Chapter 145: Breaking the Engagement! You’re Responsible for Me Now!
Smash!
The bottle shattered. Not into shards of glass, but into a fine powder, like dust. Tiny crystalline particles scattered, coating the ground in a sparkling layer.
A deathly silence descended upon the banquet hall. The noble ladies stared, dumbfounded, at Qin Chu, one hand gripping the Grand Prince’s arm, the other still holding the neck of the now-pulverized bottle. Good heavens, they thought, he’s insane! To assault the Grand Prince like this, in front of everyone, was beyond brazen. It was a complete loss of decorum, both for the Hero who had just smashed a bottle over the Grand Prince’s head, and for the Grand Prince himself, dripping with red wine and humiliation.
That was the Grand Prince! Even if he was the Hero, this was going too far.
Yet, a flicker of perverse satisfaction ran through some of the ladies present. After all, they too were women, vying for the Grand Prince’s attention, hoping for a chance to become his consort. They had sneered at Anastasia, mocked her provincial manners and simple dress. But seeing her humiliated so publicly by her betrothed evoked a reluctant sympathy. And seeing a man defend a woman so fiercely, even if it was against the Grand Prince, was undeniably…thrilling.
The male nobles, however, felt a chill run down their spines, instinctively reaching for their own heads. They might be despicable, but they were also shrewd. This was a conflict between the Hero and the Grand Prince, a dangerous game they had no desire to be caught in. Besides, the Hero had been with the Emperor just moments ago. This sudden outburst, this blatant act of violence, must have had the Emperor’s tacit approval.
Anastasia, initially stunned, now understood what had happened. Looking at Qin Chu’s cold expression, she felt a surprising warmth bloom in her chest. He had been worried about her, concerned for her safety.
The Grand Prince, however, was dazed, standing frozen in place, unable to process what had just happened. Red liquid dripped down his forehead, coating him in a sticky mess. It wasn’t blood; he was a level 70 expert, after all. A simple wine bottle couldn’t break his skull. It was just wine, humiliating and sticky, but not life-threatening.
After a few stunned seconds, the Grand Prince’s body trembled as if struck by lightning. “Qin Chu!” he shrieked, “You…you dare to hit me?!”
Qin Chu grinned, his words dripping with sarcasm, “Didn’t I tell you to stop hitting her? Why don’t you listen to your uncle?”
Smash!
Before the echo of his words faded, another bottle appeared in his hand, exploding against the Grand Prince’s forehead.
The surrounding nobles murmured amongst themselves. He says ‘stop hitting her,’ but he’s the one doing all the hitting.
“I’ll f***ing…” A stream of curses, devoid of any royal decorum, poured from the Grand Prince’s mouth. His elegant facade had crumbled along with the shattered bottles. He struggled to move, but his body felt sluggish, his Battle Qi strangely unresponsive, as if choked by his own rage. Unseen by him, black chains, conjured by Anthea, coiled around him, restricting his movements, slowing his reactions.
Qin Chu released the Grand Prince’s wrist and grabbed him by the collar. He extended his hand, and another bottle, as if drawn by an invisible force, flew across the room and landed in his palm, much to the astonishment of the watching nobles.
“Stop hitting her! Why don’t you understand human language?!” He swung the bottle, and with a pia, it exploded against the Grand Prince’s cursing mouth. Shards of glass flew into his mouth, some swallowed involuntarily. He felt his teeth loosen, blood welling up in his gums.
Smash!
Smash!
Smash!
A fourth bottle, a fifth, a sixth…a thirtieth, a fortieth?
Qin Chu seemed to be enjoying himself, lost in a frenzy of violence. He didn’t even know how many bottles he had smashed against the Grand Prince’s head. Even with his considerable strength, the Grand Prince couldn’t withstand the relentless assault. His forehead was a bloody mess, the bone visible in places. Blood streamed down his face. The ground was covered in a thick layer of broken glass. The nearby wine rack was empty.
Qin Chu was about to grab another bottle from further away when Anastasia, seemingly snapping out of her shock, caught his wrist with her pale hand, shaking her head slightly. “Stop it, Hero,” she said quietly.
Qin Chu’s eyes narrowed, and he glanced at Anastasia, a sudden smile playing on his lips. He released his grip, and the Grand Prince collapsed to the ground like a sack of meat, whimpering.
Anastasia took a deep breath and lowered her hand from her face, revealing her reddened cheek. But a flawless, serene smile graced her lips as she curtsied gracefully to the surrounding nobles.
Her movements were elegant and perfect, her voice calm and melodious. “My apologies for interrupting your enjoyment,” she said, “I’m feeling a little unwell and will excuse myself. Please continue to enjoy the banquet.”
With that, without a single glance at the Grand Prince sprawled on the floor, she turned and walked away.
In Anastasia’s heart, all illusions about the Grand Prince had shattered.
The dreams of a young girl had met the brutal reality of a cruel world.
Qin Chu didn’t follow her immediately.
Wadsworth, arriving late to the scene, frowned at the bloody mess on the floor. Good heavens, the Hero had a vicious streak. He had beaten Lance to a pulp.
“Third,” he said to one of his other sons, his voice cold and indifferent, “drag Lance away and get him treated.”
This reaction brought a flicker of hope to Wadsworth’s other sons. Their elder brother had completely enraged their father. Although there were many competitors, their chance had finally come.
“Brother Qin, I’ll leave Anastasia to you,” Wadsworth said, rubbing his temples with a weary sigh. The most pressing matter now was damage control. Anastasia couldn’t be allowed to come to harm. If she were to attempt suicide or something equally drastic, the consequences would be severe.
Just as Anastasia worried about damaging relations with the Empire and bringing disaster to her Duchy, Wadsworth had his own concerns. Although the Ice Duchy was a poor, frozen wasteland, its harsh conditions had forged some of the finest warriors in the Heavenly Continent. The soldiers from the Ice Duchy were known for their ferocity and courage in the fight against the Demon Beasts. If anything happened to Anastasia, they might revolt.
…
Meanwhile, Anastasia, having left the banquet, didn’t return to Qin Chu’s residence.
She wandered through the opulent city like a lost spirit. The river flowed gently, reflecting the stars and moons. Warm, inviting light spilled from the windows of elegant houses. The world was quiet.
It was a beautiful city, but it only made Anastasia feel more alone, more lost. It was colder than the icy plains of her homeland.
The night breeze brushed against her skin, and she instinctively pulled the elegant dress Angelica had provided closer around her.
After wandering for an unknown amount of time, she finally stopped by the riverbank. The water rushed past, a soothing counterpoint to the turmoil in her heart. For the first time, she abandoned her royal composure, sinking down onto the grass.
Alone at last, she allowed the carefully constructed walls around her heart to crumble. Tears streamed down her face, hot against her cold skin, leaving clean tracks through the dust and grime of her journey. They dripped from her chin, staining the pristine white of her dress.
No…this wouldn’t do.
She shook her head, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. She couldn’t ruin the dress. Angelica had chosen it specifically for her. It must have been expensive.
But the tears wouldn’t stop.
No matter how rational, how mature and elegant she tried to be, she was still just a girl. From a young age, she had been taught to be loyal to the Grand Prince, to give him all her love. She had been told of his handsomeness, his charm, his elegance and gentleness. Perhaps he was handsome, but where was the elegance? Where was the gentleness?
To be slapped, humiliated, in front of so many nobles…
She was a princess!
The shattering of her dreams, the unprecedented humiliation, had dealt a devastating blow.
In such a state, it was easy to make extreme choices.
Having suffered such disgrace, having brought shame upon the Ice Duchy, she couldn’t face returning to her parents.
A small bottle appeared in her hand, filled with the powdered petals of Nightshade flowers.
If she swallowed this, she would fall into a peaceful sleep, a sleep from which she would never awaken.
Everyone in the Ice Duchy carried such a bottle. They often had to venture out to battle Demon Beasts and wild creatures, and not every hunt was successful. If captured, they would be devoured alive. To watch your own body being torn apart, bit by bit, was an unbearable agony. The Nightshade offered a merciful escape.
The indifference of this city chilled her to the bone. But there was kindness here too.
A faint smile touched her lips. The Hero, for instance, had been kind. He had saved her from the assassins, shared his food, offered her shelter, and even defended her against the Grand Prince’s cruelty, risking a conflict with the Empire.
That not-particularly-handsome figure had left an indelible mark on her heart. She placed her hand over her chest, feeling a surprising warmth.
Because of this kindness, she couldn’t burden him further.
She was damaged goods now, a liability. Qin Chu, in his kindness, would likely offer her continued protection…but she couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t impose on him any longer.
It would be cleaner, simpler, to just fade away.
She opened the bottle, her face a mask of sorrow, and raised it to her lips, ready to swallow the bitter powder.
Just then, a pebble, flung from the darkness, struck the bottle, sending it flying into the river with a splash.
Anastasia turned, startled. Qin Chu stood behind her, his face partially obscured by the shadows.
A wave of panic washed over her. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and stood up quickly. “Hero,” she stammered, “what are you doing here?”
“I’m fine,” she lied, “I just wanted some fresh air. I apologize for letting you see me in such an undignified state.”
Qin Chu didn’t answer immediately. He stretched lazily, then sprawled on the grass beside her, plucking a blade of dogtail grass and chewing on it thoughtfully. His eyes, fixed on the moon, seemed distant.
“Undignified?” he mumbled, “I don’t care about that stuff.”
“Honestly,” he continued, his voice dropping to a low murmur, “pretending to be one of these high-society types is exhausting. More tiring than fighting Demon Beasts.”
His sudden shift in demeanor surprised Anastasia. He had abandoned all pretense of gentlemanly conduct, all traces of noble refinement. But she didn’t dislike it. He seemed more real, more approachable.
“Don’t keep thinking about killing yourself,” he muttered, “It’s not worth it to die for trash like the Grand Prince.”
“Besides,” he continued, his voice hardening, “who do you think would be happiest if you died? It would be the Grand Prince, of course. He’d be rid of an obstacle, probably jumping for joy.”
Anastasia flushed with shame. He had seen through her lie.
“Do you think so…” she whispered.
“Were you humiliated tonight?”
Anastasia nodded. Humiliated like never before.
“Was the Grand Prince also humiliated?”
She nodded again. You were the one who did it, she thought, why are you asking me?
“Then who do you think was more humiliated, you or the Grand Prince?”
Anastasia paused. Although her future husband didn’t love her, although he had slapped her…compared to the Grand Prince, who had had dozens of bottles smashed over his head, his forehead bloodied and his face covered in wine…
And the Grand Prince slapping her hadn’t been witnessed by many, while everyone had seen Qin Chu beating him to a pulp.
The Grand Prince’s status was even more noble, he was the heir to the throne… It seemed that the Grand Prince had suffered far greater humiliation than she had.
Thinking about this, she actually felt a little better, even a hint of satisfaction.
“Haha, feeling better now?” Qin Chu chuckled.
“And you don’t have to worry about the Ice Duchy falling out with the Empire. Wadsworth is no longer planning to let the Grand Prince inherit the throne. That idiot is finished.”
“And now is the time to fight against the Demon Beasts. Before the Demon Beasts are subdued, the Empire must maintain a good relationship with the Ice Duchy.”
“So you don’t have to worry so much.”
Anastasia stood beside Qin Chu, lost in thought, considering his words.
As the night wind ruffled her hair and skirt, her suicidal thoughts seemed to dissipate.
The Hero’s carefree and fearless attitude was something she didn’t possess.
Because the Ice Duchy was far less powerful than the Empire, Anastasia had always been cautious, afraid that her actions would disgrace her country, offend someone, and bring trouble to the Duchy.
But now that she thought about it, she had been overthinking things.
Although the Empire seemed powerful, it was already rotting from within. Perhaps, it only had a strong outer shell left.
And the Hero was right. If she died now, the happiest person would definitely be the Grand Prince… But her parents would be saddened by her death.
Had she gone crazy to do something that would hurt her loved ones and please her enemy?
Her mood gradually calmed down, and she was surprised to find that she wasn’t as sad as she thought… She even felt a sense of relief, as if she had finally broken free from her shackles.
As she calmed down, Anastasia’s intelligence also gradually returned. Perhaps, she didn’t love the Grand Prince as much as she thought she did.
This so-called love was just an illusion created by her etiquette teachers’ long-term indoctrination.
When she was with the Grand Prince, she only felt nervous, afraid, and trembling, not at all as relaxed, happy, and at ease as she felt with Qin Chu.
She sat silently beside Qin Chu, resting her chin on her hand, gazing at the night sky.
She let the night wind blow her hair, strands falling onto Qin Chu’s face. The Hero even opened his mouth and bit one of them. What did hair even taste like…?
The Grand Prince would only ignore her, letting others mock her and slap her…
But the Hero saved her from the assassins, shared his precious food with her, took her in, prepared a beautiful dress for her, praised her beauty, and stood up for her when she was humiliated…
Under the moonlight, a silly smile appeared on Anastasia’s fair face.
This valiant woman from the Ice Duchy had emerged from her false love and weakness. She had recognized her own heart.
Her beautiful eyes glanced at the Hero beside her, and she suddenly leaned closer.
Her icy white, jelly-like lips moved to Qin Chu’s ear, and she murmured softly:
“Hero… You have to take responsibility for me now…”
“Huh?” Qin Chu was stunned. What did she mean?
“It’s because of you that I made this decision,” Anastasia said with a gentle smile.
“What decision?”
“I’m breaking off the engagement!”
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