Chapter 6: Distractions before moonlight.

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.
Enjoy!

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Sometime after that party, Lulu and I… No, I believe I should call her countess Lulu from now on. Well, our engagement was broken off and annulled without a hitch. I went to the Camell household with my parents to finalize the procedure, but she was absent and we ended up never meeting.

Word of our breaking off spread quite quickly in social circles, and others sympathized, consoled, and told me there would be a next time in the future. In addition, some said they'd introduce me to another suitor, and these recommendations were left as a pile of papers somewhere at home.

Even so, I was not in the mood to look for another partner right away. Meanwhile, I absentmindedly helped my father with his work while thinking about spending time on our territory, all so i could get away from the hassle. While doing so, I received an invitation from Rein to hang out with him.

The date he proposed was a free one for me, and the location was a villa owned by the Marquise of Andrea—It was a bit far from the Royal City, so a carriage was necessary—thus we didn't have to worry about being seen. I've been there several times since I got to know Rein, so I decided to go along for the diversion.

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It was the day of my appointment with Rein, which I had been looking forward to for a white, and I got to the carriage early in the morning. Since I started traveling early, I could feasibly get there by noon. A while of galloping later, I got there.

“How are you, Rou? Well, it's strange to ask that though, given the circumstances.”

As soon as I stepped off the carriage, I was greeted not only by his servants but by Rein himself.

“I'm fine, just a little tired from all the noise.”

“Of course, haha!” He laughed and nodded, inviting me inside his villa.

I hadn't seen him since that fateful party. After all, he was preparing for his marriage and was about to be part of the Camell family as an earl. It would be a little problematic from a political standpoint if he were to meet with me, someone who just broke off with countess Lulu; she was from the same family he was getting into, after all. We both knew that, I believe, which is why he invited me to this secluded villa.

“You're staying the night, right?” He asked.

“Yeah, that's the plan,” I answered.

“Great! I've got some fine booze, so let's drink the night away!”

“Oh, and I brought us something to snack on as a gift,” I added.

Once my luggage was brought into the guest room where I'd be staying, I was free to do whatever. We played outside until we got tired of it, then we went to board games as we affably complained about wins and losses. Sometime later, we also reminisced about our times at school, random gossip about former classmates, and other silly and fun things like that.

After a whole day of hanging out, I found the day had already waned into the night. The servants were sent away and I faced him across the table, while we drank delicious sake and chatted about trivial things. However, he stopped after some time and prepped himself up to say something he was having a hard time saying.

“Um… About Lulu Camell…”

“Yeah…?”

I felt this conversation was the main reason he called me here today. Truth be told, I was unaware of her current situation because people around me had stopped talking about her intentionally, perhaps out of concern for me. I also didn't dare ask.

“She is now under house arrest at the Count of Camell's household, with supervision, of course.”

“…Well, seems about right.”

The ugliness of our breakup wasn't something one could easily sweep under the rug. I didn't know how long she'd be locked in her own house, but for the time being, she wouldn't attend the galas she so loved. Not even tea parties, for that matter.

I'm sure she's currently complaining and trying to get into contact with her “sweet” grandparents, though I don't think it will happen so long as she has surveillance. Still, I'm certain she believes she'll get out soon.

“At the very least, she should remain under house arrest until your marriage with Lyla, Rein,” I commented.

Leastwise, I should not see countess Lulu until her custody is released. In the meantime, I'll just have to forget it. As I thought that, however, I felt a knife in my chest… It must've been my imagination. It must have.

With that in mind, I put the glass containing my first sips of alcohol on the table and leaned back against the sofa. It was a slovenly posture unbecoming a noble, I admit, but I'm just a heartbroken man. I hope I can be forgiven for doing so at least this evening. And I swear I'll work hard from tomorrow on! —I thought to no one in particular.

“It's not that…”

Rein started correcting me as I found myself in a fluffy mood, perhaps due to the alcohol I had ingested.

“Lulu Camell will be confined for the rest of her life. She will never see the light of day again.”

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