Chapter Text
Even though it was already time to go to bed, an Ordnance flew into my room.
"Onee-sama, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Goodnight."
Charles said in his voice and rolled into a magic stone.
I was stunned for a moment.
Oh. This isn't a goodnight message, but a goodnight Ordnance.
"Oh my, my, my, you're really the son of Lord Sylvester."
"Richarda! What should we do?!"
"I think the princess should reply."
"Yes, that's true!"
I slapped the Ordnance and said goodnight.
I remembered the proposal and fell face down on the bed.
No good. I haven't had a boyfriend since my days as Urano, so I'm too old for this, and I have zero romantic experience.
For some reason, Wilfried was also there at the tea party we were invited to, so it turned into a tea party with just the three siblings.
First, we decided who would be responsible for the prayer ceremony. They had worked hard while I was asleep, and I was happy that they were helping out again this year.
After the talk about the prayer ceremony, Charles bowed his head and began.
"Sister, there is something I need to apologize to you for."
I asked, wondering what it meant, and it turned out that when proposing, you should actually use the aristocratic catchphrase, "The Goddess of Light...". Come to think of it, there was a line like that in The Tale of the Knights.
"I'm sorry for this incomplete proposal."
When Charles looked depressed, my desire to protect him grew stronger and stronger.
"That's not true. I didn't know those words either. I wouldn't have been able to respond if you had said them. I was happy to hear Charles' heartfelt words."
She smiled shyly. It hit me right in the heart.
"Once I can get the magic stone, can I formally propose to you again?"
"Of course."
"...Have you two forgotten that I'm here?"
Then, the Goodnight Ordnance arrives again tonight.
Charles is so diligent.
I suddenly realize something.
...I can't let mother know about this! She'll end up writing a book about it!
"Brother Cornelius, what can I do to stop mother from finding out?"
"It's too late now. Rozemyne was so happy that she received a marriage proposal from Charles that she congratulated her? It's already the talk of high society."
What!?
"W-why?"
"Mother apparently heard the details from Florence. And the two of you are central to women's social circles. You can guess the rest, right?"
So you're talking about it at tea parties all the time?! Oh dear.
Ottilie sighs softly.
"Yes. Lady Elvira looked like she was having a great time."
Mother!
When I consulted Charles about what had happened, he tilted his head and said with sad eyes.
"Did you hate the rumors about me, sister?"
Of course not! Already.
"With the guidance of the supreme god who rules over the lofty and towering sky, the husband and wife gods of darkness and light, the threads spun by the goddess of time, Dreffangur, have now come together. I offer my prayers and gratitude for the meeting of my son, Charles, and Rozemyne, and may you grant me your holy protection."
And then the day of the banquet to celebrate spring arrived. Sylvester's sonorous voice echoed throughout the great hall.
Sighs of "Ahh" and cheers of "Wow" were heard. The disappointed sighs of "Ahh" were louder. How rude to announce someone's engagement.
I looked at the nobles from the stage with a hmmm. So that's how they reacted. Boniface, Count Liesegang, and many others had frightening expressions on their faces, as if they had bitten off a bitter pill.
It's sad that this engagement is unwelcome, I thought, feeling lonely and lonely, so I looked at Charles beside me, and he gave me a soft, gentle smile that reassured me. It was an exquisite smile, as if he couldn't help but be happy. I think he must be mentally strong to be able to smile in this atmosphere.
Charles' smile was so happy that I couldn't help but smile too.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Elvira swinging her stap around wildly. She was swinging it with incredible force. The surrounding nobles followed suit and flashed their staps, and belated, scattered applause broke out.
I see. Is that so?
As he gently escorted me, Charles smiled softly and said.
"It'll be fine. Let's have everyone's blessings overflowing by the time of the engagement ceremony."
"Hmm. That's Charles' declaration that 'I will take control of the nobles of the territory in about five years'."
"What? Wait a moment. It's not such a sinister story."
I was just going to brag, but he said something amazing.
No, sorry, I made a mistake in choosing Ferdinand to brag to.
"Isn't that a declaration that he will bring both the Leisegang nobles and the old Veronica faction into his support base?"
What, is that what he's talking about?
According to what I've heard, the nobles who support me as the next lord, also known as the Rozemyne faction, are the strongest right now, followed by the Florence faction who supports Charles, and the old Veronica faction (now on their last legs) who support Wilfried.
Approving my engagement to Charles is equivalent to getting the nobles who support me to acknowledge that Charles is the next lord.
Recently, my brain had been in full pink maiden mode, but it couldn't keep up.
"... Is Charles thinking of such ambitious things?"
"What are you talking about? He's been trained to be a candidate for the next lord and compete with Wilfried."
I don't think Wilfried can win against that at all...
Apparently, the fact that I'm happy about my engagement to Charles is helping to keep the nobles in the territory quiet. It seems that it's easier for Sylvester to convince them by saying "because that's what they want."
I'm shocked. Our proposal talk isn't a fun love story, but is being used to pave the way for factional disputes over the next lord...
"I don't know what you're thinking, but you should concentrate on your printing business and not think about anything else. I'll be returning to the temple after my meeting with the civil servants, so keep that in mind."
That's what I was told.
By staying in the temple, he was showing his submission to the lord and declining the offer. "Yes," I replied.
"Your sister is working in the printing business because she wants to read books herself."
After the meeting about the printing business, Charles said this sincerely, probably because he had heard about the legal deposit system.
It was absolutely true, so I had to laugh it off.
Then Charles was deep in thought.
He walked me to my room (really attentive), and when I invited him for a cup of tea, he smiled happily. He's an angel.
During our small tea party, he asked me lots of detailed questions about the printing business. Both Charles and Wilfried help with the printing business, but Charles is extremely serious about it. He seems to be familiar with the lord and his wife's close associates, as well as the castle's civil servants who are involved with the printing business. It's reassuring to have such connections. I'll leave it to him to coordinate with the castle's nobles. Maybe he can reduce Ferdinand's burden.
After talking for a while and thinking for a while, Charles put his cup down as if he had made a decision.
He had a gentle smile and dignified eyes. His expression was very similar to Florence's.
"Sister, I have a goal. May I superimpose my dream on yours?"
"What do you mean?"
"When I become lord, I will make Ehrenfest a territory filled with books and deliver many to you. Let's become lord couple and build a utopia together."
A huge blessing came out with a whoosh.