To You Who No Longer Want Me - Chapter 28

Biare, who had been quietly gazing at Rosalyn’s sparkling eyes, nodded and replied.

“Let’s call it consideration for an honored guest.”

The beautiful fifteen-year-old girl, with a light blush, was politely following behind Biare.

That sight reminded her so much of Gaizen that she unknowingly raised the corners of her mouth slightly.

“What’s the matter, Lady?”

“Just someone came to mind.”

Although the same age as Gaizen, Rosalyn’s physique looked noticeably smaller than other young ladies her age.

When she saw her in her past life, she thought it was just her naturally small and thin build, but now it seemed she hadn’t eaten properly, slowing her growth.

If Biare hadn’t known about Rosalyn’s upbringing, she too would have judged her as an ordinary noble young lady, no different from others.

“If the young lady doesn’t mind, let’s have tea together occasionally.”

No matter how much Biare had intentionally decided to build a friendship with her, she wasn’t cruel enough to ignore a child who was going hungry.

Besides, wasn’t she going to be her brother’s proper fiancée?

Even if it was something the past Biare might not have thought to do, now she wanted to do what she judged to be right. If it could win her heart as well, that would be even better.

“It would be an honor if you would do so, Lady.”

For Rosalyn, who hadn’t even had her debutante yet, it seemed to be considered an unparalleled opportunity to have a connection with the eldest daughter of a ducal family.

However, Biare merely maintained an appropriate position in social circles, never seeking to elevate her own prestige or aspiring for anything more.

Born into a powerful family and spending peaceful days with her harmonious family, she lacked nothing.

Being in a position where she could already have what she wanted without having to strive for it, Biare usually stopped at looking after the practical interests of the family she loved.

On the other hand, the ‘complete place’ that Rosalyn wanted was likely a perfect position that could fill her deficiencies.

She said that as a child, she lived in an annex with her mother, who was the marquis’s concubine.

Her birth mother was too busy craving love from the marquis to pay attention to Rosalyn, and so she grew up neglected.

Later, when the marquis recognized the usefulness of Rosalyn, his illegitimate child, he allowed her to stay in the main building, but she had to continue an unwanted life.

As a result, she ended up in a situation where marriage talks were going on, becoming a sacrifice to adults no less than Gaizen.

To Biare, the union of families was nothing more than shackles that bound and constrained each other.

There was no need for the two children to carry out an unwanted engagement, yielding to the coercion of adults.

Lost in thought, Biare glanced at Rosalyn with a heavy heart.

“If… this engagement is not to your liking, please tell me.”

She was thinking of helping to postpone their engagement, still at such a young age, until they came of age, or even making it as if it never happened.

However, Rosalyn shook her head and spoke in a voice more resolute than ever.

“I know what you’re worried about, Lady. But I’m fine.”

It seemed she had already prepared herself mentally for this engagement to some extent.

If Rosalyn had made up her mind, Biare could only hope that she would get along well with Gaizen.

“Gaizen… I mean, my brother is inherently not good with words.”

While he was Biare’s only precious brother, from the Dantero family’s perspective, his behavior could be seen as quite offensive and rude.

“It’s really alright. I didn’t even mind it.”

Fortunately, Rosalyn didn’t seem to care at all about Gaizen’s behavior.

The young lady of the Dantero family seemed to have a more solid mind than Biare had thought.

Until now, Biare had thought that the relationship between the two was not much different from the past.

This was because their relationship was so lukewarm that they hardly ever conversed except when they were together, conscious of people’s gazes.

‘At least I hope it doesn’t become a hurtful relationship…’

Given Gaizen’s temperament, which took after their father, he would never turn his eyes to another woman.

However, even if he didn’t cheat, indifference was another problem.

If indifference persisted, it was likely to hurt the other person or cause misunderstandings.

As it was an issue related to Gaizen, Biare couldn’t help but be very concerned.

‘I suppose I should give Gaizen a hint when I get back.’

At the very least, it was virtuous to show proper courtesy to one’s fiancée.

If Biare’s mother had been alive, she would have scolded him long ago.

When Biare said it was time to go back, Rosalyn looked visibly disappointed, but soon nodded and headed towards the terrace together.

On the terrace, amidst the adults engrossed in heated business talk, they saw a black-haired boy still sitting with a sullen expression.

“Gaizen.”

“Sister, are you here now?”

As Gaizen’s gloomy expression suddenly brightened, the Duke and Biare looked at each other, feeling somewhat awkward.

Clearing his throat a couple of times, the Duke lightly scolded his son.

“My boy, is it right for your fiancée to spend time with your sister?”

His words were meant to tell Gaizen to pay attention to and take care of Rosalyn, who was to be his fiancée.

“What fiancée…”

As Gaizen grimaced and shot an indescribable look, the Duke said sheepishly.

“It seems the lad is shy. Bia, why don’t you go along with them?”

It was a special measure taken by the Duke after much deliberation, unable to fully trust his stubborn son who could be unpredictable.

Thinking that this life would likely be a special connection with Rosalyn, Biare answered with a smile.

“I’ll do that. Is that alright with you, young lady?”

“Yes, that’s fine with me.”

Biare led the way, taking the two of them into the mansion.

She had considered guiding Rosalyn to the reception room, but with both of them keeping their mouths tightly shut, any progress seemed difficult.

So the place they arrived at was the exhibition hall containing portraits of past dukes, the optimal location Biare had come up with.

She judged that by guiding them through the family history, unnecessary words or awkward situations could be avoided.

Moreover, since she would become Gaizen’s fiancée, it wouldn’t hurt for her to know the family history in advance.

“Gaizen, why don’t you introduce it yourself?”

“What? You want me to do it myself?”

“Yes, should I do it instead?”

“No, sister should rest comfortably.”

Gaizen, overwhelmed by her calm voice, gave up on asking again and let out a small sigh.

Then, turning his gaze towards Rosalyn, he remained silent for a moment before starting to speak.

“Young lady, please follow me.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“First, starting with the first Duke Ruschef…”

Although Gaizen was so reluctant at first, perhaps because it was related to the family, he was now explaining more enthusiastically than anyone else.

Even though listening to another family’s history could be quite boring, Rosalyn listened to his words well without showing any sign of it.

‘Looking at them like this, they seem to match well.’

Biare, who had been watching the situation intending to leave the two alone first, carefully headed out of the exhibition hall.

Passing through the corridor and into the garden, she was walking endlessly, taking in the deepening season of lush greenery.

The summer air was heavily settled, and a gentle feverish breeze was slowly blowing.

‘It wasn’t that I disliked getting engaged to you.’

Biare had agonized several times with belated regret, wondering if things would have been different if she had gotten engaged to her lover in the past.

While spending two years with Dension, she had imagined a future together with him.

Around the beginning of nineteen, he asked Biare about her thoughts on marriage.

At that time, she stalled, making the excuse that she wasn’t mentally prepared yet, and Dension waited for her endlessly.

However, there was another reason why Biare hesitated about the engagement.

‘Because he still hasn’t forgotten his dead first love.’

From the time they became lovers, there were moments that she couldn’t help but notice, even if she tried to ignore them.

For instance, the look in his eyes when he remembered his precious person was the same as when he looked at her.

That gaze was so tender and intense that one day she tentatively asked about that person.

[By the way, Sion, about the person you mentioned before.]

[Who are you talking about?]

[The precious person you told me about before.]

[…..]

[How did it happen?]

[At the mansion.]

[Huh?]

[She took her own life.]

[What? How…]

[Well. She didn’t leave a suicide note.]

[Sion…..]

[It’s okay now.]

‘While still having such sad eyes…’

She knew he had a sad inner self after being left alone when his parents passed away, but he seemed to have an even greater sense of loss than she had thought.

‘Will I be able to handle you?’

Biare loved Dension, but on the other hand, she was afraid.

Just in case he was projecting his dead first love onto her.

And in case she would end up with Dension, who would never forget her for the rest of his life.

These worries were enough to make Biare anxious.

After that day, Biare never mentioned her again. No, she couldn’t.

She just hoped and hoped that Dension would forget about her quickly.