FGFM 30🔐

Chapter 30

“Fleu, I missed you….”

The hands around her waist tightened, fully enclosing her in his embrace.

When Fleur turned her head, she saw Aidan, whom she hadn’t seen in a while, looking at her with moist eyes.

“Aidan, you can’t just touch me like this…”

“Why are you so beautiful today?”

“Huh?”

“Is it because of the party? I want to take you somewhere right now and be alone with you…”

His voice, soft and low, felt half-joking, half-serious.

She tried to pull her arms free, but his hold didn’t budge. Even more, his lips kept brushing against the exposed skin, tickling her.

“Hey, weren’t you two supposed to be broken up?”

“That’s right. I clearly saw the news of our engagement being called off in the Empire’s papers.”

Naturally, the crowd’s attention immediately fell on them.

Even though the union between their families was broken, Aidan had attended the party, and now their intimate behavior looked like that of a married couple—it was no wonder people were staring.

“Mr. Howser, a lot of people are watching…”

Dylan, standing behind them with his fists clenched, could no longer contain himself and reached out to pull Aidan away.

But Fleur lightly lifted her hand, silently stopping him.

Dylan, surprised that someone would stop him, frowned in disbelief and paused. Aidan didn’t miss the moment and cheekily stuck his tongue out at him.

“Aidan.”

“Yes, Fleu.”

Aidan buried his face deeper into her shoulder, like a little kitten trying to climb up and settle onto its owner’s shoulder.

Fleur patted his back and whispered just to him.

“If you don’t let go immediately, I’ll drag you out in front of everyone.”

“…You’d really do that to me?”

“Why not, when we’ve already broken off the engagement?”

Feeling her voice turn colder, Aidan raised his head slightly to meet her gaze.

Her eyes were just as icy. Feeling the tension, he tried a playful, sweet expression, but she was now immune to it and didn’t react.

“I’ve told you many times. Don’t touch me recklessly anymore.”

“……”

“But you’ve never listened. Isn’t that the same as disrespecting me and my family?”

“……”

“So, I won’t hold back anymore…”

Before she could finish, Aidan quickly withdrew his arms and took a step back.

Then, like a guilty child, he fiddled with his fingers, glancing at Fleur.

“I’m not ignoring you. I’m just… too happy to see you.”

“I understand how you feel, but from now on, treat me as the head of the Valen family. Got it?”

“…Got it.”

After he nodded firmly, she let go of her cold gaze and gave a small smile.

“Thanks for understanding. Since you came to the party, please also try the desserts I made myself.”

“Of course. You made them. I’ll eat the most.”

“Haha, I’ll even let you take some back to the mansion.”

By now, more people were openly watching their conversation.

“They say young people act like lovers even after breaking up… maybe that’s it.”

“Right? Who knows what the world will come to… But I thought the desserts would be made by Colin Martin?”

“I thought so too…”

Even before the party started, everyone’s attention was completely on them. Fleur, satisfied with the attention, was about to finish her greetings with Aidan.

“Miss Valen.”

Colin, who should have been in the fields, was approaching her. With his yellow eyes, he noticed Aidan and Dylan standing a step away from Fleur and walked over, standing beside her.

“Why did you come this way?”

Fleur asked quietly, and he looked over the three of them before replying.

“It’s almost time for the guests, but no one had arrived, so I wondered if something had happened.”

All the guests had paused, watching the supposedly broken-up couple act like lovers.

“Mr. Howser, I believe this is our first proper introduction. Nice to meet you.”

Colin smiled gently first and offered his hand. Aidan, hiding no disdain, roughly shook it.

“Nice to meet you, Colin Martin.”

“I heard about the unfortunate situation with Miss Valen.”

“We only formally broke off the engagement; our relationship remains the same.”

“Well, friends can hug without romantic feelings, so it’s natural. It doesn’t matter if anyone sees.”

He must have seen them hugging. Even though he spoke with a smile, it sounded almost like a warning. Colin didn’t stop there—he put his arm around Fleur’s shoulder and pulled her toward him.

Aidan and Dylan shot sharp, piercing looks at him.

“Today, I am Miss Valen’s only partner, so please refrain from such actions.”

Even though he could feel those glares, Colin didn’t care.

“Then, Miss Valen, let’s go back to the fields and receive the guests.”

“I will attend to Miss Fleur myself.”

Dylan blocked the hand that tried to subtly pull her away.

At that moment, Aidan looked proud, as if supporting Dylan’s action.

No one raised their voice, yet Fleur felt like she was in the middle of a battlefield and wanted to escape immediately.

This is why I hate being the heroine. They don’t ask me—they just make chaos!

Besides, with all these suitors around, there’s always trouble. She wanted to leave quickly.

First, she pushed Colin’s hand off her shoulder.

“I will greet the guests at the entrance as planned. Colin, please return to the field. Dylan, you take Aidan inside.”

She was telling them all to leave.

“No, I’ll greet the guests here with Miss Valen.”

“I am Fleur’s assistant; I must stay by her side.”

“Fleu, can’t you guide them?”

They didn’t even pretend to listen, stepping closer as if to insist she choose them.

Wait—don’t come any closer!

Surprise Quest
All suitors are around you. Here’s your chance to increase affection.
Raise all characters’ affection by 10% before the party ends.

Why do bad premonitions never fail?

Affection levels by character:

• Dylan Bone: 25%

• Aidan Howser: 30%

• Colin Martin: 5%

• ???: 5%

A small pink status window appeared above their heads.

Yet, in the large status window, [???] still appeared.

Does it show affection because there’s a hidden connection?

Curious, Fleur followed the window as it floated like a butterfly and landed softly above someone’s head.

The stranger who had first appeared with red hair, then brown this morning, now had short black hair like night. His skin was dark, with a large scar near the left corner of his mouth. He wore a deep blue knight’s uniform.

First a commoner, then a noble, and now a knight?

Fleur was too surprised to speak.

“Miss Valen.”

“Sir Fleur.”

“Fleu….”

He kept speaking, making her frown in frustration.

“Everyone, quiet, and do exactly as I said earlier.”

For the first time, Fleur, usually cheerful, got seriously annoyed.

They cautiously stepped back two steps each.

She seized the chance to approach the mysterious stranger.

“Hello. Thank you for coming to the party. We are confirming the guest list. May I know your name?”

Fleur asked, keeping her composure.

“……”

But he said nothing, simply looking down at her with violet eyes.

Why isn’t he speaking? Did he notice I already assigned someone to him?

Surely, he wouldn’t try to kidnap me in such a crowded place…

While pondering, she realized it was time to confirm his identity and maintained eye contact.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but my younger brother cannot speak.”

Another figure in a similar uniform, slightly shorter, approached them.

“……Cannot speak?”

“Yes. He lost his voice to a fever when he was young.”

Impossible. He was talking to me just fine this morning.

Looking up at him again, she noticed him making simple hand movements.

“He means he’s glad to meet you.”

Thanks to her elder brother’s explanation, she realized it was sign language.

What on earth are you even doing?

Recovering from her surprise, she asked her brother again,

“Then, may I know your names?”