To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“He told me to call him by his name…”

“Oh my, sister! Didn’t I tell you? It’s clear he’s interested in you.”

After the banquet ended, Liv returned home chatting with Hildegard. Hildegard, who had always shown an exemplary kind appearance, recently talked about the romance she had in the slums before becoming a Saintess in front of Liv with an excited face, and Liv, who was unfamiliar with that kind of story, listened to it with interest.

When the carriage arrived at the Count’s family’s garden, they could see the Hamelsvoort couple standing outside the house.

“Why are they out?”

“I know, what could have happened?”

As the two got off the carriage one after the other with puzzled looks, Countess Hamelsvoort approached them with a bright face. Just as Liv thought she must have something to say to Hildegard and stepped back, Countess Hamelsvoort hugged her tightly.

“Liv!”

“Y-Yes?”

The surprised Liv couldn’t even push her away and stammered stiffly, but Countess Hamelsvoort didn’t seem to care about that at all.

“You’re finally here, we were waiting for you!”

“For me?”

“Yes, let’s go inside quickly!”

Countess Hamelsvoort linked arms with Liv and took her inside the house. Count Hamelsvoort also had a delighted face. Liv looked at Hildegard with a puzzled face, but she also had a clueless expression.

They were led by the Hamelsvoort couple and arrived at the reception room. After sitting on the sofa, Countess Hamelsvoort, with sparkling eyes, opened her mouth.

“Liv, is it true that you’ve been getting close to Duke Lartman recently?”

“What?”

“I heard from Madam Shiraze, who attended the banquet today and returned first! She said you danced with Duke Lartman!”

“Yes, that’s right…”

“So, what did you talk about?”

The reason Countess Hamelsvoort was being so friendly to Liv seemed to be because of Emmett. Liv didn’t know if being close to Emmett could be the reason for the Countess to be kind to her, but she began to slowly recount what she had experienced.

“Um… He asked if he could call me by my name. And he said I could call him Emmett.”

“Oh my, oh my! And what else?”

“Hmm… He said he’s only kind to me…”

“Oh my goodness!”

While Countess Hamelsvoort was clapping her hands, Hildegard chimed in and spoke in a voice as if bragging.

“And last time at the navy’s departure ceremony, he draped his coat over sister.”

“What? He did that?”

This time, even Count Hamelsvoort joined in and didn’t hide his surprise. They looked at each other with happy faces as if they had found an oasis in the desert.

“Liv! Duke Lartman definitely has a liking for you!”

“For me? Really?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would he act like that! So anyway…”

Countess Hamelsvoort looked into Liv’s eyes and said emphatically.

“It would be best to propose an engagement.”

“What? Engagement?”

Hildegard asked back in a surprised voice. Meanwhile, Liv had a blank face, unable to grasp the unfolding situation.

Although Emmett was kind to Liv, he didn’t love her. Engagement was a situation Liv had always dreamed of, but there was no way an engagement could be possible if the other party didn’t agree. Even if he chose it based on some political interest, it didn’t seem like it would be happy.

My child is mine.

The gods said as if dissatisfied, but Liv didn’t even blink an eye despite the oncoming headache. Instead, she just spoke out the question she had in mind.

“Is that… possible? I just like him one-sidedly…”

“So you have feelings for him too, Liv!”

“I’ll write a letter proposing the engagement tomorrow.”

Instead of answering Liv’s words, they looked even more thrilled to hear that Liv had feelings for him. In the end, it was Hildegard who started explaining to Liv, unable to bear it.

“Hmm, sister. I also think the Duke has feelings for you.”

“Huh?”

“You seem to be dull in this aspect, but please believe what we say!”

But what if the relationship she was barely mending broke again? Feeling anxious, Liv tried to stop them, but suddenly met eyes with Count Hamelsvoort, who seemed to be warning her.

“Liv, you’ll naturally follow our choice, right?”

“…Yes.”

Oh no, she had forgotten that most engagements and marriages in noble society were made according to the family’s interests. Ordinary noble ladies followed their parents’ words without the right to refuse, so perhaps Liv should do the same.

Realizing there was nothing she could do, Liv quietly watched their reactions.

Liv didn’t really understand what benefit her engagement to Emmett would bring to the Count and Countess, but they were showing a favorable attitude towards Liv again. Like when they believed Liv was a Saintess.

‘…Should I believe them?’

She was afraid of them being disappointed and hostile towards her again, but if things went well, she might be able to regain their affection. Then Liv could also marry the person she liked, and her relationship with her family would improve…

Some might find it ridiculous for Liv to cling on without self-esteem to gain the affection of people who disliked her, but affection was just like sugar, once addicted, it was hard to escape.

Thus, the next day, Count Hamelsvoort sent a letter to the Lartman Duchy.

* * *

Another day passed after sending the letter to the Lartman Duchy, and Liv woke up to the angry voices of the Hamelsvoort couple.

“Oh my, what is this! Are you saying we were wrong now?”

“Don’t be like this, let’s wake Liv up and ask her.”

Voices were heard murmuring in front of the door as if they would barge in at any moment. Liv barely lifted her heavy body, which was struggling just to endure the presence of the gods as usual, and opened the door.

“What’s the matter?”

The Hamelsvoort couple standing in front of the door had faces flushed red with an emotion that could be anger or perplexity.

“Liv!”

As soon as she saw Liv’s face, Countess Hamelsvoort shouted in a shrill voice.

“The Lartman Duchy rejected the engagement!”

“What?”

“We thought it would naturally succeed just listening to your words!”

At those words, Liv was at a complete loss for words and could only gape. She was flustered that they made a decision on their own and then took it out on her, but more than that, she was shocked that Emmett had rejected her engagement proposal.

As Liv was at a loss and stammering, the butler hurriedly ran to the Hamelsvoort couple.

“Count!”

“What is it?”

“Duke Lartman has come to visit.”

“What?”

They showed a much greater reaction than before and went downstairs, leaving Liv behind. As Liv was standing there with a blank face, Hildegard, who had approached at some point, patted Liv’s shoulder and opened her mouth.

“Sister, quickly change your clothes. Duke Lartman might have come to see you.”

“Me? Why?”

“I don’t know why he rejected the engagement, but… He’s definitely not the type to purposely come to meet someone he’s not interested in. I think he’s definitely interested in you.”

For now, Liv changed into casual clothes as Hildegard said. Hildegard, who had been waiting in front of Liv’s room, took Liv, who was standing awkwardly, downstairs.

When they arrived at the reception room, the Hamelsvoort couple had a satisfied expression, with their anger nowhere to be seen.

“Hoho, so that’s how it is.”

“We’re fine, but…”

“No, Liv is still young.”

“Then we will follow Duke Lartman’s wishes.”

When Liv was trying to peek through the crack of the door to see Emmett even a little, Count Hamelsvoort, who noticed her, gestured with a soft smile that was completely different from before. The change in his expression was so drastic that one might doubt he had become a different person.

“Liv, come in.”

“Ah.”

Seeing Liv’s face, Emmett let out a short sigh. The Hamelsvoort couple gestured for Liv to sit across from Emmett.

“Liv, we’ll leave then.”

“Have a good conversation with the Duke, hoho.”

The Hamelsvoort couple left Liv and left the room, and Liv looked at Emmett with awkward eyes. What on earth did he talk about with the Hamelsvoort couple?

“Miss Liv.”

“Yes?”

“I came to talk about the engagement in case there was a misunderstanding.”

“Ah…”

“It’s not because I dislike you that I rejected the engagement.”

“Yes?”

When Liv raised her head with a start, Emmett looked at Liv with his usual kind face and said.

“The reason I rejected the engagement is that I judged you are not yet suitable to be engaged to someone.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you’re still young…”

“We’re not that many years apart, are we?”

“You’ve just become an adult.”

As he said, Liv had indeed just recently become an adult.

“Also, to get engaged, we need to get permission from His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Is that how it usually is?”

“I have a close relationship with His Majesty the Emperor.”

Liv realized once again that Emmett truly revered the Emperor.

“And above all, you haven’t had enough opportunities to experience others besides me.”

“What?”

“You still don’t know much about this society. I don’t want to let you get married as if being swept away by the hands of others.”