I Got My Engagement Annulled… Even Though We Were Never Engaged - Chapter 26

Ten days had passed since my first date with Lord Fevan.

Though Lord Fevan’s long vacation ended three days ago, he had visited me every day during his break, inviting me for tea and meals.

Now that his vacation is over, he doesn’t have as much free time as before, but we’ve promised to meet on his next day off.

…This is bad.

Slumping over my desk in my room, I let out a heavy sigh.

Spread across the desk were documents I’d gathered over the past week about the Marquis Levesius household.

Although the Levesius marquisate is famous, having maintained only minimal social interactions until now, I couldn’t claim to be well-informed about their family.

I knew that the Marquis Levesius served as prime minister and that his family came from distinguished lineage, but that much was common knowledge.

I’d looked into them out of vague curiosity, only to discover the Levesius marquisate was even more prominent than I’d imagined.

They possess vast territories including a large mine northeast of the royal capital and expansive farmlands primarily growing grains supporting numerous residents. Many nobles also live in their domains.

Additionally, relatives include owners of major merchant houses and textile factories, with connections to nobility in other countries.

A princess married into the family four generations ago, and the current marquis’s sister is married to the king’s younger brother, placing them close to the royal family.

Lord Fevan is the only son of this Levesius marquisate.

While it’s said that Lord Fevan has no siblings because his mother has difficulty bearing children, the marquis apparently considers having an heir sufficient and treasures his wife alone without taking concubines. What a wonderful couple.

As for Lord Fevan himself, I’d expected much given his state-funded studies abroad, but his qualifications were astonishingly impressive.

Excelling in both literary and military arts was a given. His magical talent ranks among the top five in the kingdom (well, I’d noticed that during the griffon subjugation). During his studies in Nodierra, he was apparently sought after to serve as an aide to their king or crown prince, but he declined due to being the heir and his upcoming appointment as aide to our kingdom’s crown prince.

Needless to say, he’s handsome and personable too.

His overly straightforward nature might be considered a flaw, but it’s trivial (excluding that unusual engagement cancellation incident).

If anything, someone completely flawless would be intimidating, so having some shortcomings is… Wait, what am I thinking!

This is serious, I sigh again.

No, I’d been aware since the moment I researched the Levesius marquisate.

…I’m genuinely attracted to Lord Fevan.

Though it’s frightening to admit, these feelings could be called love.

With no immunity to romance to begin with, I stood no chance of continually resisting Lord Fevan’s direct, kind, and wonderful advances.

…But this is impossible. If he had at least some weaknesses, I might have stood a chance, but I could never marry into such a family.

I don’t consider myself foolish, but our statuses are simply too different.

As the second daughter, I never learned territory management and even if I had, managing a small territory with just one town is completely different from overseeing vast lands with multiple towns and many people.

As the wife of the heir, supporting my husband would be essential.

It’s not just about dressing up and smiling.

…If I’d known it would come to this, I shouldn’t have agreed to this trial relationship.

Once aware of my feelings, desires emerge.

My older sister would probably say, “If he says it’s fine, then it’s fine,” but even if Lord Fevan accepts me, the marquis and his wife likely wouldn’t.

Just as I was about to sigh for the third time, there came a soft knock at the door.

Was it Allie? I’d asked to be left alone for a while.

“Yes? Is something the matter?”

When I responded, the voice that answered was Robinson’s.

I stood and walked to the door.

“What is it?”

When I opened the door and asked, Robinson looked troubled as he held out a white envelope. Turning it over revealed the seal of the Cerullion duchy, making me startle and check inside.

Then…

“Hey Robinson. Why would I receive a tea party invitation from Lady Eliene Cerullion, the crown prince’s fiancée?”

At my murmur, Robinson merely looked perplexed.