NOVEL SIMPLE с23
"...... we don't have a very good relationship, to be honest."
Stay strong, don't be afraid, keep calm.
It's not an opponent you can fight properly with all those miscellaneous thoughts in your mind!
Calm your own emotions with awe.
"Can I ask you something?'
"Yes, of course".
"Do you want to break off your engagement to my daughter?"
Why would the Duke ask me that?
Certainly, I wanted to break off the engagement, but I would have had to wait a little longer to make a move on that, specifically to establish a strong connection and position with someone in the royal family.
"Lord Dicaman?"
Yes. Oh, I'm sorry.
If I may answer without lying, I think that for the sake of both Lady Ewell and myself, we should break off our engagement."
The suddenness of the topic made me freeze.
Nevertheless, it's a good result that the Count family is willing to accept the breaking off of the engagement.
"I see.
Well, both my daughter and Lord Dickerman are still young, so I guess it can't be helped. I used to be not so interested in my fiancée, or rather I didn't like her.
But things settle down eventually."
So I should forgive his daughter, too?
Scold her as a parent.
...... hmm? No, wait, that's not right.
The duke's words sound as if he's saying that breaking off the engagement is a wait-and-see ......
If the Duchess of Ewell becomes good friends with the protagonist who has the blood of a hero from the past, whom the Duchess of Ewell is currently having feelings for, not only will she bring in an excellent bloodline, but the Duke of Ewell's family will be even stronger and his position will be more solid.
Even though the family is famous for its magic potions, there is no need to marry off a young lady to a mere count. ......
"You look unconvinced ......."
"No, that's not what ...... happened."
The duke has kept the hero's descendants in his mansion, and now that the cause and cure for the red stone disease has been discovered and the contract with the count family has been fulfilled, there is no merit in continuing the engagement.
On the other hand, a disadvantage is that a young lady who has broken off her engagement will have some difficulty in finding her next fiancé.
The disadvantage is that the duke's position as a duke does not have such a disadvantage if he broke off the engagement with a royal family, but only if he broke off the engagement with a count.
"I don't have to hide it. I wouldn't be satisfied if I were in the same position as Lord Dickaman.
I'm sure you'd want to break off an engagement where neither of you is interested, where you've only spoken to each other a handful of times, and where your reputation is going down the shitter in the other's territory."
If he knows what he's doing, then let him break it.
But the duke was not what I expected. He doesn't want to break this engagement and he doesn't want to.
"I've talked to my daughter several times, but she's very stubborn.
Just give it a while longer."
"Ha, ha. ......"
The benefits of continuing the engagement: ......
Is it to prioritize the delivery of magic potions? No, the merit is too thin.
The Duke's aim is not at all clear to me.
'By the way, Lord Dicaman, this is a bit of a change of subject, but how is the patient you took out of the duke's territory doing?
'...... the red stone disease has been completely cured, but the patient's symptoms were deeply progressive and treatment is continuing.'
"I see."
Why did he mention Verna and her child?
"I'm glad to hear that."
...... No way!
Those two are very important people for the kingdom, and even though you are engaged to my daughter, I had to check on them at least once.
The origins of those two are known.
I knew that if the dukes got serious about investigating, it would be exposed, but now that the territory is in ruins, did they prioritize investigating Bertona and her son and daughter?
"I knew they were at the Count's estate, but Lord Dicaman's report didn't mention anything about the patient's condition, and I was worried about that.
I would like to ask you to continue to look after those two."
"Of course."
It is very dangerous for the Countess Dicaman's family to be exposed as protecting those of the Berthona family.
It is impossible to deal with the church without decent backing, and the counts will be able to survive if they give up those two, but ......
The two are Noor, who was happy to say so, and Naamis, who is a Viscount but is giving advice based on the Bertna family's experience in crossing over to the church.
I am already a member of the count's family, there is no way I would abandon them.
"It will be hard for both of us, but I hope that we can continue to build a good relationship for both families."
"Yes, it's my honor."
As soon as I grab the offered right hand and shake it, the pressure is gone.
It's the worst.
Without the engagement relationship, the Duke would have revealed their existence, which means I can't ask him to break off the engagement right now.
I don't intend to give up on the engagement completely, but since there is nothing I can do, I have no choice but to maintain this relationship.
"I am glad that you have turned out to be an excellent head of the family."
That was the end of the conversation.
To summarize the result in a simple way, the duke's side ended up with a slight advantage, 6 to 4.
I am painfully aware of my inexperience.
'I'm going to go home now."
I followed the Duke as he got up to leave.
"I'm sorry I came on such short notice today."
"No, but I'd appreciate it if you'd contact me next time. I couldn't prepare anything."
"Ha ha ha, I'll be careful next time, we'll both be careful."
There is a little bit of a sting in his words, I knew it was payback for coming so suddenly.
I walk a little behind the Duke.
He motioned to Bosco, who was further back, to step back, leaving the two of them alone.
"I have one last question for you, if you don't mind."
"Hmm? I don't mind."
"'Is there anyone Lady Ewell is in love with?"
"......'
The Duke must know that his daughter has no intention of marrying me, which means that he also knows all about who she has feelings for and who she wants to be with.
I don't know how far he was expecting this, but it is aggravating to send him home with a bias toward the duke's victory.
Let's have a little back-and-forth.