Chapter 54

I was originally planning to visit the Lumiere Cathedral today. It was because I was confident that I had gained Professor Lawrence’s approval. So, if I had gone to the cathedral, an event related to his sister was bound to happen. However, I had to put that plan on hold for now. Because something more important came up. It’s about my fiancée. Moreover, is she not Regina Erenbert, an important character among important characters? This is a matter of utmost importance.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The carriage slowly advanced towards the central square. I was quietly lost in thought. Then, I noticed Dolph’s expression, as if he wanted to say something, entering my view. He seemed hesitant and cautious around me.

“Dolph.”

“Yes, yes?”

“If you have something to say, go ahead.”

I initiated the conversation. Dolph, whose true feelings were discovered, made a flustered expression. Scratching his head, he began to speak.

“It’s just that since you mentioned you are going to meet Miss Regina…”

“Is there a problem?”

“No. It’s just that — isn’t today the anniversary of your engagement?”

“What?”

I was surprised by the unexpected comment. An engagement anniversary? I had no idea. There was no way I could have known. It’s not something that’s mentioned in the game at all.

“Hold on, stop the carriage for a moment.”

“Ah, yes.”

The carriage came to a stop. Dolph looked at me, wondering if he had made some mistake. But this wasn’t a mistake. If anything, it was helpful.

“she called me on the engagement anniversary?”

There has to be a reason for this. It must be a test. A person who can’t even remember the anniversary of their engagement? That would be a failure as a fiancé. I almost became that person who fails at the basics.

“Thank you, Dolph.”

“Your…? Oh, no.”

“Dolph.”

“Yes?”

“We need to change our route. Let’s stop by a jewelry store first.”

Carriage

An upscale pasta restaurant located in the center of the bustling area. That was the place where I had agreed to meet Regina. The menu was such that it was particularly popular with women. Even so, it didn’t seem like a place that would suit Regina. Because she has a completely different image from the other women who would fit here. The Ice Chairwoman, the Knight of the Snow Wind. Whatever it is, it doesn’t match pasta. But I knew. Regina’s taste definitely matched this restaurant.

“How many in your party?”

The server asked.

“It should be under a reservation.”

“May I have your name?”

“Regina.”

“Ah, I see it here. Please follow me.”

I followed the server. A seat by the window. Regina was already there. She was dressed in a dress, a rare sight. A fully formal outfit.

‘Huh.’

My pupils shook. I realized what it meant. She didn’t come as Student Council President Regina but as fiancée Regina Erenbert. It was an occasion regarding our engagement, so she deliberately dressed accordingly. If I had known, I would have dressed more formally. I was dressed too casually because I planned to go directly to Turk’s Fencing Hall after dinner.

‘Well, it can’t be helped.’

At least I wasn’t completely underdressed, so it wouldn’t seem like I was ignoring the event.

“Have a good time.”

The server who had guided me to the window seat greeted me and left. Regina’s gaze turned towards me. Still, a cold mist that made it hard to guess her thoughts lay in her eyes. But the feeling was somewhat different than when we met at the cafeteria. Probably because she was wearing a dress. Her image evoked a cold blue dress. The front of the dress had a plunging neckline, which gave off a stronger sense of sensuality than usual. The back was also deeply cut, revealing her white skin.

‘Whoa.’

I quickly diverted my gaze. It wasn’t because I had any perverse intentions. It’s just natural for a man’s eyes to be drawn to the body of a beautiful woman. Despite the revealing outfit, Regina didn’t seem bothered at all. She wasn’t the type to blink an eye at such exposure, let alone be conscious of the surrounding gazes. So she must have chosen this place for our meeting. But I felt a bit overwhelmed.

I could feel the attention of the people around us focusing on us. Regina stood out as a person. Over 180 cm tall, she would attract attention with her height alone, but she was an incredibly beautiful woman in a revealing dress? It would be strange if she didn’t attract attention.

“It’s been a while.”

I swallowed dryly before speaking.

“Why don’t you sit?”

The same words as when we first met in the cafeteria. This time, she sat down without hesitation. I made sure to fix my gaze firmly on her face. Looking at her cleavage would be rude.

Of course, if it were the original Max, he would have been rolling his eyes and sneakily peeking at her cleavage. Thinking about it, it made sense why Regina was so upset and called off the engagement.

“Should we start by choosing from the menu?”

“That seems right.”

“Hmm, then.”

I opened the menu and glanced at it once. I didn’t really need to. I had already decided what to order.

“Shrimp Rosé Pasta.”

As I recited the menu, I looked at Regina’s face.

It was because this was her favorite dish to eat here,

a fact that could be known because of the possession,

something the original Max would never have known.

So maybe she felt something was off, but at least on the surface, there was no particular reaction.

It seemed like she thought it was just a coincidence.

“I’ll have the same,” Regina said, and I raised my hand.

Soon, the waiter approached.

“Two shrimp rosé pastas, and,”

I turned my gaze to Regina.

“Can I order a wine?”

“Do as you like.”

“Then, one Altarando.”

The moment I mentioned the name of the wine.

This time, I definitely felt it.

The slight shimmer in Regina’s eyes.

Altarando.

Her favorite white wine to drink.

Made from a grape variety that only grows properly in regions with harsh winters, it was a wine with a cool and refreshing clarity.

It was a wine that suited her, a northerner, all too well.

Anyway, this time there was definitely a bit of a reaction.

Choosing a menu that matches her taste exactly two times in a row?

It could be a coincidence.

But maybe not.

So, it must be bothering her.

“I’ve heard your answer well,” Regina changed the subject.

That was the very reason she had called me.

I adjusted my posture.

“Well, I did my best. I refuse to be someone who spouts empty promises.”

“Good, at least you’re not all talk.”

Acknowledgment.

It was the first acknowledgment.

Given my situation, it was a very important first step.

Especially considering the relationship that had been on the brink of collapse.

“So has the grace period been extended?” I asked directly.

“What grace period?”

Regina asked back, as if she didn’t understand what I was talking about.

This is what’s difficult.

And not so great.

She never shows her cards easily.

That’s the kind of woman she is.

It’s like struggling to flirt with a tough woman who seems to have experienced all the vicissitudes of life.

The problem is that in reality, you could just give up, but here, that choice is not easy.

Especially if it’s a heroine like Regina, if there’s a sliver of hope, you have to hold onto it and see.

“Breaking off the engagement,” I said again, directly.

A woman like Regina might actually respond better to that approach.

“Breaking off the engagement? It’s funny that you bring up such a topic.”

“Huh?”

“I thought that’s what you wanted, since you’ve been so persistently fooling around with other girls.”

I was at a loss for words.

Because there was nothing I could say, even if I had ten mouths.

‘I made a mistake.’

She was always more perfect than anyone, more thorough than anyone, and more cold-hearted than anyone.

That’s why she was an object of will, not an object of consideration.

Even less so an object of worry.

I had forgotten just how much wrong Max had done to her.

Even strong people get hurt.

Because they are human beings of flesh and blood as well.

I had failed to remember that obvious proposition.

‘She must be the same.’

Regina Erenbert.

To the outside, she felt like a cold steel blade, without a single wound.

But surely even she had traces of various wounds that had been scraped up to now inside.

And among them, Max’s part was surely quite large.

Even if it was a political engagement, he was definitely her fiancé.

For such a fiancé to go around with the worst behavior was an act that smeared her name as well.

On top of that, he blatantly ignored her by frequenting brothels and playing around with other women.

Wouldn’t that have hurt the pride of the perfect her?

Realizing this, I felt sympathy for Regina for the first time.

It was an emotion I had never felt as a protagonist.

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized honestly.

That was all I could say now.

But that apology seemed to have been very unexpected to Regina.

I felt a clear ripple in her cold eyes.

She must not have thought that Max would apologize.

Probably because it was the first apology.

“What’s your ulterior motive?”

Regina narrowed her eyes and stared at me, suspecting even the motive behind my apology.

It was a black comedy that it was natural for her to do so from her standpoint.

“Sorry. I’ve been reckless and crossed lines I shouldn’t have. But it wasn’t because I wanted to break off the engagement. Don’t get me wrong.”

I apologized again and said.

“A misunderstanding. So you’re saying your mind hasn’t changed, and you didn’t want to break off the engagement from the start?”

I was about to answer Regina’s question when the food arrived.

The waiter placed the pasta and filled the glasses with wine.

“Please enjoy your meal.”

The waiter left.

The arrival of the food made the timing of my answer a bit awkward.

But before picking up the fork, I added,

“That’s right.”

“Is that so.”

Regina glanced at the food and then looked back at me.

“Eat before it gets cold.”

“Yeah, you too.”

Shrimp rosé pasta.

It tasted quite good.

But I wasn’t in the mindset to enjoy the taste leisurely.

Because the conversation was flowing in a different direction than I had thought.

As I ate, I continued to organize my thoughts.

‘So, she also wanted something from the relationship, and that’s why it continued. Does that mean she wasn’t the one who broke it off first?’

Thinking about the conversation I just had with Regina, it seemed that she hadn’t thought of breaking off the engagement yet.

It was strange.

According to my memory, the breakup wasn’t far off, so how could her feelings change so suddenly?

It couldn’t be.

That means.

‘Could it be that this guy dumped her first?’

I almost choked on the pasta I was eating out of disbelief.

No, the victim, her, had endured the relationship for years.

And this scoundrel shamelessly dumped her first?

It was fortunate I didn’t turn evil.

No, that’s not it.

There’s no way it didn’t have an impact.

It must have had a negative effect.

‘Was that wall possibly created by that incident?’

Regina Erenbert, who you can approach up to a certain point, but it’s almost impossible to penetrate the wall within that line.

That’s why, in a different sense than Hiresia, she is a representative heroine who is impossible to capture.

Even I, a hardcore player, had never managed to break down that wall.

But now, I felt like I had accidentally come close to the reality of that wall.

Everyone has a wall in their heart.

But few have a heart as solid as hers.

The reason for that solidity.

I seem to understand it now.

A debauched fiancé who kept scratching at her and then painted her heart with negative emotions with the final nail.

It’s highly likely that’s the case.

That means.

‘Her wall isn’t solidified yet.’

I realized this and my eyes lit up with opportunity.

An opportunity I had never grasped as the protagonist lay before me.

‘I can’t miss this relationship.’

I resolved.

To carry this engagement relationship to the end.

And somehow to burrow into her heart.