The second encounter that Emily recalled unfolded as follows.

***

Fortunately, on the day of the embarrassing meeting, the duke stayed for a day and there was no particular point of contact after that.

But somehow, the Count worked his magic and made the engagement between the Duke and Emily happen.

“He really wants to get engaged to me?”

No matter how she thought about it, Emily felt like her father was exaggerating. 

But unlike other nobles, her father had no ambition nor guts. It was questionable where such a father had the courage to offer a marriage to a man such as the duke.

“I was surprised too, you know.”

Next to her, the countess, with a happy face, tucked Emily’s flowing hair behind her ears.

“Do you dislike this engagement, by any chance?”

Emily, who had been lost in thought for a moment, immediately raised her head.

“No, it’s all right

Duchess Sadie, it sounded good. Even if that man seems to have a bit of a bad personality, if he had that kind of looks, title, and wealth, even that old witch Marlene would surely feel sick to her stomach with jealousy .

“Your father is very talented.”

“Me?”

The Count raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t you send the marriage proposal?”

“No, His Grace, the Duke suggested it first.”

She naturally assumed that the proposal letter was sent from Sinope’s side. It was because Sinope seemed to have more to gain compared to the Duke.

As Emily tried to grasp the Duke’s intentions, she nodded as if reaching a conclusion.

“Maybe it’s because of my beauty….”

In a low voice, Emily muttered, causing the Count and the Countess to exchange glances.

The count and the count couple met each other’s eyes at Emily’s low-pitched words.

‘What about that excessive self-consciousness?’

‘She has been called pretty since she was young, so it’s not her fault.’

Unaware of how others saw her, Emily sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror.

***

With the engagement settled, Charles visited the estate again. This time, she greeted him properly.

“Welcome, Your Grace.”

As an official fiancé, Charles also kissed the back of her hand, as was courtesy. 

Emily, who found such manners awkward, cleared her throat and guided him to the reception room.

She was the queen of social gatherings, but strangely, she had never experienced love before.

A stiff silence hung between the two of them sitting face-to-face in the reception room. 

As Charles had become accustomed to the Emily he had met during their first encounter, who was somewhat talkative, the Emily in front of him now seemed unfamiliar.

“You seem quite different from when I saw you last time.”

Finally, Charles blurted out. Emily, unfazed by his words, sat up straight, maintaining a composed posture as she sipped her tea.

“This is my true self, Your Grace.”

Hmm. Charles crossed his arms and leaned against the sofa.

“It’s a shame. I liked you more the way you were back then.”

Was my mother’s advice wrong? Emily quickly changed her course of action

“Well then, I will take it into consideration,” Emily said, putting down her teacup and leaning back on the sofa, just like Charles.

‘Good. The Duke likes women who give off a friendly vibe. It doesn’t seem too difficult,’ Emily chuckled, inserting the new information into her mind. Charles laughed as if he was dumbfounded when he saw her loosen up right away.

“I guess my request wasn’t too difficult”

“Well, since we’re engaged, right?

Emily thought, ‘Isn’t it strange if you’re having a hard time with your fiancé?’

She even had a strong aspiration that if she succeeded in getting married, she would ask for the same relaxed and comfortable dynamic.

“You’re quite audacious.”

“Me?”

Hearing such a comment, Emily was taken aback. If she made him uncomfortable for no reason and broke off the engagement, Marlene, that shrew, would surely be delighted.

‘No, I can’t leave it like that.’

After imagining it, Emily moved away from the sofa again and sat down with her hands together. It was difficult to be friendly without being too audacious 

‘Damn it, he’s a very picky and eccentric person.’

Charles adjusted his posture, observing Emily sitting up, and opened his mouth, suppressing his laughter.

“Come visit the estate before we get married. I should let you know how amazing the person you’ll be marrying is .”

Charles was unsuccessful in trying to provoke her, but Emily, who was at a disadvantage in status, could not respond with anything other than a meek “Yes.”

Of course, as everyone knew, Emily couldn’t go to Charles’ estate in the end. A few months later, the two broke off their engagement.

***

Translator note: What do ya’ll think of Charles, he seems kinda sus to me idk. I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts. ~Mae

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