Enemies Meet at the Engagement Ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sniffle.

 

I stood by the window, regulating my breath that wouldn’t calm easily, and threw back the blanket.

 

When I forcefully opened the heavy window, the chilly night air rushed in.

 

The warmth that had risen in my cheeks cooled down, and a pleasant sigh escaped.

 

From my room window, I could see the vast garden of the Emblem mansion, boasting its grand scale.

 

Except for the gentle moonlight, the garden was gracefully shrouded in darkness.

 

Rustle.

 

At that moment, a peculiar sound of leaves brushing against each other, not usually heard in the garden, reached me.

 

“Huh?”

 

Leaning halfway out of the window, I squinted my eyes, focusing on the source of the sound.

 

As I stared intently, something sparkled, reflecting the moonlight.

 

Like someone’s shimmering silver hair.

 

“Could it be…?”

 

I pondered while looking at the silver hair, which sparkled once again and then disappeared.

 

A mouse might have entered the house, but it seemed like a mouse that I knew.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kid was crouched in the vines where I had hidden before, pulling out weeds that had grown on the ground.

 

‘Why is this kid pulling weeds in someone else’s garden?’

 

I approached from behind, clenched my fist, and stared for a while, but he was so focused that he didn’t notice.

 

A seven-year-old boy, and the security was so lax that even I could easily penetrate.

 

If this fact were revealed, the honor of the Emblem mansion would be tarnished.

 

‘Whom should I report this to…’

 

Contemplating on who would be the most effective to convey this information, I opened my mouth.

 

“Enoch.”

 

Enoch jolted in surprise and turned around.

 

Enoch’s eyes, now widened like lanterns, a twitch in his stiff shoulders, lips pressed tightly as if holding back breath.

 

I witnessed Enoch in such a bewildered state for the first time.

 

“What’s up, Cherry?”

 

As he confirmed my face, his tense shoulders, which had shot up, relaxed deeply.

 

Taking a long exhale, Enoch seemed to adopt an attitude that being caught by me wasn’t a big issue.

 

Regaining his usual cheeky and nonchalant composure, Enoch, with a chubby voice, asked,

 

“What’s going on here at this hour?”

 

It wasn’t a question one would ask if they were just pulling weeds in someone else’s garden late at night.

 

Regardless of Enoch’s casual demeanor, I momentarily thought this place was Gray Mansion, not Emblem.

 

“This my house you know? Why are you speaking to me like that?”

 

Briefly pursing his lips at my words, Enoch soon opted to keep his mouth shut.

 

I carefully examined Enoch’s face. He had a lot to say but was holding back.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Exhaling as if annoyed by my presence, Enoch rolled his eyes vaguely, keeping his hands, covered in dirt, behind his back.

 

Enoch was the one caught sneaking into the mansion as an unauthorized guest, so he was the cautious one.

 

“Do you have something to say to me?”

 

“…!”

 

In response to my question, Enoch widened his eyes and swallowed hard.

 

We’ve known each other for a whopping 7 years, and seeing him so shaken was a first.

 

The old man, who usually acted unnecessarily mature, suddenly looked like someone of my age. At this point, I began to feel a bit uneasy.

 

“If you have something to say, say it quickly; otherwise, go back. The rumor about your escape is already spreading.”

 

“Already?”

 

His questioning tone seemed oddly dull. Was it because Enoch wasn’t responding as he usually did? Feeling awkward, I scolded him for no apparent reason.

 

“You’re repeating the same things. Isn’t it obvious? Why aren’t you answering? Are you dumb now? Are you sick somewhere?”

 

Stepping closer to Enoch, I placed my palm gently on his small head.

 

“Doesn’t seem like you has a fever. Why are you looks malfunctioning like that?”

 

“Just go.”

 

Enoch blinked for a moment, then blushed intensely and swatted my hand away. The sound was quite satisfying.

 

As I wrapped his cold hand, Enoch looked puzzled.

 

It seemed like he didn’t intend to hit me that hard.

 

“It’s chaos when you worry.”

 

“No, I just…”

 

As I spoke with a firm voice, Enoch bit his lips.

 

Even though he seemed determined to say something, clenching his fist stubbornly and biting his lips, I gave up and sighed, saying,

 

“Forget it. It’s probably revenge for hitting you earlier, right?”

 

Considering we had fought with Enoch just a day ago, another confrontation tonight was out of the question.

 

I had reflected a lot while being scolded by my mother earlier. I didn’t know why Enoch had run away to the Emblem Mansion in the middle of the night, but I decided to let this incident slide.

 

I pitied Enoch’s still red cheeks and wanted to cover up the fact that I was the one who caused it.

 

“I hit you more earlier, so let’s call it even.”

 

Proud of my adult-like tolerance, I turned to leave, but Enoch approached and grabbed my wrist.

 

“Wait!”

 

“What now?”

 

“I hit you harder earlier because I was flustered. Sorry. And for what happened today.”

 

Enoch’s words made me widen my eyes in surprise.

 

“Sorry? Did Enoch Gray just say sorry to me?”

 

It was beyond my ability to distinguish whether what I just heard was real or an auditory illusion. If I were to tell Grandpa about this, he’d surely say I had a strange dream.

 

In the moment when I was trying to clear my ears and listen again, unbelievably, Enoch continued the apology.

 

“Yeah. It’s my fault for insulting the Emblem. Even if I were Cherry, I would’ve been angry… What are you doing?”

 

Enoch, who had been apologizing while only looking at my wrist, belatedly noticed my expression and asked.

 

I stopped pinching my cheek with the hand that Enoch didn’t grab and said,

 

“No, I don’t know if I’m dreaming or hallucinating right now.”

 

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

 

“Who would have expected an apology to come from your mouth? If there’s anyone in the history of the Emblem family who has heard an apology from a Gray duke, tell them to come forward.”

 

That’s what Grandpa used to say. The Gray family doesn’t create situations where they need to apologize.

 

“Look at this! Look at this! Those Gray folks always say that, and you’re no different, huh?”

 

The Gray dukedom was the empire’s foremost political family. In the ruthless political arena, they reached the pinnacle by dealing only with just and beneficial matters.

 

If there was something that required an apology, it meant eliminating the opposing party.

 

Those fearsome Gray folks. Even the little one in front of me was raised fittingly for the Grays.

 

“Are we starting an argument now?”

 

“It’s strange.”

 

“I feel like a fool for apologizing to Cherry so easily.”

 

Enoch seemed momentarily bewildered, then turned away with the resigned expression of an old man who had given up everything, letting out a sigh.

 

Now that he had finally let go of the tension, I asked the question I had been wanting to ask.

 

“Why did you run away? And why did you end up here?”

 

“…”

 

Enoch hesitated for a moment. He must have known that even though we had promised an engagement in the future, I wouldn’t just let it go if he kept silent. Despite our engagement, Emblems and Grays were still rival houses.

 

Now that Aunt Diana had been deprived of the right of succession, it was confirmed that Enoch, destined to become the future Gray duke, had snuck into the Emblem mansion. It was not an ordinary occurrence.

 

In this noble society, anything could be justified, given the enmity between the Emblems and the Grays.

 

“They’re will never thought I would escape to the Emblem, absolutely not.”

 

“Ah.”

 

I could quickly understand. An escapee who received a scolding from Aunt Diana would likely be thoroughly searched by the Gray knights. Hiding in the Emblem’s shadow was a mindset that the Gray knights would never consider.

 

“You… you’re really smart.”

 

I admired genuinely. Thinking about it, Gray Duke had mentioned that Enoch received exceptionally strict education. Enoch not only kept up with this harsh level of education but also aspired for more, earning him the reputation of being a prodigy.

 

Today, I witnessed the Gray Duke, usually stern and proud, losing face due to his grandson’s achievements, to the point where he was about to burst with pride.

 

I realized that the praise was not unfounded.

 

“Anyway, just let me stay here until tomorrow morning. I’ll figure things out after that.”

 

“Tomorrow morning? But if it’s tomorrow morning, Aunt Diana will have already returned to the Kratyn Demon Forest.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thankyou for coming to this sites and read my translation, enjoy! Sorry if theres still have any mistake on the translation. See you on the next update!

Click bellow to support me on ko-fi.