It Seemed My Fiancé Hated Me, So I Distanced Myself—But for Some Reason, He Complained - Chapter 1

Hair the color of ashes that made one feel gloomy just by looking at it. Eyes as red and ominous as blood, hidden behind bangs. My dress hadn’t been replaced even once since my stepmother and sister came to live with us, so I wore an old black dress that had been mended repeatedly.

No one meeting me for the first time would ever guess I was the daughter of a marquis household.

“Clarissa, what are you doing? Hurry up.”

“Yes, I’m coming right away, Lord Ryan.”

Called by that displeased voice, I hurried after my fiancé, Lord Ryan.

Today was the palace ball, an event where couples had to attend together. Lord Ryan was the son of a duke family, and our engagement had been decided when we were both ten years old, back when my real mother was still alive.

I think we got along reasonably well when we first met, but that feels like a distant memory now. Our relationship had become completely strained.

Lord Ryan, with his soft brown hair and blue eyes, was a beautiful noble who made everyone turn their heads. He could have had plenty of other partners besides me.

Yet he was bound to me because of this family-arranged engagement, so perhaps it was only natural he grew displeased every time we met.

“Clarissa, I told you to keep your eyes covered.” Lord Ryan said irritably, glancing at my face as we walked through the palace’s long corridor.

I quietly checked my reflection in the window and saw that my usually lowered bangs had parted slightly, revealing a glimpse of my right eye.

I immediately covered my eyes again.

I wondered when it had started. This fear that someone might see these ugly eyes.

“Get yourself together. Try to see it from my perspective, walking beside you. You’re ugly, so at least keep your face hidden like that.”

“My apologies.”

I bowed my head to Lord Ryan, who spoke with clear displeasure.

After that, we walked the rest of the way to the venue in silence.

All around us, young ladies in dresses and young lords in formal wear chatted amiably and seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Only Lord Ryan and I entered the venue with stiff, unsmiling expressions.