Chapter 58
Fake Engagement
“Miss! What did you just say? Did I… Did I hear that wrong? You’re… you’re getting engaged to Marquis Thermos?”
Marie and Lois, who had just returned from Anatole, were stunned by Himena’s bombshell and stood there, mouths agape.
“What do you mean? When did you two get so close?”
“Well, um… it just happened like that. Haha.”
“When? When exactly?”
“Uh, so, yesterday the marquis came and proposed, and I… accepted.”
“No, Miss! You know what kind of person the marquis is! Do you think someone so cold and calculating would treat you well in a marriage? No! It will only make things harder for you! You should cancel it now!”
“Marie, calm down and listen to me for a moment.”
Himena, unlike confused Lois, had to work hard to calm the agitated Marie, who was shouting with her face flushed.
“The reason I called you two separately is that there’s something more important to talk about, so listen carefully.”
“More important than this? What could be more important?”
“This engagement is fake!”
“Huh? Fake engagement… what do you mean?”
Both of them were stunned again, their eyes wide.
“Miss, what do you mean by fake? Fake engagement?”
“Well, it’s not like the marquis and I are truly getting engaged to marry. It’s more like a contract. We’re pretending to be engaged for a set period, acting as though we’re in love.”
“Huh? Why would you do that?”
“Actually, I begged the marquis to help me. Lois, do you remember what I told you last time? About Merona and Ilion?”
“Merona… Ilion… Ah! Yes, I remember! Merona, consumed by jealousy, locked Ilion away… and then Ilion and the novel writer fell in love…”
Thud!
“Ouch!”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Why did Ilion and the writer fall in love?”
“Ah, the story was so complicated back then that I didn’t really remember it all.”
“Yeah, maybe it’s better you don’t remember. Anyway, as you both know, I’ve been obsessed with the marquis, causing my reputation to sink so low it’s practically underground. A popular novelist even wrote a weird story based on us two, trying to ruin me completely.”
“I’ve heard something about that novel…”
Marie quickly understood, as she had already heard about it.
“Right. That novel made my reputation even worse. And now, Prince Diego, even though he was rejected, can’t seem to give up and keeps trying to get close. See those flower baskets in this room? They were all sent by the prince yesterday, all at once. I wonder if he wants me to start a flower shop or something.”
The room was filled with dozens of flower baskets, all lavishly decorated with different types of flowers.
“So, the reason you two are getting engaged is…”
“Exactly. First, I’m getting engaged to the marquis so the prince will give up on me completely. We’re going to pretend to be in love, calm down the rumors, and then at the right time, we’ll break off the engagement.”
“Oh my, heavens…”
“Aha, so that’s what’s going on.”
“But no one knows about this. You two are the first ones I’m telling. I sent a letter about the engagement to my father in Anatole, but I didn’t mention the contract. The marquis only told his close associates, and we’ve agreed to keep it a secret. So you two can’t tell anyone either. Got it?”
“…Yes, we won’t tell anyone.”
“Right, so we have to pretend like we don’t know anything.”
“Exactly! That’s the idea, Lois!”
At last, they both nodded in understanding.
“Don’t worry. I’m really good at acting. I’ve got plenty of experience, hehe.”
“Well, you do have a surprising focus in odd situations.”
“But how much are you getting for this contract?”
Lois suddenly asked, her face breaking into a grin as she recalled something.
“How much? For what?”
“I mean, if you’re making a deal with the marquis, surely there’s something in it for you? He wouldn’t just do this without some kind of compensation. From what I hear, it sounds like this is all just a great deal for you.”
“Oh, come to think of it, you’re right. The marquis, who had been ignoring me for so long despite all my attempts to get his attention, suddenly agreed to this contract. What made him change his mind?”
“Ah, could it be that you agreed to give him half of your fortune or something?”
“Ah, no, nothing like that… I’ve changed, you know? I’m different now, very… kind! Maybe the marquis noticed that, and he’s treating me a little more… kindly? Haha.”
“Hmmm?”
Marie and Lois exchanged skeptical glances, raising their eyebrows in unison.
“Instead, as part of the contract, I promised to help the marquis find something during the Monster Hunt Tournament. It’s in the Kingdom of Duse, and I’ll be going with Lois.”
“Me? Why are you dragging me into this? I just want to get back to Akticos…”
Thud!
“Hey, if you’re my bodyguard, it’s obvious you’ll have to follow me wherever I go! Do you think I’m going to travel all the way there alone?”
“But why are we going to the Kingdom of Duse? What’s the marquis asking for?”
“Well, it’s supposed to be some rare magic stone. So just follow me and stop asking questions.”
Trying to come up with an excuse to go back to Akticos, Himena gave a vague explanation, but Marie’s face darkened again.
“Miss, are you really going to travel alone with just Sir Lois? Leaving me behind? Cheh… I’m upset.”
Sigh… I keep lying to Marie without meaning to.”
“I’m sorry, Marie. But… it’s not a fun trip. We’ll be looking for this magic stone, and it’s going to be dangerous. I’ll be dressed as a man and riding a horse. It’s too difficult to take you along.”
“…So you’re taking on such a dangerous task in exchange for a fake engagement?”
“Yeah. Honestly, the marquis is the one getting the bad end of the deal, so I guess I should do something to make up for it. Haha.”
“I see… So when do you plan to hold the engagement ceremony?”
“I’ll talk to my father when he returns, but it’ll be as soon as possible, and we’ll keep it simple here at the house.”
“Simple? Won’t that make the rumors worse?”
“I heard that a grand banquet will be held at the Imperial Palace soon to sponsor the Monster Hunt Tournament. That’s when we’ll announce it publicly, saying that we’re madly in love and already had our engagement ceremony. You two will go with me and spread the word that I’ve suddenly become all angelic. It’ll help clean up the mess from last time when you two made me look like a total mess. I’m still so upset about it!”
“Hey, that was your idea, Miss. We didn’t do it on purpose!”
Lois quickly covered his head, fearing another slap.
“Hey, you could have at least been a bit more careful! That rumor even reached Akticos! I can’t even hold my head up anymore! It’s fine if I stay a spinster for the rest of my life, but before I die, I should at least have a romance, don’t you think?”
“Tch, if you had a romance, there wouldn’t be any reason for you to grow old as a spinster. With your personality, who would want to…”
Thud!
“Ouch!”
“Shut up! You’re partly to blame too! If you don’t shape up, you’ll end up being haunted by a ghost of a spinster!”
“What? What are you saying?!”
“Don’t worry, Miss! I’ll take full responsibility for you being a spinster for life!”
“What? Marie, why? Why would you take responsibility? What makes you so special as a spinster? You’re cute, kind, and sweet. You’re nothing like me!”
Lois exclaimed, looking shocked.
“What? I… I’m…”
“Hmph. Now that you’re an adult, you should date and experience things. If you look around, there’s sure to be a good man… someone righteous, caring, gentle, and handsome… someone like that.”
“Do I have someone like that around me?”
“Well, yeah. If you pay more attention and look closely… there’s definitely someone…”
Marie’s eyes widened as she stared at Lois, and he blushed slightly, turning his face away.
“Huh? What’s going on here? Are they trying to tease me right in front of me?”
“Hey! Get out! I’m suddenly sick of seeing you both!”
Himena pushed them both out, irritated.
“Oh, Miss…”
“Tch, are you already getting frustrated about being a spinster?”
“What? A spinster? Come here!”
“Ah! Marie, let’s go! Hurry up!”
“Yes, Miss!”
Thud!
“Hey, aren’t you coming? You two!”
“Has His Highness already gone to bed?”
“No, he just finished preparing for bed, so he’s still awake.”
“Then tell him I’m here.”
“Yes.”
The maid, who had just left Diego’s room, turned back and informed Alonso.
“Your Highness, Secretary Alonso wishes to see you.”
“Let him in.”
“I apologize for disturbing you at this late hour, Your Highness.”
Alonso, entering Diego’s room with a tense expression, lowered his voice.
“What’s going on?”
“The subordinate you asked to watch Princess Silvester sent a secret letter.”
Diego, who had been half-lying on his bed, quickly straightened up.
“Really? What’s happened? Is something special going on?”
“The princess is… about to get engaged to Marquis Thermos.”
“What? What did you say?”
Meanwhile, at the Sylvester Duke’s estate…
“Ugh, my dear, our daughter is finally, finally getting married… sniffle“
On a clear autumn afternoon, the Sylvester Duke’s mansion was bustling with activity, preparing an outdoor engagement ceremony in the vast garden.
The Duke entered Himena’s room, tears streaming down his face as he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief.
“Father, this is not a wedding, it’s an engagement! Why are you crying so much?”
Himena, in her pure white dress, scolded her father who was still crying as he checked her final preparations.
“You don’t understand how I feel. After the royal proposal fell apart, I thought my only daughter would die an old spinster. How desperate I was… But now, she’s promised to marry the man she has always loved. Can you imagine how I feel? Ugh, now I can die without regret.”
“Seriously, stop crying! If you keep this up, you’ll just be in the way!”
“Okay, okay. But still, look at our daughter, isn’t she beautiful? She looks just like her mother. Dear, do you see? Our daughter grew up looking just like you! sniffle“
“Father, seriously, go out now!”
“Okay, okay. I’ll go to the garden first.”
The butler, seeing the situation, gently guided the Duke out.
Himena, though scolding her father, felt guilty as she watched him cry with joy, completely unaware that it was all a lie.
’Ugh… what am I doing? Is this really okay? If I break off the engagement later, our dear father might collapse from shock… Is this the best decision? Haa… I’m so conflicted…’
