NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5 - Engagement Cancellation
Scene 005: Engagement Cancellation
“You’ve got a real talent for being rude, don’t you?.”
The atmosphere froze in an instant.
Fred stepped in right at that moment.
“Now, now, standing around won’t solve anything. Why don’t we all sit down and talk this through? Bella, dear, take this seat. I’ll join—”
“Your Grace, Duke Fred.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry, but I’d like to speak with the lady in private.”
“Oh, really?”
Fred, who had just been about to sit down, stood up straight again.
“Ahaha… Looks like I’ve stepped in where I’m not needed. Alright then, take your time, you two. I’ll go for a little walk—”
“Father.”
Just as Fred was about to leave, he froze at the sound of Bella’s voice. He turned back to see her smiling at him.
Her lips smiled, but her eyes did not.
“W-Why are you looking at me like that?”
“We’re still having dinner together, right?”
“Uh… yes.”
“Don’t even think about skipping it, Father. You won’t get away with it. Hehe.”
“S-Sure…”
If Fred had a tail, it would have been tucked between his legs. For a duke, he looked quite pitiful.
Once Fred left, silence fell between Bella and me. Wendy, standing nervously beside me, began pouring tea with trembling hands.
I broke the silence first.
“How long are you planning to just stand there? Sit down.”
“……”
Bella didn’t move, nor did she look my way. It seemed like she could barely stand being in the same room with me. Even with that icy attitude, she was as stunning as the novel described her.
It hit me again—this is the world I have always loved.
“Hmph…”
“Why are you laughing?” Bella frowned.
“Did you come here to mock me? If so, leave now.”
I reminded myself of why I was here and straightened up, adjusting my expression.
“I came to apologize for what happened last time.”
“…What did you say? Apologize?”
“Yes. I came to apologize in person.”
Bella’s eyes widened, then narrowed sharply.
“Ha… I see now. Do you really think saying sorry will make me fall for you and agree to this marriage? Don’t kid yourself.”
She didn’t believe me. Considering Tristan’s reputation, her skepticism was justified.
It was time to play my trump card.
“I’m calling off the engagement.”
“…What did you say?”
“As part of my apology, I’m also canceling the engagement. Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Bella looked completely taken aback.
“You’re joking, right?”
“No. I’m serious.”
“Please… have some tea.”
I took a sip from the cup Wendy had poured. The aroma was excellent.
Bella, on the other hand, seemed like she couldn’t process what was happening.
“This is hard to believe… After practically blackmailing my father into arranging our engagement?”
“Blackmail? That’s a bit harsh. I simply asked him for a favor.”
“You really are shameless…”
Fifty billion Kael. That was the amount Fred owed Ruelberta, the reason Tristan, a mere count, could control Duke Fred so easily.
=====
Trait: Wealthy
Rank: S-
Details: You possess immense wealth. You recognize value in everything, and your vaults are overflowing with treasures. Those who owe you grovel at your feet. As a result, people envy and despise you. Is it unfair? Well, you’re rich—deal with it.
=====
Among Tristan’s traits, ‘Wealthy’ was probably the best. He had more money than he could ever spend, which was how the engagement with the duke’s family was arranged so easily.
But now I was about to break it off.
“The engagement ceremony hasn’t even happened yet, so canceling it shouldn’t be difficult.”
Bella’s expression shifted. She seemed to realize I wasn’t lying, though her eyes remained wary.
“What brought this on? You’ve been stalking me for years.”
That was true. Tristan had been obsessed with her, but it wasn’t love—it was pure possessiveness.
===
Trait: Greed
Rank: SS
Details: You are filled with endless desire. You’re always consumed by the urge to possess. To get what you want, you’ll stop at nothing.
===
This trait was one of the seven deadly sins. Tristan hadn’t loved Bella; he had just wanted to own the most beautiful woman in the empire. That greed led both of them to a tragic end.
But I wouldn’t follow that path.
“Bella,” I said, meeting her gaze steadily. “This past week has given me time to reflect. We both know that even if this engagement went forward, you’d never feel anything for me. Isn’t that right?”
Bella’s expression said it all—Did it really take you this long to figure that out?
“That’s right. I don’t like you. So?”
“I wanted to possess you, to make you mine. I tried my best, but I couldn’t win your heart. In fact, we’ve only grown further apart.”
“Excuse me? When did I ever have feelings for you—”
“Exactly. That is why I have decided to give up. I don’t like wasting time, and I certainly don’t have time for hopeless pursuits.”
I paused briefly before continuing.
“Still… I enjoyed the time we spent together. Thank you for that.”
“Huh?”
Bella was speechless. The only sound in the room was me calmly sipping my tea.
But that didn’t last long.
“Stop lying! You expect me to believe you’re calling off the engagement just because of that?!”
Sigh… She still didn’t believe me.
Well, time for my final move.
“Believe it or don’t—it’s up to you. Oh, and you should try the tea. It’s quite good.”
“I don’t want it!”
“Ah!”
Crash!
Wendy, who had been serving tea, accidentally bumped into Bella’s elbow and stumbled. “Ever since we arrived at the duke’s house, she’d been on edge. As I expected, she finally made a mistake.
Just as I predicted.
“Are you okay?”
“S-Sorry! I’ll clean it up right away!” Wendy frantically crouched down to wipe the spilled tea. With her small body and tousled curly hair, she looked like a cute little animal.
Bella seemed to think the same, as her stern expression softened slightly when she glanced at Wendy.
“This should be enough,” I said, looking at the spilled tea. “It was one of my favorites… What a shame.”
“Hiiik! S-sorry! I-I didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t worry about it. Everyone makes mistakes.”
“Th-thank you…”
“By the way, Wendy, how much do you earn again?”
“Huh? M-my salary?”
“Yes. I need to know how many years you’ll have to work for free to make up for this loss.”
“Hic!”
Wendy’s face turned pale as she began hiccuping from shock. Her eyes welled up with tears, making her look like the unluckiest girl in the world. It might have had something to do with her trait, misfortune.
“…That’s enough.”
The one who stopped me was Bella.
“I was the one who knocked over the tea, so it’s my responsibility. Leave her out of it.”
That’s just who she is—always stepping in to help, always meddling in other people’s affairs.
__
Character Profile:
Name: Bella Isaachel
Age: 22
Occupation: Daughter of Duke Isaachel
Traits: Purity, Justice, Unparalleled Beauty, Frugality, Noble Bloodline
___
“Does tormenting a child really bring you that much satisfaction? Fine, I’ll pay for the tea myself. Will that satisfy you?”
“Twenty million Kael.”
“What…?”
“That’s the price of the tea she spilled.”
I gestured toward the spilled tea.
___
Name: Premium Orange Herb Tea
Description: A rare herb tea grown in the highlands of Orange, a distant eastern country. Difficult to cultivate and even harder to obtain, making it extraordinarily expensive.
Appraisal Value: 20 million Kael.
___
“Two… million Kael?”
“No. Twenty million Kaels.”
Bella let out a frustrated groan.
“I… had no idea the count drank such expensive tea.”
“For me, this hardly counts as expensive.”
“I see… So, how am I supposed to pay this back? Twenty million is ridiculous, but for what she spilled, it’s more like two million, right?”
“W-wait. Give me a moment.” Bella looked troubled.
Even though I didn’t expect her to actually pay, she seemed genuinely intent on doing so.
This is Bella’s weakness—she’s too kind.
Though not as naive as her father, Duke Fred, Bella’s good nature often puts her in difficult situations.
Of course, I wasn’t here to collect on the tea debt.
“You don’t have to force it. I know your family’s situation.”
“…Don’t pity me. I’ll sell whatever I need to from the mansion to pay you back.”
“There’s no need for that. I’m not here to collect any debts today. I came to apologize for what happened last time.”
“Apologize?”
“If you’re that set on paying me back, how about doing me a favor?”
“A favor?”
Bella clicked her tongue, clearly expecting this. She sat down on the sofa, as far from me as possible.
“Tsk. I knew something was fishy when you were so quick to break off our engagement. Fine, what do you want? But if it’s something stupid, I’m saying no.”
“Ever since you turned me down the other day, I haven’t been able to sleep.”
“…And?”
“So, I figured I’d take a break. Word is, there’s a ‘special place’ in Isaachel’s territory that’s perfect for it…”
“No.”
Bella’s rejection was immediate and firm.
“That place is sacred. There’s no way someone like you can set foot there.”
“True. But if you guide me, that could change.”
That had been my goal all along. Bella seemed to realize it, too.
“You… What are you plotting? What’s your real objective?”
“Rest.”
“Don’t lie. Do you really think I’d just guide you to ‘Eden’ like that?”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if you refuse. I’ll simply ask Duke Fred. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to show me the way.”
“So, what will it be? It’d be nice if my former fiancée could guide me herself.”
Bella turned her back, her shoulders trembling with anger. I pretended not to notice and waited for her answer, though the outcome was obvious.
“If it really comes to that…”
Despite her reluctance, she had no choice. Bella sighed and accepted my request.
“In two days, I’ll send a carriage to take you there.”
“Thank you.”
“Try anything weird, and you’ll be cursed. I’m serious.”
“How terrifying.”
Bella sighed again, clearly exhausted.
“Hah… No matter what happens, this is the last time we’ll ever see each other. Got it?”
“Of course.”
But that was a lie.
Bella is a key character I’ll need when the players return in a year’s time. There’s no avoiding her in the future. Though, to be honest, despite her beauty and sense of justice, her prickly personality isn’t something I enjoy dealing with either.
“Hey. Why do you keep staring at me like that?”
“It’s just… you’re still as beautiful as ever.”
“Huh?”
Bella’s face twisted in disbelief.
“You’re only realizing that now? Ex-fiancé.”