The Story of a Modest Young Lady Who Formed a New Engagement the Day After Her Engagement Was Annulled - Chapter 20

—We had just finished telling each other about the things we liked.

Once the evening party began and we had completed our entrance and greeted the host, the rest of the time was spent mingling freely as nobles. Some were enjoying dances in the ballroom, others were engaged in pleasant conversation, and still others were content to be wallflowers. Lord Fels and I were busy responding to those who had approached us to announce our engagement.

Many seemed puzzled as to why I had been chosen as Lord Fels’s fiancée, but no one voiced their questions aloud. It seemed they had swallowed their words, thinking that if he had decided, there was no room for complaint.

I left the interactions with those closely connected to the Lotus Margrave family to Lord Fels, while I handled those with strong ties to the Narcissus Count family. To those of higher and lower status alike, he remained consistently gentle and composed, which was reassuring to watch from beside him.

Because Lord Fels was from the Margrave family and had played a key role in ending the war, he was quite popular at the evening party. Though I was basking in his reflected glory, he told everyone we met that it was thanks to me for finding the enemy mage that he had been able to turn the key to ending the conflict.

After finishing a conversation with a certain noble, I glanced at Lord Fels, thinking we needed to talk.

“Lord Fels, it was your achievement that neutralized the enemy mage. I didn’t really do anything.”

I had no idea at the time that the enemy mage I’d spotted on the battlefield was someone who could drastically change the course of the war. I had only stumbled upon them by chance and was desperate to prevent them from casting spells on our allies. They had already used several high-powered spells, and whether we could defeat them was a gamble. If my spell had been too weak, I might have provoked them and put our allies in even greater danger.

“Did you not realize? Do you remember that day, when I rode past you on horseback?”

I remembered it clearly. Him, astride a large, dappled-gray warhorse, passing gallantly by my side… I could never forget that vivid scene.

“Yes. I remember it clearly. I found the hidden mage, but you were the one who defeated them.”

“But if you hadn’t noticed, I would have remained unaware of the enemy mage’s presence. That’s why I’m grateful, and it doesn’t sit well with me that your contribution was undervalued just because you’re a woman.”

I had already retired from the military, so it was all in the past. The report had been filed, my evaluation was complete, and I had received my reward—so I had no complaints. But the man standing before me fixed his ash-silver eyes firmly on me, insisting it wasn’t a fair assessment.

“Thank you—”

I was about to say that it was enough that he knew the truth, and since I was to be his partner, it didn’t matter but a sharp clack of footsteps cut me off.

“—Eleanora… Why do you appear before me?!”

Lord Caius stood before us, his face flushed with anger. At his side was Lady Anabella, who glanced at me with a soft “fufu” before turning a bewitching gaze toward Lord Fels.

Lord Fels stepped forward, shielding me from Lord Caius’s harsh glare. Lately, every time I met Lord Caius, I had faced his words alone, so the broad back protecting me now filled me with relief.

“Do you have business with my fiancée?”

“…It has nothing to do with the God of War, does it?”

A crackling tension, like purple lightning, sparked between Lord Fels and Lord Caius. Others nearby had stopped at the sound of Lord Caius’s raised voice and were watching the scene unfold. I wondered what those whispering in hushed tones thought of us.

“I wouldn’t say it’s unrelated. Eleanora is my fiancée. If she’s being harassed for no good reason, it’s only natural for me, as her betrothed, to act.”

Lord Fels gently took my arm, placed a hand on my waist, and drew me close. The distance between us was the closest it had ever been. I was terribly embarrassed, afraid he could hear the loud, frantic beating of my heart.

“It’s true I annulled my engagement with her, but that doesn’t mean our connection is severed. More than that, I’m saying her very presence in my line of sight is an eyesore.”

I had thought our ties were completely cut. If the engagement was annulled, then the relationship between our families should have ended too. I believed there was no reason for personal interaction anymore.

“If that’s the case, then the best course is to have no further contact. As nobles, you may see each other in social settings. But even if you do, ignoring one another is the mature thing to do. She isn’t paying you any mind. Isn’t it you who still holds a grudge?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Eleanora has tarnished the record of me, the heir of the Hydrangia Marquis family. The woman standing beside you has not yet taken responsibility for that!”

After Lord Caius’s words, Lord Fels looked down at me and gave a gentle smile. Was he trying to tell me not to worry? I didn’t want him to engage in a pointless argument, and I was concerned about what those around us might think.

“That’s an outrageous claim. Look at the eyes of those around us, you should think carefully about the impression your words are making. —Let’s go, Eleanora.”

Lord Fels tightened his grip on my hand, turned me around, and began to walk away. Glancing back, I saw Lord Caius grinding his teeth and Lady Anabella staring after us with a frustrated expression.

“I’m sorry, Eleanora. I should have checked the list of attendees.”

“No, it’s all right. Sooner or later, something like this was bound to happen in society. I’m sorry for causing you trouble because of me. Please forgive me.”

He smiled, telling me not to worry. Feeling awkward, I bowed my head again to apologize, but he gently touched my cheek and asked me to lift my face, saying there was no need to apologize.

Still, I insisted that I had indeed caused him trouble and that it had nothing to do with him but he firmly replied that it did. We were engaged, he said, and soon we would be husband and wife, walking the same path together. We would overcome hardships side by side and savor happiness together.

Even so, as I tried to apologize again, he forcibly led me out to the ballroom, and we danced through several songs together. I’m not sure how well I danced but his strange, intuitive lead was something I could somehow naturally follow.