The Male S*ave of the Count Sianella Family

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“Our relationship is a matter decided by the heads of our families. I would like to hear the princess’s opinion.”

If asked about my engagement with Evan, the answer is already decided.

It’s merely a marriage that serves as a means to connect the Shianella and Feiosha families.

I believe this political marriage was arranged to link two individuals who are both dealing with headaches within their families.

I am a runaway, and… I’ve heard that Evan is so frail that he can hardly step out of the mansion, let alone engage in outside activities.

In the end, it seems like two burdens of the family have been tied together.

Thus, I am not very fond of this engagement.

“I’m sorry, but I am quite skeptical about this engagement.”

“Hehe, I knew you would feel that way.”

At my words, Evan covered his mouth and chuckled softly.

“If you felt otherwise, you wouldn’t have ignored my letters.”

“…I’m sorry about the letters. I have no excuse.”

I bowed my head.

Ignoring Evan’s letters, which came dozens of times, was shameful.

It’s better to apologize directly than to add unnecessary words.

“Please, raise your head, princess.”

At his words, I lifted my head again.

Evan took a sip of his black tea and gazed at me.

I did my best to maintain a calm demeanor under his watchful eyes.

“May I ask you why the princess is unsatisfied with our engagement?”

I nodded.

“…To me, this engagement feels like putting the first button on wrong.”

This engagement was decided after even my mother and head of the family, Ainel Shianella, had given up on me.

The only use I had was selling my name, Shianella, to forge relationships with other noble families.

Thus, since my engagement with him was merely a means to connect the Shianella and the southern Feiosha Marquis Family, I now feel that this engagement is just unsatisfactory.

“As it stands, this engagement was formed without my will, and I’m sorry, but I harbor no personal feelings towards Lord Evan.”

The most important thing is that I have no affection, let alone interest, in Evan Feiosha.

Without the bond of being engaged, our relationship wouldn’t seem unusual if it were to end at any moment.

Nothing more, nothing less.

“I believe it will be difficult to further develop our relationship in this situation.”

Evan nodded slowly as he listened to my words.

“I understand your opinion well.”

Once I finished speaking, silence enveloped the reception room once more.

I sipped my black tea to moisten my dry throat and picked up a cookie.

As I quietly munched on it, I turned the same question Evan had asked me back towards him.

“What do you think, Lord Evan?”

“I… I also am not too fond of this engagement at the moment.”

Evan’s eyes seemed to deepen with thought.

“Unlike my other siblings, who are healthy, the only valuable thing I could contribute was this engagement. I, too, didn’t choose this engagement solely by my own will.”

His eyes held mine.

“But now things are different. I’ve awakened my Divine Power.”

“You mean you’ve awakened your Divine Power?”

“This was mentioned in the letters I had sent you before… you didn’t even read them, did you?”

Evan chuckled as he said this.

Seeing his smile, I could only close my mouth in silence.

So it was something already mentioned in the letters.

I should have at least given them a read.

Then Evan raised his hand.

A sacred light gathered above his palm.

It was the light visible during the manifestation of Divine Power.

“But now things have changed. After awakening my Divine Power, my once frail body has become strong like everyone else’s. Thanks to this, I can attend the Academy from next semester.”

The bright light on his hand faded.

The tone of his words didn’t seem much different from mine.

Feeling somewhat encouraged, I shared a little about his past.

Evan, who spent his time like he was living on his bed alone.

Since the Academy is not just a place for learning, but also where nobles seek out fiancés, it seemed now he didn’t want to be bound by our engagement as he enters the Academy.

Evan seems to want to break off the engagement too.

That’s not bad news for me.

I finished the last of my tea and said, “Lord, could you guide me to the garden?”

“The garden, you say?”

“Yes, I do like flowers, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the garden I noticed on my way here. Also… I have something I’d like to talk about in the garden.”

“Now that’s unexpected. I wouldn’t have guessed that you liked flowers… but it’s not difficult, so I’ll show you.”

Evan stood up first.

As I followed him, I caught sight of a cookie with quite a bit left.

I popped one into my mouth and then grabbed another, trailing behind Lord Evan.

*

How long is this conversation going to go on?

I was getting tired of awkwardly wedged between the stiff Ron and our knight Diolia, standing ramrod straight.

The hunters I used to know had sharp ears, so it’s not like Diolia was hearing all the chatter inside.

As I idly let my mind wander, finally the door to the reception room opened.

“Ron, I’ll introduce the princess to the garden now. Since we’ll have some separate topics to discuss, please minimize the unnecessary personnel present.”

“Understood.”

At Evan’s words, Ron immediately started to move busily.

Just then, Siône stepped out from the reception room, looking a bit pale. She must have had a rough time talking to Evan.

Then again, it’s not easy to face a fiancé who’s been ghosting you and ignoring your letters.

As Evan’s gaze rested on Ron’s back, Siône’s eyes widened when she spotted me.

…What’s she up to now?

Did she just eat another cookie or something? Her mouth doesn’t look too clean.

If she were really my sister, I’d give her a few good slaps.

As I looked at her, as if to say “What are you doing?”, she quietly let out a sound.

“Ah—”

Ah— are you seriously saying that?

I gave her a skeptical look as I opened my mouth.

Ah—

Just then, as if she had been waiting for that moment, Siône shoved something into my mouth.

What on earth did she suddenly put in my mouth?

After a few chews, I recognized it was a cookie.

As I munched on the cookie, Siône lifted her lips in a mischievous smile.

“Let’s go, princess. The Feiosha Marquis’s garden is quite large, so there will be plenty to see.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

With a softer expression, Siône began to walk alongside Evan.

As I followed them from behind, I glanced at Diolia.

It seemed that Siône was feeling somewhat left out since she only gave cookies to me.

Diolia had an expression of disappointment.

“I’ll make sure to save some cookies for you later, Diolia.”

“…What cookies?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Let’s just say I’ll accept your good intentions.”

Well, even though they said that, it seemed they were somewhat in a better mood.

There piled up a mountain of cookies meant for Siône anyway.

Since I decided to set some aside for Diolia later, I continued to follow Evan and Siône until we finally reached the garden.

The Feiosha Marquis’s garden was larger than Shianella’s.

Moreover, the harmonious landscaping and structures blended beautifully, making it an enjoyable sight to behold.

Siône seemed quite taken by the flowers blooming all around, repeatedly turning her head to take in the surroundings.

“The cornflower is blooming beautifully.”

“Cornflower, you say?”

“That purple flower over there is the cornflower.”

“Then can you tell me the name of that yellow flower over there?”

“That flower is… the baby’s breath, I believe. Its meaning is ‘a girl’s love.'”

What on earth is his true identity?

For a recluse who has been holed up in his room, he has a way with words that seems too eloquent.

The fact that he explained the flower’s meaning to me, like ‘a girl’s love,’ hit the peak.

Unlike with nearly everyone else, Siône was speaking quite naturally with Evan.

It seems he has learned some eloquence without my knowledge.

Regardless, what a contrast to his usual whining about wanting to break off the engagement; he seems much better now.

Diolia, too, was watching with intrigue because Siône experiencing this side was something she had never imagined.

Evan led Siône to the center of the garden.

While Siône admired the surrounding flowers, she kindly answered Evan’s questions.

Thus, they reached a rather cheerful atmosphere right in the center of the garden.

Siône and Evan were surrounded by flowers, creating quite a picturesque scene.

After a moment, Siône’s lighthearted chattering paused.

She fixed her relaxed expression as she looked at the flowers.

Noticing the change in Siône’s mood, I focused in on her.

“Lord Evan.”

Siône called out to him.

He quietly turned from the flowers to meet her gaze.

“What do you think about breaking off the engagement?”

Wait, what the hell?

Where did the baby’s breath go?

Where did the ‘a girl’s love’ go?