SIDE STORY 07
“Somehow, it ended up like this. Haha…”
“Congratulations, Miss! Oh, but…”
Letti, who had been scrutinizing the ring, tilted her head.
“The design isn’t the same as the one you requested? This isn’t a ring—”
“You know about it too, Letti?!”
Even if the other staff knew, how on earth did Letti know?
“At this point, it feels like no one in the royal palace doesn’t know…”
“Oh, Miss~ Don’t you remember when you came back from the staff gathering the other day?”
“A staff gathering?”
I had attended one, just once. It was right after I had just been appointed head of the medical department, so it must have been over half a year ago. Around that time, I was working on ideas for the ring design I wanted. And for the first time as Rinne Grimm, I drank without resistance and got drunk.
“So… I was drunk?”
“Yes. You said you wanted to hear our opinions and—”
“Wait, wait a second. Our? So someone else besides Letti was there?”
Letti smiled faintly, judging that keeping silent was best for me.
Cold sweat ran down as long-forgotten memories came flooding back.
[“Hurry, hurry! This is really, really important!”]
There’s no way that incoherent memory of me stumbling, slurring, and endlessly babbling could be mine, right?
[“Rinne. What’s going on?” Hah.]
[“Be careful. You might fall.”]
Why can I see Eve and Ray’s faces? It feels like even all the servants of the Divine Beast Palace were present.
[“What’s the matter, Rinne Grimm?”]
“No!!”
I shook my head violently to stop the memories from rising, but my brain betrayed me, vomiting up everything I had tried to forget.
[“Since Lunaris-sama is here too, let’s start! You need to give your honest opinion!”]
[“Rinne Grimm. How about at least doing this in a meeting room?”]
“Insane. Insane people…”
I squatted all those people down and delivered a passionate speech. Even in elementary school speech contests, I never put in this much effort.
[“I’m making a ring for a proposal. Please vote for which design you think is the prettiest! If none are pretty, be honest! Recommendations are welcome too!”]
What was the reaction right after I said that?
One thing’s certain: Eve and Ray both jumped up like springs. Yawning in the haze of sleep, Eve’s eyes widened as she shouted:
[“A proposal?! With whom?! Not me, right?!”]
[“Eve-ness. Don’t be ridiculous. Rinne would never propose to you. Do you think I’d allow that?”]
[“Then I object! Anyone but me, I object!”]
Ignoring Eve and Ray’s desperate protests, I laid out each design I had drawn myself. The Divine Beast Palace servants examined them seriously, offered opinions, and even voted.
Ultimately, the chosen design received more than half the votes, including from Lunaris.
[“As expected of Lunaris-sama! Your taste is incredible! I really struggled designing this! I had to squeeze out what little aesthetic sense I have!”]
[“It would be impressive anywhere.”]
[“As expected of Lunaris-sama! The world’s greatest Divine Beast! Ugh… my stomach feels weird.”]
[“Rinne Grimm?”]
[“Uuuugh—”]
“……”
What happened after that…?
The servants shrieked in shock, Eve froze, and Ray held her forehead.
And Lunaris…
“No wonder Lunaris-sama seemed to be avoiding me around that time…”
“Don’t worry, Miss. It was a rather cute drunken episode.”
“Do you know, Letti? When you lie, your right eye twitches. Just like now.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“What do you have to apologize for, Letti…”
I swallowed shame along with tears.
“Still, thanks to everyone’s help, we have a wonderful result… oh.”
I rummaged through the robe hanging on the wall. A small box I hadn’t had time to notice while I’d been sick came to mind.
Luckily, it was still safely in its pouch.
“I should have given this last night.”
Muttering to myself, I took a breath, conscious of Letti.
“So, what I mean is—”
“Oh, don’t worry, Miss. I’m perceptive enough. There’s no way a ring just sprouted from the ground.”
“Th-true.”
“Besides, it’s not like Lord Luce only came by once or twice. He’s been by your side every early morning.”
My fingertips tingled with excitement.
“When is the engagement ceremony scheduled?”
“Oh, I thought it would be best to do it quickly—”
“Of course. Hurrying is good. If you choose the soonest date, that’s about three months from now?”
“…Well.”
“Okay~ No matter when it is, I’ll prepare diligently. Just tell me.”
I rolled my eyes.
“…Next.”
“Next?”
“Next month….”
Letti’s smiling face faltered.
“Next month…”
Suddenly serious, Letti pulled a small notebook from her arms. As she flipped through pages densely covered with writing, I grew tense too.
“We’ll hold it before the VIPs from the Medical Department’s inauguration ceremony leave. Haha.”
Although she stressed efficiency, Letti was already in full focus.
Thump! Slamming the notebook shut, an aura of resolve radiated from her.
“There’s less than a month until the inauguration.”
“Yes.”
“The VIPs will leave within four days after the inauguration.”
“Yes.”
“And Miss will have a perfect engagement ceremony three days after the inauguration.”
Hearing this, the schedule felt very tight.
“Is that possible…?”
“Are you asking if it’s possible now?”
Her gaze sharpened. Hands clasped, she gave me a firm answer.
“Nothing is impossible once I’m involved. Whatever worries you have, this Letti Grisha will make it happen.”
“But I can’t trouble busy Letti…!”
“Nonsense. It’s your engagement, Miss Rinne Grimm. I’d never think it bothersome.”
“Letti…!”
Seeing her so reliable filled me with deep emotion.
“Then I’ll go. Miss, you’ll be a bit busy for a while. But if anything related to the Divine Beasts comes up, call on me anytime.”
In that short time, Letti had perfectly organized my room before taking a brief leave. Even in shoes, she moved swiftly and silently.
Unable to resist the bed’s temptation, I was about to lie down again but straightened with determination.
“I’ll catch up on the work I’ve fallen behind on while lying down.”
As much as Letti devoted herself to helping me, I would devote myself in return.
As I entered the office, the staff swarmed around. Lauren grabbed my face, turning it carefully to examine every detail.
“Half your face is gone!!”
“Rinne Grimm. Are you really okay? Shouldn’t you rest a few more days?”
“I’m really fine. I feel uneasy leaving work unfinished. I need to finish quickly to avoid issues at the inauguration. And…”
Even though everyone already knew, announcing it still felt embarrassing.
“Do you have time after the inauguration?”
I raised my left hand as I said this, and their mouths dropped.
“Waaah!! Oh my god! You’re finally getting married?!”
“No, it’s just the engagement first… Lauren-senpai, it’s dizzying.”
“What do I do!! What should I do!!”
From Lauren’s reaction, anyone would think she was the one getting engaged. Watching my flustered state up close clearly left a strong impression.
“Congratulations, Rinne Grimm!”
“Congratulations, chief!”
The seniors who moved Lauren aside each offered their congratulations.
“Thank you, everyone.”
Saying it aloud made the engagement feel real.
That night, back at the Divine Beast Palace, it wasn’t Letti who greeted me.
“Oh, the steward took the morning off today. She said she must prepare the perfect engagement ceremony.”
“Letti…!!!”
How serious is she about my engagement!
Early the next morning, Tayla Sinatra, called by the head, checked her attire.
“Is this good enough?”
“Of course. No need for me to tidy it; Tayla, you’re always so neat. By the way, Tayla, you’ve grown. The hem is shorter now.”
“Hopefully that doesn’t mean calling the tailor again.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll get a swift tailor!”
Tayla shivered, imagining the doll-like preparation about to resume.
“You’re growing fast day by day, Tayla.”
“I’m just reaching average now. Let’s go. The head hates waiting.”
The steward, familiar with the head’s temperament, moved quickly. The head’s office wasn’t far from Tayla’s room. Over the past year, she had gradually moved inward from the farthest assigned room—a sign of the head’s trust.
“Tayla has arrived.”
The steward announced, and after a brief permission, the door opened.
Tayla entered without hesitation.
What once terrified her no longer stirred any emotion—ornate doors, the always-stern steward, even her grandfather, the head of the Sinatra family.
