Ellis's POV

"Cynthia!  I'm going to break off my engagement with you!"

While holding my shoulders Grat-sama raises his voice to Listero-sama.

"When I met Ellis, I found my true love!"

I frowned in pain as Grat-sama's hands tightened on my shoulder.

Right now, I have no idea what's really going on.

Earlier today, I was planning on not attending the welcome party for new students.

But around noon, a group of attendants came into my room in the dormitory, and they said that they were sent by Grat-sama. Then,  without any hesitation, they started dressing me up and putting makeup on me. By the time I realized what had happened, they had already brought me here.

When I looked at Listero-sama, I noticed that she looked a little pale, but she was staring at Grat-sama with resoluteness and pride in her face.

"In other words, does that mean that you want to break off your engagement with me because you have found another woman you like? Grat-sama I'm sure you already know this since you are in a ducal household that has connections to the royal family, but an engagement between aristocrats is a tie between the two families, right?"

"Normally that would be the case, but what you've been doing lately is really unbearable."

Grat-sama gritted his teeth as he listened to Listero-sama's words, which were spoken as if she were holding something back.

Huh?

", Cynthia, did you think that I wouldn't know what you were doing? You're bullying Ellis every time you have a chance, didn't you? Not only that, but you even spread rumors that Ellis is a commoner!"

"Grat-sama!   That's not true!"

I looked at Grat-sama and raised my voice, but...

"It's okay, Ellis. I don't believe in those rumors. Cynthia, if I remember correctly, you're the daughter of a disgusting and lowly commoner dancer, right? So I guess you're jealous of Ellis, who has the singing voice of an angel; that's why you started those rumors, am I right?"

"Grat-sama, you can insult me whatever you want, but please don't insult my mother. Regardless of where my mother was born, she is now firmly supporting the marquis."

I feel like I'm going to lose my consciousness over what's happening in front of me.

Why? I wonder why this is happening.

"I guess the Listero household kept that a secret, hoping for you to be married into our household. It seems that you forgot that we are part of the royalty, and we wouldn't allow someone with disgusting commoners blood to enter our family!"

After all, even though he's from the same royal family, this person is different from His Highness.

I'm sure that His Highness wouldn't say such things.

When I looked at Listero-sama, I noticed that tears were forming in her eyes, but she remained resolute while looking at Grat-sama.

Ah, Listero-sama.  No, just for now, please let me call you onee-sama just like before.

Onee-sama, to whom I owe so much, is in a predicament right now. I want to help her, but I'm afraid; what should I do?

Your Highness, please give me courage.

"Grat-sama! If you think that the blood of commoners is disgusting, then I think that you will also be disgusted with me, as the blood that flows into my veins is that of a commoner also."

I shake off Grat-sama's hand that's been holding onto my shoulder, and I raise my voice against him.

"My mother was a commoner singer from a foreign land."

"You're lying, right? Is that what Cynthia has been telling you all this time?"

Grat-sama approached me to hug me again, but I avoided it and I ran towards onee-sama.

"Onee-sama only told me to act properly as a daughter of a noble so that I wouldn't embarrass myself."

"Onee-sama?   You..."

Onee-sama looks at me in surprise.

"Yes, back then my appearance was a bit rough, but I will never forget the kindness that onee-sama gave to the people in the slums; you gave us food, and you even helped me learn how to study properly."

It's been a long time since we've met in the slums, so that's why, when I came into this school, I looked for onee-sama and eventually I found her, but...

I was sad that onee-sama didn't notice me when we first met, but at the same time I was happy that onee-sama is the same as before; she is still strict and kind at the same time.

That's why...

"I don't love you! So please don't decide my feelings on your own!"

When I shouted those words of rejection to Grat-sama, he became red with anger.

"Are you also trying to deceive me, huh?! Ellis?!"

Grat-sama rushed towards me, then he raised his fist, seeing that I hardened myself and closed my eyes.

I'm going to get beaten!

I then feel that onee-sama is hugging me to protect me.

A few moments had already past, but the shock of Grat-sama's fist never came.

Instead, I smelled a scent of flowers that I didn't recognize, and for some reason, smelling that scent put my heart at ease.

Ah, this scent—could it be?

"Raising your hand to a woman you're supposed to like It looks to me like your "true love" is pretty cheap, isn't it? Grat."

When I opened my eyes, in front of onee-sama who was still hugging me, a black haired man dressed in party attire was holding Grat-sama's fist.

"Your Highness..."

When I muttered those words, His Highness turned his face towards me, and he softly told me...

"Ellis, Cynthia. It's fine now, you two should just stay there and watch what I'm going to do."

When His Highness said that, he fully smiled at us.

"I will destroy that so-called true love!"



Note:

1. In this chapters case it's the opposite of chapter 7, onee-sama here is better than sister.