Chapter 647: The Doll and the Calculation

Did I… get tricked?

After taking the small gift the Princess gave Anna and refusing the royal carriage sent to take him home, Leon stood at the palace gate, the night wind brushing his face, his emotions deeply complicated.

Cunning, wicked woman…

The few questions I originally raised—huge differences in perception, both of us too busy with work, the troubles brought by my Prince title, and her true desire being the Lyon family rather than me personally—among others.

Though the Princess spoke to me at length, these very issues that had truly convinced me to reject this marriage seem to have been left entirely unresolved.

Even though nothing has changed compared to before, not only did I fail to break off the engagement, I was even more tightly ensnared by her—somehow, I ended up promising I wouldn't blame her, wouldn't abandon her, would give her a chance, and would never be the one to propose an annulment.

Had I not barely regained some sanity at the critical moment, I suspect I'd have even set the wedding date on the spot, completely bound by the cunning Princess.

But strangely, even though I clearly know I've been fooled, whenever I recall her gentle words as she held my arm, and those eyes—filled with me… at least, they looked as if they were filled with me—I simply can't bring myself to be angry with her…

Men… pfft!

After spitting inwardly at his own weakness, Leon sighed, then descended the steps with a complex expression and even more complicated emotions.

…

Hmm… it seems Leon won't be coming back to break off the engagement anytime soon.

After Leon admitted his failure to annul the engagement and walked down the steps—though not exactly dejected—a fishing master watching from the balcony couldn't help but exhale deeply.

Those who seek status value face more; offering sufficient respect usually shifts their attitude. Those who seek power are pragmatic; to reach consensus, you must offer tangible benefits.

Those who seek wealth are also practical, but if you show them a sufficiently bright future, they'll even accept empty promises. The truly difficult ones are those who want nothing at all.

Fishing requires bait, but Leon wants no status, no power, no wealth—my identity as Princess is, to him, a burden and a nuisance.

So if he truly dug in his heels and refused to annul the engagement under any circumstances, I'd have no way at all to stop him—only watch helplessly as this big fish slipped the hook and swam back into the river and sea, tail flicking.

Fortunately, to secure Leon's position as Duke of Lionheart, I conducted extensive research beforehand and understood him well enough to barely catch his weakness…

He's soft-hearted, and his pride is too thin.

Even though he'd resolved to break off the engagement, his nature would never let him speak cruelly—and that gave me room to maneuver and negotiate. I could even use my own affection to make it hard for him to refuse outright, stabilizing the situation.

Then, when I revealed my bottom line—that he is my only choice—and showed enough helplessness and frailty, turning "breaking the engagement" into a morally guilty option, Leon's nature would make him unable to speak the words.

I'm truly a despicable woman…

Watching Leon's retreating figure, the Princess on the balcony fell silent for a moment, her luminous eyes filled with a hint of regret.

I'm sorry…

But even with all these hidden motives behind me, every word I spoke just now was true: marrying you is truly my best choice—perhaps even my only choice—because only this marriage can give me the power to change the kingdom. Six years ago, I arrived too late to save those who died in the war, those figures screaming as they burned in orange flames, and they became nightmares that haunted me every night.

If I'm too late again this time, and fail to seize the chance to change the kingdom, given its current state, an even more agonizing nightmare than before will surely return.

Perhaps this is selfish, but I truly don't want to regret it again!

After watching Leon fade into the distance until his silhouette vanished into the night, the Princess sighed, left the balcony, and returned to her desk, opening the unfinished documents.

On the shelf behind her, an old tin doll with half its face shattered silently gazed at her bent-over work, wearing a strange, slightly mournful smile.

…

The Duke of Lionheart Enters the Palace at Night—Is the Princess's Good Fortune Approaching?

Historic Private Meeting—The Princess's Faction Will Take Power!

Beauty or Power? The Union of the Lion and the Robin!

Shocking! Duke of Lionheart Meets the Princess at Night—Will They Marry Before the Child Is Born?

…

"Everyone here has surely heard the news by now."

Slapping the newspapers—each with wildly different headlines but all about the same thing—the man in a brown suit frowned and said:

"I won't waste words. I've called you here for only one purpose—to decide: what are you going to do about this idiotic Duke who claims he'll offer the entire Lyon family as a dowry to court the Princess?"

What do we want to do? The real question isn't what we want—it's what we can do.

After exchanging glances, the invited old nobles saw one white-haired old Count step forward first, his face full of righteous fury, and propose:

"Of course, we must depose him!

Of the kingdom's seventeen major departments, seven are already under royal control. If the Lyon family's Road Administration and Military Departments also fall to her, over half the departments will be under her command. Add to that the Lyon family's seat as Deputy President of the Upper Academy—and even if we ally with the Lower Academy, we may not be able to outmaneuver the Princess!

So we must depose him. If we let that fool remain Duke, how will we live in the future? Will we beg for scraps?"

"But how do we depose him? And who will do it?"

After the old Count spoke, another noble beside him sighed:

After the Lyon Blood Night, nearly everyone eligible to succeed in the Lyon family died. Only one elderly clan elder, once powerless, remains—and if we must count, we can barely add the newly elected head of the family.

But during the succession ceremony, the old Duke's steward suffered a heart attack, the last remaining clan elder was enraged into a stroke, and the newly elected head was so terrified by the Lionheart Duke's slap of the Prince that he fell gravely ill and still hasn't recovered. The Lyon family has no one left who can stand up."

…

(End of Chapter)