How to Perfectly Break Up with You

“That’s not all, Your grace. We received a unilateral notice that soldiers stationed at the border would be relocated away from the frontier. The military has clear jurisdiction over border control – isn’t this an infringement on our rights?”

Gaius spoke with an emotional tone that suggested he was about to burst with indignation.

“Instead of rewarding those who just returned after achieving great merit in the recent war, they’re being treated so poorly.”

“His Majesty likely doesn’t want the military’s influence to grow any further,” Declan replied calmly. Although only the person on the throne had changed, he was used to being kept in check like this. Compared to the endless pressure from the previous emperor, this might even be mild.

“The Emperor picking these kinds of power struggles isn’t anything new. There’s no need to be so concerned.”

“But Your Grace, isn’t this a matter of the military’s pride?”

“It’s just moving some diplomatic envoys. Not significant enough to make a fuss about military pride.”

Though he said this, Declan was far from unconcerned about the situation. He knew better than anyone how such small sparks could ignite into massive fires.

The Emperor, who had been extremely cautious before his ascension, began engaging in these power plays with the nobles after finally claiming the throne. It started when he banished the Imperial Princess to Lopwell immediately after inheriting imperial authority.

Looking back, even the nobles who had been debating the Emperor’s legitimacy fell silent after seeing what happened to Sienna. Exiling his half-sister to Lopwell served as a perfect example of what would happen to those who opposed the Emperor’s absolute authority.

That was just the beginning. Afterwards, there were various incidents, such as deliberately delaying the passage of bills proposed by the parliament to provoke the nobles.

Since the Emperor himself was well aware that his legitimacy wasn’t perfect, these power struggles were mostly aimed at consolidating imperial authority.

The wariness toward military power was also an extension of this power play. Moreover, Declan had already damaged the Emperor’s trust during the previous banquet.

Therefore, the Emperor’s decision to withdraw soldiers from the border and replace them with his closest knights held two meanings:

A warning to be wary of military power and to refrain from any further actions that might displease the Emperor. Both were silent pressure directed at him.

“If that is His Majesty’s will, we have no choice but to comply.”

And as usual, now that the Emperor had pulled on the leash, Declan intended to move exactly as he wished.

But something felt off.

The eastern border adjoining Parma was particularly strict and restricted due to its proximity to the closed-off Ricata territory. It was natural for merchants and traders to be dissatisfied.

People had thought the closure decree, which the previous emperor had proclaimed when executing his wife, would be lifted when Joseph ascended to the throne.

Considering how the Ricata territory had once accumulated great wealth through trade with the east, it was a reasonable assumption.

Even though it was the territory of traitors, Ricata was economically too significant to ignore. Nevertheless, the newly enthroned Emperor didn’t lift the sanctions against Ricata.

‘Why?’

While continuing to walk, Declan pondered deeply.

The Emperor, Joseph, had decent political sense, but his emotions tended to easily overwhelm his reason at times.

And speaking of the Ricata territory, wasn’t it the land where those he hated most were born and raised?

Lifting the blockade on Ricata territory might risk Sienna claiming ownership of the land again, and this might be one reason for wanting to send her to Parma as quickly as possible.

After all, if Sienna became royalty of another country, it would be difficult for her to claim ownership of Imperial territory.

Declan suddenly recalled the Emperor’s words as he was thinking:

[I feel uneasy knowing the former Emperor’s personal letter is in the hands of some unknown person.]

As his thoughts reached a certain point, Declan unconsciously stopped walking. Gaius looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, nothing…”

“Grand Duke?”

At that moment, another voice cut between the two men.

Marianne approached them with a welcoming expression. Gaius swiftly bowed his head toward her.

“Your Highness, First Imperial Princess.”

“Are you coming from meeting His Majesty?”

“I’m on my way to the training grounds. It seems Your Highness is out for a walk.”

While answering her, Declan gestured to Gaius with his eyes to go ahead to the training grounds. Understanding the meaning, Gaius bowed to Marianne and turned away.

“The weather is so nice today. It would be a shame to stay indoors.”

Marianne smiled brightly. Only then did Declan look up at the sky. As she said, it was a splendid day.

For some reason, facing the blue sky made his mood plummet even further.

While his inner thoughts were in complete disarray, the world remained brilliant. The cloudless, pure, clear sky felt quite contrary to his current state.

As he looked up at the sky, Declan unconsciously clenched the hand that had spilled ink that morning. Though the ink had been completely wiped away, the sticky sensation seemed to linger.

Marianne, who had been quietly observing him, spoke with a gentle smile.

“If you don’t mind, shall we walk together? It’s rather boring walking alone.”

Declan, who had been absent-mindedly staring at the sky, finally came to his senses. Though he lowered his gaze to express his refusal, Marianne had already swiftly turned around.

He sighed softly and followed her.

A short walk wouldn’t hurt. There was plenty of time until training, and it wouldn’t hurt to accommodate the Imperial Princess’s mood.

****

It was approaching the height of summer.

The flowers planted in the imperial garden were in full bloom, dispersing their intense fragrances. Though the garden air was fresh and fragrant because of this, Declan couldn’t feel much emotional response.

In contrast, Marianne, who had led him here, seemed quite pleased with the fully bloomed garden. Of course, her good mood wasn’t simply due to the bright weather—the man walking with her likely had a greater influence.

Walking through the garden with an elated expression, Marianne suddenly spoke to Declan.

“It’s been so long since we walked in the garden together.”

“Indeed.”

Declan replied dryly while looking at the fully bloomed hydrangeas.

Though it rarely happened now, before he departed for the northern border long ago, Joseph would occasionally assign him to be Marianne’s escort.

Despite Declan not being a member of the knights, the underlying intention behind assigning him as the Imperial Princess’s escort was crystal clear.

After silently watching him for a moment, Marianne slowly spoke.

“When I was young, I always looked forward to coming to the imperial palace. Because you were here.”

Though she had always kept these words in her heart, she never thought she would confess like this. Nevertheless, Marianne tried to maintain as calm an attitude as possible.

While it was clearly a pathetic and humiliating situation for her, it was necessary to endure it.

Rather than letting that girl take everything away again, this much pride was nothing.

“I’ve liked you for a long time. And it’s very clear that I’m the best choice for you.”

Surprised by her direct confession, Declan could only stare at her speechlessly. In contrast to him, Marianne, who had made the confession, showed no signs of wavering.

“Loveless marriages are common. Among nobles in this country, marriages based on romantic feelings are probably rarer.”

Perhaps the reason unrequited love is pathetic is that it makes one blindly chase after the gaze of someone who will never look their way. Marianne was no exception. For her, finding where Declan’s gaze was directed had become nothing short of a long-standing habit.

For the same reason, she was always the first to notice where Declan’s gaze lingered longest.

So it was impossible not to know. The reason why those eyes, always tinged with subtle melancholy, showed a never-before-seen look at that banquet. Who he, who had always been indifferent to the opposite sex, had been staring at throughout the banquet.

What that gaze meant—all of these were too easy for Marianne to figure out.

That day, for the first time in her life, Marianne saw herself in Declan.

Declan looking at Sienna was just like herself looking at him. It perfectly reflected how she longed for his gaze and desired him.

She couldn’t bear that fact.

After taking a moment to steady her breath, she spoke in a low voice.

“But if I’m not acceptable, then she isn’t either, Grand Duke.”

“…”

“The one who made your family like that was not only my father… but also her father.”

Compared to her composed attitude until now, her following voice was clearly trembling.

It was a well-known fact that the previous Grand Ducal couple and their youngest daughter falling off a cliff in their carriage was a horrific murder orchestrated by the previous emperor. That’s why it was tacitly forbidden to mention it.

The officially revealed circumstances of the accident stated that the carriage’s wheels were loosely fitted, causing it to lose balance.

The previous emperor executed the Grand Duke household’s main retainers for negligent carriage maintenance and concluded the matter there. Though it was a hasty conclusion, it was enough to destroy the Grand Ducal family.