The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

‘Even while acting like that, I’m grateful he’s trying to help me.’

 

I looked at Ransel while resting my hand on the stair railing.

 

Ransel was scanning the card table with a face that really didn’t want to socialize.

 

Even then, he was just watching and giving half-hearted responses to the branch family members who persistently tried to talk to him.

 

When our eyes met, Ransel glanced around once before staring at me again.

 

It seemed like he wanted to just kill everyone and come to me, but couldn’t do so.

 

‘I can’t keep waiting…’

 

Since the performance was over, there would be nobles starting to leave for outside, and I needed to meet that client quickly before they left their seat.

 

In the end, Marsha and I went down the stairs together.

 

When we reached the lower floor, I skillfully exchanged greetings just like on the upper floor.

 

Perhaps being mindful of Seria, there was no one like Jane who would hold onto me for a long time.

 

“Oh my, Mary.”

 

And then, Yudite approached as if she had been waiting. Seria was beside her too.

 

I understood they were working together so they’d be together, but it was funny how they suddenly stuck together like they were inseparable.

 

“It’s so nice to see you again like this.”

 

In a situation where I needed to hurry and find my client, I didn’t want to waste time on Yudite.

 

But I couldn’t just ignore her in a public place, so I reluctantly responded.

 

“Yes, Yudi. Your dress is pretty.”

 

Then Yudite covered her mouth with her hand and laughed, “Hoho.”

 

This time Seria spoke in an artificial voice.

 

“Young-ae looks beautiful today too. It seems the Duchess has taken quite good care of you.”

 

I glanced at the area near Seria’s wrist.

 

‘She’s not wearing opera gloves today?’

 

She had been wearing them so preciously at the Segwede Ducal Residence.

 

“As you saw during lunch, the Duchess is quite fond of me.”

 

“…”

 

Perhaps remembering the nightmare of the Blue Glorea flower, Seria’s face visibly hardened.

 

Seria continued the conversation with an obviously displeased expression.

 

“I was quite worried, but I’m relieved to see you’re doing well. Since you practically crawled into a noble family without proper procedures, I wondered if the treatment would be decent.”

 

Someone who can’t even make proper eye contact with Sophia sure worries a lot.

 

“Yes, I see you did.”

 

I deliberately drew out my words in response and turned my body. It meant I didn’t want to continue the conversation.

 

“…”

 

Then Seria bit her lower lip, soon sighed “Ha,” and grabbed me.

 

“Young-ae is always rude to me.”

 

She seemed particularly unstable today.

 

“It’s not like you’re showing off that you can’t even learn proper etiquette.”

 

“You’re saying I’m being rude?”

 

“Of course, I was speaking sincerely thinking it was fortunate.”

 

Seria suddenly smiled brightly.

 

“I’ve known Young-ae for quite a long time, haven’t I? Back when I knew the Count’s family situation, I felt sorry just looking at Young-ae, but it’s so nice to see how you’ve changed.”

 

***

 

I paused and looked at Seria.

 

“…”

 

I didn’t want to show that I was shaken, but my heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t control the trembling.

 

I wanted to be a positive person like Sister Marie, but I couldn’t forget the memories of when my family fell and was looked down upon.

 

That still remained like dregs in a corner of my heart.

 

“Ah, that’s right… the Blin County was originally a bit, like that.”

 

“Still, they seemed fine lately…”

 

The people around us began talking openly.

 

“Right?”

 

Seria asked, glancing at Yudite.

 

“Yes…? Ah, yes… That, that’s right.”

 

Yudite, who had been just reading the mood, nodded reluctantly.

 

Then Seria smiled with satisfaction.

 

“Looking at Young-ae makes me think the world isn’t so harsh. If you even pretend to make an effort, your circumstances improve quickly…”

 

The way she casually exposed past shame and embarrassed me overlapped with old memories.

 

At least I was grateful Father wasn’t here. I tried to console myself with that thought, but my fingertips grew cold.

 

‘Let me calm down.’

 

I exhaled calmly.

 

It was already something that happened years ago.

 

Being from a shabby family background, being intimidated and unable to say a word against the malicious words of a marquis’s daughter who was far above me – that was the past.

 

Just as I thought that far and was about to respond, a calm voice came from somewhere.

 

“There you are, Mary.”

 

The familiar scent, uniform, and even the decorations between them were recognizable.

 

It was Ransel, who had come down from the upper floor.

 

‘…How do I explain this.’

 

I no longer loved Ransel.

 

But he was still the person I least wanted to expose my shame to.

 

Even here in this observation tower.

 

Ransel Idiz Arviente was someone who had once been on the top floor that I couldn’t even look up to.

 

The Empire’s guardian. People of the Western Continent called the descendants of the Obern Empire’s gods that. When their eyes sparkled, history changed.

 

I was afraid that my relationship with such a man might waver. I had been afraid.

 

So…

 

“Well, if you’re not sure, how about trying to say it first.”

 

“…”

 

“Refrain from thinking that the other person will naturally know without you saying anything. There are more things in the world that aren’t as obvious as you think.”

 

When there was no answer, Ransel asked once more.

 

“Mary?”

 

While doing so, he even slightly bent down to make eye contact with me.

 

Eyes with the cold color of a winter sea filled my vision.

 

“Is it because I came too late? Or… is there another problem.”

 

Ransel waited for me. He was waiting for me.

 

So…

 

“Because of that person.”

 

I decided to try real abuse of power, not just verbal abuse of power.

 

“She insulted me with harsh words and dared to insult the ducal family.”

 

When I pointed at my opponent precisely with my eyes while speaking, Seria’s shoulders stiffened.

 

Insult.

 

Actually, it was ambiguous to call it an insult directed at the family, but that’s how the upper class usually was.

 

Depending on interpretation, it could be honest words or it could be an insult.

 

“…You seem particularly bothersome lately, Marquis’s daughter.”

 

Ransel’s gaze turned to Seria.

 

Considering it was a public setting, he didn’t call her name, but his tone was sufficiently intimidating.

 

“Who’s being bothersome…”

 

“If you’re happy being the Crown Prince’s fiancée, then focus on keeping that position. Why do you keep harboring inferiority complex toward innocent people?”

 

Inferiority complex.

 

As if provoked by those words, Seria flinched and raised her voice.

 

“When did I ever harbor an inferiority complex? Really, someone who has nothing going for them besides being an engagement partner, why would I… Someone who always butts in and meddles with other people’s things then keeps quiet about it.”

 

Even at her blatant sarcasm, I didn’t feel offended.

 

I could clearly see that Seria was acting impulsively right now without thinking of the consequences.

 

Ransel, who always immediately caught onto such verbal slips, remained quiet for a while this time.

 

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

 

“A family that barely occupies the lowest seat in the Imperial Palace…”

 

“…”

 

“Just like your brother, vulgarly running your mouth.”

 

Naturally, Ransel’s words were aimed at Seria, but Yudite’s face also turned pale since her family likewise barely occupied the lowest seat in the Imperial Palace.

 

The atmosphere became disastrous in an instant.

 

The innocent bystanders who had been silently watching the entire situation…

 

Either looked at Ransel with worry that the story of ‘a ducal family being insulted’ might reach Belzebutte’s ears.

 

Or watched Seria anxiously, fearing that the comment about ‘vulgarly running your mouth’ might reach the Crown Prince, who was Seria’s fiancé.

 

Regardless of their concerns, Ransel took my hand and casually strolled through the interior.

 

“…”

 

Meanwhile, I was feeling somewhat unfamiliar emotions.

 

Something I had kept hidden all this time had been revealed, but it ended too easily.

 

The memory that had truly hurt me deeply might not have been such a big deal after all.

 

I whispered quietly to Ransel.

 

“You waited for me.”

 

Until I spoke up myself.

 

In Ransel’s gaze toward me earlier, there had been a meaning that even though he suspected something had happened, it would be okay if I chose not to talk about it.

 

“If I had known you would tell me like this, I would have always waited.”

 

“…Before.”

 

I caught my breath for a moment before speaking.

 

“I guess I did that because I wanted to look better to you.”

 

It must have been such a trivial reason.

 

Because I wanted Ransel to always see me as lovely and pretty, because I didn’t want him to think I had any major flaws.

 

At those words, Ransel hesitated for a moment, then

 

“I see.”

 

He barely managed to utter a single phrase.

 

Behind his calm tone, I could feel his equally complicated emotions.

 

I awkwardly tapped my nose with my fan and changed the subject.

 

“Let’s go outside now.”

 

There didn’t seem to be anything more to gain by staying here, and it seemed like the right time to check on the employees who would be working hard by now.

 

Then suddenly, a good idea occurred to me and I added,

 

“Actually, before that, let’s go up to the upper floor…”

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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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