7. Engagement Announcement

Five months later...

Talks were proceeding steadily with the foreign countries we sought permission from to plant cuttings of the Spirit Tree in. However, due to the fact that we still had yet to finish preparing a cutting branch, it didn’t seem like we’d be leaving anytime soon.

Today was our long-awaited engagement announcement. Lots of things had been happening in preparation for this day.

First off was my gown. I’d promised to let Lord Glen choose it, so after being measured, I had no idea what color or style it would be until the final fitting. Apparently he’d wanted to surprise me.

The base dress was white in an A-line style, with aqua decorations placed throughout that matched Lord Glen’s eyes. It didn’t look childish with me wearing it at thirteen. It actually might have made me look older.

Next were my dance lessons. Lord Glen and I would be expected to dance at the announcement party. I’d practiced dancing with my brothers back when I was in the Sargent Margraviate, so I more or less knew how to dance, but... People will be watching us!

Thus, due to my lack of confidence, Lord Glen made time to help me practice. I would have gotten someone else to teach me, but he’d said, “Instead of learning with another person, it’d be better for you to get used to how dancing with me feels.” I would later find out that he’d said that because he didn’t want me dancing with any other men.

So even Lord Glen gets possessive... I was both surprised and happy.

After all that, I was massaged head to toe with fragrant oils every day, and had my face and hair painted with things called masks to make my skin and hair beautiful. I also started taking walks in the gardens to increase my stamina, as suggested by Lady Noel. She told me that staying still gradually makes it harder to move, so it’s important to get some exercise in. And she was right. The more I walked, the better I felt. I’d also gotten friendly enough with the nobles who I saw in the gardens to greet them.

“Lady Chelsea?” My personal maid Gina called my name since I’d been spacing out in front of my dressing room mirror. “Is something the matter?”

“Ah... I’m fine. I was just thinking back on the last half-year,” I replied, shaking my head.

She smiled brightly. “Let’s get you in your gown then!”

I nodded, and then another maid brought out a corset. “Please come over here so I can tie it for you,” she said, quickly putting it on me and tightening the lace up.

It always fit perfectly, with no discomfort at all. When I’d told that to Lady Noel, she’d been shocked, saying that was impossible. Apparently they were usually tied painfully tight to give you a certain silhouette.

“You aren’t going to tie it any tighter?” I asked, only to get a head shake back.

“In your case, Lady Chelsea, you have no excess fat, so there’s no need to tie it any tighter. I’ll loosen it up to where it will just straighten your back, so please make sure to eat all the delicious food you can.”

Now that I thought about it, they’d said the same thing the first time I’d been put in a corset. It’s been a year and I’m still so thin... I should eat more... Preparations kept progressing while I was thinking, and before I knew it, I’d been put in my gown. After that, they put a light layer of makeup on me, did my hair, and arranged my accessories. Finally, I was done.

“Perfect!” Martha exclaimed, and all of the maids nodded in agreement.

A little while after I was ready, Lord Glen came to get me. He was so handsome in his deep-blue jacket that I couldn’t help but admire him. He smiled happily when our eyes met.

“It looks even better on you than I’d expected.”

My cheeks burned when I realized he was complimenting me. He was the one who chose my gown for today.

“You look wonderful too...” I managed to squeak out.

It was his turn to blush. “It’s kinda embarrassing to hear you say that...”

We smiled at each other, cheeks bright red.

After that, I held onto his arm as we headed towards the party. We took the same path through the Royal Research Institute that I’d taken to get to my social debut, heading inside the palace. Then we walked not towards the party hall itself, but to the residential castle.

In our meetings earlier, I’d been told that we’d be entering from a special entrance especially for royalty, but we were getting farther and farther from the hall. Where exactly are we going? I thought, tilting my head.

Lord Glen gave me an impish smile before whispering in my ear, “There’s a room in the castle connected via teleportation circle to the royal waiting room beside the party hall.”

A teleportation circle... Those were magical devices that could bring you to another place in an instant when provided with mana. I’d used them before to get between the Research Institute and the training grounds and fields.

“So that’s why we’re headed towards the residential castle.” As I nodded along, we passed through the connecting hallway and went inside. We were now within the barrier, so only those with permission—those who were trustworthy enough—could enter.

From there we stepped inside a room on the first floor. The wallpaper was a subdued cream color, with a fireplace, some sofas, and a low table inside. There was also a big circle I could recognize from the Research Institute off to the corner, with a little stand holding a copper box. There were no other decorations to be seen.

“His Majesty and Her Majesty aren’t here yet, so let’s wait for them.”

“All right,” I replied with a nod before sitting beside Lord Glen on the sofa. Maids set out easy-to-eat snacks, treats, and tea on the table before moving back to wait by the walls.

“I don’t know if you’ll get a chance to eat at the party, so it’d be a good idea to eat something now,” Lord Glen said, picking up a bite-sized sandwich off of the table and tossing it in his mouth. “Egg, huh?” After chewing and swallowing his sandwich, he picked up another one and raised it to my lips.“You have one too. Say ‘ahhh.’”

I obediently opened my mouth and ate it. It was just as good as the sandwich I’d eaten forever ago in the carriage. Once I swallowed it, he lifted up a different sandwich. I ate that too, and then noticed the bewitched smile on his face.

I glanced over to the maids off by the wall and the royal guard standing by the door, only to see them bashfully looking away. I’d been fed like this by my grandfather and brothers back in the Sargent Margraviate, so I hadn’t really thought anything of it. My grandmother and mother hadn’t stopped them, but maybe being fed like that was supposed to be embarrassing?

I wanted to ask Lord Glen, but I couldn’t get a word in as he kept on feeding me sandwiches, biscuits, and chocolate.

What should I do? While I was thinking that, the king and queen walked into the room. I quickly forced down the chocolate in my mouth and rushed to stand.

“Relax. We’ve got time,” said His Majesty, sitting on the opposite sofa to us beside the queen and signaling for both Lord Glen and I to sit back down.

As we did, Her Majesty smiled. “Glen was the one to choose tonight’s dress, wasn’t he?”

“Yes,” I replied with a nod.

She looked over to Lord Glen. “You did a good job. It brings out Chelsea’s adorableness and beauty wonderfully.”

“I know her good points best, after all,” he replied, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close.

“I wonder. I think I know her pretty well too!” the queen shot back with a giggle and a smile.

I thought they got along fairly well. Was I wrong? I wondered to myself, looking back and forth between them before I heard His Majesty chuckle.

“Settle down, you two. You’re worrying Chelsea.”

The moment the words left the king’s lips, the two looked surprised, glancing over at me. They were both frowning apologetically.

“I-I’m quite all right,” I said, shaking my head.

The four of us snacked for a while, before a man—the prime minister—appeared from the teleportation circle.

“It is time,” he told us.

“Let’s get going then.”

At His Highness’s prompting, we moved to stand on the circle. It seemed that the prime minister would be the one to actually use the device, as the king put his hand on the man’s right shoulder, while Lord Glen touched his left. Lord Glen had his arm around my waist, while the queen held her husband’s arm tightly.

“Please hold on tight as I begin the teleportation,” said the prime minister, tapping the floor three times with his heel.

The moment he did, the circle glowed bluish-white before our surroundings changed instantly. The wallpaper changed from subdued cream to complex patterns, and we could hear the buzzing of the crowd.

“We’ve arrived...”

Soon we’ll be announcing our engagement. The second I realized that, I started to get nervous. What if...I mess something up?

As I fretted, Lord Glen leaned over and whispered in my ear. “Worried?”

I nodded, unable to get any words out.

“I’ll teach you an old trick,” he whispered, drawing a tulip on my palm with his finger. It tickled a bit, and I held back a giggle. “Now eat it.”

I wasn’t really sure what he meant, but I raised my palm to my lips and mimed eating it. “Um...”

“It’s a distraction. Are you still nervous?”

Now that I thought about it, I’d been so caught up in wondering what the tulip was for, I’d forgotten to be worried.

“Thank you very much,” I whispered, getting a glad smile back.

“Please wait while I announce your arrival,” said the prime minister, walking towards the hall.

While we waited, the maids who had been on standby in the royal waiting room got to work checking that our clothes and makeup were still perfect. A moment later, we heard the prime minister’s voice.

“His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen have arrived.”

The buzzing hall went silent in an instant as the king and queen straightened up and walked forward. After they went, Lord Glen pulled me close. As I wondered what he was doing, he gave me a tight hug. I could hear his slightly hastened heartbeat as His Majesty gave his greetings.

“Good of you all to come. We have an important announcement to make,” the king said before pausing. He must have been looking around the hall at the guests. “My younger brother has himself a fiancée!”

The room buzzed again as soon as the words left his lips.

“Okay, let’s go.” Loosening his arms from around me, Lord Glen took my hand and led me out.

As we stepped outside of the waiting room and into the hall, I could hear the guests murmuring.

“That’s His Highness’s fiancée... Who is she?”

“She debuted at the last party, didn’t she?”

“She was an acquaintance of Duke Bazrack, was she not?”

Once we’d walked directly beside the royal couple, Lord Glen stopped and looked around the hall. Since we were about five steps higher than those in attendance, even I could see to the corners of the room despite my height.

“Her name is Chelsea, and she is the daughter of Margrave Sargent,” Lord Glen announced.

As he spoke, I straightened my back and curtsied. Then Lord Glen’s arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me close. I looked up at him, only to see his enchanting smile get closer as his lips touched my forehead. I felt something soft and warm before he immediately pulled back. The hall’s buzz turned to squeals.

Huh? Did he just...kiss me? In front of all of these people?! What?! I could feel my face turning red. I looked down in embarrassment before getting pulled into another hug.

“I did that because I wanted to show you off, but I don’t want anyone to see you looking like that. I want to keep that look for myself,” he whispered quietly.

I could hear His Majesty chuckle. “I know that some may be against Glenarnold’s engagement. But I’d advise you not to get between them,” he declared, silencing the room in an instant. “Tonight is a celebration. Enjoy yourselves.”

Taking those words as their cue, the orchestra stationed to the side of the hall began playing, and the party began.

Once my cheeks cooled off, Lord Glen loosened his arms and held a hand out to me. “Let’s dance.”

“All right,” I replied, taking his hand as we descended the stairs.

The middle of the hall was left empty for dancing. As soon as the two of us stood on the dance floor, the orchestra started playing a dance tune.

Thanks to Lord Glen telling me over and over again that dancing was supposed to be fun, I wasn’t nervous. It actually was fun, and and my lips naturally formed a smile. I enjoyed seeing each of my steps line up with Lord Glen’s. When he picked me up and spun me around, the feeling of floating was wonderful. Every single part of the dance was just so thrilling, and every time our eyes met, we would smile.

Once we finished the song, I could hear exclamations of wonder as noble couples I didn’t even know spoke up about wanting to dance, moving to the middle of the room.

“That shows just how fun your dancing looked,” Lord Glen murmured, getting more smiles out of me. “Let’s go greet people next.”

“Yes!” I replied, pumping myself up with a strong nod before we walked around the hall together.

The room was just filled with aristocrats in their finery, all glancing at us in the hopes we’d start up a conversation. As a matter of manners in social situations like this, it was considered rude for those of lower rank to speak to those of higher rank. This meant that the king and queen were the only ones who could start up a conversation with Lord Glen, who was both a royal and Duke Snowflake.

And in that situation came Lord Tris, walking in front of us wearing his best.

“Hey, Tris.” Lord Glen greeted him casually, just as he usually did.

A grin broke out on the researcher’s face, and he said, “Your Highness. Miss Chelsea. Congratulations on your engagement! You finally get to go public, huh?”

We hadn’t told Lord Tris about our relationship, since we’d been ordered to keep it a secret until the official announcement. How did he know?

As I tilted my head in confusion, Lord Glen asked the exact same thing I was thinking. “You knew?”

Lord Tris shook his head. “Not until a bit ago. But you guys kinda gave off that feeling.”

“I can’t recall ever doing anything to make it apparent...” Lord Glen murmured, getting a blank look back from Lord Tris.

“Did you not notice yourself? You were always chasing Miss Chelsea with your eyes.”

I blinked a few times when he said that. Essentially, he sensed that our engagement wasn’t for political reasons.

I glanced over at Lord Glen, and he had a hand to his mouth in embarrassment.

“Miss Chelsea is my research buddy, and also something like a little sister to me too. Treat her well, ’kay?” Lord Tris stared Lord Glen down, looking uncharacteristically serious.

I hadn’t known he thought about me like that. Since I was so happy, the words just slipped from my lips. “Should I call you Brother Tris, then?”

He blinked at me for a moment, then blushed and gave me a little smile. “Marx’d kill me if you did.”

I giggled back, easily imagining how unhappy my older brother would be.

“I’d do what?” Brother Marx himself appeared from behind Lord Tris. Beside him stood a woman with sparkling silver hair.

Is that Brother Marx’s fiancée?

While I wondered, Lord Glen greeted them. “Marx and Baron Talcott’s daughter, huh?”

My brother gave a knightly salute, while Miss Talcott gave a splendid curtsy.

“I’ve come as a representative of the Sargent Margraviate today,” Marx told Lord Glen before turning to me. “This is your first time meeting Stacey, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.” I nodded.

“She’s Baron Talcott’s daughter, and my fiancée, Stacey.”

“I’m Stacey Talcott. I’m both Lord Marx’s fiancée and his aide.”

“A pleasure to meet you. My name is Chelsea Sargent.”

After introducing ourselves, she gave me a smile. Her slightly droopy azure eyes made her seem so gentle.

“Um... May I call you Elder Sister Stacey?”

Back in the margraviate, I’d called Brother Saix’s fiancée my elder sister, so I asked if I could do the same with her. Lady Stacey’s eyes widened for a moment before a blush and a smile appeared on her face.

“Yes, please do!”

“It’s not very often that I see Stacey this happy about anything,” joked Marx, getting a smile from his fiancée before she reached over, grabbed his side, and twisted.

Unable to scream in the middle of a party, my brother cried voicelessly as he endured it.

Having finished greeting Lord Tris, Brother Marx, and Sister Stacey, the other nobles who had been watching us at a distance started approaching. Lord Glen gave each and every one a smile and a greeting. I did my best to keep smiling as I introduced myself to them.

Most of the nobles seemed to have debts of gratitude to Lord Glen, thanking him for one thing or another. There were just so many people that I started forgetting who they were halfway through.

When I quietly confessed that to Lord Glen, he gave a wry smile before whispering in my ear, “I forget too sometimes. Then I cheat and use my [Appraisal] Skill.”

I’m so jealous! I thought, glaring up at him.

As we circled around the party hall, we found Marquis Wisteria and Lady Noel.

“It’s been a while, marquis.”

“I’ve heard much about your efforts, Your Highness.”

While the two were talking, I greeted Lady Noel. Even just calling her name brought a big smile to her face. It was cute.

“Lady Chelsea! Congratulations on your engagement! I was so surprised!”

We’d been meeting each other frequently since that incident at the Wisteria Villa, and we’d become quite close.

“We were told to keep it a secret until it was officially announced...”

Even though I talked about practically everything with Lady Noel, I hadn’t told her about our engagement. I’d always felt guilty being unable to tell her.

“We can’t have today’s star looking like that! C’mon, smile, smile!”

My expression softened when she said that.

“Come over to my house again sometime! You can tell me all about your love life with His Highness, and how it started!”

“Huh?!” I gasped. Tell her about my love life?! Just thinking about it made me blush bright red with embarrassment.

While the two of us were chatting, Lord Glen and Lady Noel’s father finished their conversation as well.

“Let’s get going,” he whispered in my ear, and I nodded back.

Lady Noel, who was standing right in front of me, clasped her hands together as if in prayer. “Lady Chelsea really is just too adorable! It’s healing me!”

I pretended not to hear what she was saying as Lord Glen and I walked away.

The next day, our engagement was announced to the public.

It was common knowledge that the king’s younger brother was incredibly talented, and that His Majesty treasured him. Apparently the citizens had a lot of guesses about what kind of person his fiancée would be.

From what I’d heard, some thought she’d be beautiful but with a horrible personality, leading His Highness around by the nose. Others thought that she could be a really good person who cherished him, or a lady just as talented as him...

All of their guesses were quite different from how I really was, so I was at a loss.