What Fiancée?

---

Thanks to his Master's genius and incredible creativity (as Useless reluctantly admitted), Eren had managed to recover a total of 60,000 SP in just one day.

[Current System Points: 62,725 SP]

With this, Useless's anxieties over the rapid loss of SP were temporarily alleviated. However, despite its relief, a lingering sense of unease remained. As a mere Rank-One system, it was still highly vulnerable, and the threat of stagnation loomed over it. It had tried multiple times to convince its Master to help it ranking up, explaining the countless benefits that would come with a higher rank system. But no matter how logical its arguments were, they all fell on deaf ears.

Eren had grown increasingly annoyed with each attempt, to the point where he finally threatened Useless with something it couldn't ignore—Jumping out of a window again

The message was clear: if Useless kept nagging him about ranking up, he would end his life for real.

That was the final straw.

From that moment on, Useless ceased all discussions about system ranking. It knew better than to test Eren's patience any further.

---

Minutes later, a sharp knocking echoed through the room.

–Knock, knock.

A familiar voice followed soon after.

"Young Master? It's me," Marie called from behind the door.

Eren, who had been lounging on his bed, idly scrolling through the Shop's vast selection of items, responded lazily. "What is it?"

The next words he heard made him pause in surprise.

"You have a visitor waiting in the guest room. It's your fiancée."

His fingers halted mid-scroll. His brows furrowed slightly as he turned his gaze toward the door, his expression briefly betraying his confusion.

"Fiancée?" he repeated, his tone laced with genuine bewilderment. He couldn't recall anything about having one.

"Yes, Young Master," Marie confirmed. "It's Lady Mereoleona."

Eren blinked. Mereoleona? The name stirred something in his memory, but it took him a few seconds to process the information fully.

....

....

....

The House of d'Armand

The d'Armand family was one of the oldest noble lineages in the kingdom, once standing at the pinnacle of military prestige. For generations, they had produced distinguished knights and commanders, earning a fearsome reputation for their honor and discipline on the battlefield. During times of war, they thrived, their power secured by the strength of their swords.

But that era had long since passed.

Following the Divine War, the world transitioned into an age of peace. With large-scale conflicts becoming increasingly rare, traditional knights lost their former significance. Power now lay in politics, economic influence, and resource management. Those who adapted to this new reality prospered. Those who did not fell into decline. And House d'Armand, unwilling to accept change, belonged to the latter.

Their lands, which bordered several dungeons, had once given them an advantage. The knights of d'Armand prided themselves on being the kingdom's shield against monster outbreaks, a role that had secured their influence for centuries. However, in the modern age, dungeon management had shifted.

Adventurers—fighters and explorers who are blessed with the Signet status, capable of leveling up and growing stronger—had become the dominant force in dungeon exploration. Nobles with foresight invested in adventurer guilds, establishing stable partnerships that ensured their territories remained secure with minimal risk. But House d'Armand? They refused to follow this trend.

To them, adventurers were nothing more than mercenaries—untrustworthy, undisciplined, and lacking the noble ideals of true warriors. Instead of hiring professionals, they stubbornly relied on their own knights to handle dungeon threats. Many of these knights, while trained in battle, lacked the unique abilities that made adventurers superior in dungeon expeditions, despite some knights are also blessed with Signet. This resulted in heavy casualties, failed conquests, and devastating financial losses.

Their rivals saw this as an opportunity. Nobles who controlled adventurer guilds deliberately withheld support, allowing monsters to accumulate within the dungeons bordering d'Armand lands. They only intervened when the threat extended beyond d'Armand territory, ensuring the count and his forces bore the brunt of the damage. This relentless drain on their resources accelerated their downfall.

Yet Count Gregor d'Armand, the family patriarch, remained in denial. To him, abandoning the ways of the knight was akin to betraying the legacy of his ancestors. He continued to invest in knight training, funneling dwindling resources into a dying system, all while ignoring the looming reality of their demise.

Their noble status teetered on the edge of ruin. With no other option left, the family turned to a desperate measure—a strategic marriage.

Mereoleona d'Armand, the eldest daughter and heir in all but name, was chosen as the bargaining chip. Her engagement to the second son of Valmont—the wealthiest noble family in the Aisman kingdom—was not born out of love or personal choice. It was a calculated move, a last-ditch effort to secure financial stability and keep the d'Armand name afloat.

-----

Eren listened to Useless's explanation as he strolled down the grand hallway of the mansion, his steps unhurried.

Trailing behind him were Marie, a few maids, and several servants, all maintaining a respectful distance as they followed their Young Master toward the guest room.

[Originally, their daughter was meant to be engaged to Cedric Valmont, despite the significant age gap. The plan was for them to marry after she graduated from the Academy...]

Eren hummed thoughtfully, his mind piecing things together as Useless continued.

[But due to your existence, Eren Valmont—who was not part of the main plotline—the course of events shifted. The d'Armand family instead decided it would be more advantageous to form an engagement with you—]

'Skip.'

Eren mentally commanded, cutting off Useless before it could finish.

He had already gathered enough information from what was said earlier. There was no need to waste time listening to unnecessary details.

'so, the character Eren was never in the orginal story lore.'

He thought deeply, noticing the resemblance between his behavior and the previous Eren.

'Heh, whatever'

Now that he thought about it, he vaguely recalled his parents mentioning something about his fiancée during dinner a few days ago. They had probably informed him of her impending visit, but he had completely disregarded it at the time.

After all, he had been too focused on gathering System Points.

Compared to acquiring enough SP to purchase his long-awaited gaming console, the news of an engagement had seemed utterly insignificant.

....

Mereoleona d'Armand.

His fiancée and one of the female leads—or Heroines—in this world's story.

Honestly, Eren had planned to ask Useless for more details about this world's original lore and which book it was based on, but he had completely forgotten. Between playing video games and lazing around in his room, the thought had simply slipped his mind.

'Whatever. I'll just ask about it later.'

As they reached the door of the guest room, the servants quickly moved to open it, allowing him to step inside.

Once inside, Eren was greeted by a young girl around his age, or perhaps slightly older, dressed in a deep crimson gown. The rich fabric was tailored to fit her strong, athletic frame. Though elegant in design, the dress lacked excessive embellishments, reflecting her disdain for unnecessary frills. The fitted bodice emphasized her straight-backed posture, while the flowing skirt allowed ease of movement, ensuring she never felt truly restrained.

Her long red hair had been styled with effort, yet a few rebellious strands had already slipped free, framing her striking features. Her amber eyes, fierce and unyielding, held a quiet fire—watchful, assessing, and unwilling to soften even in this formal setting.

Though dressed as a noblewoman, she carried herself like a warrior. Her squared shoulders, firm stance, and unreadable expression made it clear she was not someone easily swayed. Yet beneath her composed exterior, there was a subtle edge of irritation, as if this meeting was nothing more than an unwanted obligation. Even in a gown, she looked more like a knight forced into unfamiliar armor than a lady prepared for courtly introductions.

Behind her stood her knight bodyguard, a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties—older than both of them. He had an average appearance, with short brown hair and a sturdy build. His armor, though simple, was well-maintained, and his expression was calm, exuding the quiet professionalism of a trained guard.

"Greetings, Sir Eren," Mereoleona said as she rose from her seat, lowering her head slightly while lifting the sides of her dress in a polite yet restrained curtsy.

"I am Mereoleona of House d'Armand. It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance."

Her voice was composed and courteous—but devoid of warmth.

To an outsider, it might have sounded like proper noble etiquette, but the stiffness in her tone was impossible to miss. Mereoleona had been raised to follow the customs of high society, yet every movement betrayed how unnatural this felt for her.

She straightened, her amber gaze locking onto his.

"I hope I did not disturb your time… with my arrival?"

The words were courteous, yet the lack of sincerity was evident. This was a formality, not a genuine concern.

Eren answered quickly in his mind.

'Oh yeah. Oh yes, you did.'

.....