How did I end up making such a huge mistake?
Even though I should have been careful, slowly building rapport and gradually approaching her as a potential match, instead, I blurted out something that sounded like a critique right to her face, and of course, her interest in me plummeted immediately.
Still, I managed to explain that it wasn’t something I said while looking at her face but while looking into her eyes, so it was more of a misunderstanding.
The problem, however, is that since then, she’s been lowering her head without saying a word for quite a while.
For some reason, after hearing my explanation, I feel like she’s more uncertain, but is it just me?
“…Could you lift your head? There’s someone in front of you, and it’s a bit awkward.”
Perhaps it was because I thought it was too late to pretend I had a mask on.
I realized that I should be using formal language, but instead, I spoke to her as if she were a subordinate, using informal language.
My crooked posture and my fierce glare, as if I could devour anyone in my way, were just an added bonus.
She must be confused, wondering if the person in front of her is really the second son of the Lyard family or some stray bone from the street.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you… I’m just a little embarrassed, it’s the first time I’ve heard such a thing.”
“Oh, you don’t need to apologize. If it upset you, just say it honestly. It was rude of me to speak like that right to your face.”
I don’t know why I ended up blaming the victim for my mistake, but anyway, my voice unintentionally grew louder because of her somewhat frustrating attitude.
Then, she quickly shook her hand as if to dismiss it.
Looking closely, I noticed that though her makeup was subtle, her cheeks had a light flush of red.
“No, it’s not that… I’ve never heard anything like that before, so I was just a bit surprised. You don’t need to speak as if you’re blaming yourself.”
“Really? That’s a relief, but…”
Even though I was still suspicious, it seemed like she wasn’t as upset as I had expected, and I tilted my head in confusion while trying to accept what she said.
After that, somehow, the tension eased, and finally, we found a moment to talk.
“Anyway, let me introduce myself again. I am Sylvia from the Eleonore family. I hope we can get along from now on, as your fiancée.”
“Kyle Lyard. Wait, fiancée?”
But, just as the atmosphere seemed to settle, she opened her mouth, and there it was—a word that bothered me so much that I couldn’t help but frown.
Fiancée? What does that mean?
Although it’s true that we met today under the pretense of a match, it’s still not decided whether this will lead to an engagement.
After all, we haven’t even had a proper conversation yet, and nothing has been decided, so what kind of engagement is she talking about?
“Pardon? Didn’t you hear, Lord Lyard? This gathering was arranged to foster exchange between our families and to advance our engagement…”
“Of course, I know that. But what I mean is, how can you already talk about engagement when this isn’t even over yet?”
“Then, does Lord Lyard not have any intention of getting engaged? Then why are you here…?”
“No, that’s not what I meant… Ha.”
Seeing her tilt her head as if she didn’t understand the meaning of my words, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Does she really not get what I’m saying?
What I’m trying to ask is why our engagement is being treated as a done deal already.
“Hey, Sylvia Eleonore.”
“Yes, Lord Lyard.”
Without realizing it, I growled her full name, but she didn’t seem to mind at all.
It was as if her attitude was completely natural, waiting for my question to continue, her eyes gleaming with different colors.
Trying to create some crack in her calm demeanor, I consciously raised my voice and kicked the table, speaking more harshly.
“Do you really intend to get engaged to such a man? The so-called ‘first failure’ of the Lyard family, who speaks informally and throws away all manners like they don’t matter?”
“I don’t understand what you mean. I was told by my father that you are supposed to be my fiancé. From that point on, my own will doesn’t really matter anymore.”
This woman is seriously out of her mind.
I never thought I would express such thoughts about someone, but it’s the only way I can describe it.
Sylvia Eleonore, this woman is, in her own way, terribly twisted.
It’s just that her twisting is in a different direction than mine.
“You’re choosing your life partner for a lifetime, and you’re okay with this?”
“Well, it’s not like there’s a man who would want to spend his life with a woman like me. So, isn’t this a good opportunity?”
“Because you’re a witch?”
“…Yes.”
It was just a brief conversation, but through it, I could vaguely guess where her distortion came from.
In my case, the anger and humiliation that I felt towards myself gradually shifted to those around me, and as a result, I became the villain or the rogue that people often talk about.
But this woman is different.
She fully accepts the blame and mockery thrown at her from others and has come to the point of accepting and embracing everything as her fault.
If this process leads to enlightenment from kindness, she would become a saint, but if it comes from self-blame, would she end up like this broken doll?
It’s absurd.
In some ways, our lives may have been similar, but somehow, we’ve ended up facing each other as opposite results.
At this point, I can’t help but laugh.
“Alright, I understand the noble intent behind your words. But Sylvia Eleonore, you know one thing but are clueless about the other two.”
“What do you mean?”
Perhaps that’s why.
I decided to tease her with the same carefree feeling I had when I used to run around the garden and cause mischief as a child.
I wanted to somehow create a crack in her expressionless face.
It was an action driven by pure malice.
“If you truly wanted to make this engagement work, shouldn’t you have at least known the man’s preferences beforehand?”
“Preferences? If you don’t mind, could you teach me?”
This is really getting ridiculous.
I intentionally gave her a blatantly uncomfortable glance to provoke a reaction, but instead, she brightened up and asked for guidance.
But I wasn’t entirely out of my mind either.
Since I had already started, I decided to follow through.
“For instance, things like attire. I absolutely hate women who wrap themselves up as if they were something expensive, like you. Are you planning to do that even on our wedding night?”
“N-no, it’s just… it’s become a habit to cover up my unsightly body…”
As I pointed to her chest with a sardonic smile and made crude remarks, for the first time, a blush spread across her face, and she looked flustered.
That hit the mark.
I clenched my hands, which I had unconsciously hidden behind me, and silently celebrated.
By the way, her attire was entirely black, so it was hard to see clearly, but from what I could tell, she wasn’t lacking in the body department. She definitely had low self-esteem.
“I-I was being thoughtless. Lord Lyard. After the engagement, I’ll try my best to match your preferences, so please…”
“Hm…”
It was surprising that after I had sexually harassed her and spoken informally to her on our first meeting, she was still clinging to me. Life really is full of surprises.
Anyway, I was grateful.
After all, continuing my connection with her was my primary goal, and by achieving that, I could eventually fulfill my ultimate goal of claiming her.
“Fine, I’m in the same rush as you, so… Let’s make the best of it, being two inadequate people.”
“Yes…! Thank you, Lord Lyard.”
With that filthy intent hidden, I reached out my hand as if nothing had happened.
To my surprise, she, who had been expressionless until just now, suddenly smiled brightly, and the surroundings seemed to brighten as she nodded.
“…Alright.”
The moment I met her smile, a strange tingling sensation spread from somewhere deep in my chest and radiated throughout my body.
Somewhere in my mind, it felt like I could hear a cry urging me to dig deeper into the tingling sensation I had just felt, but I closed my ears to it and squeezed my eyes shut.
It wasn’t because her smile was blinding.
No, it was the sunlight reflecting through the glass, just like when I opened the door earlier, that seemed particularly dazzling today. It must have been that.
I repeated this to myself over and over.