The beastfolk from the eight great cities exchanged uneasy glances. No one was willing to speak first—after all, what they were about to say was hardly something to be proud of.
Seeing their expressions, Nina felt a growing sense of foreboding.
After a moment of silence, Lang of White Tiger City finally stepped forward. "City Lord Drago… perhaps we should discuss this inside the City Lord's residence?"
Some things were better said away from so many ears.
Drago was just about to nod when Lina seemed to realize something. She immediately cut in, "What is there that can't be said in front of everyone? Why do we have to go back to the City Lord's residence? Why not say it right here?"
Drago had a sudden intuition that whatever they were about to say was probably not good news. Better to put some pressure on them in full view of the crowd. "Lina has a point. Let's just say it here."
With Drago insisting, the beastfolk from the eight great cities no longer pressed the matter. In any case, this news would spread by tomorrow.
Lang hesitated, then asked, "In that case… could we ask Princess Nina to step forward first?"
Drago glanced at Nina. Nina stepped out calmly. "You're looking for me?"
The moment the beastfolk from the eight great cities saw Nina, their vision practically went dark—as if they had seen something filthy. They immediately turned their faces away.
She was really ugly. Painfully so. No one wanted to look a second time. No wonder their young lords and city lords wanted to break off the engagement.
Nina: …Was that really necessary?
The beastfolk of Spirit Stone City were long used to such reactions.
Lang forced himself to turn back and managed to squeeze out a strained smile. "Princess Nina, we deeply apologize. Our City Lord has fallen gravely ill. He is unable to marry—and unable to come in person. We are here on behalf of White Tiger City to formally dissolve the engagement. You may name whatever compensation you wish."
"Flying Dragon City as well."
"Sea Blue City too."
...
One after another, all the cities echoed the same sentiment—except Spirit Cat City.
Wait. Did that mean all her bodyguards and meal tickets had vanished in an instant?
That hurt.
The beast-husbands she'd almost had—gone. Just like that.
Nina said gloomily, "All of them are sick? Not a single one can come? And none of them can marry either?"
Not even one showed up. Just how much did they dislike her?
"Yes."
They could no longer be bothered to invent excuses and simply nodded in unison.
Everyone knew the truth anyway. Offering a reason was nothing more than a way for both sides to save face.
"What if I say I don't mind—and insist on marrying anyway?" Nina tried one last time.
"Princess Nina, whether you agree or not, this engagement is being dissolved today," one of the representatives said bluntly. "The eight great cities are not afraid of Spirit Stone City."
The representatives from the various cities hardened their stance.
Nina understood then—they were determined to break off the engagement.
So this was what it meant to burn the bridge after crossing it.
She felt stifled and wronged, but she was alone and powerless. A single arm couldn't twist a thigh.
Fine. Break it off if you want to. If you won't marry, I'm not that desperate to marry you either!
After the other representatives finished speaking, Silinx of Spirit Cat City finally spoke, his tone carrying a faint sense of superiority. "Princess Nina, our Spirit Cat clan is not like them—we honor our promises. We will not break off the engagement."
Nina's eyes lit up.
So they'd left her one, at least? Something was better than nothing.
But his next words shattered the fragile spark of hope that had just ignited.
Silinx continued awkwardly, "Although we aren't breaking the engagement… our young lord, well… he ran away from the marriage."
Nina instantly deflated.
…How was that any different from breaking it off?
She didn't believe for a second that their young lord would come back. For all she knew, he'd already gone off somewhere and married himself to someone else.
What a waste of excitement.
Before Nina could respond, Drago exploded. "What do you mean by this? The marriage alliance was agreed upon—how can you go back on your word? Are you all really this faithless?"
"This matter is indeed our fault," one of the representatives replied. "All due compensation will be provided. These are our reparations."
As he spoke, the beastfolk from each city brought forward chest after chest of goods—beast hides, beast bones, beast crystals, and many other items. The variety was vast, the quantities generous.
For a broken engagement, the compensation was indeed substantial. But that wasn't what Drago wanted.
"No," he said coldly. "I do not agree. This marriage contract must be honored."