Chapter 192

Chapter 192

“Your Highness, Prince Tracy is here.”

When Maria heard the name, a flicker of impatience crossed her eyes.

Before she could speak, Tracy’s voice was already carrying in from outside the door.

“Maria! Maria! I know you’re in there! We need to talk!”

His voice was mixed with the Maid’s slightly panicked, hushed attempts to dissuade him.

“Prince Tracy, Your Highness is resting. Please keep your voice down.”

“Let him in,” Maria called out.

The door opened, and Tracy stormed in aggressively.

He rushed straight to the sofa where Maria and Tu Nan were seated. His gaze swept over them both, and when he saw Tu Nan, he paused. His originally agitated expression eased a little, and he forced out a smile.

“I didn’t know Miss Judy was here?”

The implication was obvious: he hoped Tu Nan would take the hint and get lost.

Tu Nan blinked, rose, and smiled at him. “Good afternoon, Your Highness, Prince.”

Tracy’s eyes lit up.

Then Tu Nan sat back down.

Tracy’s expression turned rather ugly.

Maria cleared her throat and asked gently, “What did you need to see me about?”

Tracy glanced at Tu Nan, finding her an extreme eyesore, yet there was nothing he could do about it. Hearing Maria’s question, he immediately asked, “I heard you’re going to inherit the Throne?”

“Yes.” Maria nodded. “Father passed away far too suddenly. There are many matters in the kingdom waiting for me to handle.”

Tracy seemed to be suppressing his anger. His voice sounded much lower. “I wonder if you still remember our engagement?”

Maria covered her mouth and let out a soft “ah,” an apologetic look appearing on her face. “I’m sorry. I believe it would be better to annul this engagement.”

Tracy’s eyes widened slightly, anger surfacing on his face.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I believe the princess’s meaning is already very clear,” Tu Nan said softly. Her tone sounded very mild, but her words were sharp. “Princess Maria is about to inherit the Throne. Do you truly think that, under these circumstances, she could still marry you?

“Or do you think she would abandon her own country and leave with you?”

Tracy looked at Maria. She sat there calmly, a faint smile at the corners of her lips. Clearly, this was exactly what she wanted to say as well.

He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Maria, is this your decision?”

Maria did not speak. Instead, she picked up the steaming black tea on the table, blew gently across the surface to scatter the mist, and took an unhurried sip before looking back at Tracy.

Tracy’s expression had already darkened to the extreme.

“I believe this is self-evident,” she said gently. “The engagement between us was arranged by my father, not by my own will. Now that he has passed away, I think this engagement should end here.”

“I thought Princess Maria was a dutiful daughter.” Tracy’s voice sounded as if it had been squeezed out through his teeth.

Maria frowned in confusion.

“Do you truly think I would choose you over the Throne?”

Tracy was visibly stunned. He knew that was impossible, but his pride as a Prince made it impossible for him to accept this.

Most importantly, his plan might have to be delayed because of it.

“I think we can discuss this properly. Perhaps there is a better solution.” Tracy swept a cold glance at Tu Nan and emphasized, “Just the two of us.”
“There is no other solution to this matter,” Maria said, unmoved. “If there is nothing else, please leave.”

Tu Nan spread her hands at Tracy and gave him an apologetic smile, meaning there was nothing she could do either.

“Maria!” Tracy’s cheeks flushed faintly with anger. “Don’t go too far!”

Maria tilted her head, looking somewhat puzzled. “Too far? I don’t understand how I have gone too far. As I see it, you are the one going too far by trying to force me when you know perfectly well this marriage has already fallen through.”

“Prince Tracy, you are a Prince, after all. Surely there must be no shortage of Woman candidates who want to marry you. Why force someone against her will?” Tu Nan said coolly. “With matters like this, it is better when both parties are willing.”

Tracy had almost never suffered such humiliation.

“Is this any place for you to speak?” he snapped, lashing out without thinking. With a sneer, he said, “Everyone knows your father is a hopeless gambler. Miss Judy, you should worry about your own marriage instead. Who in the entire kingdom would still marry you?”

“A person’s worth is not determined by whether she can marry or not,” Tu Nan said, her expression unchanged. “Nor should I be the one to pay for my father’s mistakes. Prince Tracy, forgive my bluntness-

When we first met, I thought you could still be considered a gentleman. But the way you are now, you have lost all grace and are hardly behaving in a manner befitting a Prince.”

Maria smiled and nodded in obvious agreement.

“Miss Judy is quite right. The way you look right now makes me question your ability to control your emotions. Saying such things to a lady is extremely offensive. I believe you owe Miss Judy an apology.”

“Enough.” Tracy spoke through gritted teeth. “Maria, I believe I have already shown you more than enough patience. Must you force my hand?”

Maria looked at him with perfect composure. Her detached attitude only made Tracy even angrier.

He knew Maria might not have liked him that much, but she had been unable to refuse this marriage. Now, however, everything had changed.

Tracy hated it when things slipped beyond his control.

“Do you think that once you ascend the Throne, you can rest easy?” His voice dropped, a veiled threat lurking in his tone. “Maria, you are only a princess who has lived in an ivory tower. You have no idea what the outside world is like, and you have no idea how many people are eyeing you and your country like prey.”

Maria’s expression turned cold as well.

“That is my business. It has nothing to do with you.”

Tracy laughed in fury, his mocking gaze sweeping over her and Tu Nan. “The day will come when you beg me for help. I’ll be waiting.”

Tu Nan listened with a frown until she finally could not resist speaking up in mockery. “Your Highness, Prince, before making grand claims, perhaps you should take a look at your own status first. After all, you are not the King yet. I hear your country has quite a few Princes. In the end, who will be begging whom is still uncertain.”

“Duke Charles is my uncle. I have his support. My succession is only a matter of time.” Tracy let out a contemptuous laugh.

Clearly, Tracy still did not know that Emily and Maria had already become partners. Once he found out, his expression would surely be a sight to behold.

“I’m a little tired.” Maria wearily rubbed her temples. “Someone, escort Prince Tracy out.”