Chapter 44
“I feel the same.”
“Don’t give such a simple answer. Your reputation is suffering because of me.”
“Hahaha!”
At Sylaria’s pointed remark, Euclid burst into hearty laughter. Whatever it was that amused him, his shoulders even shook as he laughed.
“My goodness, Sylaria.”
“What is it?”
“I’m the ‘lunatic prince’. Do you really think I’d care about something like reputation?”
At the blunt words that came out of Euclid’s mouth, Sylaria’s lips pressed into a thin line. Cora and Cyan, who stood nearby, also looked visibly flustered, at a loss for words.
“A woman making a ‘transfer marriage’ and a lunatic prince. People will say we’re a perfect match. I rather like the sound of it.”
“Pfft…!”
Sylaria, who had been staring at him wide-eyed, burst out laughing.
Though she had tried to act composed and unfazed on the outside, in truth, she’d been troubled by the ridiculous rumors circulating about her.
But now, listening to Euclid, it truly didn’t bother her anymore.
“You’re right. They’ll say we make quite the pair.”
“Exactly, right?”
Sylaria smiled brightly as she looked at Euclid. With this man beside her, it felt like she didn’t need to worry about anything.
* * *
“Is that so?”
Cressida snorted after Aria whispered in her ear. So the First Prince and Sylaria had only just learned of the rumors and had decided to proceed with the engagement regardless.
Their courage was admirable, but also completely foolish.
“Let’s see how long they can keep ignoring the rumors.”
Cressida fluttered her fan, wearing a thick smile. She leisurely looked down at the pile of letters stacked high on her desk.
Nobles from the capital were constantly begging for a chance to meet with the Empress.
Only with her approval could they be granted an audience, so letters requesting invitations never stopped arriving.
“Let’s see. The Count of Lacroix’s family should do nicely.”
Cressida selected one of the letters and handed it to Aria, her eyes glinting sharply.
“Tell the Count of Lacroix to host a tea party. It’s time my future daughter-in-law was introduced to the capital’s high society. And since she’s joining the imperial family, she should learn just how terrifying rumors can be.”
“Wise words, Your Majesty. I will carry out your orders at once.”
Aria took the letter with a radiant smile. Her face lit up at the thought of the soon-to-be First Prince’s Consort suffering public humiliation.
* * *
Some time later.
At high noon, in the imperial palace.
As solemn silence hung in the air, the doors of the cathedral opened, and a woman in a pale pink dress stepped inside.
The woman, with deep brown hair, slowly walked down the carpet toward the platform.
Standing on the platform was the priest officiating the engagement. And there, too, was a dignified man waiting for her.
The man, clad in ceremonial garb that complemented his golden hair, stared intently at the woman walking toward him.
“We shall now commence the engagement ceremony between His Highness the First Prince and Lady Sylaria of the Rainier County.”
At last, when the woman arrived at the platform, the priest solemnly declared. Though it was merely an engagement ceremony, the reverence in the air was no less than that of a wedding.
An imperial engagement was a formal proclamation that the betrothed was a Purifier.
For that reason, it was treated as a de facto marriage. That was precisely why Sylaria had tried so hard to avoid becoming engaged to Arendtert.
Though the ceremony was smaller in scale and simpler in form than a wedding, the first night was held on the day of the engagement.
Perhaps that was why…
Facing Euclid, Sylaria’s heart pounded rapidly.
Through the stained glass of the cathedral, beams of colorful light poured in, casting vivid shadows across his deep cream-colored ceremonial uniform.
As if entranced, Sylaria’s gaze lingered on his outfit, but was soon drawn away by the deep blue eyes looking back at her.
Their eyes met in midair, and Euclid offered a faint, rich smile.
Just then, the priest blessed the couple as part of the ceremony’s order. They placed rings on each other’s fingers, then gazed into each other’s eyes.
“…With this, I hereby proclaim the engagement of Euclid Balthazar and Sylaria Rainier.”
As the priest’s declaration came to an end, the choir’s beautiful voices filled the air.
At last, the engagement has been finalized.
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