I Got My Engagement Annulled… Even Though We Were Never Engaged - Chapter 6

What should I do with this offered rose?

I was at a complete loss, faced with Lord Fevan who remained kneeling before me after declaring, “Miss Adeline Cambrelive, please marry me!!”

Even Robinson, waiting in the corner of the salon, was blinking in surprise at this unexpected development.

…Well, first things first, I should get him to sit down.

This position was making me uncomfortable.

“Lord Fevan, I’d like to hear your reasons, so would you please sit down first? …Very well, I’ll accept the flowers.”

Since he was giving me such an expectant look, I supposed he couldn’t back down after having offered them, so I accepted the red rose.

…Wait, isn’t this an Eternal Rose?!

The moment I received it, I was shocked.

Eternal Rose. The rose of eternity.

This was a rose cultivated in a special environment using magic, and true to its name, it was a rose that never withered.

It was also a rose treasured by the royal family, something rarely obtained.

It was a rose that royalty would present to retainers as rewards or such, so precious that those who received it would display it in glass cases as family heirlooms for generations.

…Why is this person casually handing over something so precious?!

Now that I’d accepted it, I couldn’t possibly return it.

As I broke out in a cold sweat, Lord Fevan seemed to notice my confusion and smiled gently as he sat on the sofa.

“I received that from the Crown Prince. When I told him, I was going to propose, he gave it to me.”

No, no, you shouldn’t say “gave it to me” so casually!

And the Crown Prince is no better! He shouldn’t casually give something like that to a friend going to propose.

There were rumors in high society that Lord Fevan and the Crown Prince were the same age and got along well.

Therefore, when rumors spread about Lord Fevan being attracted to men, some speculated that his beloved might be the Crown Prince. The royal family probably applied pressure to suppress that rumor, as it didn’t seem to spread very widely.

“Um, Lord Fevan… why are you suddenly proposing to me?”

For someone like Lord Fevan, who seemed to scatter sparkling light with every step, to propose to a wallflower like me with plain glasses—such a thing was impossible even if heaven and earth reversed positions.

When I directed a probing gaze at him, wondering if there must be some reason, Lord Fevan drooped his shoulders dejectedly.

“Well, you see, I hurt you, didn’t I?”

…What is with this person? He’s like a puppy, kind of cute!

He might be a grown man where “cute” doesn’t really apply, but the dejected Lord Fevan resembled a large dog, making me want to pat his head.

“Well, just because you hurt me. ”

“As a man, I must take responsibility.”

If the Marquis was one thing, Lord Fevan was another. Did he understand that those very words about responsibility were what caused that incomprehensible broken engagement drama in the first place?

“The Marquis has already apologized, so you don’t need to take any more responsibility.”

When I gently refused, Robinson, who was standing near the door, stared with wide eyes as if he’d seen something unbelievable.

…He looks like he wants to say “There’s no better match than this, so just accept it!”

Well, I understood that this was a good match regardless of the reason.

After all, the other party was from the Prime Minister’s household. The eldest son of the Levesius Marquis family. In ordinary circumstances, such a favorable match would never come my way.

But somehow, I disliked it.

Even if he married me out of a sense of responsibility, I didn’t think we could make it work as a couple.

Though I have ordinary features, I still have some dreams about marriage. You might think “What are you saying after recently mentioning you’d even marry a widower?” but I want love to blossom between marriage partners, even if it’s not romance.

I don’t believe love exists as an extension of responsibility.

“B-but, for me as a man it’s fine but for you as a woman, isn’t it an extremely dishonorable rumor?”

“Do you mean the rumor about being a young lady whose engagement was broken despite never being engaged? Or the one about being a count’s daughter who lost to a man?”

“B-both…”

Lord Fevan seemed to shrink.

Was I being a bit too harsh on him?

When I chuckled amusedly, Lord Fevan looked surprised, his eyes widening.

“It’s certainly dishonorable, but since men never paid me any attention to begin with, it’s nothing new. If I stay secluded at our estate for a while, the rumors will likely die down, so I’m not too concerned.”

My older sister would be angry if she heard, but whether there were rumors or not, no suitors would have appeared for me anyway. That’s what I think. So while I was embarrassed, it doesn’t really affect marriage prospects.

In the marriage market, I’m leftover goods. The kind that wouldn’t find a buyer even at a discounted price.

“Um, why is that?”

“Why…”

“I think you’re cute.”

Having never been told I was cute to my face before, I instinctively covered my cheeks with both hands. My face had become burning hot.

“W-what are you saying?”

“What do you mean? I said you’re cute.”

“Wah!”

If I kept listening, my ears might become useless.

When I reflexively covered my ears, Lord Fevan’s eyes went round, then he laughed.

“You’re bright red. Yeah, I definitely think you’re cute.”

Ugh, even with my ears covered, Lord Fevan’s voice slipped through the gaps.

I looked to Robinson for help, but he just smiled and gave me a firm thumbs-up.

…What’s that thumbs-up for?!

I thought “Don’t just laugh, help me!” but his expression showed no intention of helping whatsoever.

Lord Fevan stood up again and came to my side.

Reaching out to me as I flustered and tried to escape, he touched my glasses.

“I thought this before too.”

Saying this, Lord Fevan removed my glasses.

“As I suspected, there’s no prescription, right? Why are you wearing such unfashionable things? Without glasses, your beautiful eyes are more visible, and I think that’s better.”

“W-w-w-w-what are you saying?!”

At this point, covering my ears was pretty much meaningless.

But somehow, if I didn’t keep them covered, my ears really might become useless, so I couldn’t stop guarding them with both hands.

“I’ve never seen such beautiful deep green eyes before. Looking closely, there’s an emerald green sparkle in them. They’re really beautiful. Um, what was it? I’ve seen stones that color before.”

“…Malachite?”

“Ah, yes, that’s it.”

My older sister often tells me “They’re like malachite, so beautiful,” but being told by family out of affection is completely different from being told by someone else.

My heart was pounding strangely, and if possible, I wanted to run away from this situation.

“So, will you marry me?”

“I don’t understand what you mean!”

What’s with this “so”? I want to know what this “so” is referring to.

I was breathing heavily even though I hadn’t exercised, glaring sharply at Lord Fevan.

“I-I! Hate men who say they’ll marry someone out of responsibility!”

Yes, there was one such man in the past.

A man who said the same thing and made me miserable.