Chapter 5

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

"……"

In Aurelia's hand, the fan let out a sharp cry as it bent.

Before Aurelia, with her cold gaze, stood Raul and an unknown young lady. The young lady, wearing a fluffy pink dress, was petite and adorable, with an air that made one want to protect her.

Aurelia, who had heard this line for the third time, played with the slightly bent fan in her hand and asked,

"…Lord Raul, why? We were supposed to get married this year, weren't we?"

Aurelia, now completely composed, asked in a low voice, and Raul, after a moment of shock, sighed and put his arm around the young lady's shoulder.

"…That's the thing. You used to be much cuter, but you've lost all your charm since you studied abroad."

"…Huh?"

"I'm sorry, but I have to call off our engagement. I can't fall in love with you as a woman."

"…And what about the young lady next to you?"

Suppressing her trembling mouth, she asked, and the young lady, trembling, introduced herself. She was, indeed, the third daughter of an earl, who had never entered society in either her first or second life due to her shy nature.

"I, I'm such a coward and have no confidence in myself… but Lord Raul encouraged me."

"I want to be with a gentle and lovely woman like her. I can't love a woman who acts so intellectual and shows off her knowledge, like you."

"…"

"…I'll inform Viscount Perle about the engagement cancellation. …Aurelia, I hope you find happiness."

"Wait a moment."

As Raul was about to leave hurriedly, Aurelia stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder.

—Even if they were currently engaged, it was unheard of for a woman to grab a man's shoulder. As expected, Raul was startled, and the young lady next to him turned pale and gasped.

"What are you doing, Aurelia!?"

"Engagement cancellation, noted. …Can I punch you once?"

"Wh-What? Is that what a lady would say!?"

Raul, initially confused, quickly regained his composure. He tried to pull Aurelia's hand off—perhaps he was overpowered by her grip—and then cleared his throat.

"Aurelia, you're not fit to be a lady. To resort to violence just because I didn't choose you… you'll have trouble finding a new husband."

"…"

"So, let go. …When did you get such strength?"

"I, I'm scared, Lord Raul…"

"It's okay. As you can see, Aurelia gets angry easily. Please be lenient with her for my sake—"

"Oops, my hand slipped."

With a monotone, Aurelia's right fist connected with Raul's cheek. She spared his face out of mercy.

During her studies abroad, Aurelia had carried heavy books and cleaned classrooms, which had not only improved her academic skills but also her physical strength, more than in her previous lives.

Raul's body easily tumbled, and the lovely young lady screamed.

"Ah! Lord Raul!?"

"Be quiet."

"Ah!"

Aurelia, turning her back to the trembling young lady, squatted in front of Raul and poked his head with the tip of her fan.

"…Lord Raul"

"A, Aurelia… why…"

"From the beginning, you never intended to marry me, did you?"

At Aurelia's calm voice, Raul's eyes, filled with tears, widened.

…Even as she lived her third life, she felt a lingering unease. But now, she finally understood.

Raul would never turn to her, no matter how much she tried. —He would never turn to her.

Each time, he brought a different young lady to her, saying, "You're not my type," and this time, she finally realized it.

Aurelia smiled at the shocked Raul and stood up.

"Regarding the engagement cancellation, please proceed as you see fit. However, I will inform my father about your dishonesty."

"A, Aurelia… what are you…"

"Goodbye, then."

Aurelia bowed and turned her back to her stunned fiancé and the young lady who resembled her from her first life.

"Ah… you're such a fool, you're so stupid…"

As she walked down the corridor, Aurelia hummed a tune out of tune.

This was a song she learned from a commoner boy during a city observation exercise while studying abroad. It was a rather vulgar song, and her study abroad companions had grimaced, but she thought it aptly described her current feelings.

(In other words, my efforts over three lives were meaningless from the start.)

And.

(This time, I realized I had no feelings for Lord Raul at all.)

In her first life, she had been brainwashed into thinking that marrying Raul was her goal. In her second life, she never questioned this, but in her third life, she finally realized this brainwashing was wrong.

(I never intended to marry Lord Raul, and I never loved him at all.)

Though she was introverted in her first life, she had experienced society in her second life and even traveled to a neighboring country in her third life. She was no longer the Aurelia who saw the viscount's mansion and Raul as her entire world.

(I should have never been engaged to Lord Raul in the first place…)

It was too late now, but if she had avoided the engagement at age ten, she wouldn't have to regret her foolishness.

Aurelia, walking down the corridor, suddenly remembered something.

(Come to think of it, in my second life, I got caught up in a fight between a man and a woman in the courtyard…?)

If that was the case, perhaps the same two people were having a breakup in the courtyard in her third life.

If so, the woman might intend to kill the man. Regardless of the adulterous man being brutally beaten, there was a chance that someone else might be stabbed in her place, as happened in her second life.

(I can't just leave that be…)

Fortunately, Aurelia now had a slight idea of what might happen.

(I'll call the guards. If I tell them there's a fight between a man and a woman over there, they should go check it out.)

Deciding to head to the courtyard, Aurelia changed direction and approached the stairs—

Just as she was about to go down the stairs, she twisted her right ankle.

"Huh?"

Her right foot tangled, and her left foot slipped. Unable to support her body with both feet, she fell forward—towards the stairs.

(No way!?)

—Her body, feeling a chill of fear, instinctively stretched out her arms, but it couldn't support her entire body.

With dull thuds, her body ached, the world spun, and she eventually fell face down.

After rolling down the stairs, hitting her head multiple times, the pain in her body gradually faded, as if a fog was settling over it.

(Am I… going to die again…?)

Just when she thought she was getting closer to the truth.

Her trembling fingertips touched something wet. Blood might be flowing from her head.

(I'm… so tired.)

Repeating the same time over and over, regretting each time.

Maybe it would be easier to give up everything.

…But.

(I still… don't want to die.)

She wanted to walk her own path, free from the mistaken love for Raul, and make her own choices.

She finally realized this, but she couldn't do anything.

That was what made her feel regretful.