The girl wore the maple-leaf long dress common in the Empire of Fars, standard attire for many women traveling far from home. It was thick, resistant to wind and cold, and could conceal many small items, such as a short dagger for self-defense. She carried no luggage.
She was not as beautiful as Anne, but she was undoubtedly a beauty who scored above eighty-five. Her face still held a trace of childishness, full of collagen. Her delicate brows were slightly drawn together, and she was in an extremely bad mood.
Comparing her to his memories, though the image was somewhat blurry, Charlotte was certain that this young lady was his fiancée—Sylvie Martin.
These past few days, Charlotte had not dared hitch a ride in Anne's carriage. He had insisted on taking the public carriage home because he was afraid this young lady would see the scene before her.
He shrugged, strode over, and said as gently as possible, "Miss Martin, how have you been?"
Sylvie Martin somewhat regretted traveling alone from the Duchy of Behemoth to Strasbourg. She should have found companions for the journey.
Strasbourg was far larger than she had imagined, and its public security was far worse as well.
Within her first hour of entering Strasbourg, Sylvie had lost all her possessions. She did not even have a single centime left on her.
The return address Charlotte had given her brother was Champs-Élysées Avenue Number 58. Following the address, she had spent an entire day before finding this residence.
Sylvie was absolutely certain she had found the wrong place.
Champs-Élysées Avenue Number 58 was a mansion. It truly did not look like somewhere her former fiancé, whose weekly wage was only one flor and seventy centimes, could afford to live. But she had nowhere else to go.
When Sylvie Martin heard someone call her name, she raised her head slightly and, sure enough, saw a familiar and irritating face.
She said irritably, "Why did you give me a fake address?"
Charlotte did not explain. He took out his key and opened the door, adding, "I live here now."
Sylvie was too stunned to react. Charlotte called to her twice before she finally followed him inside.
Charlotte did not know why this fiancée hated her "former fiancé." Perhaps his predecessor had been promiscuous, or perhaps he had some bad habits, but that was unimportant. He had not transmigrated here to take over someone else's mess.
Though Miss Sylvie Martin should still be a pure young woman.
Charlotte led Sylvie into the small study, gestured for her to sit wherever she liked, handed her a glass of water, and casually asked, "Where is your luggage?"
Sylvie replied with some embarrassment and anger, "It was stolen at the station."
Charlotte could not help laughing. He truly had not expected this fiancée of his to be so adorably clueless.
Sylvie grew even angrier. Gritting her small white teeth, she said through clenched teeth, "Could you not laugh at me? You're even more irritating than before."
Charlotte nodded and immediately stopped laughing. It was indeed wrong to mock a girl, especially when he did not know her well.
His predecessor had very few memories concerning Sylvie Martin. They truly must not have been close.
Charlotte took out the documents he had prepared long ago, handed them to Sylvie, and said, "I've already signed my name. Once you sign yours, the engagement can be dissolved."
"If you are worried, we can also go to the government office to have it notarized. I'll pay for it."
Sylvie took the quill indignantly and swiftly signed her name in beautiful cursive.
Charlotte let out a great sigh of relief.
From now on, he could date Anne openly and honestly without worrying about his harem blowing up in his face.
Charlotte carefully blew the ink dry on his copy of the document, put it into an empty box, and said with a smile, "What does Miss Martin plan to do next?"
Sylvie hesitated for quite a while before saying quietly, "If possible, I would like to stay here for a few days."
"Once my father's remittance arrives, I will move out immediately."
"I have completed my education at Behemoth National Academy and applied to become an Imperial civil servant. I should receive my assignment in about half a month, so I will not trouble you for long."
By the end, Sylvie Martin's gaze had become resolute, her eyes filled with tenacity and courage.
Charlotte was slightly dazed. He had often seen that kind of look in his previous life—the confidence found only in independent, self-reliant women.
Even in that world, such women had been rare.
Charlotte shrugged and said, "Miss Martin, even though our engagement has been dissolved, I still have a responsibility to care for you whenever you need it."
"Please feel free to stay here."
This former fiancée had solved a major problem for him, and Charlotte had no intention of turning cold and heartless.
Besides, this was a medieval world.
Public security was not good.
As a Prison Guard Corps officer himself, he naturally knew that even Strasbourg, the capital, was as chaotic as could be.
If he let a young girl wander around outside alone, his conscience would trouble him.
If Sylvie left on her own, something would absolutely happen to her.
Sylvie Martin breathed a faint sigh of relief. She secretly touched the dagger hidden in her maple-leaf long dress and said, "You cannot come near me at night."
Charlotte pointed to the staircase beside the banquet hall and said indifferently, "There are fifteen rooms on the second floor. You can choose whichever one you like."
"Also, I only moved in not long ago, and this residence lacks many daily necessities. If you need anything, tell me as soon as possible. Before it gets completely dark, there is still time to buy it."
Sylvie set down her glass of water, gathered her long skirt and performed an everyday curtsy, then left the small study and went up to the second floor.
About a few minutes later, she came back down and said, "I need an oil lamp, some changes of clothes, and bedding. I am also a little hungry. Is there anything to eat in the house?"
Charlotte smiled slightly and said, "There are still a few croissants, some filled rolls, and some Dongli Nation flower tea. But you probably are not interested in those. Let's go out to eat."
"Champs-Élysées Avenue has every kind of shop. As the host, I should also welcome Miss Sylvie properly."
Sylvie Martin was very surprised. Charlotte's gentlemanly manner made her extremely unaccustomed to him. She knew exactly what kind of person her former fiancé was!
Charlotte Mecklen was a typical rich young delinquent, the sort who relied on his family's money to commit every evil deed. He was especially adept at chasing women, had ambiguous relationships with several ladies in Behemoth, and was utterly lacking in self-restraint.
Sylvie Martin had once firmly believed that this former fiancé would cause a scandal at university, fail to receive his diploma, and be expelled from the university. That was the ending he deserved.
That was also why Miss Sylvie had insisted on breaking off the engagement. She did not like playboys or debauched scoundrels. She could not imagine spending her life with such human trash.
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