CH 32

「……」

「……」

「…Hnnn.」

「………」

「Heh……」

「………」

「…Hoh…」

「You’re annoying me!!!」

I inadvertently raised my voice in an unladylike manner in the royal palace. I looked around in a panic and breathed out a sigh of relief to find no one but myself and Douglas-sama.

「What is it you’ve been up to, Douglas-sama?」

It was a good thing that the hallway was still private, but in a little while, the knight’s training area would come into view through the hallway. Today is an open training day, and the ladies have come to see the knights in training. If they see me, I will have a bad reputation again.

Why are you looking down at me comfortably next to me when you should be quickly mingling with the public training? I’m getting annoyed, so can you please stop looking at me like you’re trying to tell me that!?

「Don’t get so mad.」

「Who’s the one who is mad!」

It hurts when they stare down at you from above your head. If I had something to say, I should’ve said it, but instead I just stare down at them from above and say nothing. You guessed it, didn’t you? I’m not a magician, so I can’t hear what’s going on in your mind!

「If you have something to say, please say so!」

Come on, come on, now that I’ve urged you, let’s spit it out.

「…That.」

「That?」

Which one is that thing in my head that has been stealing Douglas-sama’s gaze from a while ago?

「Ahh, you mean this hair ornament?」

When I asked him that, Douglas-sama nodded.

「Is that the guy His Majesty was talking about?」

「Maybe so. It was given to me by Ryniel-sama as a memento.」

This js a memorial, a cautionary tale, but I’m sure that only Their Majesties and Mary know that this is a hair ornament given to me by Ryniel-sama, except for myself and Ryniel-sama, who is the person in question.

The day after my shopping trip with Ryniel-sama, I returned to the royal palace to find Myra-sama waiting for me, who couldn’t hide her sobbing. With sparkling eyes full of curiosity, she asked me,『How was it?』I couldn’t help but tell her everything. Including the fact that I was lectured. Myra-sama looked very unconvinced, but since this was my first date, it couldn’t be helped. I think Ryniel-sama did his best. It seems that he had strange expectations, but he was only dealing with me. It’s not the sweet and sour date that Myra-sama is looking for, I am sorry to say. If anything, the memorable first date ends on a dreary note.

「You went out with Ryniel?」

He’s talking out of his ass again, this one. How can you be so.

「I told you I got it as a memorial. This is very thoughtful of Ryniel-sama.」

I don’t understand the thought that if you get a gift, it becomes an immediate relationship.

「But I hear you’ve agreed to break off the engagement.」

「That’s not wrong, but…」

Who is the correspondent? Meari never spoke out, but I think the information is too early. The paperwork regarding the breakup of the engagement was in the preparation stage and hadn’t yet been filed.

「It’s too much of a leap. I do plan to break off the engagement, and I’m planning to go on a blind date sometime soon, but I don’t have a partner in mind.」

「Hmmm… is that so?」

That’s right. So please don’t make any strange misunderstandings. I don’t want to cause strange trouble for Ryniel-sama. Even I’m getting a little nervous because the sermon is wearing on me.

I glance up at Douglas-sama and see what a complicated look he has on his face.

「Haa, what is it? Is your self-proclaimed elder brother isn’t pleased that his sister is now open to marriage?」

My own brother was so happy that he jumped up and down.

「I’m not sure if I’m supposed to be happy about this…」

「What is it again?」

Only Douglas-sama would react that way.

「Is that okay with you?」

「Why do you care if it’s fine or not?」

「So we don’t have to talk about it? Can you just break off the engagement without saying anything and not be left in a rut?」

「!?」

I was surprised. What surprised me was that Douglas-sama, who has no sense of delicacy, said something that concerned me. I was so surprised that I opened my big mouth. I want to praise myself for covering my mouth with my hand in a panic.

「Hey?」

「Ah, I’m sorry.」

I was a little moved. I had never thought that Douglas-sama had such emotion.

Mhhm, I cleared my throat, and after regaining my composure, I responded to Douglas-sama about what he had said.

「Being in left rut… you say. Hmm, I certainly haven’t had a single complaint. It’d be a lie to say that it’s not there at all… but he doesn’t even want to talk to me.」

Mary’s words,『You have to get on board when the time is right,』keep going through my mind. It may be a little different from what she means, but I think there is such a thing as timing in things.

「I think the time to talk has passed. It would be fruitless to discuss it now…」

Even now, there are times when the anger from that time flashes across my face, but no matter what I say, my feelings will never be conveyed. All I get in return is an apology with no feeling. Or he will play the role of a self-drunken tragic hero with hilarious excuses I don’t understand. Such disgusting discussions are a waste of time and effort.

「…What is it?」

Douglas-sama patted my head.

「Are you perhaps laboring over it?」

It’s too much force for labor, though, and my hair is about to fall out. Well, I’ll take your kindness. It is a rare kindness from Douglas-sama, isn’t it?

「I know it’s not my place to say that if that’s what you want.」

「Fufu, thank you very much. But please let me go. We will be seen.」

When I said this, Douglas-sama honestly put his hand down. I quickly rearranged my messy hair.

「Well, you know what? If you need anything, just let me know. Your self-proclaimed brother here will listen to you.」

「I’ll be looking forward to seeing my self-proclaimed brother in action then.」

「Expect big things from me.」

I was so amused that I burst into laughter. I would have liked him to say it anyway, though, instead of『intend.』
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