Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 2
Chapter 2
“Tepine’s wages are precarious as it is…”
The servants who had once filled the mansion were now reduced to a handful. But my father, the Count, like his ancestors, could not give up his pleasures. I already knew this from the original novel, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop my father’s gambling.
My father’s gambling, my mother’s extravagance, my brother’s arrogance, my sister’s wastefulness—nothing had changed. My family intended to use my marriage to Hector to secure their own lives, but…
“I tried to sever ties with the Count’s family.”
It would be like pouring water into a broken glass.
I couldn’t change my family, but I thought Hector would be different. Unlike in the original story, I thought he had feelings for me and wouldn’t waver.
“When did he start having an affair? You rotten bast*rd…”
It’s over. I’m ruined.
I was reincarnated as the female lead in a tragic novel I read in my past life. I don’t need a regretful male lead who belatedly realizes his love and clings to me!
I wanted to scream.
Perhaps it was my destiny to end up this way, ever since I started to like Hector, just like in the novel.
I swore I wouldn’t end up like in the original story, but I couldn’t control my feelings. Before I knew it, I was already following Hector with my eyes.
That’s why I cried for a long time after my conversation with Hector yesterday. I tried to sort out my feelings, even if it meant crying.
“I think I’ve sorted out my feelings to some extent, but the problem is the future.”
I sat up in bed.
Thinking about Hector’s future actions towards me made me lose all affection for him. In the end, fate hadn’t changed. He would act according to the predetermined plot as the male lead in the original story.
“First, I’ll attend all the banquets, tea parties, and balls for a while…”
I counted on my fingers, organizing my thoughts.
According to the novel, after my engagement with Hector is broken off, I’ll be sold into marriage to some madman to pay off the Count’s countless debts. I’ll be abused physically and emotionally by this crazy man, my strength drained, and I’ll only be left to wait for death.
“I’m sorry, Amelia. I was wrong.”
“I didn’t know back then. I love you!”
“I don’t want to lose you.”
Hector, the male lead, will find me, regretting his actions.
“What’s the point! I’m already married, and I’ve lost my health and sanity, I’m completely broken…”
In any case, the ending of the novel is that Amelia Hazel eventually accepts Hector Asid, and the two have a small wedding ceremony in a church. However, Amelia, whose health has already deteriorated, dies in Hector’s arms.
That was my future, my destiny, written in the novel.
I don’t want to die!
“I’ll also put in a request to the informant…”
I was about to continue counting on my fingers, my enthusiasm rekindled, when I suddenly heard a commotion in the hallway. Moreover, it seemed to be getting closer.
Confused, I raised my head, and at the same time, the door burst open.
“Amelia Hazel!”
“Father?”
Count Hazel, my father in this world, stood in the doorway with a flushed face, his eyes blazing with anger. He saw me sitting on the bed and approached me, muttering under his breath. Behind him, I could see my mother and sister. My mother looked flustered, as if she didn’t know why the Count was angry.
Could it be that he heard about my broken engagement with Hector? I quickly got up.
“Father, what’s…”
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed as my face was turned to the right.
I felt a burning sensation on my left cheek. I also heard a disconcerting cracking sound from my neck.
…Did he just hit me?
The Count had slapped me across the face with full force.
My cheek stung from the blow. I could taste blood on my tongue, which meant that the inside of my cheek must have been torn when it hit my teeth.
I slowly turned my head and looked at my father, Flad Hazel, who had slapped me. He glared at me with bloodshot eyes, as if trying to pierce through me.
“What are you doing, you!”
“Father!”
My mother, Hytine Hazel, exclaimed in horror from behind the Count. She stared at my left cheek, which was starting to swell, and seemed at a loss for what to do. My sister, Rettie, was beside her.
‘At least my brother, Kelliard, isn’t here. That’s a blessing, I guess.’
My father had made such a commotion entering my room that everyone had heard and rushed over. However, my mother seemed to care more about my cheek than the Count’s condition, pushing him aside and rushing to my side.
“How can you do this to the face of a girl about to be married?”
“Quiet, can’t you just get out of the way?”
“You’re the one who’s loud! You left in a good mood, so what happened?”
My father clenched his fist and trembled. He seemed unable to control his rising anger. I simply met his gaze with a blank expression.
“Amelia Hazel! Have you nothing to say to us?”
The Count shouted my name. Then, he gritted his teeth and slowly continued.
“You must have something to say. Right?”
“….”
When I remained silent, sparks seemed to fly from the Count’s eyes. As he glared at me, trembling all over, my mother and Rettie looked at me, sensing something amiss.
Under their persistent gaze, I finally spoke.
“It’s a broken engagement.”
“What?”
“Sister, what did you just say?”
“…Huh!”
My father let out a breath of disbelief.
“Hector wants to break the engagement.”
When I repeated myself clearly, my mother and Rettie’s faces turned pale in an instant.
My family’s faces soon flushed red, just like my father, Count Hazel.
“W-what are you saying? The Grand Duke suddenly wants to break the engagement?”
“Sister, you can’t get married? What will we do? A broken engagement at this point, it’s absolutely impossible!”
“It must be Amelia, you did something wrong!”
“.…”
When I remained silent, my family’s expressions turned grim.
“You have to beg. Go to the Grand Duke and beg him, saying you’re sorry, that you’ll do anything.”
“Father, do you want me to do that?”
“Of course, you know the amount of money that went into your marriage to the Grand Duke!”
To be precise, it was my father’s fault for spending recklessly after becoming the Grand Duke’s father-in-law. None of the money went towards my wedding preparations.
“What about the dress, the jewelry, everything we prepared for that day! A broken engagement, absolutely not, I won’t allow it. Amelia!”
“Mother, but it’s what Hector wants. If I refuse…”
“Why? Why does he want to break the engagement?”
My sister interrupted me. She must be anxious too.
‘Why do they think their debts will be wiped out by my marriage to Hector?’
To offer some explanation, I’ve been nagging my family since I was young, telling them to be frugal and reduce spending. But they ignored me, even taking the money I had saved and indulging in extravagant luxuries and vanity.
‘This family is hopeless.’
They were the kind of people who would repeat the same mistakes even if they were reincarnated. They only looked at the past glory and appearances, refusing to acknowledge reality.
“Yes, let’s hear it. Why does the Grand Duke suddenly want to break the engagement? You didn’t hear anything?”
My mother asked my father who had just returned from meeting Hector.
“I didn’t hear the details. The Grand Duke just apologized and brought up the broken engagement. But what could be the special reason? Amelia must have done something he didn’t like.”
Could it be because of the nagging I did since I was young? My family didn’t like me. They blamed everything on me, saying I was always sticking my nose in things and being noisy.
In their eyes, I was an alien presence who didn’t belong with them.
I frowned.
“Sister, aren’t you going to say anything?”
When I remained silent, their irritated voices continued.
“Anyway, a broken engagement is absolutely impossible, no matter what! Amelia, you’re better off dead, a broken engagement is unacceptable! You must become the Grand Duchess.”
Better off dead, is that something a family member would say? It was getting increasingly absurd.
Amelia Hazel. When I was reincarnated as a Count’s daughter, I had foolishly thought I could live a peaceful life since I was a noble. But what nobility? The reality was harder than being a commoner.
‘If I had indulged in luxuries and extravagance, I wouldn’t feel so wronged.’
I saved money, practiced frugality, and they took it all!
“Go and beg quickly!”
“Amelia!”
“Sister!”
I frowned as I heard my family calling me.
“Then consider me dead.”
“What?”
My father asked, taken aback by my irritated voice. My emotions slipped out without my realizing it.
“You said it’s better if I’m dead, Father.”
I stared directly at him, who blinked slowly in confusion.
“So, just consider me dead.”
“You…!”
Frad Hazel raised his hand to slap me again. Before his hand came down, I spoke calmly.
“But is it okay for you to be doing this right now? You borrowed money using the Count’s mansion as collateral…”
I raised the corners of my lips and narrowed my eyes.
“Shouldn’t you go and ask them to extend the repayment period? Father?”
“W-what, what. You, how did you…”
“Honey, what does collateral mean?”
“A-no, I…!”
How could the Count have gotten money all this time? It was easy to figure out if you thought about it. The only thing left in his hands was this mansion, so he used it as collateral. He was never the type to give up gambling.
I smiled faintly and turned to my mother.
