I Got My Engagement Annulled… Even Though We Were Never Engaged - Chapter 13

I’d managed to catch the interest of a troublesome man.

I looked up at Lord Fevan in his high-collared magic knight uniform with sword at his side and felt utterly exhausted.

Standing beside him was my father, dressed in practical, easy-to-move clothing.

“Are you really going with just the two of you?”

My mother looked at my father with a worried expression.

The truth was, today just my father and Lord Fevan were planning to go monster hunting in the nearby forest.

This all started when my father, whose passion for magic potion research had been reignited after acquiring a large quantity of Eternal Roses, declared he was running short of research materials.

According to my father, the potion he was currently researching apparently required materials from plant-type monsters that inhabited the forest.

My father, who had completely recovered his health, insisted on going to the forest to gather materials and wouldn’t listen to reason. Lord Fevan, who happened to hear about this, decided to accompany him as his bodyguard.

…I could feel my defenses being steadily dismantled.

In the short span of less than two weeks, my father and Lord Fevan had become quite close.

While Lord Fevan was a bit eccentric, he was undoubtedly a capable man. Before I knew it, he had won over all the servants and our entire family – everyone had become his ally.

Both my father and mother were saying in unison that we should just get engaged already.

This was dangerous.

Since my father was so enthusiastic about it, if the Levesius Marquis family made a formal marriage proposal, he might readily approve.

Lord Fevan said he wouldn’t force anything until my feelings were settled, but with my defenses being dismantled like this, it felt plenty forceful to me.

…My reasons for refusing were being stripped away one by one.

When I refused saying I didn’t need responsibility, he proposed saying it had nothing to do with responsibility, then he won over my family and the servants and now he’s shaking my heart with sweet words every day.

Dangerous.

This man is dangerous.

That whole mistaken engagement cancellation incident – afterwards, Lord Fevan ended up revealing everything when telling my mother and father about how we met.

On top of that, he offered a sincere apology, declared he’d fallen for me, and won over my father and mother’s hearts.

While I was grateful that the danger of my mother blowing up the Levesius Marquis family had disappeared, this wasn’t the outcome I’d hoped for.

My mother even said things like “He’s so sincere – rare for these times. If I were single and ten years younger, I definitely wouldn’t let him get away.” Please, spare me.

“Dear, you’re still technically recovering from illness, you know? Do you understand?”

“I understand. But I’m completely healthy now, and Lord Fevan is with me!”

My father’s trust in Lord Fevan was incredible.

My mother looked back and forth between my father and Lord Fevan several times, humming thoughtfully.

Even though Lord Fevan had studied abroad on government funds and was an elite in the magic knight’s order, since she hadn’t seen his abilities with her own eyes, she probably couldn’t shake her anxiety.

“Adeline, why don’t you go with them? That forest – monsters become more active around this season. If strong monsters come out from the deep parts of the forest, it could be terrible.”

Among monsters, some hibernate just like animals.

When autumn comes, they try to store nutrients for hibernation, so they expand their hunting grounds searching for food.

“In that case, why don’t you go with them, Mother?”

“I could go, but you’re better at fine control of magic, aren’t you? If I go, I might accidentally blow up the forest.”

My mother had always been flamboyant – she was good at using grand magic with a bang, but wasn’t very skilled with smaller spells. She always had a tendency to overdo things.

…She definitely had a point about not wanting the forest blown up.

If the forest got blown up and frightened monsters descended to human settlements, that would be absolutely unbearable.

I resigned myself and decided to accompany the two of them, heading to my room to change into more practical clothing.

Since I was just changing, I finished in five minutes and returned downstairs to find my father, mother, and Lord Fevan chatting happily.

“That child is stubborn but weak to pressure. If you push hard enough, you’ll manage. Also, she’s surprisingly whimsical she says otherwise, but she still believes in storybook princes.”

“…Mother.”

“Ah… oh my, Adeline, that was quick!”

“Quick” isn’t the issue here! For a mother, could you please not casually hand out your daughter’s personal information to men!

I turned away in embarrassment to see Lord Fevan smiling cheerfully.

“I’m happy to learn so many cute things about Adeline.”

That’s exactly why I wish you wouldn’t say things like that!

Lord Fevan seemed to be the type who had no reservations about praising women as “cute.” Every time he did it, I became unbearably embarrassed and wished he would stop.

“Well then, we’re off~”

My father set off triumphantly with a leather bag for collecting materials slung over his shoulder.

Lord Fevan and I followed after him.

My mother saw us off with a cheerful “Have a safe trip!” and a bright smile.