Slow Life in the Frontier with the Villainess

“Celestina du Sanctrenar! I, Luchriedit Etolshe du le Solmontaille, hereby annul our engagement!”

The Crown Prince’s voice resounded louder than any music, perhaps even clearer than the Emperor’s proclamations or the sermons of holy clerics.

However, the content of his declaration was utterly unprecedented.

Firstly, it was wholly inappropriate for the time and place.

This was the Solmontaille Empire, in the capital city of Roquelle. At its heart stood the imperial castle, home to the grand hall renowned for its vastness and opulence.

It was here, during the graduation party of the Imperial Academy, that this dramatic event unfolded. The gathering was meant to reflect on six years of camaraderie among classmates, bid farewells, and showcase one’s transformation into a refined gentleman or lady before teachers and underclassmen.

Yet, in such a formal setting, the Crown Prince—a young man destined to inherit the throne—publicly announced his engagement annulment to his fiancée, the future Empress.

Normally, breaking an engagement is a matter to be settled discreetly between the parties involved. But the Crown Prince’s thunderous declaration silenced the entire hall.

The astonishment lasted but a moment before the venue erupted into murmurs.

This reaction was inevitable. The next Emperor of the land had unilaterally declared the annulment of his engagement.

And not just with anyone—it was with Lady Celestina of the Sanctrenar Ducal House, rumored to possess the greatest wealth in the empire.

This was no trivial matter. Surely, there must be an extraordinary reason behind this.

As the audience held their breath, Crown Prince Luchriedit theatrically spread his arms and declared,
“There’s no need to explain everything—I have realized the truth.”

“What truth, Your Highness?” Celestina asked promptly.

In any other situation, speaking without permission would be an unforgivable breach of decorum. Yet, no one rebuked her now—the Crown Prince’s announcement had left everyone in shock.

“I have discovered true love! A passion so overwhelming, I can no longer suppress it!” he exclaimed, his cheeks flushed as if fevered.

“The one I am destined to be with is none other than the ‘Azure Saintess,’ Iroha! She, sent by the divine, is the only one worthy of me, the Crown Prince! This is undoubtedly the will of the gods, a sacred decree of our exalted deity, Maim Kessed!”

The hall collectively gasped at his words.

The title of “Saintess” referred to beings dispatched by gods. These chosen individuals descended upon the world of Kaimsphere from other realms, each bearing a unique mission. Their actions held the power to alter the fate of nations or even the entire world.

The “Azure Saintess” was the Saintess who had descended upon the Solmontaille Empire. Her name was Iroha Ichinose, a mere 16-year-old girl.

With her rare black hair and sapphire-blue eyes that rivaled the beauty of the imperial family, she was both enigmatic and endearingly innocent. Her modesty and humility, despite her exceptional magical talent and pure mana, made her stand out even at the academy. These traits, among others, drew people to her.

The Crown Prince was among those captivated by her.

As soon as he recognized his feelings, he acted swiftly, proposing marriage immediately after graduation—despite already being engaged.

Of course, it never crossed his mind that she might reject him.

But reject him she did, leaving him utterly stunned.

Her reasons? “I lack the qualities required of a Crown Princess,” and “You already have a fiancée.” Her responses were reasonable, but to him, they were a bolt from the blue.

Yet, Luchriedit was persistent and selfish by nature.

“Celestina must have coerced her! If I break off my engagement, surely Iroha will marry me!”

Thus, he appealed to the Emperor, only to be denied. He also approached Celestina, who replied, “I cannot make such decisions on my own.”

With no other option, he resorted to a dramatic public declaration, using the gathering as witnesses.

And so, his words echoed across the hall, leaving all present pale-faced.

Could it be that the Crown Prince was annulling his engagement solely to marry the Saintess?

“My, my…” Celestina murmured, her eyes wide in surprise at Luchriedit’s proclamation.

For any ordinary noblewoman, this would have been a moment to break down in tears, but her reaction was startlingly subdued.

“I understand Your Highness’s wish to annul our engagement, but might I at least hear your reasoning? Without understanding your motives, I find it difficult to comply,” she said, calmly opening her fan to cover the lower half of her face.

The gesture, reminiscent of hiding tears, made Luchriedit smirk triumphantly.

“Very well! Come forward, you all!” he commanded, and four young men, his close associates, stepped forward.

“Here is the proof!”

The four men produced a magical artifact—a Lens Crystal, commonly used for recording scenes and projecting them via magical means.

One activated the artifact, while the others conjured a water screen for display.

The first image appeared: a shredded academy uniform. Anyone present could recognize the torn garment.

“This… this is Celestina’s doing!” Luchriedit declared. “Jealous of Iroha’s beauty, she defiled her uniform to humiliate her! Such vile behavior cannot be tolerated!”

“How petty do you think I am?” Celestina muttered under her breath, though Luchriedit seemed oblivious.

The scene shifted to damaged notes, a broken pen, and spilled ink.

“See this? Celestina vandalized Iroha’s belongings! Poor Iroha must have been devastated, though I, of course, replaced them for her,” he proclaimed proudly.

“It was I who helped her rewrite the notes,” Celestina said softly, exhaling in exasperation.

The images changed again, showing a distant, blurry view of Iroha and a group of girls talking and laughing.

“Behold! They’re mocking Iroha! How cruel! Celestina must have orchestrated this harassment!” he accused.

“They’re just chatting… and both sides are laughing. And why were you spying on them?” Celestina sighed.

As Luchriedit grew increasingly fervent, murmurs spread through the crowd.

“Could Lady Celestina really do this?”
“But the evidence is inconclusive.”
“Those images seem questionable…”

Silencing the whispers, Luchriedit declared, “I hereby denounce Celestina for her heinous crimes against the divine Saintess Iroha! While her sins deserve death, I will show mercy and spare her life.”

The crowd’s attention turned to Celestina, awaiting her response.

Meanwhile, Dietvelde, the protagonist of this story, stood at the edge of the hall, sipping fruit water with a resigned expression.

“…This is good. I should try recreating it when I get home,” he muttered.