Daphne hastily added an excuse.
"Lydia, I'm serious. I was just worried because you said you were going on the subjugation expedition."
"I told you not to worry. Lydia and I have worked together many times since we were young. She'll cover for me well."
'Is he wearing rose-colored glasses or what? Seriously, does he think Daphne is only worried about herself?'
"I don't want Lydia to go there!"
Daphne, apparently frustrated as well, shot back in an agitated tone.
Felix smiled as if even that was adorable and replied. And those words shocked me, Daphne, and Rachel alike.
"It's fine. Lydia won't get hurt."
The atmosphere instantly turned cold, and Felix seemed to realize his mistake, adding, "I'll protect her so she doesn't get hurt," but it already seemed too late.
And I had no intention of letting this fed opportunity slip by.
"Like His Highness said, I don't get hurt easily. The bruise from Mother has already healed, you know? So don't worry about me."
At the mention of her mother, Daphne's face flushed slightly with embarrassment as she spoke to me and Felix.
"Even so, I don't like it. And for the time being, I'd rather not see you, Your Highness."
Daphne vanished before anyone could stop her, and Felix sighed, loosening his cravat as if he was frustrated.
Playing pitiful while also getting under Felix's skin—it was killing two birds with one stone. Thanks to this young lady beside me, who still hadn't composed her shocked expression, the rumors would only grow by tomorrow.
I joined the subjugation expedition, carrying those inflated rumors on my back.
Because of the rumors about me, the departure ceremony—which should have been lively for the sake of the knights' morale—was utterly chaotic.
To make matters worse, I was stationed right next to Felix, at the very front.
"That's a handkerchief I haven't seen before."
"Yes. I received it as a gift."
Rachel had indeed given me a handkerchief the day before the departure. She handed it to me as an apology, but as soon as I thanked her, she started crying and asked if I really had to go, which caught me off guard.
I had to exhaust myself calming her down before anyone could see, lest someone mistake it for a friendship for the ages.
I tied the handkerchief Rachel gave me into my updo, and it seemed Felix had noticed it too.
The way he spoke as if he knew every single handkerchief I owned gave me chills for a moment, but then I belatedly remembered the hair ornament he had given me.
So that remark was his way of subtly criticizing me for not wearing what he gave me.
Felix had given me a hair ornament a while back, as if bestowing charity, but it was so excessively flashy that wearing it to a subjugation would only get me labeled as a thoughtless lady, so I hadn't worn it.
I couldn't say that outright, so I decided to play the wounded maiden act again today.
"The ornament Your Highness gave me is safely stored away. I want to wear it on a happy day."
"I see."
Felix nodded, looking somehow pleased, and I briefly regretted my choice. But that regret was short-lived, as Felix then said something so saccharine that I nearly fell off my horse.
"Even if you pretend otherwise, I already know how you feel about me. But let me make this clear: to me, you are nothing more than a little sister."
...What is he talking about? Does he think I like him right now?
I don't know when this misunderstanding started, but it didn't feel pleasant at all.
No wonder he'd been looking at me strangely ever since the Emperor ordered our engagement. It turns out he was pitying me the whole time... So this guy was spouting nonsense about me becoming his servant while thinking I had feelings for him?
'He's hopeless.'
With nothing else to say, I could only manage an awkward smile.
Apparently, that looked bitter to Felix, because he suddenly started complimenting me.
"When I first brought you here, I truly intended to treat you like a younger sibling. You had such a gentle heart and beautiful, clear eyes."
"Ah, yes..."
"And as I watched you become a member of the ducal house, I thought you would grow into a fine person."
"I see."
"But never as my woman. I'm sorry, but to me, you will always remain that child."
I see. That was something I had absolutely no curiosity about. It's fortunate that I have zero interest in Felix, but if he leaves such openings, no wonder the original Lydia couldn't give up on him.
Besides, I wasn't angry because Felix rejected me—I was angry because he told me to become his servant. And there was no apology for that at all.
'Did he think I'd be swept away just because he talks so smoothly?'
"Once Daphne and I are married, I will personally look into your marriage prospects."
"Excuse me?"
"It means I care about you as much as you care about me."
"I do?"
At this point, I just wanted the subjugation to start already. I'd never had such a long conversation with Felix before, so I didn't realize it, but he was, how should I put it... rather full of himself.
Is this what they call excessive self-awareness? I should have skipped the wounded maiden act.
"And I was worried about growing distant from you... but I want to thank you for personally joining the subjugation for my sake."
"Between us, thanks are unnecessary, cough."
What's with this cough? My throat had been itchy since morning, and now it was even starting to sting.
I ignored it when it was just itchy, thinking it was nothing, but perhaps because I hadn't been sick since reincarnating into this body, even a mild sting felt like great pain.
"What's with the whining?"
Felix asked playfully, but my throat was hurting so strangely that even that remark annoyed me.
I tried to speak again, but only a few coughs came out, so I ended up having to take a few sips of water.
"Are you alright? If it's too much, you don't have to go."
"Hmph, I'm fine. I'm fine, so if you really want to thank me... would you grant me one request?"
"...That's difficult. I've truly come to love Daphne. I'm sorry, Lydia."
Oh, I'm not marrying you! I heard my patience crack, but I held it together once again.
I steadied my breath so my voice wouldn't come out furious, then spoke.
"I will break off our engagement, Your Highness."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. Since that's what Your Highness wants."
"Lydia..."
For a moment, I wanted to request a ban on 'woeful expressions.' I wonder if people see me that way too.
"Instead, I want the Tuline estate—which Your Highness granted to the Cheshire family upon our engagement—to be transferred to me."
But this time, Felix truly looked troubled. However, before he could even ask why, we had already reached the forest's edge.
It left a bad taste that the conversation ended without a proper conclusion, but from now on, I had to focus on surviving.
"Form ranks and advance!"
Felix's gaze turned sharp in an instant as he commanded the knights. True to his role as the male lead, Felix wielded top-tier swordsmanship and cut down monsters without hesitation.
Having unintentionally served as a healer, I'd seen all sorts of things, but watching monsters being sliced apart in real-time was a first, and my mind began to grow hazy.
Originally, this empire was land protected by a dragon. However, the empire's sacred dragon had vanished over two hundred years ago. Not only were neighboring nations encroaching on the empire that had lost the dragon's blessing, but now even monsters were creeping out.
Thus, it was the duty of the imperial family to never forget their role, to diligently conduct regular subjugations, and to keep the empire's people safe.
Of course, since they couldn't be on guard at all times, there was a separate knight order for subjugations, and these regular subjugations were somewhat like a show of strength.
"Your Highness!"
That didn't mean it was entirely safe, though. This was real combat, so caution was required.
But for some reason, Felix seemed unable to focus easily.
"Snap out of it!"
I lunged forward and sliced down a monster that was about to pounce on Felix in one stroke. Thanks to my considerable stamina, the swordsmanship I'd picked up while working under Felix proved useful.
In fact, this was precisely why I had insisted on joining the subjugation. Sure, I got splattered with sticky monster fluids, but at least this much should make it clear that I was of help.
