episode_0023

Engagement.

A simple word that signifies a promise of marriage.

To some, an endearing and intimate term.

To others, a repulsive word just to look at.

Perhaps the brilliant duke, who vehemently advocated for the annulment of Ariane and Elena’s engagement, falls into the latter category.

At least, according to the original story.

There was even mention of him loathing his past self who had sought to unite his daughter, Elena, with Rian to such an extent that it caused his own wife to intervene.

Elena, who had been quietly listening to the story, stared blankly at the duke.

······Yes.

This is what I was curious about.

“It’s been a while. Just the two of us like this.”

“What are you thinking?”

“Huh?”

“Why did you suddenly start a conversation and bring me here?”

I was incredibly curious about what the woman in front of me was thinking.

Because there was no way she didn’t know.

With eyes as clear and bright as hers, she couldn’t possibly be unaware of the current situation.

She must have already known.

What it meant for Princess Labilaa to openly drag me away in front of her.

Labilaa wasn’t a fool.

She wasn’t foolish enough not to guess the reason why the brilliant princess would take her fiancé away in front of her.

Perhaps she had already come to a conclusion.

“The rumors about our relationship being strained are either lies or…”

“Or, it’s an urgent situation that requires you to take me away in front of the princess, right?”

Elena said with a bright smile.

I simply nodded silently as I watched her.

‘······As expected.’

As expected, Elena had made her judgment on how her actions would appear to others before acting.

She smiled as if she already knew how Labilaa would react to this.

“······So, what’s the matter?”

“The matter?”

“Why did you suddenly bring me here?”

Looking at Elena, I felt even more puzzled.

Because there was no reason.

No matter how much I thought about it, there was no reason for Elena to talk to Lian Trice alone.

“······The point of the breakup in the original work is still far off.”

It wasn’t even supposed to be a breakup. The breakup between Elena and Lian was an event that occurred long after the protagonist of the original work, Damian, had revealed his name to all the characters following the midterms.

I didn’t think a breakup was imminent. According to the information Elise had given me, this was the point at which the Brilliant family had just started gathering materials for the breakup.

The Brilliant Duke, who was evaluated as the most cautious person among the characters, especially had no reason to hastily handle matters related to his daughter Elena.

That’s why the current situation was even more confusing.

“···.”

“······It’s a matter. A matter.”

Because I couldn’t possibly read the mind of the woman sitting quietly, chin in hand, looking at me.

So, after a while, Elena, who had been contemplating for a long time, took a sip of her pre-ordered coffee and spoke.

“Do we really need a reason for this matter, Lian? Is there any reason for me to see my fiancé’s face?”

“······Ha.”

After hearing her response, I could only laugh weakly. It was absurd. It was just too absurd that such words came out of Elena’s mouth, of all people.

Of course, what she said wasn’t wrong. There shouldn’t be any particular reason for people who have already promised each other their future to see each other’s faces. That’s what engagement is about. Promising each other’s future marriage.

“······How long do you think it will last?”

“···.”

“How long will our relationship last, Elena?”

Our relationship was not just an ordinary engagement relationship. It was a relationship that was about to be severed very soon. It was a relationship that would disappear as if nothing had happened. It was a relationship that would vanish as if nothing had ever happened.

As someone who knew the ending of Lian Trice in the original work, it was a fact that I knew very well.

“Isn’t that so?”

“······I didn’t think you would have heard the news already.”

The woman in front of me, wearing a somewhat bitter expression, seemed to know even better.

‘······A bitter expression.’

In truth, I found it difficult to understand that bitter expression as well.

It was Elena who had just looked at me with fierce eyes, despite having been someone who had looked at me like everyone else until just a short while ago.

Elena, who had not joined in with the others who pointed fingers at me, was the one who sent me the most difficult and fierce glances.

And now, it was Elena, not anyone else, who was making such a bitter expression.

How could I accept this fact?

No, accepting it was practically impossible.

The time to accept such a fact had already passed.

“You’re right. Dad is already preparing for your engagement to be called off.”

“···.”

“And that’s the reason I came to see you, the reason you were curious about. It wouldn’t hurt for you to prepare in advance.”

If this had been in the past, I might have been moved.

Saying something has changed.

The fact of the engagement being called off hasn’t changed, but at least there was a consideration from Elena that wasn’t present in the original story.

Maybe I didn’t even realize how happy I would have been if the fruit of my efforts finally appeared.

“······What’s the real reason?”

“······What?”

“The real reason you came to see me. It doesn’t seem like you came to tell me just to prepare for the engagement being called off.”

If it had been in the past.

Doubt.

It was one of the habits I had developed while living here.

Perhaps it was only natural.

Having hope means inevitably being disappointed in return.

I believed in the word “faith” for a long time.

As much as I believed in the word “hope” for a long time.

While striving.

I believed in those two words that seduced me more brightly than any other word, and I did my best to believe in them.

‘······It was meaningless.’

The result was the outcome everyone knew.

They say that with great expectations come great disappointments.

After experiencing great disappointment, humans surrender to despair.

Even forcibly.

Feeling an inevitable sense of disappointment or helplessness, one is forced to wander. And after experiencing such a thing, it was impossible not to develop the habit of doubt. Humans are creatures that remember, creatures that remember all the emotions they’ve experienced. With the thought of not wanting to go through it again, doubt began to arise from the idea of not wanting to experience the dreadful emotions twice.

“······Then and now, I still can’t deceive you.”

“···.”

In most situations, this doubt was the correct answer. Elena began speaking with eyes much calmer than before.

“Right. The divorce story was just to see your reaction. Even though I didn’t get to see it since you already knew.”

“···.”

“Anyway, that’s not the answer you’re looking for. I came to find you because of Aria.”

“······Aria?”

Aria Trice. Now, the name of the person who is my younger sister flowed from Elena’s lips.

“Yeah. I wanted to ask you why you rang Aria that day.”

“···.”

“I actually wanted to ask right away, but as you probably know, I left for a while after that day.”

Somehow, time had slipped away like this. Elena finished speaking and seemed to be waiting for my response, silently looking at me.

“···.”

“Wouldn’t you tell me why you rang Aria that day, Rian?”

I couldn’t even pay attention to that gaze. ‘······What was the reason?’ Because I couldn’t explain to myself the reason I had pushed Aria Trice to tears that day. It felt like being hit with a hammer. It was as if a fact I had never known suddenly came to mind. What was it? What was the reason I pushed Aria that day? Even logically, for the sake of my goal to live comfortably, I knew better than anyone that there was no need to go that far. I knew it. There was no good in being involved with the main characters of the original work, more than anyone else who had read the original work. However, the result was already out there.

I knew the truth, yet I stubbornly persisted, causing Aria Trice to shed tears that day.

I just couldn’t comprehend it at all. Why did I casually brush aside this fact with the thought that I should just let it be?

Lian Trice and Aria Trice seemed destined to remain at odds.

I couldn’t fathom why I had believed that Lian Trice and Aria Trice should be at odds back then, and so I couldn’t respond.

“…Judging by your expression, you seem to have some idea of what my answer might be.”

Elena looked at me with an inscrutable expression and I couldn’t reply.

“Today was enjoyable, Lian. I hope to see you smiling next time.”

Even as Elena left with a faint smile, leaving behind the question, ‘Will you smile for me then?’

– “You enjoyed your drink.”

– “Goodbye!”

Quietly rising from my seat, receiving the farewell from the staff, until I escaped from the shop.

“What coffee should I try today…”

“…Why are you sitting here with such a vacant look again?”

As time passed, a cheerful-looking Elise entered, her expression faltering upon seeing me.

I found no answers.

I still couldn’t find any answers.

Silently, like a fool.

Continuing to doubt, in case the right answer might come to mind.

Simply staring at the spot where Elena had vanished.

Lost in fruitless search for an answer that would never come to mind.