NMSP 03

Chapter 03

“What a coincidence. I’m also very disappointed in you.”

“……!”

“If I’ve been considerate toward you dozens of times, then shouldn’t you at least be able to understand and eat seafood with me this one time? It’s not like you can’t eat it. You just dislike it. Besides, this restaurant doesn’t only serve seafood dishes.”

I spoke while thinking about all the times I had adjusted myself for Andrew.

Andrew looked at me as if he could not believe what he was hearing.

“Amy, you’re strange today. You could normally just let something like this go, couldn’t you? You’ve always done that, so what’s the problem now?”

It seemed odd to him that the person who had always endured everything was no longer willing to endure it.

‘How shameless can he be?’

Eventually, I quietly took a breath and spoke.

“Andrew, you really are a selfish person.”

“Hah, what did you just say…?”

Andrew widened his eyes in disbelief before frowning and laughing dryly.

As if he had never imagined that I, the girl who always followed behind him, would dare say something like that.

“You’re saying I’m selfish?”

“Yes, I am.”

I nodded once more.

At that, Andrew’s face flushed red and blue with anger.

Then, the next moment, he opened his mouth.

“…You were the one who said you liked me like this first. Wasn’t that right, Amy?”

“!”

His words were shameless, but honestly, they were not wrong.

At least, not until a week ago.

“Yes, I did say that, Andrew. Even if you knew nothing about me, even if you always came first in our relationship, I still kept comforting myself by saying I was fine with it.”

After saying that much, I took a sip of cold water to wet my throat before continuing.

“…Even while knowing that the person you loved was not me, but Idelia — the Duchess of Erteisha.”

“What? How do you know that?”

At my words, Andrew showed a completely different expression from before.

‘So he really is shocked.’

Seeing his face, I sneered inwardly.

‘You make it that obvious, yet you expect other people not to notice? That’s even more ridiculous.’

Still, outwardly, I kept a calm expression.

My goal was to break off the engagement without making things bigger than necessary.

Instead of answering his question directly, I changed the subject.

“Of course, even from my perspective, the Duchess of Erteisha is a lovely person. There’s nothing she can’t do, she’s beautiful, kind…”

I openly praised Idelia.

At that, Andrew shamelessly nodded along as if he had never been surprised in the first place.

“Yes, exactly. Even you admit it. So don’t tell me you’re trying to say you’re jealous of Idelia or something?”

In the end, he was still trying to make this my fault instead of his.

I scoffed.

“Hah, jealous? There’s no way. She’s someone I respect too.”

Jealousy is something you always feel toward your older brother, Andrew.

Mocking him inwardly, I continued speaking.

“But I could never become a woman like her. Maybe that’s only natural. Which means that, to you, I’ll always remain second after the Duchess.”

I set my glass down on the table with a firm expression.

“So, with that said, let’s end our engagement.”

Ah.

I finally said it.

The words “break off the engagement” felt even more refreshing leaving my mouth than I had expected.

But after hearing me, Andrew still looked completely unable to understand the situation.

After staring blankly for a long time, he finally asked,

“…What? What are you talking about? Breaking off the engagement?”

“I mean exactly what I said. I’m not saying this impulsively either. This was something I absolutely needed to say today.”

But the moment I finished speaking, Andrew’s lips twisted strangely.

It was clear from his face that he believed there had to be some hidden scheme behind my sudden change in attitude.

“This isn’t some trick to get my attention, is it, Amy?”

“Of course not.”

Sorry, but I refuse that misunderstanding.

Though, if I were the pitiful old me, maybe I would have considered trying something like that once.

I smiled lightly as if it meant nothing.

“You’re engaged to a woman so lacking that she can’t even compare to the Duchess of Erteisha, so naturally you’re always dissatisfied. You’re already too busy trying to spend your time on her. How could you possibly have any time left for me? I understand. All the times you were late, all the times you ignored my feelings…”

I continued speaking while looking straight into Andrew’s shocked, empty eyes.

He seemed quite surprised that I had noticed and pointed out things even he himself had not consciously realized.

“All of it was because, in truth, it didn’t really matter whether a fiancée like me existed or not.”

“!”

It seemed I had struck directly at the truth, because his lips moved slightly.

“I think I understand now. As an engagement partner, rather than a cold man like you who doesn’t love me, it’s better to be with a man who cares about me deeply and puts me above everyone else.”

Not just for an engagement, but probably for marriage as well.

“At first, I thought things would work out if I just kept trying harder. But now I know that idea was wrong. We were always looking at different places and thinking different thoughts.”

“…Amy.”

“Now that you’ve heard all this, you understand too, don’t you? Even if we got married, we would never have a satisfying married life.”

The moment I mentioned marriage, Andrew’s eyes changed.

For an instant, perhaps he had imagined married life with me as well.

Maybe that was why he answered so easily in the next moment.

“…Fine. Let’s break off the engagement, Amy.”

“You made the right decision, Andrew.”

Only then did I finally smile in relief.

Then, before standing up, I gave him one final warning.

“Oh, right. Please make sure no strange rumors spread afterward. I hate troublesome things.”

“…I feel the same way.”

Was he upset because I had said the words he wanted to say first?

Looking down at Andrew as he bit his lip slightly while answering, I smiled brightly.

“Then this works out well for both of us. I’ll be leaving first.”

I turned around and was about to leave the restaurant first.

That was when Andrew’s voice stopped me.

“…Wait!”

“What is it?”

“Don’t come crying to me later saying, ‘I didn’t really mean the breakup.’ I absolutely hate pathetic behavior.”

Andrew added those words arrogantly, as though he firmly believed I would definitely do exactly that.

“You don’t need to worry. That will never happen.”

I lightly shook my head.

Surely this was the clean breakup answer he wanted.

…Or so I thought.

“…Hah?”

For some reason, Andrew laughed in disbelief at my response.

The air outside after ending the engagement felt refreshing.

‘I’m finally free!’

I spread both my arms wide and cheered.

Only then did it truly feel real that the engagement was over.

Smiling brightly, I was about to climb into the carriage to return to the mansion.

Just then, my maid Mary, who had been waiting inside, jumped out in surprise.

“Lady Amy? Why are you already back? Where is Young Lord Andrew…? Ah, wait, don’t tell me…”

She suddenly stopped speaking and carefully watched my expression.

‘Well, it’s obvious.’

Andrew often left me behind first, so Mary had probably assumed the same thing happened again this time.

‘But it’s alright, Mary.’

Today, Andrew did not throw me away first.

I was the one who kicked him out of my life.

“I’m breaking off the engagement. With Young Lord Andrew.”

In the end, I calmly muttered those words.