A Background Character’s Path to Power Chapter 248: What was arranged, what was broken [1]

"What is it?"

My phantom self asked, hearing my curse.

I ignored it, reading the paragraph two more tis before facepalming myself.

It was one of the most well-known cliches in existence(my mories) - arranged marriages between the children of allied families to strengthen political bonds.

I wasn’t worried about it since I was already dead now. But...

Based on Mother’s letter, those records I read, a coincidental encounter with Viremont’s daughter, and now this...

I knew what they ant, and that’s why I was reacting like this.

Damn it!

I didn’t really like this trope, and yet, I was already involved in one. Well, it was always like this from the mont I woke up, and maybe so, I was becoming used to it. But, can’t I have a normal life for once?

"Hmm..."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself from overreacting. Wasn’t I ’dead’ now anyway? There is no way such arrangents would still be valid.

But then...

What happens then?

That was the real question.

I was about 70% certain that the Carmine girl I’d t was probably my supposed soon-to-be fiancée. And whatever Mother had ntioned in her letter about ’important matter to discuss’ must be related to this too.

Urgh...

My phantom self, who had been following my thoughts, suddenly chuckled. "Well, at least we managed to escape from being engaged to that girl cause of our death."

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his words. "Haha, you are right. Let’s think of it as a blessing in disguise."

My phantom self laughed along with .

We both knew her personality, and that’s why we felt this much comfortable with the fact that we dodged that particular poisonous bullet.

Even so, I had a hunch that I still wouldn’t have been engaged to her regardless, because of her affair with the Crown Prince and that young man who confronted her, Derier City Lord’s son. My past self had done an amazing job ignoring her and maintaining no connection or relationship with her whatsoever.

But...

Would my siblings have to step up to take my place in this arrangent? Or was an even worse fate awaiting the Luthaire family now?

And...

She’s not gonna co here herself to break off the non-existent engagent like in stories, right?

My phantom self chuckled. "You can expect exactly that from soone like her."

I nodded grimly. "Great. Just great."

It seems like I needed to make preparations for these kinds of scenarios now as well. But I still needed to confirm if my guesses are really correct from soone credible first. I couldn’t be having delusions and jumping to conclusions on my own now, right?

"Yeah. And I think old man Veylan is a good choice for that." My phantom self suggested. "He probably knows the history of the family and can explain it to us way better than these dusty books."

I nodded in agreent. "You are right, I’m gonna talk with him then. But let’s finish reading this book first, we might find more useful information."

"Sounds like a plan," my phantom self replied, turning back to its own research. "Better to be at least inford before we start asking questions."

"Hmm..."

With that, we dived into researching again.

Two more hours passed in the blink of an eye. And we both finished three more books each.

Seeing it was already almost dinner ti, I decided to stop and unsummon the phantom .

We both learned a lot, both about the shield families and the Orlan Kingdom. But of course, they were mostly history, and that’s why we couldn’t be certain that the info was 100% correct.

Even though the ti we spent was still worth it. Especially that info my phantom self found. We both agreed to search for more info about it later. The barony’s fate depended on it. And maybe even the fate of the kingdom.

Hmm?

My senses picked up a presence approaching the library.

Oh, it’s just Cassandra.

The maid must have told her where I was just as I instructed. I hope her talk with Mother went well.

"You were really here," Cassandra said as she spotted as soon as she entered the room.

"Yeah, and how did it go?" I asked calmly. "Were you able to talk with Lady Selva properly? Is the lady fine?"

"Mm, we had a wonderful conversation," Cassandra replied with a genuine smile. "She’s really a great person, both as a mother and as an individual. I can see where Amaniel got his considerate nature from. And you can rest assured, although... There were so tears shed... It’s all fine now."

I felt warmth spread through my chest. It was good to know that Mother had made such a positive impression on her. And she must have gotten to open up her pent-up feelings thanks to Cassandra.

...She’s countless tis better than that girl.

Cassandra walked over and sat down in the chair opposite . Reaching out to her storage ring, she pulled out that orb and activated the three-layered aura barrier.

"There’s still so ti before dinner. Should we continue our conversation from earlier?" She asked, settling into her chair.

"Alright, I’m good with that."

"There were many things we didn’t get to discuss, and after talking with your mother..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "Let’s say I have more questions now."

"Questions? What did you two talk about exactly?"

"Nothing about your secrets, don’t worry," she said quickly, then smiled mischievously. "But we did talk about you the most. About how cute you were, or how you hated carrots, or how they would always find you here..."

"..." Damn, is she gonna tease again?

"...It seems like old habits never disappear, even if you lose your mories, huh?" She giggled, probably aning the fact that I was at the library again.

"Maybe, but I don’t really dislike carrots now, you know." I scoffed. "I’m sure you had sothing you disliked in your childhood, right? Was it broccoli? Reddish? Or-"

My voice trailed off abruptly as I caught sight of Cassandra’s expression.

The playful smile had vanished from her face, replaced by sothing bitter and lancholic. Her eyes seed lost, as if she were rembering sothing painful.

My stomach dropped.

I instantly realized that I’d stumbled into sothing far heavier than I intended to.

...Should I... use that?