Chapter 22

He appealed to Belle by reminding her of their mother, who departed soon after the passing of the two elder princes. Hayden also conveniently omitted the fact that by giving up Irene, he’d been able to minimize the amount of tribute they had to pay for their failed war.

“Yes, I know. But Irene is our cousin and the daughter of Count Voltern, a family that contributed to the founding of Theorin and was the first queen’s family. Moreover…”

“Belle, stop it. I don’t want to hear it,” Hayden warned.

“She was also your fiancée. Of course, that must be why she was the only one who could replace the princess.”

“I told you to stop!” Hayden sighed and turned away to avoid having to see Belle’s tears. “Yes, as you said, the only plausible substitute was Irene. So, what was I supposed to do? Should I have ignored my mother’s will?”

“So what? Is that promise so great that you had to throw away someone who stood as a pillar of this country?”

“Excuse me?” Hayden’s brow furrowed, as he turned back to stare at Belle.

“Irene is far more important than someone like me who only spends her time reading books, embroidering, and enjoying tea time!”

“You…”

“We needed Irene more than anything to rebuild the shaken foundations of our kingdom.”

“That’s why uncle has been summoned to the capital.”

“Then, who’ll protect the South that borders the other kingdoms? Our seven-year-old first cousins?”

“Stop being sarcastic,” Hayden sighed, as he nervously swept back his hair. He couldn’t deny that Belle’s words stung.

“Even a girl who’s ignored for being useless knows about such things. What about the men who’re lauded as great and awesome people? Did they not know? Are they that pathetic?” Belle continued to press on as Hayden grew increasingly perplexed. She hoped that if she persisted, then perhaps he’d listen to her someday. “Irene only ever lived with one goal in her mind. Who can guarantee she won’t fall apart? What if she makes an irreversible choice?”

“I told you to stop. Irene is someone who wouldn’t even consider this to be an ordeal. She’ll be waiting for her next order, just as she always does,” Hayden insisted. He was confident Irene would never fall apart no matter what happened to her. He believed she would’ve made the same decision if given a choice, which is why he had no qualms when he made his decision. She would surely return to him without a problem. He had received the request for the annulment of their engagement, but…

“Do you think she doesn’t have a heart? That she has no feelings? How could you think like that?”

“Belle, stop it! If you say one more thing, I’ll be angry.”

“Be angry! As much as you want! But before that, bring Irene back! Bring her back!”

Hayden realized his younger sister wouldn’t easily let go of this matter, and he expected the war of attrition between them would last for quite some time. That is, until all his plans abruptly changed the very next day.

“Brother! Brother!” Belle yelled, as she tenaciously chased after him down the hallway.

“Belle, please!” Hayden sighed, as he unfurled the scroll that had just been delivered. Suddenly, he abruptly halted his steps.

“Brother?”

“I’ll go. I’ll go and bring Irene back myself. Just sit tight, wait here, and stay out of trouble.”

“Does that make sense now? Going there yourself is the same as abandoning the kingdom…”

“Wouldn’t I have to show sincerity for them to give Irene back?”

Hayden’s drifted back to the words printed on the scroll: New gold mine discovered in the Kerman region.