Volume 1 Chapter 65 Mean Villainess, Determined
My mother seems to want me to have an arranged marriage.
My father and brother seem to want to stop it.
I'm, I'm...?
"Elena has just graduated from the academy. She doesn't need to have an arranged marriage yet."
"That's precisely why."
The reason my father doesn't want me to have an arranged marriage is probably because he feels lonely, but I can't see why Mother is so insistent on it.
That otome game has already reached its ending, so it shouldn't matter anymore.
Or is there talk of a sequel or something?
No, no way.
If that were the case, she would surely be whispering about it in Japanese.
I've never seen her talk about new stories since reaching the ending.
"Why an arranged marriage?"
Elder Brother spoke up.
Indeed, why did the topic of an arranged marriage come up so suddenly?
Mother had previously said that there was no need to force a marriage.
Yet now she is trying to push for an arranged marriage.
"It's to make Elena happy."
Mother smiled sweetly as she said this, but the expressions of everyone else in the room had completely frozen.
Of course, my expression too.
I can't be happy unless Rolus is happy, so forcing an arranged marriage on me won't lead to happiness.
"Elena's happiness is something Elena decides. An arranged marriage is unnecessary!"
Normally, I would think, "Isn't it just that Father doesn't want to marry me off?" but right now, I want to fully support Father.
My happiness is something I decide.
"I'm sure being by Father's side is Elena's greatest happiness!"
No, I can't agree with that.
My happiness is something I decide!
"I know you all dote on Elena, but that doesn't mean it's right to bind her."
With that one statement from Mother, both Father and Elder Brother were left speechless.
The fact that they were at a loss for words here means they are aware of their attempts to bind me.
I'm glad they're not unaware.
However, even though they stumbled over their words, it seems neither of them has given up.
To be honest, I couldn't care less about this matchmaking.
If I have time for matchmaking, I should be out searching for Rolus instead.
If I don't find Rolus and end up unhappy, they'll just laugh at me for boasting to that knight.
What if I quietly slip away to search for him while the 3 are quarrelling?
Then maybe I'll end up staggering on the roadside, and Rolus would come to my aid, just like Flora mentioned.
But honestly, it's Rolus who seems more likely to end up staggering on the roadside.
How could he leave when he has no one to rely on?
Especially without even having decent magical power.
It'd be great if he could just realize he has no option and come back quickly.
Then I could stay here with Rolus instead of doing this matchmaking, and that would surely make Father and Elder Brother happy.
Mother was happy to see that otome game ending, so doesn't that mean it's okay now?
Or perhaps, while I'm being forced into matchmaking, Rolus could burst in and say, "Wait a minute!" and whisk me away?
If that happened, I'd have to be the first to report to Flora.
I hadn't even thought of that scenario before.
If I were to be whisked away, would that mean we'd elope?
It feels like it would be tough to stay here after ruining the matchmaking event.
If that happens, I could earn a living as a fortune-teller and live happily with Rolus... Not such a bad idea, is it?
I mean, isn't that a pretty good idea?
To make the abduction scenario happen, I definitely need to find Rolus and have him waiting outside the matchmaking venue!
"Elena, what do you think of matchmaking?"
"Ah, um? Well..."
If Rolus comes to whisk me away, I would gladly participate in any matchmaking!
...But I can't exactly say that.
"Please, Elena. Could you participate in the matchmaking? It's for your happiness."
"I, I..."
Just as I was about to say my happiness involves Rolus, I noticed Mother's face twisting with sadness.
'Please, Elena. I can finally think only of your happiness without worrying about death flags or confinement flags.'
Wait a minute, Mother, you're leaking Japanese!
"Marisa!"
I thought I had to somehow stop it, but Father's voice came faster.
"What was that just now..."
Mother's voice wasn't that loud, but it seemed to have reached Father's ears as well.
I wonder how she plans to wriggle out of this.
"It's nothing, really."
No, it's impossible to get away with that.
"Isn't it a spell?"
"A spell?"
Mother looks puzzled.
Of course, for her, it's just a matter of using the words she used in her previous life without forgetting them.
However, both Father and Elder Brother think of it as a spell.
And to protect against that spell, Father placed Rolus by my side.
"Marisa, haven't you been casting spells on Elena since long ago?"
"I can't use spells."
"But..."
"That wasn't a spell."
It's Japanese, after all.
"Then what was the phrase you just blurted out? What about that which you've been chanting since Elena was little?"
Under Father's questioning, Mother hesitates.
She's probably thinking about how to explain it.
I wonder how she would explain it.
It's difficult.
But from here, it seems hard to wriggle out of it.
"...I have inherited the memories of my previous life... the memories of my soul."
She's going to say it, and I'm secretly breaking out in a cold sweat.
"The memories of the soul..."
Elder Brother murmurs.
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