Avoiding Death in an Otome Game

Chapter 14: Chapter - 14: Leaving For The Capital

So the matter is.

Two months ago my father and Marquis Mizo had a meeting and they somehow reached the topic of the engagement.

Allia was already engaged three years ago with the second son of the Marquis of Conrad.

And now Marquis Mizo is thinking about Elena’s future.

Unlike Allia who will be staying at Murlin as the next Lord of the territory even after her marriage, Elena will be married off to another family, which seems to cause some concern for her parents.

And of course the first name that came up was mine. Because obviously they would trust the family of their best friends the most.

Well I don’t think in the least bit that this topic came suddenly.

Both families must have been thinking about it for some time but I have been ignoring it to buy more time.

But I am really not ready!

I have more urgent matters to handle than this love and marriage things.

I need to find the identity of that evil magic user before it does something, or otherwise my life may remain in danger. And I am not the only one in the risk here.

Elena can also become a victim.

And how can I get engaged to Elena after knowing what happens in the ending?

There is a huge chance that the game scenario can come true in a different way.

Besides Elena’s dream is to become a sage, so I don’t want to hinder her because I also have the same dream.

I also want to reach the peak of the magic world. Walk the road to become the strongest.

But our parents don’t seem to give any heed to it because according to them ’it takes a lifetime to reach that level, you can’t ignore everything else for it’.

”Your father and I were already engaged at your age”

’That was because Father was already head over the hills for you’

Those were my internal thoughts but I held back saying those words, it will just add more fuel to the fire.

But I can’t just leave it like this. Otherwise I will be dragged into this mess before I could do something about it.

”Kai, your mother is right. Once you get someone special in your life, it becomes more meaningful.”

My father who has been watching in silence like an uninvolved party, finally opened his mouth.

But saying things in a philosophical way is not going to work on me.

”Mother, shouldn’t someone first ask Lady Elena if she even wants to get into this engagement or not?”

I voiced out my concern/excuse to buy some time. But what I received in return was the confused look of my Mother.

I don’t think my parents are so rigid but why are they ignoring such an important part? Are their personalities catching up to their ages?

[Author: What an ageist]

Then her expression changed into a smirk and she said.

”Why don’t you ask her yourself? Let’s leave earlier for the capital and meet Elena. She and Adelia will be staying at their Villa in the capital”

Mother stood up and continued as she walked out of the garden.

”You have two weeks, so also make your decision in the meantime”

She left while saying that like it is no big deal.

Two weeks?

I need two years to solve this problem!

*Sigh*

.....

Two weeks have passed faster than I expected and I have not thought of anything yet. It feels like my brain has ran out of ideas.

Right now I am double checking all my luggage I need to take with me to the capital.

Although there is our villa in the capital and also my uncle’s mansion, Father still wants me to stay at the academy’s dorm after the admission.

Of course for the ’experience’.

”You should know how to live by yourself, without your parents and servants looking after your needs”

Those were the words he told me and I understand that but to think even Ian, whose house is in the capital was told to stay in the dorm by my uncle.

Uncle said ”you will not be getting this chance again so enjoy the academy’s life to the fullest”

Sometimes I feel like my family is really weird or should I say unique because I don’t think there are many noble households with such philosophy.

But I am feeling jealous of Ian who has no such pressure or obligations to get engaged. Apparently because uncle’s real position is administrative and his noble rank is honorary count without a territory.

Although Ian will inherit the title of the count, but without the territory, he will be either serving either a higher rank noble or the royal court like uncle, it will largely depend on his performance in the royal academy.

Now back to the topic. For the time being we will be staying at our Villa in the capital until the school starts.

This time both mother and father are going with me and I am pretty sure about what they are expecting. I am also sure there will be Marquis Mizo in the capital as well.

It feels like a hunt, and I am their prey.

I will just have to make them realize that they are doing wrong by ignoring my and Elena’s opinion in this matter.

First I need to talk to Elena so we can short it out from the both sides. I am sure she might be in the similar dilemma as me.

I left the room while thinking about all these things and saw my parents waiting in the main hall, ready to leave.

”All ready? So let’s leave” Mother said as she and father stepped out to leave.

*Aren’t they too eager for my doom?*

We headed to our carriage as the servants loaded the luggage on another carriage.

We headed out for the capital.

The command of the city will be in Sir Cecil’s hands until my parents return.

Even with ’Tempest Horses’ pulling the carriages, we reached our villa in the capital at sunset.

[Author: Tempest horse is kind of a magic beast. I have no more explanation for their travelling speed]

The Villa seems to be the reflection of our main mansion. But unlike the mansion of House Shen in Cerulean City which was passed from the previous generations, the villa was built to serve as the family’s residence whenever they visited the capital for political affairs, noble gatherings, or royal summons.

I hit the bed as soon as we finished our dinner, not because I am tired but because I need to save energy for tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will be visiting Mizo family’s villa. Mother told me to ask Elena about her decision myself.

But is not that too irresponsible of them?

Anyway, I will see what happens tomorrow.

There is no point in worrying myself about it now. Can’t tire my brain before the challenge arrives.

....

So we are here, at the Mizo family’s Villa.

*Can I run away?*

[Author: Probably not with two grand mages around you]

I hesitantly got off the carriage with the bouquet that my mother almost forced on me to give to Elena.

”This is for you, Lady Elena”

I gave the bouquet to Elena while peeking to gauge her reaction.

”Thank you Lord Kai”

She replied with a sweet smile.

Although she is just fifteen years old, girls really do look mature in these medieval noble clothes.

We entered the Villa as I was thinking about all this. Honestly my mind is a mess because I never faced such a problem in my previous life.

Marquis Mizo led us to the great hall where everything was already prepared by the servants.

Our parents started with some ideal chats but I was really not keen to their talk.

I am very nervous.

”I want to apologize beforehand for this, it’s just that my son wanted to talk to Elena before the engagement”

Mother decided to cut to chase as she brought up the topic.

But what do you mean by before the engagement?

Do I even have any say in this or not?

”You don’t have to apologize for anything lady Kira, it is normal for kids to be nervous about all these things”

”You are right, remember how you get so nervous when I told you to send the marriage proposal to Lady Adelia”

”Yude, at least refrain from saying such things in front of children”

”Are you really getting embarrassed Gael? You are already the father of an engaged girl”

My father and Marquis Mizo again started their friendly quarrel.

They really enjoy teasing each other, aren’t they?

”Mylord, please stop it already, let’s focus on the topic here first”

Mother reprimands Father.

She used honorific to remind him that there are still servants around so they should not act so freely.

”Hm right, so what do you want to talk about with Elena?”

Marquis Mizo regained his composition and asked me a direct question.

”I think we should let them talk privately, so they can ask each other whatever is in their minds”

Luckily Marchioness Adelia gave me a helping hand.

She told us that we can talk privately in their tea garden so Elena led me there.

A maid served us tea and retreated to the distance so as not to hear our discussion.

Honestly I am getting more nervous as we sit there without saying anything for a few minutes.

Now what should I even say!?