Kapitel 14: CHAPTER 14: A BROKEN HEART
One year passed since Ignacia became a vice commander of black knight forces.
Ignacia went to meet Commander Marcus after she was called.
"You fulfill the duty of Vice Commander very well in the past year. I will retire in the next 2 months and leave all my duties to you, Vice Commander" Commander Marcus said.
"Yes, Commander" Ignacia said.
Afterward, Ignacia was busy getting job transferred from Commander Marcus for the whole month. She sent a letter to Felix to inform him that she will get promoted to be a commander-in-chief of black knight forces.
A month passed,
Ignacia was having an audience with Emperor Santino.
"Ignacia De Virtusarium has been recognized for outstanding achievement to the black knight forces. I hereby appointed her as a commander-in-chief of black knight forces. You must carry on and fulfil the duty of commander-in-chief with loyalty, honor, and bravery to make Mirarus Empire be in peace," Emperor Santino said and handed a commander sword to her.
Ignacia knelt on her left knee facing Emperor Santino and received the sword, then said, "I will fulfill the duty of commander-in-chief of black knight forces with loyalty, honor, and bravery to make Mirarus Empire be in peace, Your Majesty"
"Good! You may leave," Emperor Santino said.
Ignacia got up, then bowed at him and left.
In the evening, Ignacia went back to Virtusarium Manor.
Felix and Isabella held a full course of dinner to celebrate Ignacia who had been promoted to commander-in-chief of black knight forces.
"Congratulations, Igna" Felix and Isabella said, smilingly.
"Thank you, Father, Mother" Ignacia said.
"Do you want anything, Igna?" Felix asked.
"No, I don't want anything for now, Father" Ignacia said.
"All right. You can tell us whatever you want later, Igna" said Felix nicely.
"I called a tailor to come to make new suits for you tomorrow, Igna" Isabella said.
"Thank you, Mother" Ignacia said.
"You should attend the coming-of-age party this year, Igna" Isabella said and asked, "Are you willing to wear dress?"
"No, Mother" said Ignacia firmly.
"You should find a good partner from this party, Igna" Felix said.
"I will find only woman, Father" said Ignacia firmly.
"It's all right. I prepared everything for you already. Just find a noblewoman from good family. We need their cooperation to make you become pregnant, Igna" Felix said.
"I will try, Father" Ignacia said.
"Well, have you ever been in relationship with someone, Igna?" Isabella asked her kindly.
"No, I have never been in relationship with anyone, Mother" Ignacia said. She thought of Estella unconsciously.
"Is that so? I heard you were popular among boys and girls when you are in the academy," Isabella said.
"All right. If you could not find the one you like, we will help you later, Igna" Felix said.
"Yes, Father" Ignacia said.
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On the day of coming-of-age party, which was holding at The Royal Castle. It was a banquet that gathered the nobles who were in range of age 19 - 21 years old and wanted to officially make their debuts in High Society.
Ignacia wore official black suit, tied her hair handsomely with man bun style, walking into the grand banquet hall.
Many people looked at her, especially noblewomen.
"She's very handsome," a noblewoman whispered, admiringly.
"She's more attractive than the time she was in the academy," another noblewoman whispered, admiringly.
"I heard she's just been promoted to commander-in-chief of black knight forces," the other noblewoman whispered, admiringly.
"She's perfect," a noblewoman whispered, admiringly.
"I will seduce her if she was a man," another noble woman whispered, dreamily.
"I agree" a noblewoman whispered, dreamily.
Ignacia heard everything but behaved as if she did not hear anything. She walked to the corner, having a glass of wine. She came here because her parents wanted her to attend. She had no interest in men and there was no noblewoman in her mind except for Estella.
"Lady Ignacia," Olivia called her.
"Olivia! How have you been?" said Ignacia nicely.
"I've been good. What about you?" Olivia said, nicely.
"I've been busy recently," Ignacia said.
"Oh, I heard you have been promoted to commander-in-chief of black knight forces. You're very popular, Lady Ignacia" said Olivia nicely.
"I heard you're popular in high society as well. There are many guys would like to court you. You became prettier, Olivia" said Ignacia nicely.
"Well, I have someone in my mind," said Olivia shyly.
"Really? Who is it? You know, the black mages always talk about you," Ignacia asked.
"It's a secret," Olivia said. She blushed with embarrassment. She likes her but she could not bring herself to confess her feelings to her.
"You two are here," said Victoria cheerfully.
"Your Highness," Ignacia said and bowed to her.
"Your Highness," Olivia said and curtsied to her.
"You don't need to be formal," said Victoria nicely.
"How have you been, Olivia?" Victoria asked her nicely.
"I've been good, Your Highness" said Olivia nicely.
While we were talking, Ignacia saw Estella came inside the grand banquet hall. She was stunned with her great beauty and could not take her eyes off her.
"Ah, she came alone," Victoria said after she saw Ignacia looking at Estella.
"I heard the relationship between The Crown Prince and Princess Estella are worsening day by day," Olivia said.
"Is it that bad?" Ignacia asked. She was busy with her duties and did not follow the social gossip much.
"You will know soon, Igna" Victoria said.
Vulcan came inside the grand banquet hall, escorting Margaret with the happy expression on his face. He ignored Estella and walked past her as if she was not there.
Ignacia could see that Estella was hurt but she has maintained a dignified silence.
"I have something to announce today. As you are well aware, I got engaged with Princess Estella since I was young but I have never had feelings for her. I hereby annul the engagement between us since today onward. And I will get engaged with Lady Margaret soon," Vulcan said loudly after he stood at the center of the grand banquet hall.
All eyes were on Estella to see how she will respond to this announcement.
Estella stood in stunned silence.
Several nobles started to whisper.
Ignacia walked toward Vulcan and asked him, "Might I ask if you are being serious about this announcement, Your Highness" She wanted to help Estella out of this situation.
"Yes, I'm very serious, Commander" Vulcan said.
"I'm grateful for your kindness and giving me a chance, Your Highness" said Ignacia politely.
"What do you mean, Commander?" Vulcan asked curiously.
"I fell in love with Princess Estella, of course, it's one-sided crush of mine, Your Highness" Ignacia said, "I will excuse myself."
Vulcan and Margaret were surprised and looked at each other. They aimed to tarnish Estella's reputation in High Society.
All eyes were on Vulcan, Margaret, Ignacia, and Estella to see what will happen next.
Ignacia walked toward Estella. She bowed to her and honestly said, "I love you, Your Highness. Will you marry me? I will wait for your answer even if it takes all the time of my life."
"Wow, she's very sweet and romantic," a noblewoman whispered, admiringly.
"I want her to propose me," another noblewoman whispered, dreamily.
"I'm really jealous of Her Highness," the other noblewoman whispered, smilingly.
Estella said nothing. She was surprised with many things that happened all of a sudden.
Vulcan and Margaret were angry but they wanted to avoid the conflict with Ignacia.
"Shall we go outside to get some air, Your Highness?" Ignacia asked. She knew that Estella did not want to stay here any longer. She held her hand and took her out of the grand banquet hall.
Estella came to her senses after we reached outside, far from the grand banquet hall. She shook off Ignacia's hand and asked, "Why did you do that to me, Ignacia?"
"I love you and I want to help you to get out of that situation, Estella" said Ignacia honestly.
"What are you talking about? We are both women. How could you humiliate me by proposing to me?"
"But I'm serious about it, Estella" said Ignacia sincerely.
Estella slapped her face and coldly said, "I thought we are friends." She was angry and left without listening anything.
Ignacia felt sad but she thought that she could help her out of bad situation at least. She came to realize that it was impossible to be in love relationship with her. She healed her cheek and went back to Virtusarium Manor.
The next day, there were the news about the incident last night. The news between Ignacia and Estella was splashed in headlines across all high society newspapers. The announcement of engagement annulment was only mentioned in some part of the story.
Ignacia ignored it and went to work as if there was nothing happened. She decided to give up and concentrated to her work.
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At The Medietas Palace,
Caelum read the newspaper, he was angry with The Crown Prince and the news of engagement annulment. He called Estella to meet him in the office.
'Knock' 'Knock'
"Come in," Caelum said.
"Father," Estella said.
"What's happened between you and The Crown Prince, Estel?" Caelum asked calmly.
Estella told him everything.
"So, you mean he changed his mind and chose that Lady over you," said Caelum angrily, "I won't let him be. He dares to hurt you."
Caelum went to meet The Emperor and requested the private audience with him.
"How could The Crown Prince annul the engagement on his own, Your Majesty?" Caelum asked angrily.
"I'm really sorry, Caelum. I put him under house arrest after I knew what he has done. I will not allow him to get engaged with that Lady," Emperor Santino said, reassuringly.
"I heard they courted for 3 years although we all know that this engagement is important. How can you guarantee that it will not happen again, Your Majesty?" Caelum asked him coldly.
"…I will find a way," Emperor Santino said, guiltily.
"I will excuse myself," Caelum said and left.
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At The Crown Prince's bedroom,
Vulcan scattered things all over the room. He recalled the words from The Emperor last night.
<I heard you annulled the engagement with Estella. Why did you do something reckless on your own, Vulcan> Emperor Santino said, angrily.
<I have no feelings for her, Your Majesty> said Vulcan irritably.
<I will not allow you to get engaged anyone but Estella. You're under house arrest from today onward. You can't go out of this room until you get my permission, Vulcan> Emperor Santino said, angrily.
Vulcan was angry with Emperor Santino and Estella, then called his personal assistant.
"Your Highness," a personal assistant said.
Vulcan whispered to him. He told him to do something for him, he had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.
A personal assistant was speechless, his face turned pale. He could do nothing but to follow Vulcan's order.
★*:.｡. ✧☆✧ .｡.:*★
A week passed,
Estella prepared herself to go to the private estate in Austellus, the southern part of Mirarus Empire.
"Are you sure you want to go there alone, Estel?" Aeliana asked worriedly.
"Yes, there are many knights escorting me. I will spend time there for a month, Mother" Estella said.
"It might be good for her in this kind of situation, Aeliana" said Caelum calmly.
"Take care of yourself, Estel" said Celestino kindly.
"Thank you, Brother" Estella said.
Estella travelled by carriage. It spent time 3 days until she reached to the private estate in Austellus, which was located at the seaside.
The sea was calm and the weather was good. There were light wind blowing. Everything all round looked very peaceful.
All the atmosphere here made her feel calm.
She walked along the beach thinking about the incident at the coming-of-age party. She recalled all the memories when she spent time with Vulcan since she was young and the words he said he had no feelings for her. She could not hold her sadness and burst into tear, hurtfully.
She tried to be normal in front of the servants but her eyes expressed deep sadness unknowingly.
She was absent-minded doing nothing when she was staying alone.
She was in a state of sadness for 2 weeks.
She came to realize that she neglected herself doing nothing for long time. She changed her mood and went for a stroll along the beach.
Time seemed to pass slowly when she feeling sad and lonely.
She spent time the whole month in private estate. It made her feel better but all the sadness has not gone completely. It was time for her to go back to The Medietas Palace and face with her situation.
She got in the carriage and left the private estate since the early morning.
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Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein