Chapter 3: What Angers the Reincarnated Young Lady
Father was called, and we informed him that we had agreed to the engagement.
“If Eliana has decided, then that is fine.”
“However, Lord Cedric is supposed to be the heir of a ducal house.”
“Eliana will be inheriting our viscount house, though?”
Father seemed concerned about the intentions of the ducal family, just like I was.
“If Lady Eliana gave me a favorable answer, then my younger brother would inherit the ducal house.”
“And it has already been arranged that I will marry into the viscount house.”
Gilberto, my father, wanted to know why Cedric would choose an engagement with his daughter even if it meant leaving the ducal house.
Certainly, his daughter had grown into a beautiful and kind woman.
However, he still could not understand why the ducal family would want her so strongly.
Seeing the viscount deep in thought, Cedric seemed to understand what he was thinking.
“Viscount, are you wondering why I desire Lady Eliana so much?”
Gilberto realized that his thoughts had apparently shown on his face, but he decided to ask anyway.
He looked at Cedric and nodded.
“As I told Lady Eliana, I first saw her when she came to the Adventurers Guild.”
“It was her first monster subjugation.”
“She fought while crying.”
“I asked the guild staff why she had become an adventurer, and I was very impressed.”
“She became an adventurer for the sake of her family and the people of her territory.”
“She uses the full extent of her abilities to fulfill her duty as a noble.”
“I was deeply drawn to that.”
Gilberto had never heard that Eliana cried while becoming an adventurer.
His daughter had always gone to the guild looking cheerful, so he had never realized.
“Eliana.”
“I should have realized how painful your first subjugation must have been.”
“I am sorry.”
“And thank you for everything you do.”
Gilberto gently patted Eliana’s head.
Eliana pressed her lips tightly together as she tried to hold back her tears.
“Lady Eliana greatly respects the viscount for how much he cares about his people.”
“I also deeply respect the viscount for devoting himself to the people of his territory.”
Cedric’s words warmed Gilberto’s heart.
His daughter was admired by the son of a duke.
He felt a small sense of pride.
“Oh!”
Cedric suddenly remembered something.
“My father told me that once the engagement with Lady Eliana was arranged, the viscount family should be invited to our house as soon as possible.”
After hearing Cedric’s message, Gilberto replied.
“If we are to make the engagement official, then we will visit the ducal house on a suitable day.”
“Besides, the duke and I were classmates at the academy.”
“The same goes for His Majesty.”
“I see.”
“That must be why my father did not oppose the engagement when I mentioned that she was the daughter of the Carmine family.”
“He must have known the viscount.”
“His Majesty and the duke went through quite a lot during their academy days…”
Father gazed into the distance.
Even though he spoke lightly, it sounded like the matter was actually quite heavy.
Eliana chose not to ask about it.
“Then we will complete the formal procedures and arrange a meeting soon.”
“Would that be acceptable?”
Gilberto nodded at Cedric’s words.
The discussion concluded, and Father and I escorted Cedric to the entrance hall.
“Lady Eliana.”
“Will you be going to the guild tomorrow?”
“Since we now have the opportunity, shall we form a party and challenge a dungeon together sometime soon?”
Cedric made the suggestion.
“Of course!”
I answered immediately.
Cedric chuckled and gently patted Eliana’s head before leaving in his carriage.
As Eliana watched him leave, Gilberto spoke.
“It seems your engagement with Lord Cedric will be a good one, Eliana.”
Eliana smiled.
“Lord Cedric seems like a very good person.”
“I will also do my best for the sake of the viscount house.”
Gilberto was satisfied seeing his daughter’s happy expression.
At the same time, he thought about how he needed to hurry and prepare the necessary documents before visiting the ducal house.
Knowing the duke, everything was probably already prepared.
He was meticulous, but also extremely impatient.
The next morning, after breakfast, the butler hurried over and whispered something into Father’s ear.
After hearing the message, Father looked toward Eliana.
“It seems Lord Cedric has come to pick you up.”
He said it with a gentle smile.
“It seems Lord Cedric is quite excited about going out with you, Eliana.”
Hearing that made me feel a little embarrassed.
“It seems he will cherish her.”
“That gives me peace of mind as well.”
Mother said this while sipping her tea and looking at me kindly.
Somehow the atmosphere made me feel restless.
I wanted to escape from this place.
“I will go greet Lord Cedric.”
I quickly stood up and headed toward the entrance hall.
Hearing my parents’ laughter behind me only made me feel even more embarrassed.
Cedric was standing in the entrance hall wearing light adventuring clothes.
When he saw me approaching, he greeted me with a dazzling smile.
“Good morning, Lord Cedric.”
“Good morning, Lady Eliana.”
That smiling face was still dazzling.
‘With that smile alone…’
‘If I marry him, I feel like my life will be filled with trouble from women…’
Eliana’s smile turned slightly awkward.
“Lady Eliana.”
“Is something wrong?”
Cedric noticed her stiff expression.
“Um…”
Eliana hesitated about whether she should say it out loud.
Cedric patiently waited for her to speak.
“Well…”
“Your smile is very dazzling, Lord Cedric…”
“I was just thinking…”
“If we become engaged, I might end up being targeted by women…”
Her voice grew quieter toward the end, and her gaze drifted away from Cedric.
Cedric understood exactly what Eliana was trying to say.
“This may sound like bragging, but I am indeed quite popular.”
“However, I have never felt anything for the women I have met.”
“I have rejected every marriage proposal.”
“You are the first person I have ever fallen in love with, Lady Eliana.”
“The reason I wish to become engaged is because it is you.”
Eliana quickly looked at Cedric.
His gentle smile made her heart skip again.
Eliana stared at him for a moment.
“Lord Cedric’s smile really is wonderful.”
“It makes my heart race.”
She had simply spoken honestly.
But Cedric suddenly hugged her.
“You are adorable.”
“Lady Eliana, you truly are adorable!”
Cedric repeatedly called her cute.
Eliana looked confused while still being held in his arms.
Their parents eventually came to check on them when they did not return.
They quietly chuckled at the sight.
The two quickly separated after noticing them.
Cedric greeted them politely.
“Good morning, Viscount, Madam.”
Their parents chuckled again.
“Good morning.”
Eliana felt extremely uncomfortable being seen like that.
“Why don’t you have some tea before heading out?”
Mother Eliza suggested.
Everyone nodded and returned to the living room.
Cedric delivered the duke’s message.
“My father would like you to visit our house in two days so the engagement can be made official.”
The viscount nodded.
“Understood.”
“We will visit the ducal house in two days.”
“As expected, the duke has already prepared everything…”
Cedric wondered if the viscount had deeper ties with his father since he knew his personality so well.
“Have you known my father for a long time, Viscount?”
Cedric asked.
“We had no contact for over ten years…”
“But there will likely be an opportunity to talk about it eventually.”
“Perhaps we can discuss it then.”
Gilberto did not seem willing to explain further and simply sipped his tea.
Mother, who was sitting beside him, suddenly looked pale.
“Mother, are you feeling unwell?”
Mother blinked in surprise and then smiled.
“Perhaps I am simply too excited about Eliana’s engagement.”
“I think I will take it easy today.”
“That would be best.”
“You should rest a little.”
“There will be plenty to do.”
“Rest is also important.”
At Gilberto’s words, Mother nodded and reached for her tea.
“Shall we go to the guild now?”
Cedric asked Eliana.
“Yes!”
“Let’s go!”
Eliana answered energetically and quickly stood up, urging Cedric to hurry.
Cedric chuckled and gently took Eliana’s right hand, holding it.
“Then we will be going.”
“Viscount, Madam.”
“I will return Lady Eliana safely by evening.”
Cedric said.
Her parents nodded and waved.
“Take care.”
Eliana waved as well and boarded the carriage while still holding his hand.
Because they were holding hands, they ended up sitting next to each other.
Strangely enough, sitting beside Cedric felt very comfortable.
When they arrived at the guild, Cedric still showed no sign of letting go of her hand.
Eliana hesitated to pull away, so they walked to the reception desk while still holding hands.
The two popular figures of the guild had just walked in holding hands.
The guild quickly became noisy.
“Oh my.”
“Eliana, Lord Cedric.”
“Good morning.”
Sister Ellie greeted them.
“You’re holding hands.”
“Could it be that you two got engaged?”
Ellie asked jokingly.
“Yes.”
“I have become engaged to Lady Eliana.”
“It has not been made official yet, but it will be finalized within a few days.”
Cedric answered happily with a bright smile.
The entire guild fell silent.
From somewhere in the back, someone whispered,
“No way…”
“Lord Cedric is engaged…”
Young female adventurers gathered around Cedric.
Some of them were noble ladies who had become adventurers.
The force of the crowd pushed Eliana away.
The women surrounding Cedric began speaking.
“Please become engaged to me instead of that child.”
“Even if she is A-rank, she is still just a viscount’s daughter.”
“She is not worthy of you.”
They continued insulting her.
‘Just as I expected…’
‘This is exactly why I didn’t want this.’
Eliana tried to stand up after being pushed aside.
Suddenly, gentle hands slipped under her arms and lifted her up.
When she looked up, it was Cedric.
He looked both angry and sad as he gazed at Eliana.
“Lady Eliana.”
“Are you alright?”
“Are you injured?”
He gently brushed the dust from her clothes.
“I’m fine…”
Eliana lowered her gaze toward the floor.
She began to feel a slight regret about the engagement.
“You are not going to say that you no longer want the engagement, are you?”
When Eliana looked up, Cedric’s eyes were trembling slightly.
Cedric also regretted that he had failed to protect Eliana.
He should have predicted this situation.
But he had been so happy to announce the engagement that he had let his guard down.
Eliana had initially refused the engagement precisely because she wanted to avoid situations like this.
Cedric felt ashamed of himself.
Eliana stared quietly into Cedric’s sad eyes.
‘Even if it wasn’t Lord Cedric…’
‘If the person is popular, this kind of thing would happen anyway.’
‘I cannot leave everything to him.’
‘If I am his partner, then I must face it myself.’
Alright.
She made up her mind.
“Yes.”
“I did regret the engagement for a moment.”
Cedric’s eyes widened.
“But even if it wasn’t you, Lord Cedric, this would still happen if the person was popular.”
“So I realized that I must face it myself.”
“I cannot leave everything to someone else.”
“I will accept the engagement.”
“I have decided.”
Cedric was so happy with her answer that he hugged Eliana tightly.
Behind them, the women continued shouting.
“A poor viscount house.”
“It’s just an old and useless family.”
“Do they even attend noble balls?”
“They’re probably too poor.”
“Maybe they can’t even afford dresses.”
They laughed while mocking the viscount house.
Hearing those words, Eliana pushed Cedric away.
She stared at the women with cold eyes.
“You just insulted the viscount house.”
A cold wave of magic began flowing from Eliana.
Only Ellie, who knew Eliana’s magic power and abilities, realized what was about to happen.
“The guild is closed for today…”
Ellie murmured quietly.
It would only take a few more minutes for everyone to understand what that meant.
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