Chapter 3 – Provocation
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 3 – Provocation
“I really don’t understand.”
Isabel’s chilly voice pierced my ears.
I simply blinked my eyes stupidly.
“What is the reason?”
Isabel’s blue eyes narrowed coldly.
If the reason isn’t rational, she’ll get up from her seat and confront me right away.
“I told you. Because I don’t love you anymore.”
“…Do you think I’d care even if you didn’t?”
“Do you think I’m joking?”
“Come to your senses. There’s no record of breaking off engagements between families like this in history.”
I don’t know what sick coincidence it was, but the sentences I had uttered to force the engagement with Isabel in the previous run were now coming out of her own mouth.
I sighed and took a sip of black tea.
And declared calmly.
“Then we shall be the first.”
The engagement is off.
For my sake, and for Isabel’s too.
Before the tangled knot gets even tighter, it needs to be cut from the beginning.
“I’d rather avoid such humiliation.”
Isabel looked at me with wary eyes.
Of course. Such a thing couldn’t possibly happen with the usual Kyle Winfred.
But I was equally surprised by the change in Isabel’s attitude.
I looked at her again, hiding any hint of embarrassment.
“What’s the issue?”
“…”
“So, you were all for breaking it off when you sang the breakup anthem, and now you’re refusing? After all, is the Winfred family’s fortune too desirable to let go of so easily?”
The way her face hardened, it seemed like a significant blow to her pride.
But it was only for a moment. Isabel once again smiled calmly and brushed her golden hair behind her ear.
“Kyle Winfred.”
She let out a mocking laugh as if she finally understood.
“You’re always like this.”
“…”
“I don’t know what trick you’re playing, but it would be best to stop now. There’s no chance of our engagement being ruined by your coercion, and I have no reason to think differently about you.”
What is she saying?
Does she really think I’m doing this just to get her attention?
Kyle Winfred couldn’t possibly not love her.
It’s a sincere look of trust, beyond doubt.
Of course, I understand.
Kyle Winfred loves Isabel deeply.
Among the countless routes, there has never been one where he has even thrown a glance at another woman, except Isabel.
Now, I’m genuinely curious.
What is the reason behind her behavior?
I asked her, seemingly uninterested.
“Obviously, you have no feelings for me.”
“Wh-What…!!”
Then, with a thump, her face turned as red as if it were about to burst.
“Please refrain from speaking nonsense without considering the situation. It’s uncomfortable!”
“Then why is your face turning red?”
“Th-That’s none of your business!”
“Then don’t react like that.”
“Pft…!”
A forced laughter burst out unexpectedly.
It’s unbelievable how she’s showing such a variety of reactions in front of Kyle Winfred.
Who could have imagined such a thing?
“Let’s break off the engagement.”
“No. I refuse.”
“Don’t you dislike me?”
“Who’s said that? Who said I dislike you?”
Who said that?
It’s the words you’ve been clinging to in order to get rid of Kyle.
“…”
Isabel’s intention is unclear.
No, leaving aside her intention, is this really the same Isabel, whom I’ve known for decades?
I just can’t figure it out.
Every conversation with her feels like playing tug-of-war with hidden intentions.
In that case…
◆ Penalty
: □□□□□ □□□□ □□□ □□□□□
‘Could it be the penalty?’
Yes, perhaps there is some connection between this penalty, which is completely censored, and I can’t even comprehend.
Or it could just be Isabel’s simple whim.
But now that I’ve mentioned breaking off the engagement, there’s a possibility that she, bruised in her pride, is simply causing unnecessary trouble.
‘I do need Isabel’s help…’
Breaking off the engagement requires the agreement of both families.
Therefore, convincing each of our own families would be more efficient than convincing them alone.
That’s why I proposed breaking off the engagement to Isabel…
‘I’ll just push through on my own. It’ll be quicker.’
[Translator – Peptobismol]
Velzer Winfred.
He’s the owner of this mansion and the biological father of Kyle Winfred.
Instead of arguing with Isabel, it would be faster to persuade him.
Although it will be a unilateral dissolution of the engagement, and we’ll have to pay a hefty compensation to Isabel’s family, but by giving an equivalent compensation to Velzer Winfred it will be settled.
The scales tilted quickly.
“…I’ve wasted enough time.”
Tsk— I clicked my tongue and stood up.
There’s no more time to waste here.
As I was about to leave my seat,
“Stop.”
Isabel’s firm voice filled the air.
“Stop, Kyle.”
Unknowingly, I stopped in my tracks.
“I have no intention of breaking off this engagement.”
As expected.
She’s blocking my path in the end.
“Do you remember?”
Isabel’s left hand, placed on the table.
The ring on her ring finger sparkled in the sunlight.
It’s the engagement ring Kyle Winfred had given to her.
“That you were the one who proposed the engagement. You were the one who forced love upon me. It was all you.”
Her voice trembled thinly.
What would Kyle have said in this situation?
It didn’t take long to think.
“I did.”
A woman who used to hate Kyle so much is now talking about love.
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“…”
Soon, Isabel’s gaze started to chase something.
“You…”
I followed that gaze.
She was looking at my left hand.
“Oh, this.”
The engagement ring Isabel had given me.
The ring that should be on the ring finger of my left hand was nowhere to be seen.
I said harshly.
“I threw it away.”
“…”
I turned my back on her.
I could still hear Isabel’s voice calling after me, but I paid no attention.
I didn’t take a single sip of the tea she poured for me.
Dying after swallowing poison was quite painful.
“Young Master.”
As I was about to leave, the butler waiting for me approached.
He seemed quite troubled, as if he had overheard our conversation.
“Where is my father now?”
“You mean the Duke? He’s in the study, working since this morning.”
“Please guide me.”
“…Pardon?”
“Guide me to where my father is. I have something to tell him.”
The old butler’s eyes widened.
It was as if his eyes were asking me if I had gone mad.
To find the holy relic, I must leave the Northern Territory and head to the Imperial Capital.
All the official settings in the game point to the Imperial Capital as the direction of the holy relic.
There’s no other choice.
Persuade the Duke, cleanly break off the engagement, and then head to the Imperial Capital.
Find the holy relic and return to my original world.
But there’s a problem.
“Y-Young Master.”
The butler who came out of the study approached me quickly.
“The Duke… refused to meet with you.”
“What did he say?”
The butler’s voice trembled.
Then he continued, squeezing out his words.
“He… told me to drive you out immediately…”
Damn it.
Nothing is easy.
****
The Duke’s position was firm.
I, too, persistently requested a meeting with the Duke, time and time again, but he refused my request without a hint of retreat.
The reason was that there was no time to spare for a bastard, let alone for a troublemaker like me.
The astute employees of the mansion surely couldn’t miss this atmosphere.
Before I knew it, talk about the Duke’s attitude towards me started circulating within the mansion.
“This sucks.”
No doubt about it.
It’s clear that news of me proposing to Isabel to break off the engagement has reached the Duke’s ears.
“Is it the butler? Or did the news already move from Yustia?”
I don’t know the route, but thanks to them, the situation has become quite complicated.
I need at least a chance to meet him and attempt some kind of deal.
The longer it takes, the more unfavorable it becomes.
The engagement ceremony is approaching, and if we go through with it, breaking off the wedding will be impossible.
That’s when it happened.
Knock, knock—
The familiar sound of knocking echoed.
“Young Master.”
Sure enough.
As I opened the door, the old butler appeared, once again delivering the Duke’s response.
“The… The Duke… ”
“Could it be today too?”
“Y-Yes, he said if you are in front of the study, to use force to drive you out…”
Sigh—
I felt something inside me snap.
“This crazy person…”
My patience is wearing thin.
The engagement ceremony is approaching, and I need to reach a decision as soon as possible.
“Just wait a moment.”
I stopped the old butler who was about to leave.
“I didn’t want to resort to this…”
I opened the desk drawer and took out a crisp piece of paper and a pen.
Then, I scribbled something on the paper with the pen.
The butler watched me with a puzzled expression.
After a moment, I satisfactorily sealed the paper in an envelope.
The butler received the sealed envelope from me with a bewildered look.
“Young Master?”
He looked at me, as if expecting an explanation.
I smiled slightly and waved my hand.
“Deliver it as it is.”
The butler, still puzzled, took the envelope from me and left.
It won’t be long before there’s a reaction from the Duke.
And it will be quite a fierce one.
“Huumm.”
As I yawned lazily,
Unexpectedly, the pale-faced butler rushed back in haste.
“Y-Young Master…”
He took a moment to catch his breath before delivering the message to me.
“The Duke has checked the letter.”
“And?”
I asked cautiously, and the butler continued.
“He was quite angry after reading it. He said to bring you to him immediately…”
It’s a step forward.
For now, meeting with the Duke is inevitable.
But…
“…However, he seemed quite furious after reading the note. It even seemed as if he would draw his sword at any moment.”
It seems I’ve touched a nerve.
But it had to be done.
This situation I’ve created for myself, is one of the routes where Kyle Winfred meets his demise in the game.
It doesn’t matter.
It’s all part of the plan, and I’ve prepared countermeasures without any loopholes.
“This way.”
I followed the butler’s lead to the study.
Behind me, a few of the guard knights blocked any possible escape routes I might take.
Creak—
As I opened the door and stepped inside,
“…!”
A chilling breeze brushed past my skin.
The dense atmosphere made breathing almost difficult.
I turned my head.
A man brimming with dignity was standing with his back against the wall.
With a frighteningly shiny sword drawn.
“Kyle Winfred.”
The Duke’s voice echoed coldly.
“You better explain yourself properly if you want to preserve that pitiful life of yours.”
Ah.
It seems like he’s a little angry.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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