To my surprise, Tristan calmly sat down across the table.
Maybe it was because this meeting had been arranged by adults. Even as he looked uncomfortable, his effort to remain courteous gave me a fleeting sense of camaraderie—
“Haah… Let’s not waste each other’s time.”
…which was completely cut off by that douchebag of a prince.
Our eyes met for only a moment. As though even showing me his face was too much, he slumped into his chair and stared up at the ceiling. From my perspective, all I could see was his elegant jawline and the rough line of his throat as it moved when he spoke.
“Dori Redfield. Do you remember the day you first heard about our engagement?”
“Was it five years ago? I think my parents mentioned it during dinner.”
“I remember the exact time and place. It was 5 p.m., just after returning from the training grounds. I happened to run into my uncle, and he casually said, ‘Tristan, have you ever met Dori Redfield? She’s your fiancée.’ Every part of that sentence was new to me.”
“……”
“Arranged marriages without the parties’ consent are common. But this is a bit much. Even now, five years later, I still find myself getting angry when I remember it.”
Oh, that must’ve been quite the surprise.
Just when I was about to feel a sliver of sympathy for Tristan—
He smashed my brief kindness to bits.
“If at least the other party had been beautiful, I could’ve pretended it was a surprise gift. But this is just… haa.”
“……”
What complete garbage from someone who, if he were a gift, would be a fancy box with nothing but sprouted potatoes inside.
Then that jerkface waved his hand and added.
“Ah, I absolutely didn’t mean to say that you’re ugly. It’s just that lily-like ladies like you aren’t my type. So please, don’t misunderstand.”
Oh, look at him throwing out a compliment, if you can even call it that. Did he realize how rude he was being?
…Just when I thought he might be pulling himself together, more garbage spewed forth.
“It’s just, I worry that if you stand beside me, you might look less like a lily and more like a blade of grass. People belong where they suit best, you know?”
I almost punched that mouth of his, for real this time.
But no, I can endure this!
I’ve put up with all sorts of troublemakers at the library, haven’t I?
I endured even when an old man spouted bs like, ‘I came here to nap but can’t fall asleep. Read me whatever book you’re holding, librarian lady,’—and I didn’t even drop the hardcover edition of Ulysses on his foot by accident!
As I silently suppressed my rage, Tristan tilted his head slightly and watched me.
“…Are you listening, Dori Redfield?”
“Of course. I always listen intently to Your Highness’ words.”
Yeah, I’ll listen.
Doesn’t mean I’ll take your crap seriously.
Tristan looked vaguely unsettled as he continued.
“Anyway, I don’t consider our relationship to be a proper engagement. The initial marriage talks weren’t even about us, and nothing has progressed since then.”
“Yes, I’ve heard.”
Originally, Count Redfield had proposed a marriage between his stunningly beautiful second daughter and the First Prince. But the marriage talks didn’t go as planned, and it was vaguely concluded that the third daughter and third son would marry ‘someday.’
Now, with me at twenty-one and Tristan twenty-three, the engagement has made zero progress.
From the royal family’s perspective, it doesn’t matter either way. And for the House Redfield it would be nice if it happened, but not a loss if it doesn’t.
To the Third Prince, this arrangement is probably nothing but an invisible shackle.
Tristan sighed and spoke again.
“Let me be clear about this. Even if this ball lasts until dawn, don’t expect me to ask you to dance. Probably not even at the next ball, or the one after that.”
“Alright, that’s fine.”
“Don’t get your hopes… wait.”
Tristan paused mid-sentence and widened his eyes.
“Dori Redfield. Did you actually understand what I just said?”
“Yes. You meant that a joke our parents made once upon a time doesn’t carry the binding force of a typical engagement. Isn’t that what you meant, Your Highness?”
“That’s… right.”
“I’m glad I understood correctly. Of course, we can’t consider this engagement void without our parents’ consent, but I sincerely hope my existence won’t hinder Your Highness’s freedom.”
“You mean—”
“I’ll simply wait for whatever decision our parents and Your Highness make. Until then, please don’t concern yourself with me. Live freely, as you are doing now.”
Keep piling up those regrets my guy.
Because your fate is to marry me anyway.
I’m going to munch popcorn and watch you grovel in apology someday.
Tristan’s expression hardened, unaware of both my thoughts and his own future. His eyes, which I finally got a proper look at, were silvery-blue. Eyes too beautiful for a petty villain trembled with bewilderment.
“If… that’s the case, though I doubt it- let me ask one thing, and please answer honestly.”
Huh? What are you about to ask?
I unknowingly tensed up, clenching my fists.
“Is there another man you have feelings for?”
…I nearly used that clenched fist on him. Do you think I’m you?
“Of course not! What are you talking about, Your Highness?”
“How am I supposed to interpret it when my fiancée tells me to ‘live freely’?”
“Please don’t misunderstand, I meant it literally. I respect the decisions of both the royal family and our parents, and I simply want to avoid becoming a burden to the Prince I admire.”
“……”
“This is the wisest choice I can make. Truly, don’t mind me. I’ll keep a low profile.”
And yet Tristan looked like it was bothering him to no end.
Ah, why? It’s not like you’re going to turn over a new leaf and act all nice.
You’re not even the second-male lead, just a pathetic side character.
“Do you have anything more to say?”
Hurry up and go fawn over Maria or something.
Tristan opened and closed his mouth like he wanted to say something more, but eventually rose from his seat in silence. His body suddenly filled my field of vision. Though he looked like a walking fortress, he carried a subtle, woody scent—like a library.
And for the briefest moment, my heart fluttered.
As he turned away, he said:
“…I see. If you truly don’t want to dance with me, make sure you don’t look at me so longingly from now on.”
Ugh! That mouth!
I never looked at you longingly! You probably mistook my pitying glances for longing!
I was so dumbfounded, I couldn’t even form words, and by then he had already stormed off.
Such a pain in the ass!
How am I supposed to live facing off with someone like that?
I felt stifled. So, I reached for another madeleine.
But I couldn’t catch a break. I heard a deep sigh behind me. It was my aunt.
“Dori… Why did His Highness leave so soon? Did you spout that overly kind nonsense to His Highness again?”
“Pardon? Well, I couldn’t exactly say something mean.”
“Who says you have to be mean? You should at least say something like you want to monopolize him sometimes!”
“That’s really too much!”
I just got goosebumps.
That would be emotional abuse—to my own mental health!
As Aunt lamented, ‘You’re really going to go home without dancing even once? How am I supposed to face your parents!’
I caught sight of Tristan, down in the hall, glancing at me briefly with a sour look, before sharply turning his head away.
* * *
“Doris Redfield!”
Calling your child by their full name when you’re angry seems to be universal across worlds.
Such thoughts ran through my head as my father, Count Redfield’s anger spewed down on me.
“Not even one dance with His Highness, how could this happen?”
“His Highness…”
“No excuses! I’m sure he was chasing after some beauty again. But did you just stand there and watch? If you had at least grabbed his arm, he might have danced with you once out of courtesy!”
“……”
“Hah. If you can’t catch him with looks, you should make up for it with tact or persistence. Have you learned nothing from your sisters!”
The Count pointed at the portrait hanging on the wall with a displeased expression. The three Redfield sisters were smiling in it.
Grace, Natalie, and Dori. Korean alphabetical order made the names easy to remember.
The one on the far left was sister Grace, whom I’d just seen at the party. She’s the one with the best personality in this family, but I can’t see her often since she’s married.
“Grace was always so charming—loved by everyone. And she must be clever too, seeing how she became a baroness.”
In the center was a dazzling beauty: sister Natalie. Her fiery red hair and piercing eyes made it impossible to look away.
“It’s such a shame the engagement between Natalie and the First Prince fell through. But I’m sure he regrets it too! To let such a beauty slip away!”
“……”
“Natalie will surely find an excellent husband. I’m certain of it!”
The Count’s eyes gleamed with greed. Eyes that looked at his daughter not as a child, but as a business asset like a gold nugget.
That disgusting dream will never come true.
Natalie is the villainess in this novel.
She tries to keep Maria away from the male lead, the Grand Duke of the North, but fails miserably, and ends up disgraced and sent to a convent.
Well, I don’t need to tip him off about that.
Finally, the Count’s gaze turned to the youngest daughter in the portrait.
Surprisingly, the face drawn there was the original me, Doremi Kim.
When I first possessed this body, the face of the third daughter was blank, but as I adjusted to this world, it gradually changed to my face. It seemed that as my existence was superimposed on this side character who only had hair and eye color settings, influencing the appearance.
To be honest, I’m quite satisfied with how I look. But in this genre, the inflation of beauty is so intense that I’m inevitably overshadowed.
The Count sighed.
“You’re… not ugly. But don’t take comfort in that—maybe I’m just biased because I’m your father.”
“……”
“But you don’t know how to doll yourself up to look more beautiful, nor do you have witty conversation skills, or any talent for dancing… I’m saying this out of concern for you, so don’t take offense.”
I had an even worse feeling about what was coming.
And sure enough, Count Redfield exceeded my expectations.
“Have you considered entering a convent?”
“What?”
“If you keep acting like a fool, you’ll be cast aside by His Highness and turned into a laughingstock in high society. Not just you—our entire family will be humiliated!”
“……”
“So instead of waiting to be rejected, wouldn’t it be better to leave high society with your dignity intact first? That way we can invest your dowry in Natalie instead.”
“Father…”
I’d really wanted to keep quiet and live gently, just like the original Dori. But this was seriously irritating.
You’re going on about investing, what about your daughter?
“…What if my investment pays off?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I’m asking what you’ll do for me if I marry His Highness Tristan.”
☕Like this translation? You can leave a tip here☕
https://ko-fi.com/stanrofanscans
