Ch.33. So, Why Did I Break Off the Engagement?

“After investigating the list, young master, you were right. The villagers have been keeping quiet out of fear they might be harmed by those unscrupulous business owners.”

“See? That’s exactly what I’ve been saying all along.”

“As per your orders, we’ve investigated all the corrupt business owners and their associates and banished them from the territory.”

“Strengthen the security as well. Make sure they can’t even come near the village.”

“Understood.”

“Well, you’ve worked hard these past few days…”

At the word “worked hard,” both Rio and Federicks, who had been silently watching from behind, flinched in surprise.

Immediately, Selden directed his gaze into empty space and raised his voice.

“I did!! I worked VERY hard!!”

Only then did Rio bow his head, somewhat calmer now.

“I apologize for failing to appreciate your foresight, young master.”

“Fine, you may go now.”

As Rio left the study, Federicks stepped forward and spoke.

“Young master, I’ve been wondering about something for the past few days. May I ask you a question?”

“What is it now?”

“It’s been a week since your three-month mansion restriction ended. Why do you continue to stay confined to the mansion?”

Ah… that?

Isn’t it obvious?

The villagers are probably already gossiping about how the exiled troublemaker has come to their town. If I wander around outside without reason, it would only make the public sentiment worse.

Besides, although we’ve strengthened security, those banished business owners or assassins they’ve hired might target my life.

So, I have no choice but to stay in the mansion until I build up my strength.

I’m the one who wants to get some fresh air.

It’s been a week since I possessed this body, and I’ve only been going between the bedroom, study, and training grounds.

No matter how spacious the mansion is, it can’t compare to the outside world.

Sigh…

Still, Federicks is the only one who seems concerned about me.

Well, he was always the loyal retainer who stood by silently even when the original owner of this body was causing trouble day and night.

“If you’re that worried, I’ll go outside the mansion soon, even if it’s troublesome.”

“N-no, that’s not what I… I apologize for overstepping. If you wish, you can stay in the mansion for the entire exile period.”

This bastard…

He’s not concerned about me at all. He’s actually worried because someone who would normally be eager to go out and have fun as soon as the restriction was lifted is staying inside the mansion?

No wonder I occasionally spotted servants secretly following me to the training grounds—this guy must have ordered them to do so.

“Why? Being cooped up in the mansion makes your body stiff. It would be nice to get some fresh air after so long.”

“Haha… if it’s about fresh air, is there really a need to go outside? We’ve recently planted trees around the training grounds, so the air quality there is excellent.”

I see.

To Federicks, this must feel like the calm before a storm.

A troublemaker who causes incidents every day has been suspiciously quiet for a week.

I rested my chin on the desk and looked up at Federicks.

“Are you that anxious?”

“Ah, well…”

“Are you unhappy with my training?”

“Ahem! Speaking of training, honestly, I have some suspicions about why you’ve been frequenting the training grounds lately when you’ve never shown interest before.”

“What suspicions?”

“I believe you must have heard that Lady Elina of House Parseche will be visiting this place of exile next month.”

Parseche?

Elina?

I’ve never heard of them.

No matter how much I rack my brain, I can’t recall.

What kind of family is Parseche, and why would Elina visit this remote place of exile…

Did I forget something from the novel’s content?

From what Federicks is saying, I should already know about Lady Elina Parseche.

I tried to think of a way to get more information.

“Hmm, why do you think that?”

“Didn’t you express your intention to break off the engagement with House Parseche before coming to this place of exile?”

Break off the engagement!?

This is the first I’m hearing that Selden Alphonse had a fiancée.

Is this some storyline from the novel that I didn’t know about?

It’s entirely possible.

In the original work, the story naturally focused on the protagonist, “Serion Lycus.”

“Selden Alphonse,” whom I’ve possessed, was merely a minor character who briefly appeared in the story where the protagonist gains Rio and Luna as companions, so his detailed personal history wasn’t covered.

I raised my collar awkwardly and forced a smile.

“Haha… right, why did I break off the engagement?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten? You refused, saying you couldn’t marry a woman whose face you’d never seen.”

“I never saw her face?”

“Yes, you were furious, saying why should you be tied down when there are so many beautiful women in the world. I can still vividly remember that scene.”

As I conversed with Federicks, something clicked in my mind.

In this world, it’s common for people to marry without ever having seen their spouse’s face.

Even in the original story, the prince of the continent had never seen his empress’s face until just before their wedding.

“But if I expressed my intention to break off the engagement, why is she coming here?”

“Obviously to ask you to withdraw your intention to break the engagement, don’t you think?”

“Why bother? Wouldn’t it be better for her to be free from a troublemaker like me?”

Federicks covered his mouth, mumbling something like “How can he say such things about himself…”

Then, as if coming to his senses, his eyes lit up.

“Did you… hear that?”

“Well, I recently discovered that my hearing is exceptionally good, unfortunately.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Never mind that. Why would Elina want me to withdraw my intention to break the engagement?”

“Rumors say that House Parseche is currently suffering financial difficulties.”

“Ah, so they want to resolve their financial crisis through marriage? Elina must be coming here reluctantly then.”

“…That’s not for me to judge.”

Listening to this, the puzzle pieces start to fit together.

This was content that a reader of the novel would never know.

Even if I were to withdraw my intention to break the engagement, there’s no marriage storyline with “Elina Parseche” in the original work.

The custom here is to marry after the coming-of-age ceremony, but in the original story, “Selden Alphonse” is killed by Luna right after his ceremony.

By the way.

There’s one thing that puzzles me.

When I asked Federicks, “What’s the connection between Elina coming here and me frequently going to the training grounds that makes you suspicious?” his answer was truly absurd.

“Haha! You must be lonely during your exile. Marriage can wait until after the coming-of-age ceremony, but living together beforehand is possible with proper approval from both families and a formal engagement.”

“So, you think I’m preparing my body to live with Elina?”

“As expected, young master… you catch on quickly!”

Federicks is thirty-two this year, right?

If I weren’t so ingrained with Confucian values, I would have punched him long ago…

Once again, my reputation as a troublemaker seems to be working against me.

‘Yes, it’s my fault, all my fault.’

I shook my head and stood up, causing Federicks to flinch.

“W-where are you going? Are you going outside—”

I cut him off, straightened my back, and answered briefly.

“Training grounds.”

*

Ding! ♪

Ding! ♪

┗+1 Vitality has increased.

┗+1 Agility has increased.

As the sun began to set, a sweet taste filled my mouth.

Since running was currently the only way to increase both vitality and agility simultaneously, I took a deep breath to push myself harder.

“Huff, huff…”

Ding! ♪

Ding! ♪

┗+1 Vitality has increased.

┗+1 Agility has increased.

In my original world, I would sign up for several months at the gym only to give up after three days, but perhaps because of the visibly increasing stats each day, my habitual laziness had completely disappeared.

“Phew… Status window.”

「 Vitality　19

　 Agility　15　

　 Endurance　11

　 Wisdom　15

　 Mana　0 」

Major Skills

━None.

I simply wanted to awaken like “Serion Lycus,” the protagonist of the novel.

In martial arts terms, it would be like a complete physical transformation plus gaining a unique ability.

But to think I’d get a status window that even the protagonist didn’t have…

As I struggle to survive, is the goddess of fortune smiling upon me?

All that remains is to increase my mana, but I have no idea how to do that.

Since there are mages who deal with magical beasts in this world, I feel that if I could somehow increase my mana, skills would naturally follow.

‘So being a magic swordsman isn’t just a dream.’

Of course, I have absolutely no interest in world peace.

To live a sweet life, I’ll handle the monster wave that will come in a year alongside Rio Sergang.

Then, after my coming-of-age ceremony, I’ll return to my family and live in luxury.

“Young master!”

As I was grinning at these happy thoughts, a familiar knight approached me.

What was his name again?

“Jawi Wilson?”

“…It’s Jawil Wilson, sir.”

“Ahem, anyway, what’s the matter?”

“I understand why you’re coming to the training grounds, but even if you’re preparing for your bedroom activities, is it right to disrupt the knights’ training?”

Jawi—no, Jawil Wilson’s lips curled up slyly.

The knights watching from behind also covered their mouths, snickering.

Well, well… discipline here is completely out of control.