Chapter 3

"Aurelia, I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you."

"……"

Aurelia dropped her fan.

Aurelia, who had walked into the ballroom with high spirits, greeted many friends, both male and female, and headed to the meeting place with Raul.

However, when she arrived, Raul was with an unknown young lady.

And the words he spoke were the familiar lines she had heard before.

(…No, what’s going on!?)

"R-Raul-sama, why? I’ve finally turned eighteen, so we’re supposed to get married this year, right?"

"No, I’m sorry, but I have to call off the engagement. I can’t fall in love with you as a woman."

"Huh…?"

"Excuse me, Lady Aurelia."

The one who interrupted was the unknown young lady standing next to Raul.

Her black hair, which was shorter than usual for a young lady, and her simple caramel-colored dress were a perfect match for her calm demeanor and cool, intelligent gaze, leaving Aurelia speechless.

The young lady bowed politely and introduced herself as the daughter of a baron.

"I have been studying abroad in a neighboring country at my father’s recommendation. Therefore, I have never met Lady Aurelia before."

"Yes, that’s right. But, why are you with Raul-sama…?"

"Raul-sama said he wants to marry a well-educated and knowledgeable woman like me."

The young lady said this, and Raul nodded.

"I thought her knowledge would be a great asset to me as the next earl."

"…But, Raul-sama, don’t you prefer charming women…?"

"What are you talking about? …An earl’s wife needs to be cultured. It’s not just about having a good time every day."

Hearing this coldly—Aurelia felt her heart freeze.

For the past eight years, Aurelia had worked hard to become a charming and social woman.

But to Raul, she was just a frivolous woman who thought it was fine to "have a good time every day."

"Regarding the cancellation of the engagement, I will inform Viscount Perle as well. …Aurelia, I hope you find happiness."

"Raul-sama!?"

She couldn’t help but cry out, but Raul turned his back on her.

The young lady glanced at Aurelia, bowed, and followed Raul.

(Why… why… what’s going on?)

Aurelia, mentally shattered, wandered alone near the entrance of the ballroom.

Her mind was full of question marks, and she couldn’t calm down.

(I tried to become the perfect woman for Raul-sama after learning from my first failure.)

She had transformed from a demure young lady into a charming one, but the woman Raul chose this time was an intellectual.

(I… failed again…)

Indeed, Aurelia had slacked off in her studies.

She wasn’t taking the social world lightly, but she had invested all her efforts in beauty and socializing, neglecting her studies.

In reality, while Aurelia was sensitive to fashion and had mastered etiquette from her previous experience, she could only do basic calculations and reading, and had little knowledge of history or foreign languages.

This would embarrass Raul if she became an earl’s wife and appeared in the social world with him.

(…I failed again…)

Suddenly, Aurelia lifted her head. She had wandered aimlessly and found herself in the courtyard where carriages were parked.

In her first life, she had gone straight to the mansion and hanged herself.

Remembering this, a chill ran down her spine.

(I don’t want to go back to the mansion yet.)

If she went to the mansion now—she might end up with a ribbon again.

She wanted to spend some more time alone.

(The garden inside the venue… should be fine, right?)

She didn’t have the energy to return to the glamorous place. She wanted to calm down in a well-ventilated area.

Thinking this, Aurelia headed for the inner garden, but—

"…Why won’t you be with me!?"

"I’ve been telling you! I have a wife. I can’t be with you anymore!"

"That’s terrible… You were just playing with me!"

The inner garden, where she had planned to relax, was already occupied, and a heated argument was taking place.

By a small but elegant fountain, a young man and woman were arguing. From their conversation, it seemed they were in an extramarital affair, and the woman was trying to convince the man to stay with her.

(While my situation with Raul-sama is bad, this kind of thing should be handled in their own home…)

Aurelia sighed and turned away from them.

It’s best not to get involved in such matters.

"…That’s enough! Don’t follow me anymore!"

"Wait, stop! If it comes to this, I’ll kill you…!"

"Hey, what are you…!"

(…What?)

Aurelia, who had turned away and was about to round the corner of the building, stopped when she heard a dangerous exchange and turned back.

Immediately, the man who had been arguing with the woman ran past her, his face pale.

(…What?)

Aurelia, surprised, but—

—She felt a shock from behind and her body wobbled.

"Huh?"

A panicked voice came from behind her.

But Aurelia, unable to maintain her balance, fell to the ground with a thud.

Her back hurt. It was hot.

"Wh-What… Who are you!?"

She managed to turn her head and saw the woman who had been arguing standing there.

The woman, pale and trembling, turned and ran away.

"A…!"

She tried to call out, "Wait," but no sound came out, and instead, she coughed up a lump of blood, shocking her.

"What… Oh, no!?"

"Why is a woman lying on the ground… stabbed!?"

"Get a healer quickly…"

Aurelia heard other footsteps and saw guards with lanterns rushing to her side, their voices filled with panic.

Only then did Aurelia realize that she had been stabbed by the woman.

She couldn’t speak.

Her body was shaking, and she was gradually getting cold.

(I… am I going to die again…?)

This time, she didn’t intend to die.

She had planned to cool off and then return home to talk to her family.

The guards were arranging for a healer and moving Aurelia’s body, but she knew it was too late.

Her consciousness was becoming hazy, and the pain and fear were fading.

(I… should have studied harder.)

If she had, she wouldn’t have been caught up in someone else’s fight and died, and she might have been loved by Raul this time.