Here’s the English translation of your passage:
Luce, satisfied with his own relatively merciful judgment, felt the reluctant gazes of Kyniacsis and Hinasis upon him.
“…Don’t tell Rinne.”
“Mm…”
“Promise me. Quickly, link your fingers.”
Kyniacsis reluctantly intertwined his fingers and pouted.
Luce, intending to receive a promise from Hinasis as well, noticed the pink-haired girl repeatedly glancing backward. Perhaps she was concerned about the shouting Karga, almost tripping several times but keeping her eyes behind her.
“You’ll fall if you keep that up.”
No sooner had Luce finished speaking than a hand caught Hinasis as she stumbled. Tayla, ignoring the shouting Karga entirely, held Hinasis’ hand tightly and bowed to Luce.
“I apologize, Lord Luce. A member of the Sinatra family has committed acts that can never be forgiven. Everything is my fault. As the heir of the Sinatras, I take full responsibility.”
Luce stared at the back of Tayla’s head for a moment, then let out a dry remark.
“Words only?”
“If taking responsibility for Karga’s actions is enough, I will do whatever it takes.”
Just the answer Luce wanted.
“Are you nervous?”
I barely nodded in response to Rihasol, who held my hand.
“My heart feels like it’s going to leap out. I don’t even remember being appointed three days ago at the founding ceremony. This nervousness doesn’t compare at all to that.”
“It’s not a wedding, it’s an engagement,” Rihasol asked innocently.
Reikis agreed.
“Rihasol’s right, Rinne. Unlike a wedding, an engagement can be broken at any time.”
“Rei…”
“Rei is just not honest, Rinne. Know that your place will always be ready for your return.”
“Ive…”
Feeling my nose tingle, I wiped my eyes—
“Ah! No, miss! Your makeup will come off! Hold back your tears!”
I was stopped just in time. Marin, who had painstakingly done my makeup, focused all her attention to ensure not a single speck of dust touched my skin.
“And Ivnis! No men allowed! Please leave!”
“This isn’t a formal wedding, so this isn’t even the bride’s room!”
“Please leave!”
Ive, looking aggrieved, suddenly pointed toward the entrance.
“Then kick those guys out too! No men allowed, right?”
“How could I dare to throw out His Imperial Highness and the Holy Knight Commander?!”
“Allowed to throw out divine beasts, though?”
Tehinra, napping on the sofa, stirred at the commotion and got up.
“Quite noisy, Ivnis.”
“Tehinra! That’s not—”
Tehinra scooped up the protesting Ive and carried her out of the room. In their place, two new guests arrived.
“Your Highness! Sir Ethan!”
I stood up and greeted them. Helion smiled warmly and handed me a bouquet.
“Congratulations on your engagement, Rinne Grimm.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. I’m honored that you came personally.”
To shake off the embarrassment, I made a deliberately playful bow.
“The dress suits you well.”
“If you mean this dress, it’s the masterpiece of Edou’s boutique, crafted with all of Leti’s connections, time, and effort. We intend to make it a family heirloom from today.”
Everything for the engagement ceremony—from the dress and tiara to the small jewels—was prepared. None of it would have been possible without Leti.
“Ethan, you also have something to say, don’t you?”
I held the hem of my dress wide so Ethan could see it properly. He seemed to deliberate before answering.
“Today, you look exceedingly beautiful.”
Even this straightforward compliment was so Ethan-like it made me smile.
“Oh my. For that question, you should say, ‘You are always beautiful.’ Isn’t that right?”
Beside the beaming Seran was the previously banished Ive. Somehow she had escaped Tehinra.
“Why are you here? Came to flirt with Rinne?”
“Rinne Grimm, he said he really wanted to greet you.”
Seran stepped aside. Behind him, a shy figure emerged.
A cute child in academy uniform.
“Sordim!”
“Ah, hello, Rinne Grimm. Sorry I couldn’t attend the founding ceremony because of exams.”
“That’s nothing! Thank you for coming all this way!”
“I really wanted to congratulate you in person, so I persuaded Seran. This… this isn’t much, but I wanted to give it to you…”
Blushing shyly, Sordim handed over a small box.
“Can I open it?” I asked. He nodded.
Inside was a marble-sized orb containing the sea. Each time the blue sphere rolled, the light particles within fell like snow. Like sunlight scattering over waves, or moonlight glimmering over the ocean.
“It’s a marble capturing the sea I love. I made it for you.”
Sordim had preserved the ocean he loved forever and given me that eternal love.
“Thank you, Sordim.”
It was a perfect gift for today.
Sordim, happier than I was, held Seran’s hand and headed toward the ceremony.
“It’s almost time.”
“Wait. There’s someone who hasn’t arrived yet.”
When Rihasol asked if more guests were coming, I pointed toward the slightly opening door.
“The last guests.”
Two little children appeared, holding hands. In the middle, Kinya grasped his older siblings’ hands tightly with both of his.
“Sorry for being late, Rinne. Kinya was crying, so we had to comfort him.”
“Kinya cried? Why?”
Had he fought with Hina again, just after they had reconciled?
But seeing Hina pressing Kinya’s tears into her sleeve, my worries were unnecessary.
If he hadn’t fought with Hina, what was the problem? Comforting Kinya only made him more emotional. His lips pouted, trying to hold back tears, until they finally broke.
“Rinne, don’t get married!!”
The cries opposing my engagement echoed through the hall.
“K-Kinya?”
“I heard it all! If you get married, you won’t live in the Divine Beast Palace! You won’t sleep with Kinya! So don’t get married, Rinne!”
“Kinya, this isn’t a wedding. It’s an engagement. It’s different from marriage.”
Though the ceremony looked almost the same, Kinya didn’t know that and gradually calmed down.
“R-Really?”
“Of course! Marriage comes later! Much later! So your room in the Divine Beast Palace stays, and I can still read you bedtime stories!”
“Marriage comes later…”
“Yes! Later!”
“Then marry Kinya!”
“Huh?”
“If I marry Kinya, I can live with him! I want to marry Kinya and live with him!!”
Boldly, Kinya held out a few wildflowers he had picked.
“Oh my. Getting a proposal from another boy on my engagement day.”
Could it be like that? I blinked in surprise at Rihasol’s remark, and those who heard Kinya’s adorable proposal laughed.
“Popular, aren’t you, Rinne?”
“Shouldn’t you answer Kyniacsis, though?”
Unable to resist the crowd, I accepted the flowers Kinya offered.
“Alright, Kinya. When you grow up, you’ll get married?”
A smile spread across Kinya’s face.
“Mm-hmm!”
Lucana grabbed Kinya’s hand, beaming with joy. Hina was expected to follow, but she stayed in the room with Tayla. Hina prodded a hesitant friend’s waist, startling Tayla.
Embarrassed, Tayla cleared her throat and spoke.
“Rinne Grimm. I may be late, but I want to thank you. Thank you for bringing light to my darkness.”
“Thank you for thinking that, Tayla.”
“And… I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“As someone without choices, it was inevitable, but I felt I had to apologize to you.”
That was all.
Leaving an enigmatic apology, Tayla ran off with Hina.
“What is she apologizing for?”
Marin stomped her foot anxiously.
“Maybe for taking our time? Hurry! We’ll be late!”
“Rinne is the star of today’s ceremony, so shouldn’t she appear last?”
“My opinion’s the same as Sol’s.”
Marin disregarded both divine beasts’ opinions, showing boldness. They couldn’t wait any longer.
I took a deep breath, letting their urgency become my music, and stepped out resolutely.
It was time to meet those waiting for me. Several times, my legs weakened, almost causing me to collapse. Each time, Reikis supported me.
Finally, I reached the doors of the hall alone. The hand holding mine released.
“Congratulations, Rinne Grimm.”
The doors slowly opened. Light poured over me, dazzling my eyes.
Petals scattered. The divine energy falling like drizzle shimmered golden. Beyond the dazzling scene, I saw everyone filling the hall. My world, filled with people.
I took slow but unwavering steps toward them.
With each step, I passed those blessing me, my gaze fixed at the end of the white carpet, on the one waiting for me.
My Luce.
“Luce…”
A handsome smile greeted me. More beautiful than ever, he extended his hand.
“How was your walk here?”
I took his hand gladly.
“Beautiful.”
Walking together, we reached the dais where the rings would be placed. Placing the rings on each other’s hands would complete the engagement.
As Luce bent to put a ring on my finger, the earth beneath my feet shifted. A mound of solid soil rose beneath my dress, pushing my feet upward.
“Uh—”
I stumbled forward in an instant. Losing balance, I kissed him—something not even part of the engagement ceremony.
“Luce! Th-this is—”
“I look beautiful today, don’t I?”
Our briefly separated lips met again. My fluster and his smile mingled at the tips of our lips.
The chime announcing the engagement rang, and cheers erupted.
Like the sea in the marble, a moment to be remembered as my eternity.
-Side Story Complete-
