The Story of a Modest Young Lady Who Formed a New Engagement the Day After Her Engagement Was Annulled - Chapter 16

I never imagined I’d meet her again just one day after the royal victory celebration. I’m not sure what prompted it, but the more time passed, the more I found myself overthinking things, so the timing was perfect.

The eldest son of the Hydrangia Marquis family was still treating her with his usual arrogance. Should I admire the skill with which he annulled their engagement in a single day, or should I be appalled by the marquis family’s carelessness. Either way, it might have worked to my advantage. And so my engagement to Lady Eleanora Narcissus was decided.

There were no rumors floating around, though both Heinrich and my mother told me to be more manly and take the lead. I tried to handle things properly, but there wasn’t much progress.

Ah, no. Since we’re engaged, it should count as a major step forward. I thought we could just slowly build our relationship from here, but it seems my thinking differs from those around me. They appear frustrated by the lack of excitement in our relationship.

When I exchanged greetings with the Narcissus family, they seemed surprised to see me, questioning whether the “damaged” young lady whose engagement had been annulled was really suitable for me.

While I appreciated their concern, they worried that my reputation as the “God of War” might be tarnished. Any noble family would normally welcome such an offer with open arms, but their lack of ambition made me slightly concerned while also making me realize they were indeed her modest relatives.

And so, a month passed since we suddenly became engaged, and Eleanora had come to inspect the border count’s territory.

The inspection was just an excuse.  My mother, thrilled at gaining a daughter, had used the engagement as pretext to summon her. But Eleanora had gladly agreed to this visit, saying it would be good for her to learn about her future home.

Right now, she’s resting in the guest room of the border count’s residence, but apparently bored, she requested permission to go to the garden. Having no reason to refuse, I granted it just moments ago. The garden is under my mother’s direction, with neither my father nor I involved, but I hope she’ll like the residence’s garden… Looking from my room’s window, I immediately spotted Eleanora.

She was walking slowly through the garden with her attendant, occasionally stopping to touch the flowering trees, pointing at things and sharing laughs. If I were in the maid’s position, what words would we exchange?

I should have properly studied the flowers popular among nobility. I’ve heard that roses, long favored by aristocrats, have been crossbred into thousands of varieties. Experts can apparently identify them perfectly without even consulting catalogs. Squinting as I resolved to ask my mother or the gardener to select some useful books for me to acquire knowledge, I noticed the butler standing at my open bedroom door.

“Young master, a message from your mother. She says you cannot win a woman’s heart just by watching. Since you two still know nothing about each other, you should create some time together.”

I understand this week’s inspection of the border territory is meant to deepen our relationship. My mother has taught me about behaviors women prefer in men, but she warned me they don’t apply to all women, so I should be careful. But before that…

“…Hey, old man. Please, not that form of address in front of her.”

I’m a man of proper age now, so I’d prefer not to be treated like a child. The butler has known me since childhood and refuses to stop calling me “young master.” He insists he’ll only stop when I assume the family headship.

“Understood. In front of your fiancée, I shall address you as Lord Fels. But is it really appropriate to let a woman stroll the garden alone, young master?”

The old man chuckled. He probably sees right through me. I could feel my mouth twisting in displeasure.

“I was just about to go.”

Leaving those words of frustrated defiance, I exited the room under the butler’s watchful eye, walking while recalling the garden flower names my mother had taught me.

◇

I’ve learned about flowers and garden trees from tutors and the Narcissus count family’s gardener, but it was low priority compared to other studies, so my knowledge remains limited.

I’ve heard that knowledgeable people give detailed instructions to gardeners about plant placement and color coordination. When those without taste attempt this, the gardens supposedly turn out rather amusing, and I’ve heard stories of gardeners struggling to maintain appearances. The border count’s garden seems typical, yet attention has been paid to small details, and I feel there are more flower varieties than in ordinary gardens.

“How beautiful,” I said, holding my dress to avoid staining it as I touched a small red flower. For a moment I thought it was a rose, but apparently not. There are many rose varieties – I know the popular ones, but not the names of roses favored by connoisseurs.

“Indeed, my lady,” my attendant responded.

I sensed my maid quietly laughing behind me. A thought occurred to me, and I straightened my posture.

“Could we perhaps graduate from calling me ‘my lady’?”

Turning around, I saw my maid making a puzzled face. She’s served me for many years. Having been together so long, our relationship feels less like mistress and servant and more like older sister and younger. She took time off to bear and raise children after marrying, but returned to service at the count household after her childrearing settled down.

“Is that so? To me, you will always be ‘my lady,’ so I feel no discomfort with it.”

“You may call me by name. Others are listening, and it feels somewhat embarrassing, like being treated as a child.”

Being unmarried, “my lady” isn’t incorrect, but since I’ll join the border count family in a year, perhaps I can stretch a little.

I never minded much in front of Lord Caius, whom I’ve known since childhood. But perhaps this very attitude contributed to me being evaluated as a plain, uninteresting woman. If we’re talking about charming women, perhaps my lack of concern made me seem childish.

“Understood. Then from now on, Lady Eleanora it shall be.”

As I told the slightly smiling, bowing maid “Please,” someone approached. Shifting my feet slightly to change my orientation, I caught sight of Lord Fels entering the garden, his silver-thread hair flowing in the wind.