Shall We Break Off the Engagement?
Shall we break off the engagement?
Tap— Tap— Tap— Tap—
"Something feels off."
Cynthia sat on the sofa in her room, staring at a single letter. It was a reply from Rian. Written inside were the time and place of their next meeting.
"...May."
"Yes, my lady."
Another woman's voice echoed through the room where Cynthia was supposedly alone. Yet Cynthia spoke as if she had expected it all along.
"What changed?"
"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."
"Rian Veilburg. He's different from before."
By most standards, Rian and Cynthia's relationship was good. Compared to the beginning, Cynthia showed far more interest in him, and Rian—who had once been awkward—could now smile naturally in her presence. But the change stopped there.
"He doesn't smile at me the way he did when we first met. Why is that?"
"I wouldn't know."
"You haven't dated anyone, have you?"
"No."
"I was a fool to ask you."
"......"
May's voice cut off at the sudden rebuke, but Cynthia paid it no mind. Deciding May was useless, she began to ponder alone.
'As I thought... even though I apologized, doubts remain.'
That day—the day she slipped out of the birthday party and was attacked by rebels—she had clearly offered him an apology. It had been a forced apology, nothing more than an attempt to say something before parting, yet the apology had been made and Rian had accepted it. Of course, unless she explained why she had thrown away his gift, his mood would never truly improve.
Clink—
"It's just a necklace... Why am I so concerned about something so trivial?"
How had things come to this? No—why was she feeling this way at all? It was time to prepare for the dissolution of their engagement. Only five months remained until the wedding. If she did not act soon, she might truly end up married to him. Yet, for some reason, the thought of their engagement no longer felt so unpleasant.
Was it because she had seen that side of him?
(Run, my lady!)
'He's weaker than me, yet he charged at an assassin without fear?'
Rian had grabbed a crossbow and rushed at the assassin to protect his fiancée. Honestly, it had seemed ridiculous—and strangely endearing. A man far weaker than her, with no mana training, had risked his life simply because she was his betrothed. Though the outcome had left him injured, to Cynthia, Rian had never seemed weak. At the very least, he appeared strong enough to stake his life protecting those he considered his.
"...He was cute, though."
"?"
"Ah, what time is it now?"
"If you depart now, you should arrive on time."
"Really?"
It was time for her date with Rian. At May's answer, Cynthia slipped on the coat she had prepared and stepped out of the room. This would be their sixth meeting this month alone, yet she felt no resistance. If anything, she wanted to see him quickly and talk. She had never been particularly curious about him before, but now she was dying to know what kind of man "Rian Veilburg" truly was.
Thud— Thud—
"?"
A large man approached from the opposite corridor. Cynthia's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of him. Golden hair and crimson eyes just like hers. His training clothes were already soaked with sweat—perhaps he had just come from the training grounds.
"Casion oppa?"
"Yeah."
The man who nodded curtly and continued walking was none other than Cynthia's older brother, Casion Rebellion. He was one of the few men Cynthia acknowledged. Handsome features, monstrous talent. His personality did not suit political life, but aside from that, he was flawless. The charisma he exuded unconsciously intimidated the vassal nobles, and young noblewomen who saw his godlike appearance spent sleepless nights tormented by longing. Even their father, Archduke Alkesta, paid special attention to Casion. Casion's position as heir had long been secured, and Cynthia herself accepted it.
"Cynthia."
"What?"
"The anti-imperial faction has made a move."
"I know. I was the one who reported it."
"Then why aren't you training?"
"I did today."
"Why aren't you training seriously?"
'Still as blunt as ever.'
In short, his message was: "Train harder." The anti-imperial faction was merely a convenient excuse. Casion constantly repeated the same words to her. He was a training-obsessed man who possessed monstrous talent yet never skipped a single day of practice.
'If it weren't for this training maniac, I probably would have been married off already...'
"I'm going to meet my fiancé now. I'm busy."
"Fiancé...? Who?"
"Haah... Did you already forget? I got engaged half a year ago. To the eldest son of Count Veilburg."
"Is he strong?"
"No. Weak."
"I see."
Whoosh—
Casion's head turned away. Any trace of interest vanished from his voice, as if he had none to spare for the weak. Cynthia let out a bored sigh at her brother's reaction and walked past him.
"Anyway, I'll be going—"
"Are you going to marry him?"
"...What?"
"I asked if you're going to marry him this time."
"......"
"?"
Casion had asked the question casually, yet Cynthia found herself unable to answer. She froze on the spot—not because she was surprised by the question, but because she could not give a sincere reply.
'......Why can't I answer...'
***
In a high-class restaurant within Tursten Territory, Cynthia and Rian were enjoying their meal at the appointed time.
"Is the food to your liking, Lady Rebellion?"
"Yes, it's delicious. The food here."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"......"
'I should say something...'
While eating, Cynthia stole a glance at Rian. He was enjoying his meal as usual. He truly seemed to love eating—his expression while dining was genuinely happy—yet, unlike before, she could not feel any "sincerity" from him. In the past, he had talked more and shown more emotion...
'He really has changed...'
"Lady Rebellion, I heard a circus troupe has arrived in our territory today."
"A circus?"
"Yes. They perform amazing feats without using mana, and you can even see monster tricks. If it's all right with you, shall we spend our time there today?"
"...Let's do that."
'Not "let's go watch," but "let's spend time"...'
Did he realize it? It sounded less like an invitation to enjoy themselves together and more like a way to simply pass the time.
'How convenient that a circus troupe happened to come.'
'What an expression...'
Rian wore a relieved look, pleased that he could simply kill time, while Cynthia stared straight through him. After observing his face for a while, she set down her utensils. Spending time with him like this would never bring back the Rian she once knew.
"Rian."
"Yes, Lady Rebellion."
"...You still call me Lady Rebellion."
Twitch!
Rian flinched at the sudden jab. Cynthia felt an inexplicable cold anger and began to press him.
"Is it because I asked you to call me by my name at the beginning that you won't change it?"
"...That is correct."
"Then from now on, just call me by my name. I'll do the same."
"...? Why all of a sudden..."
"Why? Did I say something strange?"
"......"
'Why won't he speak here?'
Seeing Rian sit with his lips pressed shut and a complicated expression, Cynthia's irritation began to rise. That silence of his almost felt like an affirmation.
"What kind of woman do you think I am?"
"...Pardon?"
'Why does he keep making that face? Until recently, it wasn't this bad.'
His voice was tense, his expression stiff as if he were looking at a stranger. As fragments of Rian's "true feelings" leaked out, Cynthia's emotions grew colder. She did not know what thoughts or intentions he held, but she could not understand why he showed such a "rigid" side in front of her.
"An selfish woman? A disagreeable one who doesn't consider others' feelings?"
"Lady Rebel... Lady Cynthia. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?"
"Did I say anything wrong? You're right. I don't care about other people's feelings. If it's for my life and my happiness, I won't spare a thought for anyone else's circumstances."
"......"
Thud!
Unable to meet her gaze, Rian lowered his head. He looked like a small animal frightened. She could not understand his reaction at all, but—
'I don't like it.'
Cynthia felt deep anger and slashed Rian's score dramatically. Even if she had cornered him, a man should not lower his head so easily. Especially not her fiancé.
"Rian, as you know, this marriage was arranged by our two families. Even if you don't want to marry me, the outcome won't change unless the adults change their minds."
"......"
"So decide now."
"...Decide what?"
"You've already lost interest in me, haven't you? If you don't want to marry me, say so now. You alone can't do anything, but if we move together, breaking off the engagement isn't impossible."
If he truly hated her that much, then let's just break it off. Cynthia's words meant exactly that. She was not so lacking in pride that she would cling to a single man, nor was her bond with Rian particularly deep. If they were only going to hurt each other's feelings by continuing to meet like this, dissolving the engagement would be better.
'Why am I letting a man like this affect my mood...'
"As expected..."
"...What?"
At that moment, Rian—who had been quietly bowing his head—spoke in a cautious voice. Unlike his earlier cowering demeanor, he now looked wary, as if he had confirmed something.
'What? Suddenly...'
"I already knew you had no intention of marrying me, Lady Cynthia Rebellion."
Thump!
"......"
Her heart began to pound loudly of its own accord. At the sound of his voice—piercing straight through her soul—Cynthia desperately steadied her wavering mind and looked at Rian. His words were not finished yet.
"I don't know what your goal is. Why you got engaged to me, why you continue these meetings."
"...What is it you want to say?"
"That's what I want to ask. What exactly is your goal that made you approach me?"
"What are you talking about..."
"I already heard it from Young Master Bihar. You never intended to marry me from the very beginning."
Thud!
'...Bihar...'
Bihar—the name of a man who could not be said to have nothing to do with this engagement. Cynthia's lightly moving lips slowly closed. She lowered her gaze that had been boldly meeting Rian's, and the guilt rising rapidly made it impossible for her to lift her head.
"......"
"I didn't hear what your goal was. And I have no intention of digging into it. So..."
Rian's voice continued. It was a frightened tone she had never heard from him before—as if he were afraid of the fiancée sitting before him.
"If that's what you want, I'll properly break off the engagement... Please, just don't touch the Veilburg family. Like this..."
Rian placed his hands on the table and bowed his head toward Cynthia.
"I beg you."
"......"
Throb! Throb!
'Ah......'
Rian's crown of the head came into view. Seeing a man bow his head for the sake of his family, Cynthia tasted a wretched feeling for the first time in her life.