The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 40

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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 40

 

“The young ladies who frequently visit will notice that the boutique’s scent has changed. They’ll ask you what kind of fragrance this is, right?”

 

“Yes, then I’ll promote the booth in advance…”

 

“No, don’t tell them. Say it’s a trade secret.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Chris raised his eyebrows crookedly.

 

I continued my explanation.

 

“Tell them in a roundabout way that won’t offend them. But you need to make it clear that this information is too precious and valuable to share. After you get asked about five times like that, reveal that it’s perfume to be sold at the booth. Say it’s a product that hasn’t entered the Empire yet.”

 

“…”

 

“Of course, tone is important when saying this too. Pretend you’re reluctantly telling them, pretend you’re only telling this particular young lady specially. You get the general feeling, right?”

 

“…What are you thinking now?”

 

Well, I’m thinking of somehow giving the perfume ‘specialness.’

 

The specialness and rarity that nobles go crazy for. If it doesn’t exist, just create it.

 

Since price alone would be hard to get positive reactions with, I decided to trust Chris’s con artist talents.

 

“Haah…”

 

Though Chris was already sighing deeply as if tired.

 

“Our boutique has good benefits. Employees can openly sigh in front of the owner.”

 

“…I was just breathing. Can’t I even breathe freely?”

 

Just as Chris couldn’t honestly voice his complaints and tried to deflect,

 

“Hello, Mary?”

 

Someone opened the door with a jingle and called out to me.

 

“…”

 

My expression turned sour as soon as I saw who it was.

 

I’m so sick of this now.

 

“Yeah, Yudi.”

 

Yudite stood in front of me, acting all high and mighty.

 

“Well, you… Ha. Well, I…”

 

Then she suddenly started giggling. No words followed no matter how long I waited.

 

It seemed like she wanted me to ask what was going on first.

 

Instead of doing what she wanted, I snatched the perfume back from Chris and sprayed it.

 

A fresh scent spread.

 

“…What, what’s this now?”

 

Yudite frowned and sniffed the air.

 

“How is it?”

 

Yudite always had refined taste thanks to her wide network. It would be good to get feedback from someone like her.

 

“…Uh… well…”

 

Despite being flustered, Yudite rolled her eyes and gave her opinion.

 

“Sweet and warm feeling? It’s also the kind that young ladies would generally like…”

 

“Yeah, that’s good enough. Now go.”

 

“Mm-hmm… …Huh? No, no. Why should I leave? I came here because I have something important to say.”

 

Then say it.

 

I gestured with my chin as if to say go ahead and try.

 

Yudite cleared her throat.

 

“You haven’t heard the news yet, have you?”

 

“What news.”

 

“I’m going to work on a project with Viscount Shartinez’s Daughter this time.”

 

“…”

 

I just blinked, not knowing how to react. It was news I wasn’t curious about at all.

 

Yudite spoke with an even more confident face.

 

“Well, how could someone as dense as you pick up news like this? Do you even have anyone around to tell you such news?”

 

“I stayed quiet because I thought I’d get beaten for wasting time telling such useless stories instead of working.”

 

Chris protested as if wronged, but Yudite continued with an annoying voice, pretending not to hear.

 

“We’re planning to expand into perfumes this time, Mary. Unfortunately, you’ll be buried soon. We’re making full preparations.”

 

At those words, I paused.

 

‘I don’t care if Yudi gets close to the viscount’s daughter, but…’

 

If the perfume launch timing overlaps with those two’s ‘work,’ there could be damage.

 

I hesitated, then probed Yudite with a nonchalant voice.

 

“Buried my foot, isn’t everything you do the same old thing? Full preparations probably just means a dress with more exposure.”

 

“…No, it’s not?”

 

As expected, Yudite took the bait completely.

 

“You can’t even imagine how sophisticated the design is. We decided to wear it directly with the viscount’s daughter at the Founding Festival, so be prepared.”

 

“See, it is a dress.”

 

“…”

 

Yudite’s face turned bright red and she couldn’t say anything.

 

‘A dress to be unveiled at the Founding Festival…’

 

Even if the timing was the same, since it was a different field, it shouldn’t be a big problem.

 

“A-anyway!”

 

Then Yudite changed the subject as if to resolve her embarrassment.

 

“Which floor of the observation tower are you going to?”

 

Hmm, probably.

 

Since Sophia agreed to accompany me, going to the top floor was confirmed. I wasn’t sure if we’d stop by the first floor though.

 

While I was choosing my answer, Yudite, having regained her confidence, smiled smugly and said,

 

“Well, since you barely got the title of prospective daughter-in-law of a ducal family, you’ll naturally go to the upper floors. Though I wonder if people will really look favorably on someone doing that with an illegitimate child.”

 

Was she trying to vent all the grievances she couldn’t air for the past year today? I looked at Yudite with a fed-up expression and replied.

 

“Right, I’m going to the upper floors.”

 

And before Yudite could open her mouth, I continued.

 

“So let’s not chat long at the Founding Festival, Yudi. As you said, I’m someone who has nothing but the position of prospective daughter-in-law of a prestigious family, so I might tattle on you to my baby’s father anytime.”

 

Though he was a First Academy first-year who hadn’t come home for four days, he was useful at times like this.

 

“…This is really.”

 

Yudite hesitated at my nonchalant voice, then soon disappeared with prim steps.

 

That night.

 

I was checking the booth proposal and perfume bottles in my room when I froze solid.

 

“…”

 

The fake fiancé who had disappeared for four days had somehow entered my room.

 

***

 

The trigger that ended Ransel’s four-day runaway commotion began in the office at the naval base.

 

“If you don’t go home today either, I’m deserting.”

 

Melvin burst through the door and spouted crazy talk.

 

“What?”

 

“You think only you can do it? Oscar and Derek decided to desert together too. Let’s see how well you do gathering with those dandies without navigators.”

 

“Did you all eat something wrong at lunch and go crazy?”

 

“That’s what I should be saying. Does it make sense to be holed up here for three days? When your butler brought luggage bigger than a carriage, I thought the Duchess had finally made some kind of decision.”

 

“…”

 

So, after fighting so fiercely like that.

 

Ransel had planned to spend about a week apart from each other.

 

But the butler must have ransacked his entire room, bringing what looked like a month’s worth of luggage.

 

It was already the fourth day since he’d shoved that luggage into the naval base, finding it too awkward to send it back.

 

“Anyway, you better know what’ll happen if those lights stay on here. I’ll show you the first case in the Western Continent of three navigators from the same ship deserting together.”

 

Ransel was dumbfounded by what was possibly the ultimate threat one could make to a direct superior.

 

“Don’t avoid it and just finish it quickly. It’s your fault even if I don’t listen, so why are you dragging it out?”

 

“….”

 

“It’s not just anyone else, but your fiancée—just let her win. Save your victories for the sea.”

 

In the end, Ransel threw up both hands and feet in surrender and left work early.

 

And so he arrived at the Arviente Estate.

 

Ransel headed toward the main mansion with a palm-sized box.

 

Inside the dessert box was a slice of strawberry cake.

 

It was cake from a famous dessert shop that Melvin had recommended, saying you can’t apologize empty-handed.

 

Though he was completely unreliable when it came to such matters, since Mary did like fresh strawberry cake, Ransel followed his advice.

 

Despite it being night, the weather was muggy. After entering the main mansion, Ransel took a moment to cool off before heading upstairs.

 

The first person he encountered upstairs was Sophia.

 

“….”

 

Sophia glared fiercely at Ransel, then passed by while patting the puppy in her arms.

 

It was quite a cold reception for a mother seeing him after three days, but it wasn’t unexpected treatment either.

 

“Good evening, Colonel.”

 

The next person he encountered was Marsha.

 

Marsha approached as if she’d been waiting and bowed her head with a curtsy.

 

Why is she welcoming me for once? Ransel opened his mouth with a half-doubtful expression.

 

“It feels like it’s been a while, Miss Marsha.”

 

“It’s been four days since you left like that. Did you depart well that morning? This Marsha was quite worried that you might have tripped and fallen somewhere in your haste to leave.”

 

In fact, this loyal maid’s specialty was insulting people with a smiling face.

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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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