Chapter 7: Marquise of Andrea.

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Translated and Edited by: luccayn.
Enjoy!

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“Eh…”

I almost shouted a ‘why' as soon as he told me the news. Lulu being confined for the rest of her life was treatment befitting a felon. Still, I managed to keep myself contained, even if barely, and tried to get more details out of Rein instead of creating a ruckus.

“Listen, you don't have a shred of blame here Rou. It's not your fault, and you made absolutely no mistake in choosing to break off the engagement. Even if the aristocrats were involved in the whole scandal, it was Lulu Camell herself who made the decisions that led to this.”

“That's… Yeah, I know. But why go so far after the breaking off?”

Regardless if there were factional problems because of the engagement being ruptured, it shouldn't have been a deal big enough that the balance of the country would find itself in jeopardy. If it had been so, my marriage would've been forced.

“If we only look at the bad reputation this rupture has caused, we could've just kept her under house arrest for maybe a few years and let her come back to work as soon as she's forgotten by the people,” Rein started. “I've seen a fair share of similar situations. However, if you ask me, that thing's situation can't be treated the same. It's out of the question.”

“…Is there a problem?”

Was she causing trouble serious enough to warrant the ever-so-cheerful Rein calling her a thing?

“A big one, Rou. Do you know the current status of my father and me?”

“He's the Marquis of Andrea and you're his third son.”

“Yes. On top of that, you're my best friend, and my father's favorite.”

“What? I'm his favorite?”

I had never heard of it, despite having met Rein's father several times. Still, I don't remember ever doing anything in particular to warrant such strong favor toward me. The house of Andrea is old, and even among other royalists, the current head of his family—his father—is close to the present king, thus having a decisive say in matters. He's an important figure for both the country and the royalist faction.

Before our meeting, I had imagined him to be a stubborn or difficult person, but upon our first conversation, I found Rein's father to be a surprisingly friendly man. Whenever I'd talk to him he'd become happy and laugh a lot. My honest impression was that he was from the same batch as Rein: handsome and strong, popular even as he ages.

“…You know, I've seen him talk to you, and it's quite rare for him to laugh like that. You might be unaware of it, but… you're a natural.”

“A natural?”

“Mhm. You're very open-minded, you take sarcasm like a champ yet never without seriousness, and you're smart enough to answer any questions he might use to test you,” he started. “You also accept the other person easily without being irate, and you're able to clearly express your opinion while understanding your difference in status… He really likes you, you know?”

“Um, thanks for the compliment…”

“Yeah, but that's not the point,” he sighed.

Honestly, he could've just used the words ‘serious and competent,' as they are enough. He didn't have to say all that.

“Let's get back on topic, but just remember my father really likes you, Rou.”

“My friendship with you aside, I thought the reason he liked me was because of my house. Wasn't that it?”

“I can't deny that. The Earls of Berner themselves have a big port and naval connections, which make you very attractive in political terms.”

Honestly, I agreed. Although I wasn't ‘discarded' as Lulu Camell was, I was appraised as ‘an unattractive man who was cheated on by his fiancé.' However, I'm no stranger to being laughed at in social circles. That, paired with my political value, is probably why I received so many proposals.

“Thus Lulu Camell's idiotic behavior made her lose the chance to become a part of your family, the neutral house of Berner, and connect the three families. As a marquise, that's about as good of a relationship our families could have had, both in terms of politics and geographical position.”

“They did a whole fact-finding investigation?”

“That’s because my father stood between the two families as an approver when the engagement was broken off, which was a measure against the grandparents. It’s only natural then that he would investigate and confirm the facts before approving this move.”

With what Rein told me, I understood why both the count and countess of his family were so unusually quiet, and how they had accepted the annulment so quickly.

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