Marielle Clarac’s Engagement Chapter 2 Part3

2.The spring that arrived too late.

*Simon’s Pov*

2 part 3

As I antic.i.p.ated, Marielle had a bright personality and wasn't malicious. She's always behaving humbly, not intruding, and if she was talked to, in return, an unexpected reply would come. As Lord Emile said, she seemed to have a good head. She read a lot of stories and at the same time occasionally wrote them herself. She is good at outlining and summarizing when we were talking about various things. Because the other party is intelligent, I didn't feel unnecessary irritation. I feel satisfied to have found a good partner.

My mother however, seemed to hold just a bit different opinion.

"Simon, are you really fine with that ojou-san?"

After the introduction of both families, I was asked a question mixed with dissatisfaction and with extremely complicated expressions.

"Yes. Since I thought she was good, I proposed to her. Does mother not like her?"

"I wouldn't say so but……"

My mother made a troubled face.

"I understand that she's a quiet and neat girl. She seemed to be educated, I wouldn't say that there is a problem but."

There is no problem. But, she's just extremely plain.

An existence that you'll come to inadvertently forget, just blending too much in the surrounding scenery.

Because of her weak presence she's difficult to evaluate. A creature clad in protective color. I really understand why mother felt that she is unsatisfying. She must have wanted someone easier to understand, beautiful, and charming, right.

Marielle concealed her eccentric character perfectly. No matter how you would look at her, she's super ordinary. As if she was playing the role of the young miss without features. Her fame is good if we were to speak about virtues, as she is becoming an existence similar to the air.

If you don't know of her insides, then evaluating her would be difficult, right. I thought for a while about what would be suitable to praise her. Conventional compliment like words just wouldn't come out. As she acted in that way intentionally, I couldn't find parts of her that could be of attentions.

If she were to quickly reveal her true character, the engagement would be broken. She must be guarding against this right. When she learned that it was all a futile effort, what kind of expression would she make? As it seemed to be interesting, I'll be waiting for the most effective moment, and I won't inform her of anything yet. I'll face her pretending to be fooled.

As I imagined her surprised face, laughter welled up inside me. On the other hand, I felt complicated. About her hiding it, it's not like I would pardon it. Although she's my fiancé, but our relations.h.i.+p is still nothing but formal.

However I also felt somewhat dissatisfied.

"Vice Captain, your fiancé has come"

When I went to the garden, my subordinate came to convey the message. It appears that Marielle arrived exactly at the appointed time. I left my horse in the care of the person in charge and headed towards the building.

The Marielle that until now didn't behave selfishly and didn't pester me even once, just the other day asked a curious request.

"If possible, I would like to visit the Imperial Knight Order quarter once but…."

At the moment I was told this, I thought it was a strange request, but I understood that this was likely for collecting materials for novel. As long as you don't have a relative as a member, for a woman, the headquarter of the Knight Order is a world that she wouldn't be able to peek at. Has she embarked on the cultivation of an unknown area?

I knew it since before the engagement, but writing novels wasn't just her hobby but it was a serious job she worked hard on. Several counters of books were published by a perfectly regular publisher.

After reading the novels that were forcefully given to me by my cousin, I realized that there were intersected stories I heard somewhere. Such as royal court love pattern staged with some small incidents, but if the person who knew of the original stories reads it, they would immediately know what was referred to. For that reason, they seemed to circulate a rumor about the author like 'isn't she a n.o.blewoman?'. 'Agnes Vivier is a pen name and not the author's real name'. It's due to the rumor about who is that person's real ident.i.ty, it looked like the readers held interest in the rumor.

……As for me, I understood. It's surely her. This vivid description of the villian young miss is surely Miss Aurelia right. The a.s.sault that happens because a dress of the same color the protagonist wore, isn't this exactly like that evening?

When all is said and done, the hero of the following story, isn't he an imperial knight? Was she influenced by the engagement? By no means I am being used as reference, right.

…….Seems likely.

"If I am going to be a hindrance then I won't be unreasonable. But, based on what I heard of that place – in order to deliver things to their family – the family members have to meet a superior first and it seems that unexpected outsider are coming and going right? If granted the permission, I would like to see the place where Simon-sama work at"

You would delightedly accept the request of a girl that wanted to see the things she doesn't know about her fiancé, right. I nodded while wavering as to whether be shocked or to laugh at Marielle who well-behavingly asked me.

Well, as long as it's just a tour then it's fine. At most she'll use it for her next work. But please don't write in a way that it will be understood that I was used as a reference.

Marielle was waiting in front of the entrance way and behaving like the daughter of an aristocrat , she was accompanied by a maid. I asked my subordinate whether they didn't let her go inside, but I was told that a message contains 'I'll wait here' was returned to him.

"Marielle"

When she noticed I called out to her, she turned her head in my direction. At that moment, as if surprised by something Marielle's eyes opened wide.

Covering her mouth with her hands, staring at me as if she wanted to eat me. Is there something wrong? I corrected my posture.

……Not particularly, I thought I was normal.

"Ojou-sama, nosebleeds!?"

"N-no, I'm fine. I'm fine, I somehow managed to endure….Ku, what destructive power. It was more than I expected……!"

"A sight for sore eyes, right! I understand your feelings!"

Turning her back towards me, the maid sneakily argued. I seemed to have heard nosebleeds, is she in poor condition?

"What's wrong? Do you feel unwell somewhere?"

When I placed a hand on her trembling shoulder to peer at her, she hurriedly smoothed her expression and raised her face.

……..It looks like your doing fine. Your cheeks are fl.u.s.tered, your eyes are sparkling and—–brightly glaring at me.

"No, don't mind it please. The sunlight was a bit too strong, so my eyes were just dazzled. It was too radiant."

Certainly it's a fine weather today. But the sun is facing your back you know.

With that strange feverish gaze, Marielle looked at me. From top to bottom, as if carefully tasting me. And then, she breathed in. Uhn, if explained with words it's a girl absorbed and fascinated by her fiancé. However I can feel something different. Is it really just this? Isn't there another emotion mixed in?

"Let's get inside. We'll visit the training place at a later time, I'll offer you some tea first"

I entrusted my horse riding whip to an attendant and when I urged Marielle —-, at that moment her expression become very disappointed. What!?

Her gaze pa.s.sed through me and went towards the attendant. What were you expecting from there?

Glancing at the servant I thought of checking on him. He is a juvenile just enlisted. Younger than Marielle, an apprentice boy. It seems like he picked her interest, I don't think he has any point that stand out but…..

And, so far if I think about it, Marielle's eyes weren't on the servant's face but on his hands. What he was holding was the whip he received from me.

…….About that, what is the problem?

Feeling like I shouldn't pursue the matter, I urged Marielle in a slightly forceful way. The other member's eyes that we happened to meet upon turned towards us with curiosity. Everyone held interest towards who was my fiance, and after seeing Marielle's figure they had doubtful expressions. Thinking that there was meat to eat but got chicken instead, it's not actually bad but it's not what would they expected – this kind of feeling floated on their faces.

A woman's value isn't determined by just the appearance you know. Then what kind of worth does Marielle has? If asked, I'll be in trouble.

Making way towards the drawing room, we took a rest while talking without any obstruction, and seemed to have caught the sound of someone conversing. It's my superior that came to peek in.

"Oh, this is Simon's fiancé! Do you mind if I intrude?"

While refraining from doing something like lip service, he was already next to me. At the entrance of the middle-aged man that didn't try to hide his curious spirit, Marielle wasn't surprised and stood up to greet him..

"Nice to meet you, I am Marielle Clarac. I'm really sorry for making such an impudent request today. I wanted to see the state of affairs of the Knights Order and everyone that is a members"

"Your very welcome, I am the Captain Albert Poisson. Don't mention it, It's an honor to make your acquaintance. It's a pleasant thing, to be able to receive such a lovely young lady in this squalid place."

The Captain that is fond of woman sprouted compliments to such a plain looking girl like Marielle. It's good that he didn't make a fool of her by a.s.sessing her for her appearance but, being a bit too frivolous was this superior's defect. With this, if he can't do his job properly then, he should quickly get lost from here.

Even though it's not unusual for the member's family and friends to come, just the fact that it would invite such curiosity just by being my fiancé is troublesome. It seems there are also other people behind the door. There are sign of them sneakily peeking through the gap.

Everybody seemed to have too much free time. Let's properly a.s.sign them work later.

"Iya, everyone is interested, since Simon finally got engaged. It may be troublesome to Miss Marielle but, please pardon us"

"No, it's a place that is more pleasant than I thought so I am actually jealous. Being a woman myself, I have to always stay at home, so looking at the scene of colleague getting along at work, I do feel a bit of yearning"

"Hahaha, well there are also funny aspects but the Order is just full of foul guys, you know. Also this fellow that has such a face, when faced with guys as opponent he won't show leniency. He always make my subordinates scream."

"Fufu, Leader is a big hearted person, right. Doesn't this just come off to balance it?"

"Certainly, it compensate where I lack, so I am grateful."

Who's big hearted. This old man is only pretentious.  Would such an always merry-man be fit to be the Captain of the Knights Order?

From an external person view point I might have looked like I was in a staff officer position, but at needed time the Captain was a personage that could become vicious and determined. While I was used on the front, I could glimpse at the evilness of his person.

While looking like he was overcome with curiosity, he must have a purpose in appraising Marielle. Even though I understood, I let it be. Probably, it's needless to worry about Marielle.

The both of them were in a strange excited state by being together. No matter how I looked at it, they seemed to be probing each other about me. I understand what the Captain is concerned about there but, I wonder what does Marielle wants to know?

The subordinates that couldn't be satisfied with just peeking inside, barged in. In a moment, the drawing room was full of people. Everyone that was interested in Marielle asked her a lot of questions but, among them I become a topic in a natural way. There was no point in Marielle that could make you want to know more, and so their interest was weakened rapidly. However, as I was looking, I realized that it wasn't only that.

While responding reservedly in a safe manner, Marielle nonchalantly conducted the subject. Skillfully turning the current from herself, the talk moved in my direction. About how I was doing in the knight order, how did I looked like from the surroundings —– all while pretending to be interested like a fiancé with a worried figure, steadily acquiring the informations she wanted to know.

……..I always felt it, but Marielle seems to have talent for intelligence. Without making people interested in herself, she is proficient in stratagems to get information out of a person mouth about things she wants to hear. Now, if she was a man she would've been quite a scary person right

—–No. Wasn't her brother's character similar to her too?

Speaking about the father, the impression that the people of that house gives is that they don't use ordinary methods.

After that, the surrounding continued to be boisterous, curious onlookers rolled out until the end. Without losing her good mood, Marielle went back with a satisfied expression. No matter how you looked at it, this wasn't the behaviour of someone that didn't want to impose on her fiancé's time. What's with that fullfied face that full of a sense of achievement! In the end, was the appointment with me just a way to gather materials for her novels? I knew it, but she really can't think about anything but novels.

The subordinates that abandoned their duties to amuse themselves with idle talks, had plenty of work to do until night that I left behind for them; and after I returned to the office, for some reason the Captain followed me.

"Isn't she an ojou-san that matches you quite well?"

I looked on coldly at him, to the teasing that comes my way.

"Is that so, if it's Captain who says this, then I am happy to receive this compliment"

"She isn't a mediocre girl like her look suggest. She looks to have a good head, and she seems to have insight. If she was a sly woman that was aiming at only the benefit then, I had planned to say 'don't you think that you are not suited to be a bride of the Flaubert House' but……….something, feels different."

Puzzled over it, the Captain fell back on the chair.

"To put it simply it looked like she only wanted to know more about you. Iya, as a fiancé it's the correct behaviour. There is nothing wrong with it but…….it wasn't because she is in love with you, and I believe it's because of a more realistic reason"

As expected, the Captain was able to properly see through Marielle's essence during that exchange. However, he seems to have not realized the extent to where the origin of her thought and action go to. That's normal. If there was a person that noticed, then they would surely be of the same kind as her.

I even realized it before the engagement so there isn't really a problem. I don't intend to look down and lump together the novels in vogue as something vulgar. At any rate, her works properly has a theme that properly appeal to the readers' heart. I haven't read just the books that my cousin forced on me at the beginning, but all the books published until now. While you could guess that the author herself enjoyed it too when she was writing, they were nothing but works that somehow remained in your heart. About the observation of people that Marielle also does, she must really like writing. In other words she likes human beings. 'Isn't that a good point?' I thought.

――But recently, I distinctly sensed a strange feeling that I shouldn’t feel. I wonder where I feel dissatisfied? If she will properly fulfill the duties of a wife then, even if she has a little strange hobby, I intend to approve of it.

"Do you have any idea about the reason?"

To the Captain's question, I nodded.

"Yes. It's not something to worry about. It's for a very personal purpose, there's nothing wrong with it."

"Though it's like this, you look dissatisfied"

Clearly being pointed out, I went silent for a moment.

"……..Do I look like that?"

"Have you had a proper talk with her? Not only for appearance, but truly. Don't just deceive her with that kind of forced smile, you should put in some effort to mutually understand each other. When she'll come to be a part of your family, she'll become the partner you'll have to a.s.sociate with for a lifetime. It's better if you'll face the same side. If you just gloss it over, it will become just a relations.h.i.+p where you are just a couple on the surface, and you'll cry if it's too cold. And because it's not a marriage of love, the distance between you two will increase further, right. You must get along more"

I lost my word to the Captain that easily saw through it, regardless of how much I tried to gloss it over on the surface. I have all the intention to properly get along with her but……Now that he said it, it certainly look like it's something for just appearance. Even if it appears like we frequent each other without problems, I can't say that we'll accept it in our heart. We are mutually hiding our real nature. If I was told that I only have an arranged marriage with her for show, I wouldn't be able to deny it.

Should I tell her? I knew it long ago. I already know of your hobby.

If so, will she face me with her real intentions? However, I ended up behaving like I implicitly smelled something and was a.s.serting her reaction. She must be on guard about that. If I suddenly started to talk about it, on the contrary it could worsen our relations.h.i.+p.

What should I do…….

TN:Naoriel

ED:Ally-el

Naoriel’s little corner°•○●•♡

Nosebleed lol

I think this is the picture: