Am I Really Wanted by Anyone? - Chapter 19

“Leo, what in the world have you done?!”

My father burst into my room while I was resting, his face contorted with anger.

“Father, what’s the matter?”

“What did you do to Lady Ginette at the ball!”

“? No, nothing?”

I couldn’t understand why my father was so angry.

“After I went through the trouble of bowing and scraping to both the Duke of Mule and the Marquis of Bergier to finally secure your engagement, having declared without permission that you wished to marry the Marquis of Bergier’s daughter.”

“I don’t see anything wrong with that story.”

“At the ball, you only danced one song with your fiancée, Lady Ginette, and then immediately took Lady Mira’s hand, didn’t you?! Dancing with her right after the Crown Prince is like declaring that you’re pursuing Lady Mira despite being engaged to Lady Ginette. Don’t you understand that?!”

“But, Father. The Duke of Mule’s daughter told me to dance with Lady Mira, so there’s no problem.”

“Are you an idiot? No, I always thought you were foolish. But didn’t you realize you were being tested?”

My father furrowed his brows.

Tested…?

“Normally, you should have refused and stayed by Lady Ginette’s side as her fiancé should. You happily danced with other young ladies while leaving your fiancée alone?”

It was only then that I finally understood why my father was angry.

I should have prioritized Lady Ginette in everything.

But Lady Mira had a different kind of charm from Lady Ginette, and her clumsy yet earnest dancing was so refreshing that I was undoubtedly drawn to her.

‘This is my first-time dancing with anyone other than Lord Rainier. I’m so happy to be able to dance with such a wonderful Lord Leo.’

Remembering Lady Mira’s words as she danced nervously yet earnestly, her face flushed red, it was no wonder I couldn’t stop grinning.

Lady Ginette was beautiful too, but since I would be marrying her anyway, what harm could there be in prioritizing another young lady once or twice?

Thinking this, I had only half-listened to my father’s angry words, but…

“Your engagement with the Marquis of Bergier’s daughter has been called off.”

I couldn’t believe my ears.

“Eh?”

“The engagement is null and void. Congratulations. The royal family even put in a word for you.”

“The royal family…? Why would the royal family get involved with our house?”

My father let out a heavy sigh.

“Because you danced with Lady Mira first.”

Because I danced with Lady Mira?

Nothing but questions swirled in my mind. My father sighed again as if exasperated, then spoke.

“You heard at the ball that Lady Mira is the daughter of the late Grand Duke Jole, didn’t you? Her mother is a commoner, and she lived as one until recently. The grand duke title was only for one generation.

I heard that Baron Clementine found her with her royal coloring and went through the adoption procedures. Since Lady Mira lived as a commoner, she hasn’t received proper education.

She doesn’t know how to survive in this strict aristocratic society. Of course, Grand Duke Jole’s assets were returned to the state long ago. She has no assets.

What would it mean to take such a girl as your wife? She could easily become a burden to her husband. Even with the royal family backing her, she’s currently a baron’s daughter. Knowing Baron Clementine, he’ll seize this opportunity to meddle in his adopted daughter’s fiancé’s family affairs.

No high-ranking noble would want to choose Lady Mira as a marriage partner. And in that situation, you danced with her. The royal family wouldn’t let that opportunity pass.”

It felt like being struck in the head with a blunt weapon. I never imagined things would go that far.

“Father, surely not…”

“That ‘surely not’ is exactly what happened. The royal family has approached us about an engagement with Lady Mira. We can’t refuse when it comes from the royal family. Our house just wanted to live without incurring the Marquis of Bergier’s displeasure.”

I had even been thinking that after marrying the beautiful Lady Ginette, it would be nice to live harmoniously in the royal capital, and maybe even take a mistress to enjoy myself while she was away at our territory.

Lady Mira was certainly cute.

She was the kind of girl who stirred protective instincts.

I wanted to talk with her, and had even considered inviting her to meals. If I were to fall in love, I’d want it to be with a cute young lady like Mira. That’s what I thought.

But that was only because Lady Ginette was going to be my wife.

Could someone who was once a commoner handle interacting with nobles at tea parties and balls as a high-ranking noble, as a countess? It would likely be difficult.

A cold sensation ran down my spine.

“…Father. I’m sorry.”

“Leo, it’s too late for regrets now.”

“…Yes.”

I had been carried away and taken Lady Ginette’s feelings for granted. This is the result. All I feel is regret.