The Story of a Modest Young Lady Who Formed a New Engagement the Day After Her Engagement Was Annulled - Chapter 31

Why is she? Why is Lady Livia Larkspur so fixated on my muscles? We first met at her family’s estate ten years ago, and after crossing paths a few times, she somehow grew attached to me.

Her family, the Larkspur house, has produced many military officers, and I often sparred with her five older brothers. For some reason she found it fascinating, watching us cross swords tirelessly without ever growing bored. Lady Livia is the only daughter of House Larkspur. With five sons and only one daughter, Count Larkspur is quite indulgent with her, and her brothers dote on her immensely as well.

When I first met her in the garden of the Larkspur County manor and exchanged just a few words with her, she became fiercely attached.

As the war intensified and I began frequently departing for the battlefield, I grew distant from Lady Livia… but I never imagined Count Larkspur would come to me begging to stop his daughter’s reckless behavior.

Apparently, she’s infatuated with my physique, even comparing me to male plaster statues in art museums. Lady Livia reportedly insisted, “Brother Fels’s muscles are more beautiful!” Of course, she only voiced this within the family, not to outsiders. She even asked Count Larkspur to arrange a marriage with me, though it ultimately failed.

Perhaps because the marriage was refused, she chose to volunteer for the military and stand on the battlefield in pursuit of my muscles. But the war ended, and that brings us to now. So, I never encountered her on the battlefield, and it’s been a very long time since we last met.

Count Larkspur knew I was engaged to Eleanora. That’s precisely why he wanted me to stop Lady Livia’s rampage. According to House Larkspur, she wouldn’t listen to anyone else, so with a thoroughly troubled expression, he bowed his head to the Lotus Margrave family.

My father couldn’t rudely refuse a request from Count Larkspur, with whom he’s on good terms, and agreed to help, thinking it might bring closure to Lady Livia’s affections. I heard Lady Livia had been investigating Eleanora. She apparently went with her household to the church in the Lotus Margrave territory’s capital and watched Eleanora performing healings from afar with a resentful look.

I was on guard, worried she might harm Eleanora, but perhaps by divine arrangement, things settled peacefully. Still, having her vehemently insist my muscles are beautiful is incredibly embarrassing.

In the waiting room at the Marquis-hosted evening party I attended with Eleanora, Lady Livia sat in a chair, seeming to have given up on marrying me but not on my muscles.

Her eyes gleaming, she spoke of the beauty of my muscles from about ten years ago. As I held my head, thinking this wasn’t the kind of gaze a woman should have, she loudly exclaimed, “Brother Fels’s muscles are the best in the world!” Eleanora, sitting beside me, widened her eyes, while Heinrich, standing a bit away by the wall, wasn’t just stifling laughter. No, he was probably bursting with it, holding his stomach and bending over in silent hysterics.

Lady Livia looked at Eleanora as if to say, “What do you think?” Eleanora, unsure how to respond, began to grow slightly flustered. As I wondered how to help her, Heinrich approached and stood behind my chair with a smile.

“Hmm, hmm. It’s important for everyone to have things that make their heart flutter, right? I too have… certain tastes I can’t tell anyone about, this and that.”

“Heinrich, don’t interrupt.”

Heinrich chuckled and cracked a joke. No one asked about Heinrich’s unspeakable tastes, and wasn’t he supposed to be quietly listening to our conversation?

“The conversation’s over, isn’t it? Lady Larkspur said what she wanted to Lady Narcissus and seems a bit relieved. Besides, since we eavesdropped on a lady’s tastes, I thought it’d be fair to share mine.”

“No one was asking about you, Heinrich.”

I sighed at Heinrich’s cheerful laughter, then turned my gaze to Eleanora and Lady Livia as if to say this was hopeless.

“How cruel, Fels. Don’t you two think so?”

“Ah, well… that is…”

“Yes, Brother Fels is cruel! He rejected me even though I’m a fine woman!”

Eleanora looked troubled and couldn’t say anything in response to Heinrich’s shrugging question, while Lady Livia pierced me with her strong-willed eyes. Just as I thought I had no ground to stand on, Her Highness the Crown Princess appeared beside Heinrich and gave a single nod. Seeing her, Heinrich cleared his throat and spoke.

“Lady Larkspur, as I said earlier, are you feeling a bit better now? It seemed you intended to do something to Lady Narcissus, but your father detected it and consulted the Lotus Margrave.”

Heinrich shrugged as he explained the circumstances on our side to Lady Livia. She seemed completely unaware that Count Larkspur had taken action. Showing a thoughtful expression, Lady Livia met Heinrich’s gaze.

“…Did my father speak with Your Highness the Crown Prince as well?”

“No, I heard from Fels. Since we’re both attending the same evening party, he asked me to step in if things got messy and embarrassed the hosting Marquis. He relied on me, you see.”

Heinrich winked and said, “Right, Fels?” seeking my agreement. Since it was true and nothing to hide, I nodded once.

“I didn’t think my father had connections with Your Highness, so that makes sense. As expected of Brother Fels.”

Lady Livia seems to look down on Count Larkspur. And for some reason, I’m being praised. At her words, Heinrich let out a breath and inhaled.

“You’re quite direct with your words, aren’t you?”

“Is that a problem?”

At Heinrich’s remark, Lady Livia tilted her head slightly. It seems Lady Livia still hasn’t shaken the habit of saying exactly what she feels.

Having grown up spoiled in a male-dominated family, combined with her straightforward personality, she’s the type to speak her mind. She was like that when I first met her, and it seems she hasn’t changed.

“Hmm. It depends on the time, place, and person. You’re not saying anything wrong, but some people might get furious hearing how you speak. So, consider this a warning to be careful.”

“Thank you for the advice. Indeed, some people have shown anger at my words, so that must be why.”

“You mean you didn’t realize that until now!?”

Heinrich’s face fell in shock. A rare sight for his usually lighthearted self. Eleanora, sitting beside me, was surprised by this unusual side of Heinrich, while Her Highness smiled and said, “My, my.”

In contrast, Livia didn’t seem to grasp why Heinrich was so shocked, but she finally appeared to understand why her direct words might anger people. I’d tried to tell her before, but it seems she only realized it after being admonished by Heinrich, a third party.

“Rather than not realizing, I didn’t understand why they were angry. I’m not the type who can’t feel secure unless I’m with someone.”

Lady Livia seemed deeply convinced, as if ruminating on past events. Meanwhile, Heinrich looked utterly exasperated. A rare expression for his usually carefree self.

“Um… well. If you say you’re fine on your own, that’s okay, but you wouldn’t want to cause trouble for your family or Fels, right?”

At Heinrich’s question, Lady Livia nodded. Seeing this, he narrowed his eyes and continued.

“I’m getting curious about what you were planning to say to Lady Narcissus. Ah, right! You don’t have to tell me!”

Heinrich was being uncharacteristically cautious. Surely, he realizes that if Lady Livia took him seriously, she might say something harsh to Eleanora. I kept a close watch on Livia to ensure she didn’t say anything unnecessary to Eleanora.

“I merely intended to ask what kind of person Brother Fels’s partner is, but in the end, she didn’t say anything to me. If she had, I would have returned her words tenfold or more.”

Lady Livia snorted and looked at Eleanora. But Eleanora showed no sign of minding her attitude. When I glanced at Eleanora, thinking she could retort a little to Lady Livia’s manner or words, she smiled as if to say, “I don’t mind.”

It seems the woman I fell for is rather insensitive to malice. Wondering if the cause lies with her former fiancé, I felt a complicated mix of emotions.