How to Survive as a Princess in a Reverse Harem Game - Chapter 110

“Pride only matters when you have something to back it up.”

“…….”

“If a beggar on the street claims to have pride, do you think anyone will respect it? Of course not. What would you have left if we stripped away your maternal family and your royal title?”

“…….”

“Pride without something to protect or uphold isn’t pride anymore. It’s arrogance and narcissism, nothing more.”

Meliana couldn’t refute Morris. It wasn’t just his terrifying expression and voice—it was the persuasiveness behind his words.

“I understand what Father means. I understand completely.”

“I’m relieved to hear that.”

Seeing Meliana’s resolve weaken, Morris’s face softened noticeably.

“However, I believe I owe you an apology for today. Other nobles have now come to realize that the First Princess has changed. This is undoubtedly a failure on both my part and your brother’s. Because of today’s events, a division will form among the nobles.”

“Then what should we do……?”

“Regrettably, we must do nothing.”

“Do nothing? Are you saying we should leave the First Princess to her own like that?”

It was the Duke of Futurum, who had been silently listening, who objected. Letting Nepheli act freely despite knowing it would create divisions among the nobles?

“There’s no other choice. The fact that we tried to slander the First Princess has already been exposed. Her Highness Evgenia has also grown displeased with us. Many eyes are now watching us, and should anything happen to the First Princess, we would be the first to fall under suspicion.”

“That may be true, but…… leaving her alone like this doesn’t sit right.”

“Don’t worry, Brother. Even if we don’t act, the First Princess will inevitably face a crisis. When someone is cornered, there are always those who harbor malice without reason.”

Morris added with an air of ease.

“So all we need to do is watch this situation unfold. Someone will undoubtedly rise to ruin the First Princess—even if it’s not us.”

“…….”

“In fact, that person might have already appeared.”

Yet Meliana couldn’t feel reassured.

‘Just stand by and watch?’

They had always warned her to be wary of the First Princess, never to let her guard down, and now they spoke so nonchalantly?

Of course, it wasn’t as though Meliana herself had any clear solutions…….

She bit her nails in frustration, her thoughts racing.

‘If it were Sister Nepheli in my position, would things have turned out differently?’

As much as she hated to admit it, Nepheli’s recent displays of competence were genuinely impressive. Nepheli wouldn’t have resorted to such cowardly tactics in the first place…….

‘But I’m not Sister Nepheli.’

Her father’s words were correct. Without her status as a princess and the backing of the Futurum family, she had nothing left.

One might argue the same about Nepheli, but Nepheli had managed to win over Her Highness Evgenia and some of the nobles without the support of her maternal family.

Meliana, on the other hand, didn’t have the confidence to achieve what Nepheli had…….

‘What am I even comparing myself to?’

Meliana stopped biting her nails, cutting off her endless train of thought. Her nerves were frayed by her own musings.

‘Get it together. I have to rise by stepping over Sister Nepheli.’

So what if she couldn’t do things like Nepheli? She had the strength of her maternal family, which Nepheli lacked.

Besides, Nepheli was an exception, Meliana didn’t consider herself a bad candidate for royalty, even from an objective standpoint.

Taking a deep breath, she felt slightly better.

Just as Meliana was about to head back, she sensed a faint flow of mana in the corridor ahead. Turning her gaze, she spotted the flutter of butterfly wings that hadn’t fully concealed themselves. The form was all too familiar.

“Come out, Cirilla.”

Meliana spoke with unwavering confidence. Normally, as a magician of lower rank than Cirilla, she wouldn’t have been able to detect Cirilla’s magic.

However, Morris had determined long ago that Cirilla, despite her youth, could pose a threat to Meliana.

Thus, he had Cirilla take an ‘Oath’ when she was very young—a vow that prevented her from using magic that could endanger Morris or Meliana.

Additionally, a magic circle had been inscribed that linked their mana flows. Whenever Cirilla used mana within a certain range, Meliana would sense it. The same circle had been inscribed on Meliana as well.

As expected, Cirilla emerged from the end of the corridor, her presence unmistakable.