Something’s Not Right About This Transmigration

No sooner had Frey finished speaking than Samuel’s face crumpled like a sheet of paper.

“What did you…… just say?”

“Our engagement. Please call it off.”

Samuel closed his mouth at Frey’s serious expression. He remained silent for a time, then finally sighed.

“You’re old enough to know that marriage isn’t a children’s game.”

“…….”

“Do you even know what the Count demanded to arrange this marriage?”

Samuel’s fine brows furrowed slightly. He looked less troubled than baffled that Frey had asked to end the engagement.

“……No.”

“Ten thousand gold.”

Frey had no idea what that currency was worth, so he looked to Regulus, who appeared uncomfortable for a moment before lowering his voice.

“Most of the jewels you packed at the mansion are worth around fifty gold. Five hundred gold would buy several mansions outside the capital.”

“Several mansions?”

Samuel had handed over such a sum to marry ‘Frey’?

When Frey’s mouth fell open at the unimaginable sum, Regulus turned to Samuel.

“If the ten thousand gold is returned, the engagement can be broken……. That is what I heard, Duke.”

Samuel stared at Frey without answering.

Perhaps Frey had thought lowering his voice would keep Samuel from hearing. Samuel’s gaze slowly moved between Frey, who did not even understand the value of the currency, and Regulus, who had explained it as though it were nothing. The corner of his mouth lifted crookedly, as though he had guessed something.

“Then does Your Highness intend to repay the ten thousand gold in his place?”

Regulus’s fingertips trembled faintly, and Samuel, who did not miss it, folded his arms and continued.

“This is a matter between the Young Lord and me. Whether he wants this marriage or not, the moment Your Highness interferes, your reputation will be sullied.”

Samuel and Frey’s marriage drew so much interest that everyone in the empire knew about it.

That meant once news of the broken engagement spread, people would try to discover why.

“Your Highness would be seen as an alpha who could not overcome his instincts and stole an omega who already belonged to another. Or people might say that a man of the Imperial Crown Prince’s standing was trying to become one omega’s concubine.”

“Those would certainly be troublesome rumors.”

“…….”

“But Duke, when did you become a man who cared about rumors?”

“……You know I wasn’t speaking about myself. Isn’t it possible the Young Lord would be more concerned than I am?”

The moment Samuel finished, both he and Regulus fixed their gazes on Frey.

Frey had been blankly watching their battle of wills. Only belatedly did he point to himself.

“Oh, me? I don’t care either.”

“……Pardon?”

“It’s not as though I plan to marry someone else right away. Of course, ahem, as you said, there may be unsavory rumors at first……. But the misunderstandings will be resolved with time.”

In truth, Regulus stood to suffer the most in this situation.

Frey intended to run away the moment the engagement ended. Then rumors might spread not merely that Regulus had stolen a betrothed omega, but that even that omega had abandoned him.

‘I’m truly sorry, but…….’

Even so, Frey had to use Regulus.

He did not want to die.

“……You have changed greatly. In the past, you pretended to be kind until the very end. Do you no longer even intend to hide what a selfish person you are?”