The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 43

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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 43

 

When we departed from the ducal mansion, I rode in the carriage alone with Sophia.

 

Now, before entering the observation tower, Sophia had stepped aside so I could meet with Father and comfortably exchange greetings.

 

Belzebutte had urgent matters to handle, so he decided to depart from the Imperial Palace.

 

‘He’s already here.’

 

And Ransel, who had his partner stolen by his mother, had disappeared this morning saying he had business with Count Chadde, and seemed to have just arrived here.

 

Ransel, who had gotten out of his carriage, was being guided by an observation tower attendant with a composed expression.

 

“….”

 

Then, the moment our eyes met, his puzzled gaze soon curved gently.

 

Mm, indeed his face showed quite a significant difference between when he smiled and when he didn’t.

 

I stared at Ransel for a while before looking back at Father.

 

“I’ll be going now.”

 

“Alright, Mary. Always be careful.”

 

Father, who smiled warmly, disappeared into the observation tower first.

 

And Ransel immediately strode over.

 

His gaze, which had been scanning my entire body, lingered on my face.

 

“You look pretty today.”

 

I paused for a moment, then shrugged my shoulders.

 

Well, being pretty was an objective fact. And we weren’t in a relationship where I needed to hide such observations.

 

“It’s probably because it’s a color I don’t usually wear. I thought it would be better not to stand out today, so I deliberately prepared a subdued style.”

 

“Well, to my eyes, I could only see you.”

 

Ransel continued speaking nonchalantly.

 

“That’s why I smiled.”

 

“….”

 

Instead of answering, I just rolled my eyes and looked up at Ransel demurely.

 

I felt inexplicably unsettled.

 

After we reconciled and I opened up a little about my feelings, our relationship had improved compared to before….

 

…Never mind. I wasn’t unaware that this was a man who could make someone feel utterly deflated in an instant.

 

I didn’t want to let Ransel hurt my heart again.

 

Just then, I heard murmuring sounds from somewhere.

 

‘…Yudi and Princess Chartinez?’

 

Two people wearing quite provocative dresses were walking toward the observation tower.

 

There was Yudite, who was completely full of herself, and beside her was Seria, whose face showed a mixture of embarrassment at being associated with someone she had looked down upon and determination to make the boutique succeed no matter what.

 

And the people’s reaction was enough for Yudite to be completely full of herself.

 

“Oh my, you both look particularly beautiful today.”

 

“Who made those dresses?”

 

“They’re truly dazzlingly pretty. Are they going to start another trend?”

 

Not only were the ladies looking at them with admiring gazes, but even the gentlemen were blushing as they watched the two.

 

The dresses were beautiful enough in design to fully understand that reaction.

 

‘Well.’

 

Even if Yudite didn’t seem like it, she was the owner of a popular boutique. She definitely had good taste.

 

Seria too, despite facing difficulties due to her brother’s exile to Semaphelaz and the incident at the Segwede Ducal Residence, was still the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

 

However, Ransel was showing a different reaction alone among the excited people.

 

“What exactly is supposed to be pretty about that….”

 

The man who had been the boyfriend of another popular boutique owner seemed quite displeased with his competitor’s rising popularity.

 

I said while watching Yudite and Seria walking away.

 

“They are objectively pretty though. The large ruffles on the chest area and the accent colors are sophisticated, and the ribbon detail in that section is fresh too.”

 

No matter how much of a rival they were, this kind of thing should be acknowledged cleanly.

 

Ransel, who glanced once more at where the two ladies were after my explanation, said.

 

“Sorry, but I think I’m prettier instead. I can’t figure out what’s happened to the nobles’ taste these days.”

 

What’s this guy saying when he doesn’t have even a bit of aesthetic sense. I lightly ignored Ransel’s words.

 

Soon we met with the ducal couple.

 

When we entered the observation tower, a familiar scene unfolded. Though the third floor, which I was visiting for the first time, was different.

 

Compared to the lower and middle floors where lively social activities took place, the top floor was quiet.

 

The highest seats were reserved for the royalty, and below that were seats prepared for the direct descendants of each prestigious family.

 

Shortly after taking our seats, the Founding Festival began.

 

***

 

After the royals gave their speeches in turn, performances that seemed quite elaborate followed.

 

I was a bit worried about whether Pipi would stay quiet without throwing a tantrum, but perhaps because Marsha’s embrace was comfortable, she was surprisingly quiet.

 

After the scheduled performances ended, the inside of the observation tower reached a brief lull.

 

When the lights came on in the previously dim interior, Ransel approached me.

 

“Let’s go, Mary.”

 

It was time to move for our real purpose.

 

To find the unidentified man who had once visited Michael and spoken those terrible words.

 

Although there were distinctions by floor according to status, most people were moving between various floors for social activities.

 

However, Belzebutte seemed unwilling to associate with those on the lower floors, and Sophia expressed her opinion that she would stay on the upper floor since she was tired.

 

‘Actually, it seems like Lady Sophia wants to go to other floors….’

 

“Madam is a very lonely person.”

 

As Senya had said, she seemed reluctant to move around because she had no close friends in high society.

 

Aljesha, who was supposedly close to her, seemed busy being pleased while discussing marriage talks between her eldest son Viscount Regan and Princess Claire.

 

I was about to bring up the topic of accompanying us to Sophia once more, but shook my head.

 

We went down to the lower floor. Marsha, holding Pipi, came with us to keep up appearances.

 

‘First, the middle floor.’

 

The place where branch members of the Imperial Family and prestigious families gathered.

 

As expected, it was noisier than the upper floor with social gatherings taking place.

 

The only empty seat was that of the House of the Duke.

 

After the eldest daughter died, the Grand Duchess’s health had deteriorated, so it seemed they didn’t participate in this year’s Founding Festival.

 

“Oh my, how nice to see you, Young Lady. And Colonel too.”

 

As we went inside, young ladies greeted us. They were faces I often saw at the boutique.

 

That’s how Ransel and I naturally separated.

 

The ladies gathered in small groups to chat about recent events and upcoming salons, while the gentlemen played poker or smoked cigars.

 

“It’s been so long since we met like this…!”

 

Jane Clarisse, a branch family daughter of the Cledius Duchy who had probably spent the second most money at Piaceroux after Yenika, preciously grasped my hands.

 

The ladies beside her also looked at me, calling me “our Young Lady.”

 

“Young Lady, we haven’t seen you much lately. Are you busy with other matters?”

 

“That’s right. It seemed like you were often away from the boutique….”

 

“I really thought the Colonel had confined you somewhere.”

 

“Just thinking about how Young Lady must have suffered alone because of the child makes me want to stop you two from getting married right away…!”

 

The words that came out at the end were somewhat strange, but I slowly nodded my head for now.

 

As the ladies said, I had indeed been away from the boutique frequently lately. I had been busy just with the affairs in Semaphelaz.

 

“I have been away from my post quite often recently. Actually, I was preparing for a collaboration.”

 

“A collaboration?”

 

It seemed they hadn’t heard from Chris yet.

 

I rolled my eyes as if choosing my answer, then replied.

 

“If you’re curious, please visit the booth once. Kind staff members will be on standby to show you the new products.”

 

“Wow, that sounds great!”

 

Jane clapped her hands together with delight.

 

As the conversation continued, I fidgeted with the Clark Flower decorating my dress.

 

‘At least it seems like no one here is reacting to the Clark Flower.’

 

I naturally excused myself from the group and headed toward the stairs behind the column.

 

Normally, I would have moved together with my partner Ransel, but it seemed like traveling together would be difficult.

 

Because….

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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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