I Got My Engagement Annulled… Even Though We Were Never Engaged - Chapter 3

“Although I’ve filed for damages, apparently we still can’t stop the printed copies.”

Robinson was saying that when I entered the dining room.

There was no doubt he was talking about the newspaper in my hand.

…Robinson, you filed for damages in this short amount of time?

As expected of someone so capable. To file for damages against a newspaper company – what methods did you even use?

“I figured as much. Well, even if we could recall the printed copies, we can’t erase the memories of those who read it. Damn it all.”

My foul-mouthed sister clicked her tongue in annoyance.

When I took my seat, the maids brought in lunch.

Our Cambrelive earldom isn’t particularly wealthy, but we maintain a lifestyle befitting our status as earls – we’re middle-ranking among nobility in both status and financial power. In other words, well, average. That’s the kind of family we are.

We do employ dedicated chefs at both our townhouse and country house, and have just enough servants to maintain our moderately-sized estate.

Our territory consists of one medium-sized town and its surrounding lands – not particularly extensive but Mother holds patents for several magical tools. That income is quite substantial, and Father, while not particularly talented as a magician, is a renowned researcher in magical potion development.

He doesn’t serve at court, but he’s affiliated with a state-run research institute, and even after retiring due to health issues, he still receives an annual salary from the government commensurate with his achievements.

So, we’re not particularly strapped for money.

However, in the Belcour kingdom, patent income cannot be inherited by the next generation, so we need to think about what happens after Mother and Father pass away.

…Since we have no male siblings, my sister and Mario will inherit, but my sister is mediocre at magic, and Mario is about the same.

They probably won’t be able to achieve what Father and Mother have, so if things continue this way, we’ll have to manage solely on territory income. We could live comfortably without luxury, but relying only on territory income feels rather precarious.

That’s because most of our territory’s residents are farmers, and annual tax revenue fluctuates with weather conditions. If there’s a drought or cold damage, tax revenue could be halved.

That’s why Mother is currently developing magical tools for indoor cultivation unaffected by weather, but we can’t implement indoor farming across our entire rural territory, so this alone won’t solve everything.

…Well, thanks to this situation, nobody makes unpleasant faces even though my marriage prospects remain undecided.

Actually, like Mother, I hold patents for magical tools. I only have one, but to be perfectly honest, the patent I hold is for the magical camera used in the very newspaper article that’s tormenting me now.

…Being shamed by something I developed myself is just too sad.

That said, this magical camera has received extremely high praise everywhere and sells well both domestically and internationally.

We sell through contracted merchant houses, and since it’s quite expensive, each sale brings in substantial money.

That money is stored in a bank vault registered under my name, and while I live with the Cambrelive earldom, I can rely on that money if needed.

Well, given my sister’s nature, she probably isn’t counting on my income, but she likely considers it at least insurance for emergencies.

Therefore, even if I marry late, it shouldn’t be too embarrassing or so I’d like to think.

…Still, I can’t exactly say “please take care of me here forever.”

Things would be fine while Father and Mother are alive, but after Mario inherits the title, it won’t be the same.

So eventually, I need to consider either marrying or leaving home, even without marriage.

Considering that, this newspaper article is quite damaging.

“This means no marriage proposals will appear for a while. Well, not that any appeared before anyway.”

I’ve never received a marriage proposal in my entire life.

I’ve never had a lover either.

With my plain, unfashionable appearance and near-zero social skills, no peculiar gentleman would approach a young lady who blends into the walls even when dragged to parties by my sister.

And now this inconspicuous, plain young lady has become remarkably noticeable in the worst possible way.

Even though it’s about me, I can’t help but feel like it’s someone else’s problem, probably because my situation has completely changed between yesterday and today.

…This year’s social season will be hell.

If I show my face at parties, I’ll be stared at and laughed at every time. It’s unbearable.

“Sister, I want to return to our territory.”

I’d rather abandon this year’s social season than endure that. At eighteen, a reasonably good age where I should seriously start looking for a fiancé or risk becoming an old maid or nun, I still want to avoid this year’s social season.

I don’t want to search for unlikely romantic prospects while being embarrassed everywhere.

“In fact, I’m starting to think I’d rather quickly marry someone, even if it’s as a second wife to a much older widower.”

Thinking optimistically, if I marry a much older gentleman or grandfatherly figure, he might dote on me like a daughter or granddaughter. Unless he’s particularly lecherous, it might not be such a bad life. If I’m being greedy, it would be even better if his children are kind.

“What are you saying?!”

When I said something so naive, my sister exploded like thunder.

“Any old man who thinks about taking a teenage girl as his second wife is no good man! Stop saying foolish things and face reality!”

It was precisely because I was facing reality that I said it, but mentioning that would only anger my sister more, so I kept quiet.

“More importantly, this! What are we going to do about this? What did Marquis Levesius say? He couldn’t possibly be avoiding all responsibility, could he?!”

“Now that you mention it, I think he said something about making amends.”

“Then tell him to bring a good marriage prospect while he’s at it! He ruined a young maiden’s future, he should at least do that much!”

See, Sister, your mouth is terrible.

Perhaps because my sister is more furious than I am, I can strangely remain calm.

…But Sister, the other party is a marquis family of higher status. Moreover, the prime minister’s family. There might be some apologies, but ultimately I think we’ll be the ones left crying.

We should be grateful he’s even offering to apologize.

Noble society is hierarchical. With other marquis families, there might not have been any apology at all. After all, it’s that kind of society – when superiors say right, even if the correct answer is left, you look right.

“Well, I don’t know what kind of apology it will be, but may I return to our territory?”

My sister thought for a while before letting out a soft sigh.

“…Well, I suppose. You must be hurt too, so you should indulge in Father and Mother’s care for a while. Though it’s scary thinking that if Mother hears about this, she might try to blow up the Levesius marquis household.”

“That doesn’t sound like a joke, so please seriously stop.”

Mother is uncontrollable when she’s angry. Precisely because she’s a powerful magician, if an angry Mother goes on a rampage, it would be catastrophic.

…In the past. During a marital argument, the roof of our territory mansion got blown off.

That fight was so bad that Father genuinely cried and hid behind me begging for help. I barely managed to counter and neutralize Mother’s magic to prevent the mansion from complete destruction, but the interior was completely wrecked.

…It was such a pain to restore everything.

But at least it was our own home. If she did the same thing at someone else’s house, it would be a serious matter.

…Now I’m feeling anxious about returning to our territory.

If I return to our territory, I’ll surely be asked why I came back. If I foolishly tell the truth, Mother might storm into the Levesius marquis household.

Even if I return to our territory, I need to think of a suitable excuse.

“Mother is so hot-blooded, after all.”

As my sister laughed dryly, I mentally retorted that her hot-bloodedness has been thoroughly inherited by you, Sister, before turning my eyes back to the newspaper and letting out a heavy sigh.