tender gaze once more like before, she would circle around her father’s building daily.

Despite not having the courage to actually enter the building.

So for her, this building wasn’t a place of particularly good memories.

The head chamberlain, who had been walking across the long corridor, stopped in front of massive doors. As the guards recognized her face and opened the doors, the chamberlain made way.

“Please enter.”

As she slowly stepped inside, sunlight poured down on her unfiltered.

One wall was entirely made of glass, adorned with red curtains embroidered with the imperial crest in gold thread.

Thanks to the wall being entirely glass up to the high ceiling, a well-lit scene spread before her eyes.

A slender man sat at the desk positioned in the center of the office. Sienna, stepping inside, unconsciously halted upon seeing him.

His pale golden hair shimmered in the sunlight. It was the same color as her father’s, who used to welcome her in this very spot long ago.

[Sasha, come here.]

That gentle voice whispering those words was still vivid in her ears.

“So you’ve come.”

The insensitive voice brought her gaze down from his golden hair to his face. He still hadn’t lifted his eyes from his documents.

“Have you reflected on your actions?”

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be reflecting on…”

Sienna muttered with an indifferent expression.

“You should consider yourself fortunate. Back then, I barely restrained myself from setting your face on fire.”

“I’m tired of pointing out your insolence one by one.”

The Emperor sighed deeply and closed his book with a thud. Finally, blue eyes the same color as Sienna’s met hers directly.

Their gazes met, devoid of any familial affection.

“I’ve been thinking while you were away.”

“…”

“I considered just killing you. The thought occurred to me, but it would be a waste. That bloodline you’re so proud of, I mean.”

The Emperor looked at her with a subtle smile. Sienna’s face crumpled with irritation at his pointless words.

“If you have something to say, say it directly.”

The Emperor shrugged lightly.

“As the only legitimate daughter recognized by the late Emperor during his lifetime, you should serve your purpose for the country. Isn’t that why Father kept you alive?”

Though his additional words were clearly meant to provoke her, Sienna laughed mockingly with an exasperated expression.

“What would someone like you know about what the deceased thought…”

At her mocking tone, the head chamberlain standing by the door interjected with a pale face.

“Princess! Please mind your words to His Majesty…”

“Let it be. Our Princess isn’t someone who listens to reason.”

Instead, the Emperor merely clicked his tongue with a relaxed expression, resting his arm on the sofa.

“There’s only one reason I called you to the capital. I’ve finally found a way for you to be useful to this country.”

He turned his gaze toward the window while leisurely resting his chin on his hand.

“While the Empire’s territory has expanded, constant conflicts arise within the continent. To be honest, the Empire’s political situation isn’t particularly stable.”

Sienna let out a silent sigh.

What did the Empire’s political situation have to do with her? Just facing the man before her was torture enough, and with him spouting incomprehensible words, her already thin patience was wearing even thinner.

Then, suddenly, an ominous premonition crossed her mind.

“Do you know the surest way to draw disgruntled enemies to our side?”

The Emperor’s constantly smiling face and endless ambiguous words. Belatedly realizing his intentions, Sienna opened her mouth blankly.

“Surely not…”

“Yes. What you’re thinking is correct.”

As the Emperor nodded readily, Sienna’s face turned pale.

“I want you to marry the King of Parma.”

Even though he had finally revealed his true intentions, Sienna was too stunned to respond.

She never dreamed that immediately upon returning from the monastery, she would be faced with marriage to another man. She had been so preoccupied with avoiding Declan that she’d forgotten she was at the age when she should be in the marriage market.

Only after some time passed did Sienna manage to speak with a dazed expression.

“…What if I refuse?”

“Refuse?”

The Emperor snorted harshly as if the idea was absurd.

“Do you think you have a choice?”

“…”

“If you refuse, I have no reason to keep you alive. Anywhere within my sphere of influence, there won’t be any land where you can live and breathe.”

So in the end, it was a threat.

Either die or marry the person he wanted. Presenting only the most wretched choices – it seemed very typical of Joseph.

Even so, there was no other way.

If she had inherited her share like Marianne or Dahlia, the situation might have been better, but in her current practically penniless state, she had no room to be stubborn.

But…

Sienna’s expression darkened as the image of a certain man naturally came to mind.

The Emperor, who had been quietly observing her reaction, smiled coldly.

“Or perhaps rotting in a prison tower for the rest of your life wouldn’t be so bad either.”