BXBX NOVEL Chapter 16 – Engagement Annulment (1)
Chapter 16 – Engagement Annulment (1)
As soon as I arrived at the mansion, the servants greeted me with mechanical movements.
Their emotionless, business-like demeanor put me at ease, as usual.
The first person I encountered upon entering was a man descending the stairs.
Ian Winfred.
The Little Duke and a strong candidate for head of the family.
He looked down at me and Diana with an icy expression from the stairs, just as I had seen countless times before.
“Father is looking for you.”
With that, he clicked his tongue and turned away without hesitation.
After handing Diana the various items I bought from the auction house, I proceeded straight to the Duke’s study.
From Isabel’s reckless loans to Luna’s sudden actions.
The mounting stress weighed heavily on my steps.
Thunk—
Upon opening the door and entering, I found the Duke, wearing glasses, working at his desk.
“What’s the matter?”
“I heard you went to the auction house.”
“News travels fast.”
At the light sarcasm, the Duke let out a short sigh.
“I heard Luna went there as well.”
“Well, I guess so.”
“…Where is Luna now? Did she not return with you?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Why do I ask? She’s your sister, isn’t she?”
“…Huh. What’s that supposed to mean?”
Ah, here we go again.
I sighed inwardly, feeling too tired to even respond.
Nevertheless, I had to answer, so I threw out a vaguely unrelated remark.
“Anyway, please prepare the paperwork for the annulment.”
“What?”
“I’m planning to visit the Count tomorrow morning at dawn, so please prepare the necessary documents. I’ll also need the seal of the family.”
“…What’s the plan?”
The condition for the annulment is persuading Isabel.
Using Isabel’s erratic behavior as an excuse to request an annulment due to some unknown reason… Even if I were to mention it, the Duke wouldn’t assist me.
Instead, he would likely express concerns about my plan.
It’s just empty talk, urging for a more peaceful resolution for the sake of Winfred and Yustia’s relationship.
With Geass already involved, the Duke won’t easily bend to my opinion, but I have no intention of revealing my plans to him in advance.
Mixing words with the Duke is in itself a hardship for me.
“Do I really have to tell you?”
“It sounds as if you’re implying I’m not trustworthy.”
“You’re sharp. You’ve guessed it correctly.”
“…Are you sure you want to ask for my cooperation with that kind of attitude?”
“It’s not cooperation, it’s a deal. Don’t want to? Well, it wouldn’t be bad for you to suffer the consequences of violating the Geass.”
Crack—
The quill in the Duke’s hand snapped.
“…We’ll see when Geass is over.”
The Duke suppressed his anger and issued a grim warning.
Sorry, but that won’t happen.
By the time all the deal is done, I’ll already be gone from this mansion.
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Just go.”
I skipped the formalities and left the study.
Ignoring the Duke’s sharp gaze, I didn’t pay it any mind.
“Yeah, once I’m out, it’s all over.”
Once the annulment is done, I won’t have to face the Duke anymore.
****
The early next morning.
The butler I met in the corridor handed me some documents.
They were the documents necessary for the annulment that I had requested from the Duke the previous evening.
I skipped the formalities and left the mansion with the documents in hand.
Upon arriving at the Count’s estate, I was guided to his office.
As I entered and opened the door, a man with snow-white hair stared at me.
The head of the Yustia family.
The owner of this mansion where I stood, after seeing my face, remained silent for a long time.
“I have a matter to discuss.”
The Count’s face, pressing for the matter, was unusually dark.
Why was his usually well-off face so gloomy?
It must be because of Isabel.
She, who bought a single ring for 300,000 *Ruplans, and even tried to sell the family name for a loan.
[*”Rupee” has been changed to “Ruplan”.]
He must be feeling quite gloomy by now, thinking his child’s venture had failed.
But I don’t care.
I pulled out the documents hidden in my arms and handed them to the Count.
“I request an annulment of the engagement.”
A copy of the loan contract written by Isabel.
And all the documents needed for the annulment that I had prepared in advance, along with Winfred’s seal.
The Count, after checking the documents, closed his mouth as if hesitating.
Whether he was holding back his anger or had something to say, he pursed his lips several times.
Finally, a deep voice came out through the narrow opening of his mouth.
“May I ask for the reason.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve acted as if you couldn’t live without my daughter, but now you’re suddenly asking for an annulment. What is the reason for this?”
“Because I no longer love Isabel.”
The Count’s eyes flickered for a moment.
“Is that really all?”
“Well, you know better than anyone how fickle love can be.”
A deep furrow formed on the Count’s forehead.
My sharp response seemed to have rendered him speechless.
I didn’t come here for trivial conversation like this.
I pressed on with my business in a calm tone.
“There was a covenant exchanged between our families during the initial marriage negotiations.”
“…”
“If one side tarnishes the other’s reputation and causes gossip, the other side can unilaterally terminate the engagement at any time.”
“That’s just a formality…”
“It was a condition you proposed yourself, concerned about the misbehavior of the bastard Kyle Winfred.”
I cut off his excuse short.
The Count stared at me dumbfounded, lost for words.
His eyes were filled with deep confusion as he looked at me.
“Would you like to sign? Or should I do it myself?”
I’d rather settle the annulment quietly now.
Or wait until Isabel’s reputation is ruined before tearfully agreeing to the annulment.
Faced with the binary choice of hell before him, the Count hesitated.
After a moment.
Through tightly closed lips, a subdued voice emerged.
“…I’ll sign.”
Scratch, scratch—
He took out a quill and signed the documents.
After a while, he sighed deeply and pushed the signed papers toward me.
“Here you go.”
It’s over.
Isabel and I are now complete strangers.
‘Finally…’
I felt relieved.
At that moment, the Count, with a darker expression, made one request of me.
“I heard that the ring my daughter bought with a loan is your property.”
“That’s correct.”
“Could you perhaps lower the price a bit? We’ll pretend as if the loan never happened.”
Receive less for the sale, and consider the loan never happened.
The request from the Count was simple.
‘But I’m not going to give any discounts.’
Isabel Yustia.
A main heroine of the story and the only woman who can purify the black fog engulfing the continent.
There’s no need to excessively ruin Isabel’s reputation from the beginning.
Especially when I’m not even sure when I’ll find the Relic.
“No, thank you.”
The Count looked taken aback by my refusal.
His reaction seemed unexpected, as if he couldn’t imagine me rejecting his offer.
“Why would I do that? I never asked for the loan to be taken, nor did I force it upon her.”
“That’s…”
“Of course, I’m not entirely unwilling to negotiate on the price.”
As long as the conditions are right.
The Count seemed to understand my thoughts and let out a short sigh.
“What do you want?”
In a deal, the scales must be balanced.
I mentioned the condition I had thought of in advance with a smiling face.
“I heard there’s plenty of Ore Stones at the Count’s estate.”
Ore Stones.
A mineral capable of containing divine power.
“I’ll accept Ore Stones as payment.”
It’s better to invest early.
Well, whether it works out or not.
****
The Count readily accepted my proposal.
From the Count’s perspective, lowering the price of the ring in exchange for the worthless Ore Stones was a significant gain.
But the one who benefited from the deal was me, not the Count.
When the true value of the Ore Stones is revealed to the public someday, the Count’s wrathful indignation will resound throughout his estate.
I wrapped up the business and left the Count’s office.
The annulment was done, the escort was secured, and the money was earned.
Now, only one thing remained.
‘I can leave tomorrow.’
I could finally leave behind the dreadful estate of the Duke.
A faint smile crept onto my lips.
“Right this way.”
As I opened the door and stepped out, the butler waiting there guided me personally.
Just as I was about to leave the Count’s estate with a relaxed mind.
“Miss! The Count clearly warned yesterday evening that you should stay in probation for the time being…!”
“Out of my way!”
“Ahh!”
A familiar voice echoed in my ears.
I slowly turned my head in the direction of the voice.
After a moment.
“Kyle—!!”
I locked eyes with Isabel, who was engaged in a chase with a maid.