Dumped After My Engagement: Becoming a Military Noblewoman Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"He's Celestia's fiancé."

Since the maids had polished up from the morning and dressed in a finer gown than usual for indoors, I had suspected sothing was up—but I never imagined it would be a formal eting with my fiancé...

"I am Floyd Armle."

"My na is Celestia Rotisch."

And of all people, it's Floyd Armle.

I curtsied toward Marquis Armle, who sat across from Father, and toward Floyd.

While Father proudly boasted about his daughter to the marquis who praised my curtsy with a "Such a beautiful curtsy," I sat on the sofa, half-exasperated, and quietly observed Floyd sitting across from .

(Are we about the sa age...? His cute features might take after his mother more than the manly marquis. He doesn't seem unhappy about the engagent, though...)

I was taught that noble engagents are decided based on the benefits to both families' status and territories.

It's rare for engagents to be broken once ford, and it's said to only happen if a family collapses or one party dies.

I recalled what Mirabel had said the other day and glanced at Father, who was still talking.

I don't believe in prophecies, but just as Mirabel had said, Floyd beca my fiancé.

I wondered if she had overheard Father and Stepmother talking by chance—but even so, I couldn't imagine the head of a count's family discussing his daughter's fiancé without clearing the room.

But then, how did Mirabel get that information?

There's no way they'd talk directly to five-year-old Mirabel...

"Your birthday is coming up soon, isn't it?"

"......Yes."

I was lost in thought, trying to maintain a smile, and flinched when Floyd spoke to .

"It seems the engagent announcent will be made at Celestia's birthday party."

"......I see."

"Since your eyes are red, I'll bring a bouquet of deep red roses."

"Yes."

Even though Floyd earnestly tried to talk to , I was too distracted to respond with anything but vague answers.

And so ca my seventh birthday party.

After the engagent announcent, I stood alone, holding a bouquet of deep red roses.

In the center of the hall, Floyd—who was supposed to be my fiancé—was dancing happily with my younger stepsister.

...What just happened?

After dancing the first dance with , Mirabel had blushed and asked, "I want to dance with my future big brother," and Floyd readily agreed.

Even if she's my younger stepsister, she's still of the opposite sex.

From a common-sense perspective, dancing with soone other than your fiancé on the day of your engagent would be frowned upon.

And yet, Father, Stepmother, and the guests all watched the two dancing with warm smiles.

"Could it be... he fell in love with Mirabel...?"

I tried to deny it, but after the dance, Floyd left with Mirabel as if he'd forgotten all about , ordered drinks from a servant, and the two began chatting happily.

"If I rember right, Mirabel said she'd heal and support him...?"

Noticing my stunned expression, Mirabel flashed a triumphant smile.

A few months after the engagent announcent.

I invited Mirabel for tea and gently tried to probe for hints about my future, only to be bombarded with outrageous statents that left holding my head in despair...

'While you're away at the academy, Father will start doting on a lot.'

'At the academy, you'll gather a huge entourage and act like a queen. The crown prince and the second prince who enrolls a year later will cling to you, and everyone will start to hate you.'

'And then, you'll bully , who gets along well with Floyd.'

'At the academy graduation party, there'll be a condemnation event... oh, that's when your engagent gets broken off.'

'Since even the royal family will turn against you, Father will send you to a convent.'

The way Mirabel described everything in such vivid detail, as if she'd seen it all, was terrifying.

She insisted none of it was delusion but things that would actually happen, and I could no longer casually nod along or brush it off as fantasy like before.

Because every ti Floyd visited our ho, it seed like he was there to see Mirabel, not .

—My younger stepsister, smiling sweetly as she spoke of my dreadful future, looked like a demon.