"The Idea of a Woman Stealing Someone Else's Partner is Ridiculous," I laughed. But After Being Reborn, I Became a Victim of Such a Woman. However, My New Fiancée was Absolutely Amazing. - Episode 10
About a week passed, and the rumors about my broken engagement had started to die down.
However, my future career was still uncertain.
I tried explaining to my spirit arts teacher how promoting spirit arts and talismans for daily life could contribute to the country’s development. I even showed him some of the talismans I made. But in the end, he just scolded me instead.
“That is not for you to decide. A woman’s duty is to marry, have children, and continue her family line.”
Seriously?
I mean, I understand where he’s coming from.
For a thousand years, our family has maintained the barriers.
If we knew a way to destroy Kaikitou, the entity sealed within the Hundred Barriers, that would be one thing. But we don’t.
If that’s the case, why not just use the spirit power of all the Ouzoku members to burn Kaikitou to ashes?
Well, I’ve never actually seen Kaikitou, so maybe it’s way more dangerous than I imagine.
“Oh no, Lord Matsuo! Hahaha!”
“Hehe, well, you see…”
…Annoying.
I turned toward the source of the noise and saw Shirakubo Yuuna, the school’s most promiscuous girl, happily chatting with some glasses-wearing introvert.
The other girls watched coldly, while the boys either stared in envy or glared in jealousy.
“She’s flirting with another man again. How does she keep avoiding her family’s wrath?”
“Did you hear? She apparently ranked the lowest in class. Even though she keeps asking guys to tutor her, she doesn’t seem to improve at all. Maybe she’s doing something else instead of studying?”
“Koze, Yoko, that’s enough. If she hears us, she’ll just twist it into jealousy on our part.”
“Ah, you’re right.”
The three noble ladies who always looked out for me were incredibly sharp-tongued.
Apparently, Matsuo was someone’s fiancé too.
I spotted a noble lady sitting at the edge of the classroom, being comforted by her friends.
Then I saw her expression—Yuuna’s smug, triumphant smile as she watched the devastated girl.
Disgusting.
I couldn’t believe there were men who fell for someone like her.
Men really only look at a woman’s surface, don’t they?
I wish I could go back and tell my past self—who laughed at the idea of a “boyfriend-stealing girl” actually existing in real life—just how naive he was.
MEN ARE JUST TOO DUMB TO NOTICE!
From a woman’s perspective, she was obviously the worst. How could they not see it?
I placed my textbook on my desk, deciding to ignore the whole situation.
Just then, Ayame and the others stood up.
“Oh my, Lord Arisugawa. Is something the matter?”
“Do you need something?”
“I… I need to talk to Mai.”
“Oh my, about what?”
“How rude. Calling an unmarried noble lady by her first name. What kind of upbringing did the Arisugawa family give you?”
“If you wish to speak with Lady Yuukizaka, shouldn’t you first send her a letter and wait for her response?”
“Guh…!”
He looked like he had swallowed a bitter pill but then turned away and left.
What was that all about?
“He seemed a little different from usual.”
“It doesn’t matter! Lady Yuukizaka is no longer engaged to him!”
“What do you think, Lady Yuukizaka?”
“I have no interest in him. Thanks to you three, I don’t have to deal with any troublesome interactions. I am grateful. Truly, thank you.”
I was seriously grateful.
There was absolutely nothing I wanted to discuss with that idiot!
But still… I had no idea what to do about my future.
Would getting a job at the Barrier Management Bureau be my best option?
—————————–
That evening, I let out a deep sigh as I returned home.
Just then, the postman arrived.
That was rare.
I accepted the letter, noticing it was addressed to both my father and me.
The sender was…
Ichijou-no-Go?!
Whaaaat?!
Wait, wait, wait—this makes no sense!
Why would the head of the Guardian Ten Commandments send a letter to a minor, soon-to-be-erased branch family like us?!
Isn’t this really bad?!
Dad, hurry up and get home!
I’m too scared to open this!!
——————————
“Mai? What are you doing at the gate?”
“F-Father! You’re home early! No, actually, perfect timing! Look at this!”
“Hmm? …?! Ichijou-no-Go?!”
Yep, that’s the exact reaction I expected.
We exchanged looks, then rushed inside.
As I prepared tea, my father, still in his coat, opened the letter.
I was terrified.
Placing the tea on the table, I asked nervously, “What does Lord Ichijou-no-Go want…?”
The Ichijou-no-Go family was vast.
There was the main house, and above that, the head family.
Even among the branch families, several bore the Ichijou no Go name.
But regardless of which one it was—just the name Ichijou-no-Go alone was intimidating.
They were far above us in status!
They were nobles equal to the Emperor himself!
I turned to my father, who was now scowling so intensely I almost wet myself.
“Did you make talismans?”
“Um, I did as part of my research. They’re self-taught, though.”
“Did you give them to the Demon Hunting Unit?”
“When Mrs. Ito asked for rice balls, I wrapped them with a few talismans as a small token of gratitude for their protection…”
“Haahhh…”
My father clutched his head and let out the deepest sigh I’d ever heard.
Wait…
Did my talismans cause some kind of disaster?!
“Of all things, you gave them to the First-Class Special Task Force?!”
“Huh?! Huuuh?!”
“The captain of that unit—Lord Ichijou-no-Go, the head of the main family—wants to personally thank you and visit our home.”
“Whaaaaat?!”
THE HEAD OF THE MAIN FAMILY?!
He’s coming here?!
To thank me?!
For the talismans?!
WHAT?!
“Lord Ichijou-no-Go himself wants to visit. We need to prepare immediately. There’s no way we can refuse. I’ll consult the Kujou-no-Go family and see if we can arrange a meeting there instead, but…”
“Y-Yes…”
“Go to the main house, borrow some money, and buy a kimono and makeup!”
“Y-Yes!!”