Astel Duke and Serena’s father, Roger, returned to his mansion with his elegant blonde hair and blue cape flowing gracefully.

“How have you been, my lord?”

The eldest steward hurried to pay his respects to the true master of the mansion.

“Do you not recognize me even when you see me?”

Everyone nodded in agreement to Roger’s composed response, as if he had never left the mansion.

“A carriage laden with my spoils will arrive later. All are precious items, so handle them carefully. This time, the harvest was really great. From the pelt of a silver wolf to a rhino horn crafted by ancient tribesmen…”

“Yes, I’ll make sure everything is well looked after. Of course, I will create a list as well. Fortunately, we still have rooms available in the annex.”

“I would like to fill up that annex, but it’s still a long way off.”

Roger reminisced about his recent adventure, his eyes sparkling like a young boy, making him appear much younger than his age. His lively and cheerful smile complemented his handsome face.

“There are also some items that require special care…”

It was truly remarkable how Roger, who had just returned after a long time, was only interested in his own spoils and not in his domain or Serena.

“Father!”

Serena hurriedly descended the stairs to call out to him. Only then did Roger turn his gaze to his only daughter.

“Oh, right.”

Serena slightly bent her knees to show respect. Given that Roger hadn’t even sent a letter of well-being and lived freely, his blatant indifference was not surprising.

“It’s been quite some time.”

There was a sharp edge to Serena’s words, but Roger just wore a self-satisfied smile.

“Haven’t I arrived just in time?”

Memories of when she first became Serena came flooding back. The moment when she first opened her eyes in this story, guided by a mysterious yet arrogant voice after a pointless death in reality.

“What timing are you referring to?”

The fantasy she often indulged in her past life was to become the protagonist in a beautiful story, naturally possessing beauty, nobility, and love as her destiny.

“Is it after you irresponsibly wrote a letter entrusting my engagement to others?”

Serena pressed on, but Roger continued to smile calmly. If she had truly been a proper protagonist, she would not have had such irresponsible parents.

“I took your side as much as possible.”

“With just one irresponsible sentence?”

“The Crown Prince would have consulted the royal family and the papacy. There’s no point in me opposing it alone.”

Roger’s not-wrong statement made her feel even more stifled.

“I wrote that line to imply I didn’t fully agree.”

“So you’ll naturally oppose it for me?”

Roger’s eyes widened for the first time.

“Why should I?”

“Why? Because I’m your only daughter.”

When she first became Serena in this story, everyone around her thought she had fallen ill and changed.

Of course, even then her father was not by her side. She had never relied on such a father before, but now she was willing to use any means necessary.

“I know.”

“Is that all? I never wanted this engagement from the start. Moreover, six years have passed since the engagement ceremony; it’s null and void now.”

“Hmm,” Roger made an ambiguous sound.

“I decided to abandon my fiancé when I came to the Astel domain after that terrible engagement ceremony.”

She had already learned how miserable it was to be abandoned by someone in her previous life.

After she decided to abandon her fiancé’s existence first, a new life unfolded before her. A life where nobody judged her by her appearance and didn’t confine her to a mold was truly happy.

“An engagement with the royal family is not a light matter.”

“Yes. That’s why I’ve decided not to marry anyone. The engagement is already void, and if I remain single, there won’t be any issue with the royal family’s honor.”
Serena had her real reasons for insisting on staying single, but it was also true that she shouldn’t tarnish the honor of the royal family.

If a woman who had once been engaged to the royal family married another man, it could cause problems.

“Serena, it seems you’ve forgotten… you are a duchess.”

“Who wouldn’t know that? I’m even the acting duchess now.”

In any era, marriage was a contract that required sacrificing one’s freedom. Having never lived freely according to her own will, she at least wanted to live for herself in this story.

“You’ve seen the prosperity of Astel, haven’t you? Even if Father roams around, he couldn’t be ignorant of Astel’s specialties.”

“Yes, you were an excellent acting duchess. Far beyond my expectations.”

Roger reluctantly admitted, but he was not particularly pleased.

“However, you are a duchess before you are an acting duchess.”

Roger’s resolute expression, as if he had already decided the answer, made Serena’s chest feel increasingly stifled.

“And you are the crown prince’s fiancée.”

Why did others easily say that Serena was the crown prince’s fiancée when she had never thought of herself that way since the uncomfortable engagement ceremony?

“So, about that engagement…”