I Got My Engagement Annulled… Even Though We Were Never Engaged - Chapter 35

One month after the duel.

My engagement to Lord Fevan was officially announced.

Since I had already decided to accept Lord Fevan’s proposal even before the duel took place, I had no complaints about this outcome except for one major problem.

That is—

“Sister, I think we need to protest. What is this newspaper article?!”

The day after my engagement to Lord Fevan was announced.

I glared at the front-page article of a gossip newspaper and spoke to my sister.

The headline read:

“Countess Who Protected Her and Her Lover’s Honor by Force Successfully Engaged!”

The article exaggeratedly recounted events both real and imagined from the duel a month ago up until today, as if it were some kind of story.

Even though I only accepted the duel because I was challenged, somehow it was written as though I stood up to protect the honor of my lover, Lord Fevan.

It’s ridiculous.

We absolutely should protest!

But my sister, who had been furious over the article when my engagement was mistakenly broken off before, simply sipped her tea calmly.

“Oh, isn’t it lovely? It’s so romantic.”

“Lovely where?! It makes me sound like some hot-blooded, brawling young lady!”

I generally dislike conflict and hate standing out.

I’m not as hot-blooded as my sister, so this kind of misunderstanding is just too much.

“That’s exactly why it’s good. This way, no reckless fool will dare try to come between you and Lord Fevan. Of course not—if they mess with Lord Fevan, they’ll get challenged to a duel by you and be soundly beaten.”

“I would never do that!”

“But since that’s what the public thinks, isn’t it fine?”

“It’s not fine!”

I wanted to hold my head in my hands. How did it come to this?

I slammed the folded newspaper down onto the dining table with a thwack.

“Robinson, please file a protest!”

If my sister wouldn’t do it, I thought I’d ask the butler, Robinson—but he shook his shoulders in amusement and handed me a sealed envelope.

“Rather than protesting to the newspaper, shouldn’t you reply to this first?”

“…Ugh.”

He’d handed me something I didn’t want to see.

This letter arrived yesterday.

After reading its contents, I was stunned and decided to put it aside for the time being, thinking I’d consult Lord Fevan.

“Given who the sender is, we cannot keep them waiting forever for a reply.”

“I know. Lord Fevan said he’d make time for me today, so I’ll ask for his advice.”

Taking the letter, I sighed deeply.

My sister and Mariotte’s wedding is approaching, and once they’re married, they’ll live here, so I’ve been thinking I should figure out my own living arrangements soon so as not to disturb the newlyweds but this is just…

“I think it’s a great honor, but the decision is yours. You should probably consult Lady Tatiana as well.”

My sister glanced at the letter in my hand as she spoke.

“Right.”

“Well, if it’s Lady Tatiana, she’ll probably give her wholehearted approval.”

“…Right.”

Exactly. If Lady Tatiana hears about it, refusing will become impossible. That’s why I want to consult Lord Fevan first.

I gulped down my after-dinner milk tea in one go and stood up.

“Allie, could you help me get ready?”

At that, Allie pulled a handkerchief from her apron pocket and theatrically wiped her eyes.

“The young lady asking for help with her preparations on her own…!”

“Love is a powerful thing.”

Even my sister had to chime in.

Robinson burst out laughing, and I pouted.

It’s true! Until now, I had no interest in fashion. Even now, I’m not that interested. But since I’ve become Lord Fevan’s fiancée, I’ve come to realize that a minimum level of style is necessary.

“Fine, I’ll do it myself.”

“You mustn’t, young lady! If you do your own makeup, you’ll end up looking like a ghost!”

What an impudent maid.

Teased by Allie, I went upstairs and slipped into the green dress Lord Fevan had given me.

Leaving my makeup and hair to Allie, I sat at the dressing table and fiddled with my red-framed glasses.

My sister says, “Why don’t you stop wearing glasses?” but I still don’t have the courage to take them off. Besides, these glasses were bought for me by Lord Fevan, so I wanted to wear them for sentimental reasons.

Once my makeup was done and I put on my glasses, I boarded the carriage and headed for the Levesius Marquisate. The Marquis and Marchioness of Levesius have always warmly welcomed someone like me, telling me to visit anytime. They’re such kind, wonderful people.

When the carriage stopped in front of the Levesius Marquisate’s entrance, Lord Fevan appeared outside the door before I could even step down.

“Welcome, Adeline.”

Taking Lord Fevan’s hand to descend from the carriage, I greeted the Marchioness, who had come out to welcome me. The Marquis was out on business, I was told. Lord Fevan had the day off.

I was shown to Lord Fevan’s room, where tea and sweets were brought in.

Lord Fevan sat next to me as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The closeness made my heart race.

“So, what did you want to consult me about?”

“Actually, I received this letter yesterday…”

I handed him the envelope I’d brought.

“May I read it?”

“Yes.”

When I nodded, Lord Fevan’s expression turned troubled as he read the contents.

“I see…”

“It’s not a bad offer, but I wonder if I’m up to the task…”

“They must be asking because it’s you, Adeline. But I see—instead of a maid, they went this route.”

The sender of the letter Lord Fevan was reading was Lady Eliene.

Next spring, Lady Eliene who is set to marry Crown Prince Odilon has invited me to become her personal guard.

As the future Crown Princess, Lady Eliene will be assigned a personal guard, but having a male guard can be difficult in certain situations.

Apparently, she had been looking for female guards, but both knights and magic knights are male-dominated fields with no women. Because of that, Her Majesty the Queen has also hired female guards from outside the knight and magic knight orders.

Lady Eliene must have had a few candidates in mind already. Since guards need time off, at least several are required. For women, it’s not uncommon to resign after marriage, so they likely planned to hire extra.

Perhaps they hadn’t reached the number Lady Eliene needed, which is why I was approached.

If I told Lady Tatiana, it’s obvious she’d insist I accept.

Lady Tatiana has been trying to prevent the Cerullion Duke faction from surrounding the Crown Prince and Crown Princess exclusively.

If she can slip a countess from her own faction into their circle, she’d undoubtedly give her wholehearted approval.

Moreover, since I’m engaged to Lord Fevan, I’ll eventually join the Levesius Marquisate faction. My relationship with Lady Tatiana won’t be severed, so I’ll belong to the Levesius Marquis faction while still having ties to the Dauvergne Duke faction. And if I take this position as Lady Eliene’s personal guard, I’ll also become close to the Cerullion Duke faction.

Through me, each faction could gauge the others’ intentions, and if necessary, I could act as a bridge. On the flip side, that means I’d be expected to take on that kind of role.

It would put me in a very complicated position, so personally, I’d rather decline. But with a direct offer from Lady Eliene herself, it’s not something I can easily refuse.

“I’m worried it’ll be tough for you, Adeline but honestly, I’d be happy if you accepted.”

“Is that so…”

I slumped my shoulders, thinking he too would urge me to accept, considering all the advantages. But then he set the letter on the table and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“Because if you become Lady Eliene’s personal guard, we’ll get to see each other more at the palace, right? When the Crown Prince and Princess are together, we’ll be in the same space. Having more chances to meet is a good thing.”

…That’s your reason?!

“I was disappointed we could only see each other on days off. If we can meet at work too, I’d be thrilled.”

Pulling me closer, he planted a soft kiss on my temple.

Ever since we got engaged, Lord Fevan has shed any sense of restraint. Well, he was always rather close even before.

Lord Fevan’s hand smoothly slipped my glasses off.

Knowing what usually happens right after my glasses are taken, I instinctively tensed but of course, a little resistance wouldn’t stop him.

Cupping my cheek, he brushed a light kiss against it.

“Adeline, don’t you want to spend more time with me?”

Whispered from so close I could feel his breath, there was no way I could say no.

Thinking it was unfair, even so, there was only one answer—

“I… want to be with you too…”

And so, I ended up agreeing to become the Crown Princess’s personal guard starting next spring.