Chapter 1, Episode 38
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
「Hey, Sir Brace. Are you engaged to someone?」
I asked him, but he was shaking with anger and didn’t answer. I had no choice but to ask the knight next to me the same thing, and he nodded his head in confusion.
「Have you ever exchanged letters with your fiancée? I know, a knight’s work is very busy. It’s important that both exchange letters so you won’t miss each other. Have the two of you ever gone out together? Oh, it’s a café of great repute. Your fiancée must be delighted. And of course, you’ve been diligent with your gifts, haven’t you? Well, does she have a complete set of dresses for the evening party? It’s lovely. Of course you’ll be her escort. Yes, because it is a privilege to wear the color of your fiancée. Obviously.」
Small talk that started suddenly. But I am not talking about irrelevant things.
「I see that you are very committed to your fiancée. I think that’s wonderful. Please continue to take good care of your fiancée.」
Not as a knight, but as a man, he is praised for taking care of his fiancée. He is much more highly regarded than Raul, who is their droll captain.
「You take care of your fiancé. That’s a matter of course. Even if it’s just a political thing between families, you can’t disrespect it. If you get married, you will spend many years together. You need to compromise. Even if you don’t like the person you are marrying, at least have some manners.」
“But,” I said softly, my eyes downcast.
「In the ten years since I made my social debut, not once has my fiancé treated me that way!」
At my words, everyone’s eyes turned to Raul.
「What do you think of such a man? If you were in the opposite situation, would you be able to maintain a liking for him?」
None of them answered. Even Brace was left speechless. In other words, Raul’s behavior is that insane.
「I couldn’t do it. I lost all passion for jealousy a long time ago, my fiancée since I was 11 years old. I don’t mean to say that I have no feelings at all. But when I think about the fact that this is what brought about this situation, I feel as if I could lose even my compassion…」
「Marsha, that’s not…」
I heard Raul’s voice without power, but I quietly shook my head.
「I am an ugly woman who’s no more than a lady. Even though I’m called like that, I have tried my best to stand up for you, Lord Colden, even though I am your fiancée in name only. No matter how much bad publicity was given to me that was not true, no matter how much I was undermined by malicious rumors, I never made any excuses… And that was wrong.」
It is a gut-wrenching and outright lie. I have never stood up to Raul in any way. It was only convenient for Raul that I have been using him for my own convenience. But lying is also a good thing.
「Marsha… I know how you feel, I know…」
Don’t say more than that, I guess. I— hate it!!! You don’t understand my feelings at all. How can you say that『You understand?』Besides, Raul has no right to cling to me. I no longer have the option of not telling you. I absolutely won’t do that!
「But I’m going to stop now.」
I said it clearly, and then looked at each of the knights and clerks, who looked puzzled.
「I have not the slightest jealousy towards Her Highness the Princess. It is not I who clings to the position of betrothed, but Lord Colden.」
「Lies!!!」
Brace was the first to react to my line. Raul was looking down, as if he couldn’t say anything else.
「Lies, that’s all lies!! You are telling a big lie to fool us! We will not be deceived!!」
Yeah. I guess it’s a child’s fudge. It looks like a child throwing a tantrum over something that didn’t turn out the way he envisioned.
「That’s right. Produce evidence. Prove that you are right. Produce enough evidence to convince me!!」
How could he ask me to come up with perfect evidence when he himself couldn’t provide evidence that would convince anyone? Ahh, that mouth of his… I thought, looking at his spit-splattered mouth.
「Understood. May I ask you a favor?」
I named the knight behind Brace.
「My father has a copy of the dissolution of engagement papers. Could you send an errand to the Gracis household to ask them to bring it to me?」
I had just prepared this as a necessary document regarding the breakup of the engagement, so I will be able to bring it to you right away.
「You can’t. You might falsify the documents.」
Ehhh, falsified documents are not that easy to prepare. It’s not magic.
「The knight may go directly to you. It would be impossible to fabricate it, wouldn’t it?」
「Hmph, you must have anticipated this situation and forged it in advance. That sounds like a cunning idea to me.」
Yes, I got the『cunning』expletive again. You are indeed clever compared to your brain, oh-ho-ho-ho-ho.
「Now, please call the scrivener who prepared the documents. He/she will testify that he/she definitely prepared the documents.」
Basically, scriveners are obliged to keep confidentiality regarding the documents they prepare, but they can testify if subpoenaed as witnesses.
「Don’t be a fool. You can’t rely on the testimony of the scrivener you’ve retained!」
What a rumor mongering. It’s a bit of a misnomer, but it seems that idiots are using their brains in their own way. I think they should use their brains for something else. Like, for example, in gathering enough evidence to make me gag. It’s too bad, because if I had done that, I might have been a little tougher to deal with.
「…Fuu, you ask me to provide evidence, but I can’t help it if you keep making difficulties like this. What is it? Am I being obstructed to prevent me from giving evidence?」
「All you have to do is provide the evidence to prove or disprove your case.」
Uwah, I wish I could refrain from using the word “brazen.” I think it looks great on them. I think he should change his name to『Kougan Whip』or『Whip Kougan.』
「Yes… there is a letter from Sir Colden to his father asking for my hand in marriage at home, along with a copy of the dissolution of engagement, but I’m afraid that will be called a fabrication as well…」
I have kept it for 10 years. Because this will be one of the documents to submit for breaking off the engagement. As evidence of insolent behavior, asking only for the marriage, without performing the duties of a fiancée.
「Oh, my, yes. We’ll just have to ask Captain Colden to present the evidence.」
I looked at Raul and he was overtly upset.
「Captain will do it?」
「Yes, you heard it right. If the copy is at my house, it’s only natural that the original should be at Sir Colden’s. And, of course, there must be a letter from his father enclosed.」
He can’t complain about this one, since there’s no way to fake it.
「Hey, Captain Colden. Of course you’re going to submit it, right?」
Of course. You will take responsibility to make sure that the same thing doesn’t happen to us, right? Now is the time.
