Didn't Plan to Become a Companion (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
The duke and duchess said nothing. Their silence was affirmation. We were people who should have died seven years ago if not for Ricardo and Rochester’s help. So I knew I had no right to resent them.
But Rochester should have let me die with my family.
Instead of leaving me alone here.
Of course, in this situation, there was no way for me—a source of unease for both the emperor and the ducal house—to freely leave this manor.
“It also means I have no choice but to wait for news of when my family died.”
Once again, they remained silent. Thus, I had no real options.
“Or else stake my own life.”
“No.”
This time, the duchess, who had been silent until now, gave a firm reply.
“That would be a foolish choice. If you die, the emperor will have nothing to regret.”
“But isn’t my existence still meaningful to House Rochester?”
“It is, but… if you end your own life, as long as the Saintess exists, everything will simply unfold according to divine decree. That means we, too, would suffer no great loss. In truth, the gods… abandon those who cast away their own lives, no matter how extraordinary their abilities may be.”
Ah, damn it. A curse slipped out before I could stop it, forcing me to bite down hard on my lips. Was this truly what the gods were—creating a situation so horrific one longed for death, yet forbidding one from taking it?
“Moreover, even if Ricardo pities you enough to protect your family, how long could that last? The Schneiders are an exceptionally tenacious lot.”
The duchess was right. If I offered my life in exchange for my family’s safety, perhaps Ricardo would protect them now as he did seven years ago.
But Rochester’s star had risen, and my existence had been exposed. The situation had changed drastically. Could I truly guarantee my family’s safety through such a request?
Overwhelmed by encroaching despair, I forgot the duke and duchess were even present and gripped my head in my hands.
“There is one way, though….”
“A way?”
“Yes—one that could save your family.”
With those words from the duchess, a ray of light pierced through my pitch-black darkness.
She planted hope in me and rose from her seat. Walking to the window, she stopped before the landscape painted by Ricardo. Standing within the painting, she finally completed the artwork.
“The safest place in this empire—in this entire world—to shield your family from Emperor Dermayer is right here, within Duke Rochester’s manor.”
“I know that well.”
“And there is only one way for a noble family to enter my house.”
Did that mean my family could receive their protection inside the Rochester manor—a residence larger than most entire estates?
“Please tell me what that way is.”
Jonathan, Sabrina, and Madam Pernelle flashed through my mind. If only I could learn how to save them, I’d be willing to kneel right here and even lick the duchess’s feet.
Had they truly been this precious to me? Those whom I’d always regarded as an incomplete, half-formed family.
“An engagement.”
Ah, an engagement.
“Yes?”
“The union of Rochester and Fennel. That alone is the only way to shield your family from Emperor Dermayer. No matter how much power an emperor holds, he would never dare order the extermination of a house formally engaged to Rochester.”
“Wouldn’t it be more effective if I simply held a knife to the prince’s throat right now?”
Kkup—I heard a sound of suppressed laughter before me. I glanced sideways at the duke, but he was sipping his tea with an impassive face. Puzzled, I turned back to the duchess, trying to gauge whether she was serious.
Immediately, she met my gaze with a face so earnest it seemed she’d never told a lie in her life.
So now, was it time for me to go lick Ricardo’s feet, begging him to marry me?
“What about the Saintess? I understand she was destined from birth to be the prince’s partner.”
Just discussing marriage with him like this felt like committing a sin, yet I saw no other path forward.
“That is true… but we must first put out the immediate fire.”
“…”
“Besides, once the Saintess becomes Ricardo’s partner, you’ll cease to hold any value to us….”
Her voice trailed off, leaving a pause so heavy my blood ran dry.
“At that point, Schneider won’t be so desperate to annihilate House Fennel, either.”
The duchess meant that once Ricardo married, the situation would improve—at least slightly—since I’d no longer be a nuisance once the Saintess became his bride.
“This isn’t about marrying immediately. An engagement alone would give Rochester sufficient grounds to protect Fennel.”
“So you mean to keep both me and the Saintess balanced in your hands.”
She shook her head and gave a soft, airy laugh—angelic yet demonic at once.
“You misunderstand something, Lady Fennel.”
Her voice, once so gentle, now turned icy—a tone so chilling I instinctively swallowed hard under the sudden pressure.
“You’re already resting in Rochester’s hand. This isn’t about offering you a choice.”
“Oh….”
Her words stated an undeniable truth. For reasons unknown, the duchess was showing me mercy—granting my family a temporary chance to live.
What was pride worth before absolute power? Once my thoughts cleared, my decision came swiftly. When I made up my mind, I never hesitated.
My goal was simply to survive one more day in safety.
At the age of ten, after nearly dying from cold and hunger and then being reborn, I understood deep in my bones:
Death leaves nothing behind. That fear doesn’t fade just because you’ve faced it once. Death always meant darkness, ruin, and utter finality.
“Then, Your Grace, and Your Ladyship…”
My eyes briefly met the duke’s. They sparkled with amusement—as if he found the current situation immensely intriguing.
“Are you both agreeing to let me become briefly engaged to the prince?”
“Lady Fennel.”
“Please call me Lienne, Mother.”
Kkeup—I heard the duke clear his throat again.
“My dear.”
The duchess called sharply to her husband, then slowly walked from the window to where I sat.
My heart pounded like a man awaiting acceptance of a marriage proposal—or perhaps like one whose head already lay on the executioner’s block. Either way, her next words would decide whether my family lived or died.
“Truthfully, Lienne, I have no choice in this matter.”
My future mother-in-law called my name with unexpected tenderness.
“A Rochester who has undergone awakening can no longer truly be called anyone’s child.”
“…”
“Therefore, you don’t need my consent or permission.”
By now, the duchess had drawn close and gently brushed my cheek with her soft hand. The warmth radiating from her palm felt warmer than my own face, drawing my eyes helplessly toward her.
“For soon, Ricardo will become Rochester itself.”
[This is the timeline separator]I nearly asked the head steward to arrange a meeting with Ricardo, but changed my mind. Though we were on the same floor, meeting him was far from easy. Even if I requested an audience now, the earliest possible time would be tomorrow afternoon—and only if he remained at the ducal estate.
Knowing my family’s lives hung by a thread, sleep was out of the question.
I paced my room, ears pricked, waiting for his return. After some time, a faint commotion arose from the slightly open window.
‘He’s back.’
Sharpening my hearing, I could even discern servants scurrying about with quick, light steps. Once the noise outside settled, I waited a little longer.
It was unthinkable for a lady—especially a noblewoman—to visit a man’s bedroom in the dead of night. If anyone were to witness it, an irreparable scandal would erupt.
Granted, such a scandal might actually benefit me now, but even so, I wasn’t brazen enough to openly seek him out.
When every footstep had faded and the earlier stillness returned, I finally gathered my courage and stepped out of my room.
Knock, knock. As I softly began, “I…,” Ricardo’s voice came from within.
“Come in.”
He probably hadn’t expected it to be me, but since I’d received permission, I pushed the door wide open. To my relief, the room was dark—but the curtains were fully drawn, letting moonlight flood inside.
And beneath that light, he stood—bare-shouldered on one side.
“Oh….”
An involuntary sigh escaped me. Ricardo slowly turned, perhaps surprised it wasn’t who he’d expected.
Our eyes met—and my heart, long stripped of pride and propriety, pounded wildly, recklessly.
Naturally, he showed no mercy. Ricardo locked his gaze onto mine and twisted his shoulder to shrug off the half-worn shirt. His bare shoulders and the sculpted muscles beneath gleamed under the moonlight.
Instinctively, I shut my eyes.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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