How to Perfectly Break Up with You

As most of the nobles had already gathered, Sienna entered the hall escorted by Theo.

With her entrance, the atmosphere in the hall became somewhat austere.

The nobles, standing in a line, bent their knees in respect to the Imperial Princess amid an inexplicably tense atmosphere.

Since this was Sienna’s first appearance in social circles after returning from Lopwell, their faces held subtle curiosity.

Sienna ceremoniously nodded and continued walking. When she stepped further inside, her eyes briefly met with Declan’s, but it lasted only a moment as she hastily lowered her head.

As soon as she fully entered the hall, Sienna quickly headed toward a secluded terrace.

“His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and Her Imperial Majesty the Empress enter.”

Soon after, the chamberlain personally announced the arrival of the two.

The Emperor and Empress entered the hall in an atmosphere incomparably warmer than when Sienna had entered.

The nobles rushed to offer flattering greetings, which the imperial couple gracefully accepted. Dahlia and Marianne followed behind them.

Only after the imperial couple had responded to the long line of greetings and taken their seats at the highest position did the first dance begin.

Unsurprisingly, Sienna’s first dance partner was Theodore Monches. This had been unchanged since her debutante days.

After the execution of the Empress’s sister-in-law, for a while, no noble son had asked Sienna to dance. They believed nothing good would come from getting involved with the daughter of a traitor.

Though some men began approaching her after the previous Emperor ultimately didn’t strip her of her status, the Imperial Princess showed little interest in dancing.

She would only dance the first song with Theo, and then, as if having fulfilled her duty, would refuse all subsequent dance requests.

Among the many couples dancing to the melody, the Imperial Princess and her knight guardian were undoubtedly the most striking combination. Most people who saw them dance had the same impression.

That the Princess’s razor-sharp demeanor and Theo’s refreshing presence matched extraordinarily well.

This time was no different.

“They look good together. I hear they’re about the same age too,” remarked Marquis Hoffman, Dario, with genuine admiration, causing Declan to turn his gaze.

Just as the first song ended, Sienna and Theo bowed respectfully to each other. The two moved to the edge of the hall while conversing.

As the next song began, new dancers filled the center. The two disappeared into the crowd in an instant.

Watching their retreating figures with a dry expression, Declan drank his wine, feeling an inexplicable thirst. The Marquis, unaware of his inner thoughts, spoke with a puzzled face.

“Is Sir Monches returning to the Knights now?”

“Who knows,” Declan replied indifferently. The Marquis slightly furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss.

“Why does Your Grace the Grand Duke, today’s guest of honor, look so disinterested? What? Is there something not to your liking?”

“How could that be? It’s already a great honor that you’ve chosen to participate, Marquis.”

Declan laughed it off with a joking remark. The Marquis also brushed it aside with a casual laugh.

“By the way, if I were the Sir, I’d be quite disappointed. This Imperial Princess would make quite a fine match, wouldn’t she?”

“That’s unnecessary talk.”

“Even if her maternal family has fallen, she’s still of imperial blood. She’d be quite suitable for a second son who can’t inherit a title. And also…”

Dario suddenly glanced around and whispered in a voice unlikely to be heard by others.

“Though she has a somewhat gloomy impression, she’s undeniably a great beauty.”

“Such words are disrespectful to Her Highness.”

“What does it matter? She won’t hear it anyway.”

The Marquis sneered, as if suggesting what use did it make whether an Imperial Princess cast out from power heard it or not.

“Well, not to mention Empress Melophe, even the previous Emperor was a handsome man in his youth, so it’s no surprise that this Imperial Princess turned out so exceptional.”

Then he lamented with feigned regret.

“Such a shame…If only I weren’t obligated to continue my family line, I would right now…”

“Dario.”

A level voice cut off his words. The Marquis, who had been talking freely, stopped and looked at him.

“That’s enough drunken talk. It’s uncomfortable to listen to.”

Though his voice betrayed no emotion, the words themselves were close to a warning. Realizing the meaning, the Marquis glanced at him cautiously and laughed nervously.

“I must have gotten too excited seeing your face after so long. I spoke out of turn.”

Declan only smiled at the skillful recovery.

As the Marquis temporarily excused himself to get champagne, Declan turned his gaze back to the center. The second dance was in full swing, and Theo was already dancing with another partner.

With his tall stature and friendly demeanor, Theo was popular among women. It was natural. Not only was he physically impressive, but he came from the distinguished House of Monches and was himself an outstanding knight.

Perhaps because of this, there had been quite a few marriage discussions with various families while he was in the capital. Though they all came to nothing when Theo left for Lopwell with the Imperial Princess.

His gaze, which had been quietly observing Theo dancing and laughing with his partner, shifted past him toward a more secluded corner. Sienna was standing alone on the most isolated terrace of the hall.

She maintained her perfect posture, unchanged from when she first entered, but her gaze had lost focus and was directed outside rather than at the ballroom.

A light drizzle was falling outside.

As if completely uninterested in the ball happening inside, she stared absent-mindedly at the quietly falling rain. Occasionally her eyes would blink, and she would let out a shallow sigh.

Watching her from a distance, Declan slowly drew in a breath.

Perhaps this might really be the last time.

The end of this exasperating relationship was right before them. As she had wished and he had wished, the two would now live lives completely unrelated to each other.

Though what they had wished for was becoming reality, he felt not even a shred of joy. Rather, a presumptuous anxiety had taken hold of his mind.

The time he had spent with her as husband and wife wasn’t even a full ten years. Now Sienna would forget all that time and grow old as another man’s wife.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, Declan wasn’t confident he could remain unmoved watching all of that.

He still didn’t have the courage to lose her. No, such courage might never come in his lifetime.

It didn’t matter even if this stemmed from twisted possessiveness rather than pure affection.

Whatever form his feelings took, the conclusion they pointed to was clear.

So in the end, there was no need to deliberate.

Declan immediately set down his glass on the table and took a step.

“Where are you going?”

The Marquis standing beside him asked curiously, but Declan passed by without responding.

The second dance had just ended. Amid the bustle of people greeting their dance partners and moving positions for the next song, Declan crossed the center of the hall.

As he approached with large, purposeful strides, the gaze that had been absently directed outside suddenly turned to him. As soon as their eyes met, he spoke.

“Imperial Princess.”

Sienna looked at him with a face that hadn’t yet properly grasped the situation.

“May I have this dance?”

Though it was a secluded terrace far from the center, all eyes in the room suddenly turned to them.

Sienna didn’t even have time to notice this. Her eyes slowly widened at his unexpected words. But she quickly collected herself and stepped back to indicate her refusal.

“No, I…”

In response to her rejection, Declan instinctively took another step closer. While Sienna, startled by the suddenly shortened distance, stopped speaking, he whispered in a low voice.

“You owe me a debt, don’t you?”

Though he thought himself petty, he had no choice. Sienna, not immediately understanding, looked at him with confusion before remembering what she had said in Lopwell, and her face hardened.

Declan, not losing momentum, continued smoothly.

“Didn’t Your Highness say you would repay me when the opportunity arose?”

Sienna, who had briefly averted her gaze with a lost expression, suddenly snapped.

“Whatever it may be, I have no intention of becoming a spectacle for others, so find another partner.”

“For me, this seems like the most appropriate opportunity, Your Highness.”

“Don’t be petty, Your Grace.”

“I’d rather be known as a petty man than be publicly rejected.”

He smiled slightly and extended his hand.

Sienna looked down at his hand with a defeated expression and let out a long sigh. Judging by the people already glancing their way from inside the hall, it seemed prolonging this argument would do her no good.

He lightly waved his hand as if urging her. Sienna’s eyes deepened as she looked down at it.

‘Perhaps once would be alright.’

If this was truly the last time.

After hesitation, she gently placed her hand on his, and Declan’s smile grew deeper.

The peaceful sound of rain that had filled her ears just moments ago now seemed to echo distantly, as if from another world.

The sensation of touch beneath thin gloves and his gaze fixed upon her – these were the only clear sensations to her now. As soon as she became aware of all these sensations, her pulse began to quicken.

This was not a good sign.