After I, a Penniless Noble, Entered a Fake Engagement with the Most Elegant Duke’s Daughter at the Academy, For Some Reason She Started Showering Me with Love - Chapter 05.2: I Suggested Breaking the Engagement and Got Kicked in the Shin

Chapter 05.2: I Suggested Breaking the Engagement and Got Kicked in the Shin

I thought running off to the garden would give me a break after that classroom mess.

I didn’t expect to run into yet another problem.

When I asked Yuri why she was getting marriage proposals, her face twisted in pure disgust.

She looked like a kid being forced to eat veggies they hated.

Even when I said, “Don’t make that face—you’re a duke’s daughter,” she didn’t care at all.

Then, without saying much, she grabbed a document from the table and handed it to me.

“What’s this?”

“Nn.”

That’s all she said, just a hum in her throat, before plopping down in her usual seat.

…Would it kill you to explain things properly?

Ever since she walked into the classroom today, things had been happening way too fast.

I hadn’t had a second to breathe, let alone think things through.

So I sat down too, still suspicious, and looked over the strangely luxurious-looking papers.

“…A marriage profile?”

It was one of those formal documents listing information about a potential suitor.

I’d never had one myself, but because of my sister’s good looks, we received these kinds of things all the time.

Unfortunately, they were always from nobles aiming to take her as a second wife or concubine—

Which made me despise the entire concept.

My brow furrowed without me even realizing.

Judging by the timing, this one had to be for Yuri.

But then I looked more closely—

“…A viscount?”

I wasn’t one to talk about status, given my own position.

But come on.

Sending a proposal from a viscount’s house… to a duke’s daughter like Yuri?

That just didn’t add up.

“Their territory… doesn’t seem all that different from mine. There’s nothing written about their actual assets, but I don’t see how this would be a good match for a duke’s family.”

Unless the person had something truly exceptional going for them, it was hard to see any value here.

Everything in the profile just screamed, yep, that’s a viscount all right.

Even the attached portrait… yeah. Totally a viscount.

Was this bravery or just recklessness?

While I struggled to figure out how to react, Yuri pointed to the stack of documents on the table and said, “Look at the others too.”

So I started flipping through them from the top.

“Viscount, baron, baron, marquis, viscount, viscount, baron…”

…Is it just me, or are these titles kinda low?

There was the occasional marquis mixed in, but most were just viscounts and barons.

I mean, even a viscount feels out of place trying to propose to a duke’s daughter—

But a baron?

That feels straight-up rude.

Was I the only one thinking that?

“What, did you just throw out an open call for marriage with no requirements?”

“Of course not.”

She gave me a sharp glare, and I quickly apologized.

Sorry. My bad.

I wasn’t trying to joke, but clearly, Yuri didn’t have the patience for that kind of comment right now.

“…So that means all these guys just sent these in on their own?”

I’d never dream of doing something so reckless, but sure, maybe one or two guys could be bold enough to try.

Still, for this many proposals to come in…

Something had to have triggered it.

“I mean, people know I’m your fiancé, right? So sending these is kind of insane, isn’t i—w-wait…”

…Hold on.

Don’t tell me—

“You figured it out?”

“Uhh…”

Yuri asked, her pout making it clear she wasn’t trying to hide how annoyed she was.

I looked away, eyes darting around, trying to find an escape—

But yeah, stalling wasn’t going to help.

Nervously, I pointed to myself.

“…So the reason is… me?”

“That’s right.”

I’d really hoped she’d deny it.

But instead, Yuri let out a sigh and nodded.

“The rumors spread that my fiancé is you—a viscount’s son. So some people started thinking, ‘If she’s fine with someone like him, maybe she’ll accept me too.’ Basically, a bunch of fools got the wrong idea.”

“And once they realized I’m from a fallen house with no money, they figured they had a real shot…”

Yuri lightly tapped the top of one of the profiles with her fingertip.

Now that I understood the reason behind it all, I couldn’t even argue—it made sense.

Sure, on her own, Yuri’s status as a duke’s daughter was intimidating.

But if I was their comparison point, it wasn’t too crazy to think others might try their luck.

Still, the fact that none of them seemed to consider our actual situation—

That just screamed “typical noble”—impulsive and short-sighted.

“I get why you’re in a bad mood. But how does that lead to you trying to kiss me in the middle of class?”

“I wanted to show them. That my husband is Cru and no one else.”

“That’s way too aggressive.”

So impulsive…

Honestly, that level of emotional reaction wasn’t much better than the nobles who sent those profiles without thinking.

“Couldn’t you have thought of a better way?”

“Then tell me—what should I have done?”

“That’s easy.”

It wasn’t something to overthink.

If we knew the cause, then we just needed to remove it.

That’s all there was to it.

“We just need to spread the word that Yuri and I were never actually engaged.”

Yuri had started the fake engagement to stop the flood of marriage proposals.

But now that it was causing even more of them… it was totally backfiring.

“See? Simple, right?”

“…Dear husband.”

“Yes?”

Yuri’s voice suddenly dropped.

The moment I heard it, a chill ran down my spine.

But it was too late.

No taking it back now.

“Are you serious?”

“Dead serious.”

“…I see.”

With a short reply, Yuri stood up with a loud thud.

That was unusual.

She never made noise like that when standing.

I figured maybe she was going to pour some tea or something.

But instead, she walked around the table and stopped right in front of me.

Her blue eyes glinted under the shadow—

And they looked absolutely terrifying.

“Yuri… uh, did I say something wrong?”

“Dear husband.”

She reached out toward me.

For a second, her fingertips softly brushed my cheek and I felt my heart skip a beat.

But that moment ended fast.

She grabbed my face with both hands—like she was trying to crush it—startling me.

Then, with dazed eyes, Yuri started leaning in again, lips drawing closer—

Wait. Wait wait wait!

“What are you doing!?”

“A kiss.”

“That’s way too calm of a response! And why!? I was already questioning the classroom, but here? There’s not even anyone around to show off to!”

“I’m mad.”

“Yuri, is kissing your go-to reaction when you’re angry!?”

“No. But right now it is.”

“Don’t make it a thing!!”

Yuri had already been acting a little strange today—

From showing up at the dorm first thing in the morning—

But now she was acting even weirder.

I used one hand to press gently against her forehead, and with the other, I started peeling her hands off my squished face.

“What is going on with you today, seriously?”

“You really don’t get it?”

While I wiped the cold sweat from my brow, Yuri gave me a sideways glare, clearly sulking.

“Have you ever thought about how a girl feels… when her fiancé suggests breaking off the engagement?”

“Well, I mean—it’s a fake one.”

The moment those words left my mouth—whack!—she kicked my shin.

Ow. That hurt.

“Fake or not, an engagement is still an engagement. You shouldn’t talk about ending it so lightly.”

“B-But it’s clearly backfiring if you’re getting more proposals because of it—”

Whack!

“T-There had to be other ways, right?”

“But it was the fastest—”

Whack whack!

“Okay! Okay! I get it! I’m sorry! Just stop kicking my shin!”

Whack whack whack!

“I’m really sorry!! I swear!”

Her kicks were getting more painful by the second—

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I bent over and started rubbing my poor, aching leg.

Yuri crossed her arms and huffed, clearly still annoyed.

“A proper husband should understand a lady’s heart.”

“…I feel like I’ll never understand it in my lifetime.”

The second I muttered that—glare.

She shot me a sharp look, so I straightened up fast.

“Got it! I’ll do my best to understand!”

Her eyes bore into me, unblinking.

Cold sweat dripped down my face like a waterfall.

Eventually, Yuri let out a deep sigh and looked away, clearly giving up.

Only then did I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.

“I’m done. I won’t expect anything from a husband who has zero tact.”

You could’ve started with that.

That’s what I thought—

But I didn’t say it out loud.

If she tried to kiss me again or go for another shin kick, I might actually die.

“So instead, you’re going to help me wipe out these marriage proposals. Got it?”

“Sounds like we’re weeding out invasive plants or something.”

“Shall I shut that smart mouth of yours for you? Hmm?”

“I’m sorry.”

The second Yuri smiled and leaned in, I apologized immediately.

She pouted and muttered something about how that’s rude in its own way,

But honestly, she was the one using kisses as a threat—so I wasn’t the bad guy here.

“Well, I don’t mind helping out, but… what exactly am I supposed to do?”

“Fufu…”

Yuri gave a sly, confident grin.

Uh-oh.

I didn’t even know what it was yet, but my head already hurt.

This had bad idea written all over it.

“It’s simple! We’ll just show everyone how madly in love we are!”

“Wooow. Amazing.”

I gave her a lifeless round of applause.

I might not be able to guess what goes on in Yuri’s head—

But at the very least, I knew this would not end well for me.

Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to stop her.

After making her mad earlier, I didn’t exactly have the courage to push back.

And thus, I remained powerless—despite knowing this would be nothing but trouble.

Sigh.

“That’s the spirit! Now then, let’s call the operation… ‘No Room Between Us! The Academy’s Lovey-Dovey Couple Blitz Plan!’ How’s that!?”

“Do we really need a name for this…?”

I couldn’t let that disaster of a title slide without saying something.