Reconciliation
Rian, having slipped away from Casion and stepped into Cynthia's room, was utterly flustered. He had expected her to lead him back to the reception room at most. The thought of entering his fiancée's private chambers had never once crossed his mind.
Ah, this is more nerve-wracking than I expected...
It was the first time in his life he had ever set foot in a woman's room. A strangely pleasant scent seemed to linger in the air, and every single object looked impossibly luxurious. He felt as though he had intruded upon a forbidden sanctuary.
I have to be careful. No mistakes.
"What are you doing standing there?"
"Pardon?"
"Sit down."
Cynthia had already settled onto the sofa and now pointed to the seat across from her. Rian swallowed hard, then cautiously lowered himself into the chair.
She studied him for a moment before crossing her legs in a captivating pose.
"You came here looking for me, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"If you have something to say, then say it."
"......"
At last they faced each other, Rian and Cynthia. He watched her expression with careful eyes. Unlike her usual cold indifference, she seemed sharp-edged and tense. Her refined, piercing gaze felt like it was cutting straight through him.
"...Lady Cynthia."
"Hmph."
He had simply used her name instead of her title, yet she reacted with clear displeasure. The way she snorted at the sound of her own name carried such raw emotion that Rian felt momentarily intimidated. At the same time, a strange sense of relief washed over him. After all, this was the first time he had ever seen Cynthia reveal her feelings so openly.
So this is what she's really like...
"Don't drag it out. Speak quickly. What is it? If it's too difficult for you, shall I say it instead?"
"Excuse me?"
"You came to break the engagement, didn't you? If you want to end it that badly, I'll allow it. You didn't need to come all this way..."
"No, that's not it! Lady Cynthia! I didn't come here for that today!"
"...Then why did you come?"
Her arrogant expression seemed to challenge him to speak. Under the weight of her commanding gaze, Rian abandoned his hesitation and went straight to the point.
"I came to apologize to you, and to have an honest conversation."
"Apologize? What are you talking about?"
"That time."
(Please do not touch the Veilburg family. I beg you like this.)
The memory of Rian bowing his head in desperate plea flashed through her mind. Cynthia's face twisted with discomfort. Rian studied her expression carefully before continuing in a cautious tone.
"It seems my ridiculous misunderstanding ended up hurting you. I'm sorry, Cynthia."
"......"
He had apologized, but no reply came. Whether it was the omission of her title or the suddenness of the apology that stunned her, Cynthia sat frozen, completely at a loss for words.
He waited quietly for her response. Only after a long pause did she seem to regain her composure, her face hardening once more.
"Hurt me? You hurt me?"
"Yes."
"Ha, what a ridiculous person you are. As if something like that could possibly..."
"But even now... you're making a pained expression."
"......"
Cynthia seemed to lose her words more often today. Perhaps she simply didn't know what face to wear. Her features twisted awkwardly as she avoided his gaze.
No answer came, but Rian took her reaction as one and spoke in her place.
"If there's any part of this that I'm misunderstanding, please tell me now. I'll listen quietly."
"......"
Misunderstanding?
In truth, there was almost nothing Rian had misunderstood. She had chosen him with every intention of breaking the engagement. She even held his 'weakness' firmly in her grasp—a weakness powerful enough to completely destroy his life.
Having met him with the intent to ruin him, what excuse could she possibly offer now?
......I have nothing to say.
"......"
The atmosphere between them grew increasingly awkward. Cynthia turned her head to the side, unable to meet his eyes. Rian watched her with a tense expression.
When no answer came even after a long silence, he realized he couldn't simply wait any longer.
I can't just sit here waiting for her answer. If we want a sincere conversation... I need to speak from the heart first.
"When I first heard I would be meeting you for a marriage interview, Lady Cynthia, to be honest... I was happy."
"......"
Cynthia's sideways gaze slowly drifted forward. Her expression remained stiff, the tension not yet released. Rian did his best to appear relaxed for her sake and began to praise her.
"You probably didn't know me, but I already knew of you. We'd never spoken directly, but I'd seen you from across the hall at parties."
"......"
"They called you the empire's greatest beauty, and the rumors were right. I was so stunned by how beautiful you were that when I heard you'd be my partner, I thought I might faint. Do you remember? I was trembling the entire time we first met."
"...Yes. I remember."
"Ah, I thought so. I was quite... um... nervous back then."
He deliberately used slightly clumsy phrasing to lighten the mood and ease her tension. It seemed to work. Cynthia no longer avoided him. Her head turned fully forward again, and she listened attentively to his words.
"But after only a few days, the illusion shattered!"
"...What did you say?"
"You were always late to our appointments, always wore that shameless expression even when you were clearly in the wrong, and ended our dates whenever you felt like it!"
"!?"
After a single compliment, Rian had suddenly launched into complaints.
"I worked so hard preparing date courses, but you always looked bored and kept shooting me those sharp glances! You even brought a terrifying knight escort to keep me from getting too close. And whenever I tried to talk to you to grow closer, you'd answer in short, curt replies and leave me standing there awkwardly!"
"...That must have been quite unfortunate. I'm sorry."
"Your personality was rather difficult, too."
"What?"
"Ah, forget I said that."
Realizing his mistake, Rian quickly tried to correct himself, but it was too late. Cynthia's eyes narrowed sharply as she glared at him. He looked momentarily flustered, but then something seemed to click. A smile spread across his face.
The rigid expression she had worn until moments ago had softened. She looked more at ease now.
"Still, you're so beautiful that I forgave everything."
"!"
"I'm a man, after all. Having a beautiful woman beside me tends to dissolve my anger. Honestly, I thought I was different from other men, but thanks to you, Lady, I realized I'm just an ordinary guy. Yeah. But truthfully, you're so beautiful that even if it had been another man instead of me..."
Rian continued listing her charms one by one in a steady rhythm. How lovely her eyes were. How pleasant her voice sounded. How their tastes in food matched perfectly, making it easy to choose restaurants. How proud he felt simply having her by his side.
Thump... Thump...
Hmm...
His sincere tone made Cynthia's cheeks flush. She turned her head away. Though she had heard countless compliments about her beauty throughout her life, hearing them from Rian felt entirely different. His voice carried genuine honesty rather than empty flattery. Her face grew hot and her heart began to race.
No matter how accustomed she was to praise, compliments from the opposite sex were on another level.
Did he always compliment people this much?
"So I made an effort to grow closer to you. Even though it seemed you weren't particularly pleased."
"......"
Rian's voice suddenly cut off. Fearing the atmosphere would grow strange if the conversation ended here, Cynthia responded immediately. Since he had spoken his true feelings, it was her turn now.
"It wasn't... that I disliked it."
"Pardon?"
Her voice had been so soft that he asked again. Cynthia hesitated, lips moving silently, before speaking once more.
"I didn't particularly dislike the dates I had with you."
"...Is that so?"
"What is that suspicious look for?"
"Well, you always wore that bored expression. I was certain you simply didn't like me, so..."
"That's... not true."
Such a misunderstanding was understandable. After all, Cynthia had maintained that prickly attitude the entire time. Seeing that he truly believed it, she felt a twinge of guilt and spoke honestly.
"It wasn't that I disliked you. I simply... wasn't mentally prepared yet."
"...Then what Viscount Bihar said..."
"Yes, it's true. I never intended to go through with this marriage."
I've said it.
With those words alone, her relationship with Rian might very well be over. If not for the political marriage, they likely would never have met properly in the first place. If Cynthia truly rejected this union, Rian would respect her wishes and dissolve the engagement.
Since he spoke his true feelings first...
"My family pressured me into it, so I had no choice but to accept the engagement. I planned to send a cancellation notice as the wedding date approached."
"...I see."
"But... I never intended to harm the Veilburg family. Of course, I do feel sorry toward you..."
"...I see."
Whether relieved or disappointed, a faintly bitter smile touched Rian's lips. As if he had anticipated her answer, his reaction remained remarkably calm. Cynthia glanced at him cautiously.
"Are you disappointed?"
"No. I think that's perfectly understandable."
"Pardon?"
"After all, no matter how much the family arranges it, being told to marry someone you've never even seen is difficult in many ways, isn't it?"
It would have been stranger if she hadn't reacted that way. Nobles were still human. It was only natural to have complaints about a life decided by others.
"You don't need to feel so guilty, my lady. If my partner hadn't been you, I might have reacted the same way."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"You certainly give generous compliments. Were you always this light-hearted of a person?"
"Pardon? I, I was being completely sincere..."
A soft laugh escaped Cynthia's lips. Seeing her genuine smile, Rian could finally relax. Yet at the same time, he couldn't quite shake the bitter feeling in his chest. He had wanted to hear her true feelings, but now that she had acknowledged the possibility of breaking their engagement, it seemed their relationship would come to an end.
"Then... when were you thinking of breaking the engagement?"
"......"
"Don't feel awkward. Just tell me comfortably. Whatever timing you prefer, I will..."
"At first, that was my intention."
"Yes?"
"But now, I don't really want to do that anymore."
"!"
The unexpected words from Cynthia made Rian's eyes widen in shock. Seeing his reaction, she spoke with a faintly flushed face.
"These past few months since our engagement... we haven't met that often, but they were enjoyable."
"......"
"And... I actually like you a little... You have a good personality, and you're quite handsome..."
"Ah."
Her face burned crimson. It was the first compliment Rian had ever received from her. He had never imagined such words coming from Cynthia's lips. But she wasn't finished.
"I know it's shameless to say something like this now... but if you're willing, then still..."
Overcome with embarrassment, she couldn't finish her sentence. Yet it was more than enough. Considering her usual cold demeanor, saying this much was already an extraordinary step.
And Rian, upon hearing her words, thought:
Huh? Really?
The woman who stood at the very pinnacle of noble society had feelings for him, of all people.
"Are you... lying?"
"I, it's true!"
"Really? But... then there should have been some signs..."
"Isn't acting part of daily life for nobles? And let me clarify something you seem to be misunderstanding. My feelings for you only developed quite recently... Ahem. Don't get too full of yourself."
"Wow..."
"......"
Thump. Thump.
Cynthia Rebellion has feelings for me.
Even hearing it directly, it was hard to believe. Yet Cynthia was visibly flustered. Her normally pale skin had flushed bright red. Her usually confident, brilliant amber eyes refused to meet his, desperately darting away. No matter how you looked at it, she was a woman overwhelmed by embarrassment.
"Rian, you decide."
"Pardon?"
"I don't want to end this engagement yet. However, if you don't wish to marry me... I'll handle it cleanly on my end."
In essence, she had handed the choice to him. She had already revealed her original plan. Even if she wanted to continue the engagement now, if Rian refused, there was nothing she could do.
"......Lady Cynthia."
"Yes."
"So you like me?"
"...Do I really have to say it out loud?"
"Our relationship isn't exactly normal. To be certain, I want to hear it directly from your own lips."
"No... Ha."
Unable to overcome her embarrassment, Cynthia let out a long sigh. Yet Rian refused to back down. He stared at her with an expectant gaze until she finally gave a small nod.
"Yes, I do."
"...Hahaha."
"Are you satisfied now?"
"Yes, I'm satisfied."
"Then..."
"Good."
Now that Cynthia had answered, it was Rian's turn. A satisfied smile played on his lips as he spoke in a confident voice.
"Let's go on a date."
"Pardon?"
"Right now!"