~Chapter 81~
“Is this… real life?”
Richard just asked me to get engaged to him?
That would mean the male lead just proposed to the villainess!
My brain completely froze.
Until a moment ago it had all felt real—but now it felt like a dream.
“Ah! That must be it—it’s a dream.”
I must have dozed off while waiting and was dreaming right now.
That’s why Richard was smiling so beautifully and even proposing to me. Because this was all a dream!
“What nonsense are you muttering to yourself?”
The Richard in front of me frowned.
Wait. That expression—that was the real Richard.
Just as my thoughts were about to tangle again, the study door opened.
“Young lady, I brought some cool tea.”
Following my order, Sofia carried in a tray with iced green tea. She carefully set it on the desk, gave Richard a quick glance, and hurried out of the study.
A good idea came to me. I handed the teacup to Richard.
“Thank y—”
“Pour it on me, Richard.”
“……What?”
I was ready to experience what people call a “water slap,” but Richard only frowned deeper.
“Go on, splash it. This must be a dream, and I need to wake up.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You’re the one being ridiculous! Out of nowhere, talking about an engagement?”
Truthfully, my doubt lasted only a blink.
It was too vivid to be a dream. Which made it harder to understand why Richard thought engagement was a solution.
“…Amelie Garnet. We’ll enter a fake engagement.”
“A fake engagement?”
“More precisely, a timed contract engagement.”
“A… contract engagement!”
I’d seen that plenty in romance-fantasy novels.
Usually it was a contract marriage, not an engagement.
But that wasn’t the point right now.
“Why would a contract engagement be the solution?”
“If Her Majesty the Empress is involved, the more time we waste, the worse it gets. We need to strike first.”
“But she has an official record. If you suddenly announce another engagement, even for you it’ll cause problems.”
“Not if the engagement is certified by someone more powerful than the Empress.”
“Someone… more powerful than Her Majesty?”
Richard smiled again. That confident smile somehow filled me with trust.
“Our engagement will be certified by His Majesty the Emperor.”
“The Emperor… himself?”
The current emperor was sick and hardly appeared in public. I’d heard he was a wise and respected ruler, but still—was it really alright to involve him in a false engagement?
Richard saw my unease.
“You don’t need to worry. His Majesty made the decision after hearing a full explanation. And my brother will help too.”
“Wait. The Emperor and the Crown Prince will back you?”
“Exactly. That’s why we must move quickly. Tomorrow we’ll spread the news of our engagement, and the day after, we’ll hold the ceremony.”
It was too elaborate and effective to have been thought up in just one night.
But one thing nagged at me.
“…Even if it’s just a contract… is it really okay for you to be engaged to me?”
This was what I’d been holding back in my heart.
Richard and Lysa clearly had feelings for each other. I worried that a fake engagement might ruin things between them.
Last time, we barely avoided disaster with that scandal—but an engagement was different from a silly rumor.
“This is the only way. To stand against the Empress, your fiancé has to be someone on my level at least.”
“That’s true, but… because of me, you’ll take the damage.”
“Once the Empress stepped in, this became my problem too. I think she wants to remove you from my side entirely.”
“Hmm…”
Richard spoke with unwavering certainty.
I too suspected why the Empress was helping Wudian, but Richard seemed to feel a heavy responsibility for the whole matter.
Everything was pointing toward a contract engagement.
‘Lysa would probably say it’s a good solution.’
She had always supported me if it benefited me. Surely this time too.
And yet—that was what made me hesitate.
She had always stood on my side, but here I was thinking only of myself.
“Now isn’t the time to hesitate, Amelie.”
“I know. Your plan seems like the best option. I’m just worried about what consequences it might bring.”
“Don’t worry about any of it. Whatever happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
His voice was firm, filled with conviction.
Seeing him like that, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
“…Alright. A contract engagement… let’s try it.”
It sounded odd, but it was my own resolution.
And within that resolution was another vow: I will never let myself waver toward Richard.
He would never fall for me—so as long as I kept my head straight, Lysa would never be hurt.
Richard seemed satisfied with my answer and nodded.
“Good decision. Then, the day after tomorrow, as soon as the ceremony ends, I’ll release the news. We can’t give the Empress or Wudian even a day to react. The uproar will be bigger than ever, so don’t be surprised.”
“Okay. Is there anything I need to prepare?”
“The most important thing.”
“What is it? Just tell me.”
“Your father’s permission.”
“…Huh?”
I blurted out a stupid sound.
I’d forgotten the obvious—that to get engaged, both families’ approval was required.
“That’s… probably the hardest part. What should we do?”
“Of course it will be sudden for Viscount Garnet. But—”
“No, Richard. This isn’t just about it being sudden. Honestly… my father doesn’t like you.”
“……”
Richard’s expression said, Why not?
I understood why he was confused. But it was true.
If this engagement was to happen, convincing my father was the first hurdle.
The next morning was suffocating.
“How dare you…!”
Viscount Garnet’s thunderous voice shook the parlor.
After hearing about Wudian, he was barely keeping his fury in check.
Normally, he would have already shouted as if he’d swallowed a steam engine. But he restrained himself because of the man standing before him.
Richard lowered his eyes slightly, as if to show he understood the viscount’s anger.
Yes. Richard and I had come to ask my parents’ permission early in the morning.
“I know this must seem sudden, but I would be grateful for your understanding.”
Richard calmly explained everything he had told me yesterday, this time to my parents.
His composed, confident tone was so persuasive that I thought no one could resist.
Even my father listened without finding fault, unusually quiet.
“I understand Your Highness’s words. I also appreciate the consideration for my daughter. But… I cannot ignore that you have disliked her in the past. That worries me.”
Viscount Garnet didn’t dare glare openly at a prince, but he eyed him sideways.
He had rushed home at dawn after receiving my urgent message, only to find Richard already waiting. That alone had annoyed him.
And though Wudian’s matter was more pressing, his dislike of Richard hadn’t faded.
“I understand. You’re worried I might mistreat Amelie. But that will never happen.”
Richard’s reply was firm, confident, without a trace of hesitation.
I didn’t disagree—because the idea of Richard mistreating me felt impossible now.
“I like Amelie very much. Why would I ever mistreat her?”
…That, however, was a line I never expected to hear.
