The Story of a Modest Young Lady Who Formed a New Engagement the Day After Her Engagement Was Annulled - Chapter 33

Half a year had passed since I became engaged to Lord Fels. I suppose you could say our relationship was progressing smoothly. I had learned a great deal about the Lotus Margrave family, and I had also become accustomed to managing the household as its lady, as well as memorizing the faces of all the Lotus family servants.

There were still things I needed to learn, but the Lotus Margrave… my future father-in-law, told me I was doing well enough and there was no need to rush.

Since Lord Fels had expressed concern that I was working too hard, he invited me to stroll through the royal capital for a change of pace, so I had returned from the Lotus Margrave territory to our townhouse in the capital. I, Eleanora, was visiting the Narcissus Count family’s townhouse to spend time with my family.

The familiar mansion was very comforting, and I could enjoy myself with the household servants. Though everyone at the Lotus Margrave’s residence was kind, they were somehow different from the Narcissus family members I had known since childhood.

My outing with Lord Fels was tomorrow.

While enjoying reading in my room, I heard two knocks on the door. When I told my maid Lia to enter, my younger brother Richard appeared. Leaving the door open, he entered the room and, noticing the book placed on the desk beside me, apologized for intruding. I was the one who had invited him in, and Rico—my brother’s nickname, as I always called him—was family, so he didn’t need to worry.

But I was truly happy he had grown into such a considerate boy. Standing beside me, Rico narrowed his eyes and smiled. His golden hair reflected the sunlight streaming through the window.

“Sister, I heard from a maid that you’re going out with Lord Fels. Is that true?”

I wondered who he had heard it from. I had only told Mother because I was embarrassed. When I glanced at Lia beside me, she gave a wry smile. Apparently, she had been the one to tell my brother about the outing. Though I was a bit embarrassed he knew, he had a fiancée too and sometimes went out with her. Thinking I might be able to learn something useful from him, I met his gaze.

“Yes. He suggested we take a stroll through the royal capital.”

“That’s wonderful. I don’t think anything will happen, but please be careful.”

“You worry too much, Rico. We’ll have guards with us, so it’ll be fine.”

Rico still tended to be overly concerned about me. The royal capital’s public safety was relatively good, and with guards accompanying us, we wouldn’t be targeted by pickpockets. Occasionally, I heard nobles lamenting that when they went out alone, residents of the slums had stolen their money, and other nobles would unanimously say they got what they deserved.

It was obvious that wandering around without guards would make you a perfect target for thieves. Even if nobles dressed like commoners, there seemed to be something about them that pickpockets could detect.

Shopkeepers apparently could tell too. When visiting popular restaurants in the lower city, some staff would become extremely deferential. I didn’t have the courage to stroll through the royal capital alone, so I might never experience such things. When I offered Rico a seat, he sat down and we continued our conversation.

“Using magic is prohibited in the royal capital though if it’s legitimate self-defense, you won’t be charged. Ah, but if Lord Fels is with you, it’s unthinkable that anything would happen to you.”

“Exactly. You worry too much, Rico. But thank you.”

Perhaps because Rico knew I would be with Lord Fels, he seemed less worried than usual. Still, it was much better than him not caring at all. Whenever he went out somewhere, I too prayed to God for his safe return. When I expressed my thanks, Rico slowly shook his head and said, “Ah, well.”

“Sister, have you decided where you’re going?”

How should I answer Rico’s question? Normally, you would decide on a destination in advance, but Lord Fels had only mentioned one thing. Since he had experience going out with his fiancée, I thought I might hear something helpful, so I decided to be honest.

“Lord Fels said we should avoid the art museum. So, it’ll be somewhere other than that. He also asked me not to wear formal attire, so we probably won’t be going to any high-class establishments.”

Perhaps due to the incident involving Lady Livia, Lord Fels seemed to have developed an aversion to plaster statues. The moment I mentioned the art museum, he had made a strange face.

There was another reason why nobles tended to avoid the royal capital’s art museum. Its collections displayed items confiscated from lords who imposed heavy taxes and oppressed their people. Of course, they were valuable as artworks, but they also served as warning pieces from the royal family to noble houses: “Don’t end up like this.” That’s why nobles rarely visited the art museum.

Lady Livia had insisted that the plaster statues she saw as a child were magnificent, so Count Larkspur must have taken her to the art museum for educational purposes when she was young. Naturally, the underlying circumstances were kept hidden.

But where would Lord Fels take me in the royal capital? He told me to look forward to it and said I didn’t need to prepare anything special. As I pondered our destination with a thoughtful “Hmm,” my brother gave a wry smile.

“So, you haven’t heard the destination from Lord Fels? In that case, the Royal Garden Park is the most likely candidate, isn’t it?”

“I wonder. I’m confident Lord Fels wouldn’t choose any strange places.”

Once, Lord Caius took me to a gambling den. When I hesitated to spend money, he told me I was “boring.” Indeed, being in a place for gambling and entertainment without spending any money would make the establishment wonder, “Why are you even here?”

When I considered that Lord Caius probably wanted to enjoy himself together, I felt sorry for what I’d done. Still, I wasn’t accustomed to gambling, didn’t understand the rules well, and remembered barely managing to watch from behind Lord Caius. This time, I could only hope nothing like that would happen.

“Please tell me about it when you return, Sister! I’ll use it as reference for my own outings!”

“Of course. But if you just copy us, it would surely be disrespectful to your partner, so make sure to include your own ideas too.”

Rico smiled at my words, replied “Yes,” and left the room. Then Lia, full of determination, met my gaze and suggested we choose tomorrow’s outfit. Nodding in agreement, I moved with her to the dressing room.

“Miss, it’s wonderful to see you so happy.”

“Eh, is that so…?”

I tilted my head at Lia, who was giggling. I thought I was choosing as usual, but what did she mean? Perhaps I made a strange face, because the maid urged me on, saying, “Pay no mind to my nonsense. Now, let’s continue.”

Truly wondering why, I decided on the outfit for tomorrow’s outing. I had considered having something new made, but Lord Fels told me not to go to any trouble, so I chose from what was in the dressing room. The outfit I selected was a brightly colored dress; unusual for me. The main reason was probably that Lia had strongly insisted, “Miss, let’s choose a bright color.”

It was just that during the war, I had avoided choosing bright colors, but that was over now. I would be happy if wearing bright colors occasionally helped create a cheerful mood.

Looking forward to where Lord Fels would take me tomorrow, the night passed, and the day of our outing arrived. A carriage bearing the Lotus Margrave family crest was waiting at the carriage turnaround of the Narcissus Count family’s townhouse. Lord Fels was standing nearby with the coachman, and when he noticed me, he began walking toward me. I quickened my pace to meet him sooner.

When we reached an appropriate distance, we stopped and our eyes met. Though it had only been a few days since I last saw him, it felt like years. Being able to see him every day at the Lotus Margrave’s residence had been such a luxury.

“Lord Fels, thank you for coming to get me.”

The joy of seeing him seemed to bring a natural smile to my face. Lord Fels also narrowed his eyes, capturing me in his gaze.

“Not at all! It’s what I wanted to do, so please don’t worry about it, Eleanora. I did consider meeting somewhere in the city but coming to get you means I can see your face sooner.”

Lord Fels had thought about using the method commoners used. Meeting up in town to begin their outings, but he seemed to have decided on sending for me as usual. Meeting up in the city to join each other did sound enjoyable. But that was probably something only commoners could do. For nobles, bringing guards along inevitably made for a large group. It would be a nuisance to others, so it was better either to be picked up or for me to go to his townhouse.

“Shall we go? I hope you’ll enjoy yourself.”

“Anywhere would be enjoyable with you, Lord Fels.”

I placed my hand in the one Lord Fels offered and boarded the carriage. Though half a year had passed and I had grown accustomed to being with him, going out together like this again made me feel a little shy as I gazed out the carriage window at the royal capital.