Chapter 10

"Why are you alone?"

"Huh?"

No matter what... it's because you left me, isn't it?

Before I could say that, Louis spoke up.

"Don't you have any friends to talk to? You always skip parties and don't socialize properly, which is why this happens. Miss Camilla is right; you should try to be more proper."

I bristle at the snide comment.

I had just started to think you might have some good qualities!

"That's why—!"

Just as I was about to argue with Louis,

"Huh?"

My vision swayed.

Louis instinctively reached out and firmly held me.

"Hey, don't overact..."

Louis is saying something, but my body is already screaming, and I have no energy to argue.

I can't even make it through the party.

I closed my eyes.

"...Fiona? Hey, Fiona!"

Louis's voice sounds distant.

My consciousness faded away.

◇◇◇

I opened my eyes with a snap.

What time is it now?

I've been asleep for a while. My body feels a bit sluggish, but my mind is clear.

The last thing I remember is Louis's shocked face.

I must have fainted.

What a disgrace. To collapse in the arms of the detestable Louis.

If he tries to act like he did me a favor when we meet next, I'll punch him.

I made up my mind and tried to get out of bed.

"---You're awake?"

"Ah!"

A voice came from a space I thought was empty, and I jumped in surprise.

Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw a vague silhouette.

Since I had been sleeping, the room was dim, and I could see the shadow moving closer to me, so I cried out.

"O, Oba-kei!"

"Who's a ghost?"

I tried to run away in a panic, but I stopped at the familiar voice.

"---Louis?"

"Yes."

It seems it wasn't a ghost. I felt a bit embarrassed and climbed back into bed.

Louis sat down in the chair next to my bed.

What, he's sitting? I want him to leave quickly.

More importantly, why is he here?

My confusion must have shown on my face, as Louis frowned.

"Did you think I was the kind of heartless man who would leave his fiancée after she fainted?"

"Well, you do."

I couldn't help but immediately contradict him.

Oh, I thought, but it was too late. Louis's frown deepened.

"What did you say?"

"Because you've never come to visit before."

We've been engaged for a long time, since we were young. There were days when I was too sick to respond, and days when I had a fever and couldn't meet. Despite my pride, I was honest about my condition on such days.

But Louis has never come to visit.

"I have no intention of indulging in your lies."

Huh...? Lies...?

"Besides, you fainted on purpose. You were just trying to get attention, weren't you?"

Could this person... even though I fainted right in front of him, he's calling it a lie...?

"What are you talking about?"

My voice trembled involuntarily.

"Because you always try to get attention like that, don't you?"

"I don't remember doing that?"

What is he talking about? Rather, I used to try to hide my poor health. I only started being open about it after I recovered my memories, which was very recent. Of course, I wasn't trying to get attention.

Louis continued, as if he had more to say.

"You only listen to half of what I say."

Because I'm too sick to listen.

"You always have a frown."

Because I'm sick.

"You sometimes leave suddenly."

Because I'm sick.

"You don't come when I invite you out."

Of course, because I'm sick.

"You don't participate in tea parties or parties, so your reputation is bad."

"It's all because I'm sick!"

I finally couldn't take it anymore and interrupted Louis with a loud voice.

"It's not on purpose! I really am sick! I can't handle long parties, so I leave early. Sometimes I don't have the energy to listen, and I get headaches, which makes my face look stern. I hardly have the energy to go out, and I can't participate in tea parties even when invited!"

After saying it all in one breath, I panted, and Louis looked surprised, muttering softly,

"I've never heard that before."

"I've never said it before! My pride prevented me from admitting I was weak!"

"Then it's only natural that I didn't know."

I sighed.

"Yes. I'm at fault for not saying it, but as your fiancée, you should have noticed something was wrong, right? To ignore that and blame everything on me is frustrating."

No matter how much I tried to hide it, there was a limit to hiding my poor health. I was pushing myself too hard, and it was starting to show.

If Louis had properly engaged with me, he would have noticed immediately.

He must have had some suspicions. Louis fell silent.

"Also, about the time I fainted the other day."

The time we argued, the time I recovered my memories from my past life.

"You didn't come to visit, did you?"

Yes, Louis didn't come to visit.

Even though I fainted right in front of him, he didn't even send a letter to check on me.

"Wouldn't you normally come right away? I fainted right in front of you. Don't you think it's heartless? Don't you think it's only natural for me to blame you?"

Louis remained silent.

I sighed deeply again.

"…If you want to break the engagement, I'll do it anytime."

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