The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 22

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 22

When I returned from the boutique, Ransel wasn’t at the mansion, apparently running late as he had mentioned that morning.

Until now, we had been dining together in the evenings, if only to be mindful of others’ watchful eyes.

Today I can eat comfortably alone, I thought as I changed out of my outdoor clothes.

Then Senya, Sophia’s personal maid, came to see me.

“The lady asks if you would like to dine together, if it’s convenient for you.”

It was impossible to refuse a proposal from the king’s beloved younger sister, the long-standing mistress of a prestigious family, and the woman who would be my mother-in-law for the time being.

So I headed to the dining room, which led to this rather indigestible meal.

“Miss Mary.”

Just then, Sophia called my name with an indifferent expression.

I chewed and swallowed what was in my mouth before answering.

“Yes, Lady Sophia.”

“Do you happen to know anything about the Segwede Ducal House?”

It was an unexpected topic.

I hesitated for a moment before answering calmly.

“I only know that they’re called a prestigious family alongside Arviente. The heir, Viscount Rigan Segwed, is the commander of the Royal Guard.”

Even as I spoke, I wondered if this was some sophisticated way of saying ‘How could you think of messing with Arviente when you know prestigious families so well,’ but I decided not to read too much into it.

Sophia nodded readily at my brief answer, as if she hadn’t expected much anyway.

“The mistress of that house is a lady named Elzesa Segwede, and I’ve agreed to attend a luncheon she’s hosting.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Miss Mary, you must also know that Viscount Rigan is in marriage talks with Princess Claire.”

Sophia’s expression suddenly soured as she continued in her monotone voice.

“So Elzesa’s nose is reaching for the sky these days. Since Clediuz’s heir didn’t make such a grand marriage, she’s become even more arrogant.”

“….”

So she was upset because she couldn’t brag about having a wonderful daughter-in-law?

If her plan was to make me feel uncomfortable by talking about a competitor who had secured a good daughter-in-law, it was working perfectly.

“I see.”

I managed my expression and nodded.

Sophia continued with a prim expression.

“For that reason, I’d like to take Miss Mary along and do some bragging of my own.”

“Ah, yes. …Yes?”

What did I just hear?

I stared at Sophia with wide eyes.

Had she been planning to say this since this morning?

Sophia looked somewhat embarrassed and quietly averted her gaze.

“If Miss Mary finds it burdensome, you don’t have to go. I can’t guarantee that Elzesa will welcome you warmly either.”

Caught off guard by these unexpected words, I belatedly came to my senses.

“Not at all. I’d be happy to accompany you.”

While there might not be any particular benefit to attending, I believed in give and take.

Since I had damaged Arviente’s reputation for Pipi’s sake, I should accommodate the lady’s wishes if she had any.

At my answer, Sophia leaned forward with a more enthusiastic attitude.

“Really? I’m someone who can’t stand losing anywhere, so I might work Miss Mary quite hard before the luncheon.”

“Yes, really. And I’m also someone who can’t stand losing anywhere.”

“If you make even one mistake in front of Elzesa, I might not let Miss Mary off easily.”

“I can guarantee that at least what you’re worried about won’t happen.”

“…Hmm, is that so?”

Sophia looked at me with a meaningful expression, then raised one corner of her mouth.

“Then let’s have Miss Mary attend as well.”

She seemed to want to change the subject as she lightly wrapped up the topic.

Of course, the new topic was also in an unexpected direction.

“Do you happen to like floral patterns?”

“…Pardon?”

What kind of question is this now?

Don’t tell me it’s because of the floral dress I wore on my first day at the mansion to make a good impression…?

“Yes, I like them.”

To be precise, I liked all patterns including floral ones.

While most people have specific colors or patterns they prefer, given my profession, I didn’t discriminate against any design.

Then Sophia visibly brightened up. Like an excited teenage girl.

“I, I also like floral patterns.”

Hmm.

I could have figured that out without you telling me.

The dress Sophia was wearing right now and even the tablecloth were covered in vibrant floral patterns.

The interior of the mansion was also wallpapered with floral patterns everywhere except the third floor that Belzebutte used.

Even the sofa had floral patterns, the cushions had floral patterns, the teacups had floral patterns….

Sophia continued with an excited expression.

“Right, how bright and lovely they are. But that boy Ransel made such a fuss about not wanting floral wallpaper in his room, you know? What do you think?”

“I think he doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

After all, there’s no design in the world that’s just plain bad.

I had answered honestly, and apparently that was the right answer.

Sophia smiled contentedly.

“I knew the people in this house were the strange ones.”

…It seemed I was the first person to understand her extreme floral preferences.

After finishing the meal, I returned to my room and talked with Marsha.

That Sophia wasn’t as difficult a person as she appeared, and that she didn’t seem to think badly of me.

Then the conversation turned to the luncheon at the Segwede mansion.

“Are the two ladies on such bad terms?”

“Well, they say that ever since Lady Sophia poured wine on Lady Segwede’s head 20 years ago, they fight every time they meet.”

“…I won’t be getting a warm reception there.”

Not that I had expected one anyway.

It seemed best to prepare for any possible situations.

I asked Marsha once more.

“Are there any particular things I should be careful about at the Segwede mansion?”

Actually, this would have been essential preparation even if the two ladies weren’t on bad terms.

Learning about precautions before visiting was proper etiquette in noble society, and Elzesa was someone higher than me in both status and age.

“Since Viscount Rigan is in marriage talks with the Princess, it would be best not to talk about the Imperial Family… Oh, and I heard that the lady absolutely hates Blue Glorea flowers, so they’re considered taboo plants within the mansion.”

“Blue Glorea flowers… I think I’ve heard of them. Don’t they give her headaches just from looking at them?”

“Yes, when she was young, her stepmother poisoned her real mother by applying poison to those flowers… killed her? The stepmother decorated the lady’s room with those flowers every day, so the lady nearly died.”

It was a heavier story than I had expected.

I nodded quietly. I was glad I had found out about this in advance.

***

After preparing well, I soon heard that Ransel had returned.

I waited, roughly estimating how long it would take Ransel to change out of his outdoor clothes, then headed upstairs.

Knock knock.

“I’m coming in.”

When I grabbed the door handle, I could see Ransel standing by the window.

The ends of his bangs were slightly damp, but he was dressed in comfortably casual clothes rather than a bathrobe.

“….”

And as soon as Ransel spotted me, he spat the water he was drinking right back into his cup.

He looked at me with confused eyes, scanning my body from head to toe before asking.

“What the hell is that dragonfly wing-like outfit?”

“What do you mean.”

I fluttered my sleeves.

The negligee made of thin material that didn’t hide my silhouette at all was a product that the Boutique only sold to gold-tier customers.

As the owner, I had put it on because of my iron rule of personally trying on items before selling them.

“Don’t tell me you came all the way here dressed like that?”

“It’s originally bedtime anyway.”

“The problem isn’t that you’re wearing pajamas. You look really seductive right now.”

I ignored him and sat down on the sofa.

Then Ransel’s eyes widened, and he handed me a cardigan that was hanging on a chair.

“Please, at least put this on.”

“Why are you acting like this when you said before that we should go all the way?”

“We may have gone all the way, but it’s still late at night and I’m a man.”

Instead of nitpicking his words, I put on the cardigan with a sullen expression.

The cardigan knitted from dark navy wool was way too big for me. It also carried that cozy scent I felt when getting close to Ransel.

Once I put it on, the fit was so awkward it looked ridiculous. It was like I had torn down some curtains and thrown them on.

“By the way, from what I heard earlier….”

Ransel finally sat down in front of me and began to speak.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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