3 Engagement Annulment

The next morning, I dressed myself in Caius' outfit while examining my reflection in the mirror.

Caius' outfit was simple yet elegant, consisting of a white shirt and black trousers.

His appearance was just as I expected - simple and average, even by the standards of Earth. He had short black hair, black eyes, pale white skin, and an average build.

Suddenly, there was a knock at my door.

Knock— Knock

"Yes," I said, as I turned to face the door.

"Excuse me, young master. The Marquis is waiting for you at the breakfast table," the maid informed me.

I exited my room and replied, "Lead the way," to the maid. I didn't want to keep the Marquis waiting for me.

The maid seemed surprised by my tone but quickly bowed slightly and began to lead me to the dining hall.

As I followed behind the maid, I couldn't help but notice the surprise in her eyes. You see, the real Caius had a timid personality, unlike mine.

He would stutter even while talking to the maids. Despite his noble status, he still carried the insecurities of his commoner background, and it affected his personality.

It was because of this that Adeline was able to use him so easily in her pursuit of power. She knew just how to exploit his weaknesses to achieve her own goals. But now, with me in control, things were going to be different.

I walked with confidence, my head held high. The maid was taken aback by my sudden change in demeanor. It had only been a few days since I had taken over Caius's body, but I had already started to make changes.

Though it wasn't immediate, I eventually adapted to the situation. For several days after finding myself in Caius' body, I was in denial, unable to wrap my head around the fact that I had transmigrated into a game world and was now living the life of a mediocre male lead. It felt like a bad dream I couldn't wake up from.

However, as time passed, I gradually came to accept my new reality. I decided that I wouldn't let Adeline or anyone else take advantage of me.

As we entered the dining hall, I could see at the head of the table sat Marquis Valerian, a handsome middle-aged man with short blonde hair and blue eyes with a neatly groomed mustache.

His first wife, a woman in her late forties with blonde hair styled in an elaborate bun, was seated to his left. Her name was Lady Elizabeth and she had a stern yet regal presence.

On his right was his second wife, Lady Abigail, a stunning woman with long black hair and sharp features. She was in her early thirties and had a warm smile on her face as she greeted me.

As I took my seat, Lady Abigail spoke up, concern etched on her face. "Caius, you don't look well. Is everything alright?"

I forced a smile and replied, "I apologize for worrying you. I'm feeling much better now, thank you."

As I began to eat, I noticed a group of girls around my age staring at me. One of them, my younger sister, Charlotte, spoke up teasingly. "It looks like our dear brother has finally learned to use a fork like a true noble."

Charlotte is 2 years younger than me and is the daughter of Marquis Valerien's first wife, Lady Elizabeth. She had inherited her mother's stunning blonde hair and piercing blue eyes and had a regal air about her that spoke of her noble heritage.

I didn't reply to Charlotte's remark, as Caius usually seemed to struggle with the silverware. It was clear that he wasn't used to the finer things in life that came with his noble upbringing.

My second sister, Fiona, who sat opposite to me smirked and continued, "But I have to say, you still look like a peasant with that outfit."

I rolled my eyes at her teasing. Fiona was the daughter of my father's second wife, Lady Abigail, and my second youngest sister.

She had inherited her mother's striking dark hair that cascaded down her shoulders and my father's piercing blue eyes. She was only a few months younger than me and would be joining the academy alongside me.

"And you look like a clown with that much makeup," I retorted, causing Fiona to choke on her food in surprise.

Cough!— Cough!—

"Eat slowly Fiona!" My eldest sister, Rosalind, who sat beside her said as she gave Fiona a concerned look.

Rosalind was also the daughter of my father's first wife, Lady Elizabeth. She was 2 years older than me and had also inherited her mother's blond hair and striking blue eyes. She is already in her final year and returned to the Valerian Estate for vacation.

"And Caius, watch your tongue," Rosalind, warned me, giving me a stern look.

Ignoring her, I finished my breakfast in silence, listening to the small talk between my father's wives and siblings.

Overall, despite having two wives, they all managed to get along well, which was not often the case in other noble families.

There were no fights or tensions between the wives, and they all treated each other with respect. The siblings, despite being from different mothers, also had a good relationship with each other.

They supported and cared for one another, and there was no jealousy or competition among them. It was a harmonious household.

Unfortunately, Caius was the black sheep of the family, and none of his siblings had any fondness for him. Despite the family's general harmony, Caius always seemed to be on the outside looking in, and it was unclear whether his isolation was due to his own behavior or his siblings' prejudices.

I cleared my head of these thoughts and took a deep breath. As the meal came to an end, I finally found the courage to speak up.

"I have something I want to say," I announced, drawing everyone's attention. They all looked surprised, as Caius was known for his timid and submissive nature.

'I've lost count of how many times I've seen this same reaction in the past few days,' I thought to myself.

"What is it, Caius?" my father, Marquis Valerian, asked with genuine curiosity.

I took a deep breath before continuing, "I... want to annul my engagement with Adeline." I said firmly, looking around the table to meet each person's gaze.

!?

The shock and surprise on their faces were evident, but I refused to let it deter me.

Silence filled the room for a few moments before Rosalind, was the first to speak up, "Did I hear that correctly?" she asked, clearly surprised by my sudden declaration.

"Caius, why would you do such a thing? The engagement has been agreed upon for years, and Adeline is a suitable match for you." Fiona added.

There was a moment of stunned silence as everyone processed my words.

I nodded, my face set in determination. "Yes, you heard me correctly. I don't want to be engaged to Adeline anymore."

My father, the Marquis, looked at me with a mixture of surprise and disappointment. "Caius, may I ask why you have made this decision?" he inquired.

I met his gaze head-on, my voice was unwavering. "Because I don't love her, and I don't want to be forced into a marriage with someone I don't care for. I want to choose my own path in life."

There was a palpable tension in the air as everyone processed my words. I could tell that my declaration had taken them all by surprise, but I knew that I had made the right choice for myself.

After a moment of silence, my father spoke up. "I understand your reasoning, Caius. I will speak with Adeline's father and see what can be done."

I nodded in agreement. "Thank you, I appreciate your understanding, Father. Now if you'll excuse me," I said, meeting everyone's gaze before quickly making my way out of the dining hall.

"...."

The matter with Adeline was settled, but I had something else I needed to take care of.