My Lover Isn't Interested With The Female lead!

 

 

 

Letticia almost stopped in her tracks at the unexpected words. It was something she had never heard from anyone other than her family.

 

“…If you say that, people will accuse you of being ungrateful. Do you even understand how much of a blessing it is to marry out of genuine love and not just words?”

 

Her friends had always envied Letticia, saying things like that.

 

Even Eustace and Princess Judith envied Letticia for her obligation to have a ‘true love marriage.’

 

Everyone knew that people claim to marry for love, but it is a rare case when that love is genuine—a truth that everyone acknowledges but often ignores.

 

However, Ezkhiel’s serious expression did not change even in response to those words.

 

“The fact that you have been granted true love is certainly a blessing. But finding someone you truly love is far more difficult than simply marrying someone who meets the right conditions.”

 

“Though it’s difficult, it’s still a good thing, isn’t it? I get to marry someone I genuinely want.”

 

“That may be true, but it’s hard to be sure that you truly love that person after just a few weeks.”

 

At that, Letticia almost literally stopped in her tracks. If her body hadn’t moved automatically, she might have bumped into the person next to her.

 

“Lady? Did I say something that upset you?”

 

“No… It’s not that. I’m just a little surprised.”

 

This response was so precise that even Letticia was startled. It hit directly at a reality often overlooked while being dazzled by the packaging of ‘true love.’

 

‘As lord Bright said, people claim to marry for love, but there’s hardly any time for actual dating.’

 

The engagement period among the nobility is short. Generally, people get engaged within four weeks of starting a courtship. In some cases, proposals are made within just a week of meeting.

 

During the earlier stages, only brief meetings in public places, dancing, or light conversations over a meal are permitted.

 

In modern terms, one has to decide on engagement without ever really experiencing ‘dating.’

 

‘It’s no different from getting engaged first and then dating later.’

 

Getting to know each other can be done during the engagement period, which usually doesn’t last more than a year. Although breaking off an engagement isn’t as difficult as it used to be, many still find it burdensome.

 

Thus, once engaged, it’s hard to turn back, and since there’s little time to choose, a wrong decision could lead to a lifetime of an unhappy marriage.

 

Asking people who have never experienced love to find someone they love, and then expecting them to confirm that love after engagement, is utterly unreasonable.

 

Perhaps it’s a transitional period towards a love marriage, but too many remnants of the old ways still hinder the quest for true love.

 

“I also want to decide after meeting the person at a leisurely pace. I want to be sure that our tastes and personalities aren’t too different, and that we can indeed live together in harmony before getting married.”

 

The Count of Sharon’s family forbids both divorce and separation for business reasons. So, if Letticia ever wanted to divorce, she would have to be prepared to renounce her family name.

 

Of course, her family wouldn’t truly abandon her, but she would no longer be able to publicly acknowledge them as her family, something Letticia found distasteful.

 

Therefore, Letticia’s life was no different from others in terms of being determined by marriage. Despite having wealth, beauty, and the position to choose her partner, it didn’t change this reality.

 

“…You are very cautious, Lady. I would say that is extremely wise.”

 

Ezkhiel looked at Letticia with a gaze mixed with admiration. It was unclear what his previous impression of her was, but he seemed to have developed a strong liking for her.

 

“Despite being granted the chance to find true love, you don’t blindly chase it and instead also consider reality. That’s not easy to do. It’s admirable.”

 

“Is that… really such a big deal? No matter how much you love someone, marriage is still a matter of reality.”

 

Letticia could not understand why he was complimenting her. But Ezkhiel’s next words made her agree.

 

“There are people I know who also longed for love. Those who want a love marriage are more common among the old aristocracy than the new.”

 

“Ah, yes, the new aristocracy is relatively more realistic. The old nobility is more romantic.”

 

“Yes. And one person I know begged to get engaged to someone they had only known for a week, saying they couldn’t live without them. Another claimed to have found the love of their life after just one walk together.”

 

“…They sure reached conclusions quickly. What did they see in the other person to fall in love so deeply?”

 

Letticia responded cynically. Although some say time doesn’t matter when falling in love, Letticia found it more relatable to develop affection gradually rather than fall in love at first sight.

 

“I don’t know, but they both said the same thing. That it was fate, and if they didn’t seize this love, they would suffer such agony as if their souls were drying up and would eventually die.”

 

“…Well, it’s possible, I suppose. If that’s what they truly believe.”

 

“But is that really true love? Or are they just deluding themselves into thinking they are in love?”

 

Ezkhiel wasn’t mocking them; he was genuinely curious. He was asking whether what they called ‘love’ was actually real love.

 

“Honestly, I don’t think that’s love.”

 

Letticia replied firmly.

 

To her, it was merely an illusion of being in love. Or perhaps, in rare cases, it was finding true, destined love.

 

Even Camilla, who had a fondness for Patrick, only decided to marry him after meeting five times.

 

‘Even if it’s love at first sight, it’s still uncertain.’

 

In the original story, neither Matthias nor Ariette fell in love at first sight.

 

There was even a backstory where the Duke of Averil had fallen for the Duchess when she saved him as a child and had searched for her until they were adults.

 

In the end, love is about nurturing the seed of affection. That was Letticia’s conclusion about love.

 

“Of course, that’s just my opinion, and reality might be different. So, what happened to those two?”

 

Ezkhiel replied in a sympathetic tone.

 

“The first realized within half a year of marriage that his love only existed in his fantasies. The second one broke off the engagement when the other person woke up from the illusion, and now he’s drowning himself in alcohol.”

 

It was exactly the outcome she had expected. The tragic end of people who believed they were in love without truly confirming it.

 

“Did they never think of trying to cultivate their love? If they both believed they loved each other, they must have had some affection, right?”

 

“It seems their illusions about romantic love were too grand. Being captivated by the idea of an all-encompassing love at first sight, it must have been hard to face the harsh reality.”

 

Ezkhiel looked genuinely pained by their misfortune, his expression filled with bitterness.

 

“Love marriages have spread in noble society, but there’s still no time to confirm whether it’s truly love. So, even if a noblewoman thinks she loves someone, she has to get engaged before she can even be sure if it’s a fleeting feeling or not. Whether by exchanging letters or meeting alone, these things can only happen after the engagement.”

 

As he said this, Ezkhiel tried to force a smile, perhaps thinking the mood had grown too heavy.

 

“But I believe that you will surely be able to make a marriage that you’re satisfied with, Lady. You are wise and understand the reality well.”

 

“…If anyone is truly wise, it’s you, lord Bright.”

 

Ezkhiel, who was cautiously watching her as he spoke, almost stumbled in surprise at her words.

 

“W-wisdom… Me?”

 

“Yes. Everyone close to me only envies me, but you, lord Bright, have looked at me with a clear view of reality. I’ve never met anyone like that outside of my family. I’m really happy.”

 

When Letticia smiled brightly, Ezkhiel’s face turned red.

 

And at that moment, the conductor waved his baton energetically as the final climax ended.

 

Among the people who stopped to bow, they exchanged polite nods with each other.

 

Still blushing, Ezkhiel averted his gaze as he offered his arm to Letticia to escort her.

 

“…They said Lord Lenard and Lord Kenneth are on the east terrace, right?”

 

“Yes, I think so… Oh?”

 

As she looked towards that direction, Letticia spotted her brother and cousin standing at the front.

 

It seemed they had heard what had happened earlier, as both of them were approaching Letticia and Ezkhiel with serious expressions.