The Story of a Modest Young Lady Who Formed a New Engagement the Day After Her Engagement Was Annulled - Chapter 28

The person Lord Fels was looking at with a perplexed expression appeared to be called Lady Livia. I was told she is the daughter of the Earl of Larkspur household, a family that has long been on friendly terms with the Lotus Margrave family.

Since the Earl of Larkspur’s family consists of five sons and only one daughter, Lady Livia was apparently quite spoiled by her parents growing up, and she herself has fully embraced her privileged position. With her blazing red hair elegantly styled, intense green eyes, and dressed in a deep blue gown, she was beautiful. Though the men in the venue had their eyes captivated by her, Lady Livia paid them no mind.

Her age is nineteen, and she currently has no fiancé. I heard that the Earl of Larkspur had hoped for Lady Livia to marry Lord Fels, but she had refused him on the grounds that he was away on the battlefield. With the war finally over, she was apparently preparing to claim the position of his fiancée, but I had already taken that seat. I heard the Earl of Larkspur laughed and said, “What a shame,” but it seems Lady Livia hasn’t given up.

Having been warned a few days ago that Lady Livia, having been spoiled and possessing a strong-willed nature, might cause trouble, I watched her warily. Though she gave me an appraising look, she showed no intention of speaking to me. Instead, she gave a disdainful sniff, snapped her fan shut, and turned a smile toward Lord Fels.

“Brother Fels, won’t you grant me one dance?”

Lady Livia pinched the hem of her dress and curtsied to Lord Fels, requesting that he be her dance partner. It’s not particularly unusual for acquaintances to share one dance, even between members of the opposite sex.

However, dancing two or three consecutive dances is reserved only for engaged couples or spouses. Occasionally, people who get carried away with dancing will do so consecutively and receive cold stares from those around them.

I wasn’t worried, since Lord Fels is a serious man, but what did Lady Livia, who was so fixated on him, intend to do? Would she perhaps not release their hold and proceed directly into a second dance? Growing anxious, I looked up at Lord Fels’s face. He noticed my gaze and flashed a brief smile that said, “Don’t worry,” before addressing Lady Livia.

“No. I have Eleanora. I have no intention of dancing with anyone but her.”

Lord Fels was directing a stern gaze at Lady Livia. He usually carries himself gently when not on the battlefield, so I was surprised to see this rare occurrence.

“Lord Fels.”

When I called his name, he replied with a “Hm?” and his usual expression. The fact that his stern face had returned to its usual softness made me feel inexplicably relieved, and I was slow to notice the change in Lady Livia’s demeanor as she stood before us.

“W-why are you calling Brother’s name!?”

“Huh?”

Lady Livia glared at me, her brow furrowed, and pointed the fan she held in her hand toward me. I had permission to call Lord Fels by his name; it shouldn’t be something to get angry about. When I let out a short, bewildered sound, Lady Livia’s expression grew even more severe. The people around us began to notice our exchange, stopping to see what was going on.

“Wh-what…!? Brother Fels doesn’t allow anyone outside his family to call him by his name! How can you not know that, even though you’re acting as his partner!?”

When Lady Livia raised her voice, the people who had stopped walking looked shocked. Lord Fels continued to look at her sternly, seemingly considering what to say to her next.

It was true that the people who called Lord Fels by his name were limited—basically just his family members, my mother and brother from the Narcissus household, and a few close acquaintances. Realizing it might indeed be unusual, I was taken aback. In contrast, Lady Livia was gritting her teeth, as if enduring something.

I had learned not long ago that staying silent and just listening wouldn’t move things forward, and that it was better to say what needed to be said rather than hold back. Since Lady Livia seemed to think I was just some partner Lord Fels had brought along, I needed to correct her, or the situation could become even more troublesome. First, since I hadn’t formally introduced myself, I curtsied and raised my head.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Livia Larkspur. My name is Eleanora Narcissus. A short while ago, an engagement between him and myself was arranged between the Lotus Margrave family and the Narcissus Count family.”

“Huh?”

When I introduced myself, Lady Livia’s eyes widened in shock. Lord Fels let out a small sigh before speaking.

“Lady Livia, it’s the truth.”

Lord Fels likely intended this as support for me, but to Lady Livia, it seemed to strike like a high-powered slash.

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?”

Her mouth trembled violently before she let out a shriek from the pit of her stomach, unbecoming of a daughter of a Count’s household. The sheer volume, unexpected from a sheltered young lady, made me wonder if she perhaps trained her body. Lord Fels placed a hand on his forehead, looking exasperated by the loudness of her shriek. As I hesitated, wondering what to do, the crowd parted neatly, and a noble figure emerged from within.

“My, it’s quite noisy, isn’t it? It’s rather tasteless to ruin the elegant atmosphere of the soirée, don’t you think?”

Crown Prince Heinrich addressed us in a light tone, not so much scolding as observing. By his side was the Crown Princess, wearing a small smile. The two seemed to have come upon hearing the commotion, and the Prince shrugged his shoulders at Lord Fels as if to say, “What are you up to?”

I curtsied to ensure I showed proper respect to the Crown Prince and Princess, while Lord Fels replied lightly to the Prince, “My apologies,” and then looked toward Lady Livia.

“O-oh! Your Highness the Crown Prince! Your Highness the Crown Princess! My deepest apologies!”

Lady Livia, startled by the sudden appearance of such high-ranking figures, hastily curtsied. If she were the type with excessive pride, she might have continued her tirade without admitting fault, but Lady Livia seemed aware of her surroundings. The Crown Prince lightly waved his hand, indicating to everyone around that the matter was settled and they should disperse. The gathered crowd then scattered into the venue like spiderlings.

“Now then. If you wish to continue your quarrel, I can provide a venue. It would be better than continuing here, wouldn’t it?”

Chuckling, the Crown Prince pointed toward the corridor adjacent to the venue. Down that corridor were several waiting rooms. Lord Fels replied that it was fine, and I also nodded once, indicating I had no objection.

Only Lady Livia seemed unable to grasp the situation. Before she knew it, the Crown Princess, who had moved behind her, urged her forward with a “Shall we go?” I suddenly realized it resembled a scene I had experienced myself one day, and felt a slight pang of nostalgia.

“Eleanora, let’s go. We should be able to talk calmly there.”

“Yes.”

Lord Fels called my name and offered his hand. I placed my hand over his and looked at Lady Livia.

“You too, Lady Livia.”

When Lord Fels addressed her, she reluctantly began to walk. The Crown Prince led the way—with his guards, of course—and once it was clear Lady Livia wouldn’t flee, the Crown Princess walked alongside him.

Then Crown Prince Heinrich turned his face toward the Crown Princess and offered his hand. The gesture was exquisitely refined and beautiful. I narrowed my eyes, thinking what a well-matched couple they were, and soon we arrived before the waiting room.

It seemed the host, His Excellency the Marquis, had prepared a room for the Crown Prince, and it was quite spacious. I felt sorry for causing a disturbance at the Marquis’s soirée, but both the Crown Prince and the Marquis, as well as the Lotus Margrave and Larkspur Count families, were already aware of this situation.

I heard the Earl of Larkspur had requested, “Please put an end to my daughter’s infatuation.” Since I was involved, the Narcissus Count family also knew. The only one unaware was Lady Livia herself.

Though it felt a bit like an ambush and I felt sorry, it seemed everyone had judged it best for Lady Livia to have a proper conversation with Lord Fels and sort out her feelings. However, if she still couldn’t give up on Lord Fels, her family was prepared to exercise their authority either house arrest or sending her to a convent.

“Now then, you may sit, or you could start throwing punches between Fels and the Larkspur girl?”

The Crown Prince wore an amused expression as he looked at Lord Fels and Lady Livia. Lady Livia was going “Huh? Huh?” in confusion over the situation, while Lord Fels looked like he wanted to say, “Your joke is in poor taste.”

“Your Highness Heinrich, that might be going a bit far.” “Please refrain from jesting.”

When the Crown Princess and Lord Fels admonished the Prince, he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head side to side a few times.

“How dull. Well, it was a joke, so I’d be troubled if you took it seriously. The two of us will stand by over here and watch over you three. Talk things out until you’re satisfied.”

The Crown Prince leaned his back against the wall a short distance away, while the Crown Princess guided the three of us to the reception sofas.

“Lady Livia, I have become engaged to her and am no longer unattached. I am aware of your feelings toward me, but I cannot reciprocate.”

Lord Fels continued speaking. As nobles, it’s difficult to secure the exact engagement one desires. Lady Livia, too, would eventually have to become engaged or married to some noble household.

Surely Lady Livia understood this deep down. She just couldn’t bring herself to give up her feelings for Lord Fels. The Earl of Larkspur also regretted having spoiled Lady Livia so much. Hoping that Lady Livia would somehow avoid being punished, I listened to Lord Fels’s words.