The Sickly Villainess: No, I Wasn’t Poisoned! I'm Just Frail! - Chapter 1

“Kataryna, I’m sorry, but I have to break off our engagement.”

“What…?”

In the academy’s salon, seated across from my fiancé, I could only stare in stunned silence at his sudden declaration.

“Why, Crain? We’ve always gotten along so well, haven’t we?”

I, Kataryna Celthis, became engaged to this young man, Crain Percy, three years ago. It was Crain’s family, the Percy Count’s household, that proposed the engagement to my family, the Celthis Marquisate. Our families’ territories are adjacent, fostering a long-standing relationship through trade and commerce.

With both families’ support and my own lack of objections—given our childhood friendship—the engagement was accepted.

“Your family was the one who proposed this engagement! How could you change your mind so suddenly? Give me a proper explanation!”

“…”

Under my questioning, Crain looked away, avoiding my gaze in awkward silence. After initiating this breakup, he dared to stay silent, unwilling to give a reason. His weak, cowardly attitude only fueled my anger, and I prepared to demand answers. But just then, a female student seated nearby suddenly stood and moved to sit next to Crain.

“Please forgive me, Miss Kataryna. This is all my fault!”

“And you are…?”

“It’s our first time speaking, isn’t it? I’m Cathy Brown!”
The petite girl with pink hair introduced herself confidently.
Cathy Brown. If I recall correctly, she’s a baron’s daughter from the class next door. I’d heard her name but had never actually spoken to her. What could she possibly have to do with this?

“…I’m sorry, Kataryna. I… have found true love.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve decided to marry Cathy here. So I can’t marry you!”

“…What?!”

As if breaking the engagement wasn’t enough, he followed it up with a declaration of infidelity. My stomach churned painfully, and my expression twisted with discomfort.

An engagement is a form of contract, and in noble society, contracts are absolute. Breaking an engagement just because you’ve fallen for someone else? That’s absurd.

Naturally, it’s possible for a person to develop feelings for someone other than their fiancé. But in those cases, the proper course of action is to inform the family head and discuss things amicably before even considering dissolution.

Breaking an engagement one-sidedly without any discussion? Unthinkable.

“Do you realize what you’re saying? Breaking off our engagement… and in a place like this?”

The academy’s salon was filled with students eating and enjoying tea. Others at nearby tables had begun to glance over in shock and curiosity, noticing the tension in our conversation.

Feeling the weight of numerous stares and the intensifying pain in my stomach, I couldn’t help but feel my expression grow strained.