As if to prove his point, Cedric’s dry voice rang out.
“Don’t forget that you are the daughter of the Marquess of Royce.”
“……”
“Every single action you take has a great impact on the Marquessate.”
No, seriously, what did I even do?
I felt a little wronged, but talking back here would only lead to a longer scolding.
“Yes.”
I answered briefly and quickly resumed walking.
I knew better than anyone what Cedric was warning me about.
Ricardo Hessen.
It was all because of that man.
And tomorrow, I had to meet Ricardo.
Cedric seemed quite worried about it.
But really, what did I do wrong?
It wasn’t like I had caused a huge incident like Ricardo, who almost broke off our engagement!
I was so frustrated I could jump out of my skin.
---
The reason Ricardo and Bianca’s engagement was broken off in the original story was a fairly common cliché.
The villainess always torments the heroine, and the original story I possessed also followed that typical romance fantasy development.
Blinded by jealousy, Bianca puts poison in the heroine, Idette’s, teacup. Ricardo sees this, flies into a rage, and breaks off the engagement.
And as if being punished for harassing the heroine, her grandfather, upon hearing the news that his granddaughter was jilted for attempted murder, suffers a massive shock and passes away.
Thus, Bianca makes her eternal exit from the original story.
“……That absolutely cannot happen.”
I was determined to prevent my grandfather’s death no matter what.
Even if it meant maintaining this tiresome engagement!
At that moment, Ricardo let out a deep sigh and tapped the table in front of me with his finger.
“……What on earth are you thinking about?”
Only then coming to my senses, I awkwardly cleared my throat.
“I was just… lost in thought for a moment.”
“I figured as much.”
Ricardo replied, looking pathetic.
What a truly insufferable person.
How could I concentrate on a conversation when my fiancé liked someone else?
…But the moment I said that out loud, Ricardo would use it as an excuse to break off the engagement immediately.
I had to endure it.
At least until my grandfather regained his health.
Letting out a small, groaning sigh, I changed the subject.
“Did you get home safely yesterday?”
“If I hadn’t arrived safely, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now, would I?”
Oh, for heaven’s sake!
Forcing a smile made the corners of my mouth tremble.
“That was a pointless question.”
“It’s fortunate you’re aware of that.”
Ricardo calmly set down his teacup.
I tilted my head slightly and opened my mouth.
“Haha, if you didn’t want to see me, you could have just refused.”
“For someone who so easily ignores others’ refusals, that’s quite a thing to say, Miss Bianca.”
Ricardo said expressionlessly.
“Even if I had refused, you wouldn’t have cared. You’re quite shameless.”
He was smiling, but his eyes were anything but friendly.
…If you’re going to glare at me like that, why not just not smile?
The funny thing was, I understood why he acted this way.
Young Bianca must have tormented him quite a bit.
‘Hey, Ricardo, I heard you’re scared of dragonflies?’
‘……Stop it. I’m serious. Cut it out.’
‘Everyone! Ricardo’s scared of dragonflies! He’s such a coward!’
The memories of young Bianca that occasionally surfaced were truly cruel.
First, I needed to escape that past.
I carefully opened my mouth.
“……Do you still think I like you?”
Ricardo didn’t answer.
He just looked at me with a bored expression.
“I don’t care if you believe me or not, but I don’t have those feelings anymore.”
“Ha. You don’t?”
“Yes.”
Was he starting to believe me, even a little?
Ricardo’s gaze slowly wavered.
“It’s just… my grandfather is very ill. Until he regains his health—”
At that moment, Ricardo cut me off with a short laugh.
“Bianca, do you remember?”
“……?”
“The day you said your dog was sick and asked for my help.”
…That day.
Bianca lied, saying her dog was sick, and lured Ricardo to the storage shed.
And then…
She locked the door.
Ricardo’s gaze, recalling the past, slowly sharpened.
Cancel what I said earlier. Please don’t get serious, just smile…!
“Don’t you think it’s a little too late to ask for help using your family as an excuse now?”
“……I’m sorry about what happened that day.”
“Now you’re sorry?”
“Still, I truly don’t like you anymore.”
Ricardo let out a hollow laugh.
“Another excuse—”
“I’ve found someone I like, just like you did.”
At that moment, Ricardo’s expression hardened.
“You’ve known me for a long time. I tend to like people easily.”
I looked quietly into his eyes.
“So? What are you trying to say? I have no idea.”
“……"
“Do I have to understand your feelings for you too? What a waste of time.”
In front of Ricardo, who coldly cut me off, I clenched my fists and continued speaking calmly.
“I just wanted to say… you’re not the only one unhappy because of this engagement.”
Yes.
This was the right answer.
I wasn’t Bianca.
Her feelings meant nothing to me.
But I still had to apologize for what she had done to Ricardo in the past.
I tapped the table lightly with my finger and spoke calmly.
“If you want to love Miss Idette, then go ahead. Just as you have no interest in my feelings, I have no interest in yours.”
“……”
“I want only one thing. To break off this engagement once my grandfather regains his health. That’s all.”
Would he think I was a liar?
Bianca’s obsession had been severe.
Without even realizing she liked Ricardo, she constantly tormented him from a young age.
Even if Ricardo didn’t believe me.
Even if he didn’t believe that I didn’t like him anymore.
Still, if I could convince him even a little, that would be enough of an achievement.
Holding onto a small hope, I looked at Ricardo’s face.
But there wasn’t the slightest change in his expression.
He sneered as if everything I said was a joke.
Then, in a mocking voice, he said,
“Fine. I don’t know who it is you say you love, but I hope they don’t suffer like I did.”
Radiating a cold aura, Ricardo rose from his seat.
Only a heavy, oppressive air remained in the space he left behind.
Still…
This should be enough for now.
---
Ricardo gritted his teeth.
Now she suddenly claims to have found someone she likes?
What utter nonsense.
…Damn woman.
You’ve always been like this.
A natural-born player with people’s hearts.
Back then, he hadn’t known it was a lie.
He had truly thought she needed help.
Seeing her, pleading for help with grass-blade tears streaming from her emerald eyes, even a man who despised women wouldn’t have been able to look away.
She hadn’t done that kind of thing just once.
Yet, he followed her every single time.
Even knowing it was a mistake, he went to her.
Just like now.
Nothing had changed.
Years had passed, but damn it, she was still full of lies.
Unlike himself, who had changed.
She’d fallen in love?
A woman who didn’t even know what love was?
It was so ridiculous, he couldn’t stand it.
“……Your Grace, has something happened?”
Then, his butler, Benjamin, who was standing beside him, cautiously spoke up.
“Did something happen outside…?”
“Something happen? Ah, a great deal happened.”
Ricardo gave a bitter smile.
Benjamin, wearing a perplexed smile, bowed his head slightly.
His master always seemed depressed whenever he returned from meeting his fiancée.
But today was somehow different.
He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.
…Subtly, it was different.
It was definitely not like usual.
Finding it strange, Benjamin pulled out a box to lighten his master’s mood.
“Miss Idette sent a gift this morning. She said it was a thank-you for the brooch you gave her at yesterday’s party.”
Ricardo’s gaze turned towards the box.
His eyes were unusually cold.
But Benjamin forced himself to continue.
“She’s a truly bright and refreshing young lady.”
“……Get out.”
Ricardo leaned back in his chair, tilting his head back.
Seeing how utterly exhausted he looked, Benjamin couldn’t say anything more.
There was actually more that Idette had asked him to convey, but…
“……Then please rest well.”
Thump!
As the door closed, Ricardo swept his hand down his face and laughed bitterly.
…Fine, Bianca.
Do whatever you want.
Let me see what this ‘love’ you think you have is all about.
Because foolish me,
will willingly fall for your lies once again.
