Why Are You Here?
A week had passed since my reincarnation.
Let me summarize a few things I've learned during this time. First, I'm a total otaku. No joke.
The servants were too busy avoiding me, and I hadn't faced anyone from the family.
Father was busy.
He was handling the fiefdom affairs and coming down from the empire, so he didn't stay at the mansion much.
Mother was the same.
She was in charge of social circles and the family's external affairs, spending most of the day outside.
And my sister was out there making a name for herself in the imperial knight corps, so she wasn't home at all.
Of course, being busy wasn't the whole story.
If I were a son he wanted to see, he would have come to visit at least once.
'Was I really abandoned?'
I wasn't particularly upset about it.
On the contrary, it was a good thing for me now. Thanks to that, the past week had been peaceful.
In the mornings, I practiced swordsmanship.
After lunch, I studied magic.
In the evenings, I read books that might be helpful or reviewed my memories.
[Swordsmanship]
[Current proficiency: 32% → 39%]
[Magic]
[Current proficiency: 14% → 16%]
“Hmm.”
Not bad results.
Swordsmanship, based on my old memories, I was swinging the sword every day, so I could quickly get the feel for it.
I would set the stance, swing, and start over from the beginning.
Just by repeating simple movements, my proficiency gradually increased.
But alone, there was a clear limit.
Was the stance wrong?
Was the trajectory of the sword swing proper?
Where should I put my strength?
I could imitate the memory, but I had no way to confirm if it was correct.
“I need a teacher.”
More than that, the problem was magic.
If swordsmanship was hard alone, I didn't know what to do with magic.
After all, our JOAT didn't study magic much.
In the game, magic was just a quick cast. But when I opened the spellbook, it was filled with alien language.
Mana circulation, spell arrays, resonance with elements.
'What the hell is this, you bastard.'
The more I read, the more my head hurt.
The result I got was only 2%.
At this rate, there was no answer.
“Still, in this world, it's magic.”
My overpowered physical mage build also requires knowing how to use magic to be valid.
If I can't use magic, it's just 'physical'.
That's really crap?
So, the option of giving up magic was never on the table from the start.
“Eventually, I need a teacher for this side too.”
One for swordsmanship, one for magic.
The problem was who to learn from.
Knock knock.
While organizing my thoughts, I heard a knock on the door.
“Lord.”
“Hm?”
“Elena Ervain, the daughter of Baron Ervain, has arrived.”
“...”
Who?
I was pondering the name when I belatedly recalled one memory.
Elena Ervain.
The provisional fiancée I meet once a month.
“Um?”
Something was off.
The memories didn't match.
More precisely, the memories of this body didn't match the game settings I knew.
The name was familiar. In the game, it was a character with decent presence.
The problem was.
'She wasn't my fiancée originally.'
In my memory, Elena had a different fiancé.
This was definite.
Why? Because that fiancé was the third prince of the empire.
A guy who turns the genre into a harem romance just by appearing.
'Elena, you are beautiful today too.'
'Your Highness, you've said the same thing as last time.'
'Because you were beautiful last time too.'
I had seen that nonsense at least a couple of times in the game.
“...In the game?”
What I knew was only the story after academy admission.
“Ah.”
She hadn't reached formal engagement with me, and after the proposal fell through, she connected with the third prince somehow.
Or the third prince had NTR'd her.
If I had to choose, the former seemed more likely.
I wouldn't want to marry trash like that either.
Either way, since the relationship was going to break anyway, I could just show up a bit and send her off.
“Lord?”
A voice came from outside the door urging.
“I'll be right there.”
2.
Elena had gone to bed early last night despite having remaining work.
Normally, she would stay up late with documents, but she couldn't do that yesterday.
Because today was an important day to meet her fiancé.
“Miss, are you awake?”
“Yes.”
Thanks to sleeping enough, her body felt quite light.
There was plenty of time to get to the count's mansion, but she didn't intend to be leisurely.
“Prepare this.”
“Yes, which dress should I prepare?”
The maids unfolded one dress after another.
It shouldn't be too flashy. But not too plain either.
Elena pondered for a moment, then stopped at a dress she wouldn't usually choose.
A dress that moderately revealed her figure without compromising her dignity as a noble daughter.
“Last time's blue one, please.”
“Understood.”
While taking out the dress, Elena sat in front of the mirror.
She didn't particularly like spending time on makeup, but today she needed to.
She already knew why the other person liked her.
Appearance.
More precisely, that was it.
It was a bit bitter, but it didn't matter. After all, arranged marriages were made when interests aligned.
'It's mutual.'
The count's mansion had unique handsome features and innate physique.
Ironically, Elena also highly evaluated that part.
“Miss, it's done.”
At the maid's words, Elena slowly opened her eyes.
In the mirror, her carefully made-up self was reflected.
Neatly arranged sky-blue hair.
The blue dress moderately but naturally revealed the lines of her body.
Elena turned her head this way and that, checking the outfit one last time.
“It suits me.”
At least it would match his taste.
“Has the carriage been prepared?”
“Yes, it's waiting at the main gate.”
“Then let's go.”
3.
It didn't take long to get to the count's mansion by carriage.
Since it was a road I've gone back and forth many times, I could tell roughly where we were without checking out the window.
Clunk.
“Arrived. Miss.”
Elena entered the mansion following the servant who came to greet her.
Passing through the grand corridor, the place they arrived was the familiar reception room.
“Lord will be here soon.”
“Understood.”
On the table, tea and simple sweets were already prepared.
It was always like this.
Arriving a little early than the promised time to wait for Rian.
It was a familiar thing, but she didn't do it because she liked it.
'What is he going to say today.'
I recalled past meetings, but there was no anticipation.
His interests were always the same.
The new dress.
The hairstyle.
And her face and figure.
There hadn't been much conversation beyond that.
Just smile appropriately, agree with nice words, and send her off cheerfully.
If that allowed the formal engagement ceremony, she could do it anytime.
Elena lifted the teacup and moistened her lips.
'Probably the same today.'
At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the reception room, and soon the door opened.
“Sorry, did I keep you waiting?”
“...”
Elena stopped the hand lowering the teacup.
What did he just say?
'Sorry?'
Did I mishear?
“I didn't wait long.”
“That's good.”
Rian sat on the opposite seat without saying much.
And that was it.
“...”
Elena's eyebrows moved subtly.
It was strange.
Normally, she would have said something by now.
The dress suited her, looked prettier today, or blatantly scanned her body.
But today was different.
Rian looked at her once, then turned his gaze away.
'What?'
Elena glanced at her outfit.
Was it not to her liking?
There was no reason for that.
It was a dress she had chosen with much more care than last time.
Above all, she had considered enough what would please him.
So, a moment of silence passed.
“I tried wearing it a bit differently today. What do you think?”
Finally, Elena broke the silence first.
Only then did Rian look at her outfit.
“It suits you.”
“...”
Elena couldn't answer immediately.
“That... is it the end?”
“Hm?”
Rian looked puzzled.
“Should I say more?”
“Ah, no. It's not like that, but...”
Elena hurriedly avoided her gaze.
It was clearly a word she didn't want to hear.
Every time, the blatantly scanning gaze, and the overly long praises were not welcome.
But when there was no reaction at all, it became worrying.
'Could it be.'
Has her interest waned?
When that thought came, Elena's expression hardened slightly.
That was a problem.
They hadn't formally engaged yet.
If Rian changed his mind now, this proposal could become a non-event.
'Why suddenly?'
Until the last meeting, he had shown interest in her to the point of annoyance.
Was there something that changed in a month?
Elena's expression was subtle as she carefully examined Rian's face, but she couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
“How have you been lately?”
Again, this time Elena broke the silence.
“Just living normally.”
A short answer.
And silence came again.
'Why is he really like this...'
While Elena was fiddling with the teacup, pondering the next words.
“You?”
“Huh?”
“How have you been lately?”
An unexpected question made Elena's eyes widen slightly.
Up to now, he had never shown interest in her daily life.
“I help with the family's affairs.”
“Was it the Ervain Trading Company?”
'Lying.'
Rian didn't expect the name Ervain Trading Company to come out of his mouth.
Last time, he had brought up the trading company story and then cut it off saying it was boring.
“...”
From earlier, Rian had been deviating from Elena's expectations again and again.
“You remember.”
“I don't remember that much.”
Rian answered as if it was no big deal.
“What kind of work do you mainly do?”
“About me?”
“Yes, helping with the family's affairs.”
She thought it was just polite questioning, but it seemed he had no intention of ending the conversation.
“Mainly, I review reports coming from the trading company. I check transaction records or financial status and look at contracts.”
“Do you do that yourself?”
“Not all of it, but important matters are decided by my father, and I review them before that.”
It was said that way, but it was never a light task.
Because she had learned the family's affairs since childhood, it was possible.
“Impressive.”
Elena's reaction was a beat late.
“N-no, it's not like that...”
If it was praise for appearance, she was used to it. It came in so often it was boring.
She didn't appear in social circles much because of family work, but she attended necessary events.
And every time, the words she heard were always the same.
“Your hair is always so beautiful.”
“How fair your skin is?”
But being praised for her work and receiving compliments was the first time.
Because the Ervain family's affairs weren't something noblemen would be proud of.
That's why.
'Impressive.'
She couldn't brush off that short word as usual.
“I'm still... learning.”
“Still, it's impressive.”
Elena didn't know what to say and quietly lifted her teacup.