***
“Then, we can do it right away, right?”
The discussion was over.
The method had been confirmed, and no one had any objections.
I stood up, ready to take action immediately.
Tomorrow was the main ceremony of the Foundation Day.
That’s why many people were attending the banquet today.
Moreover, Blueny had just lifted the atmosphere, so by now, the banquet must have been in full swing.
While everyone was dancing and conversing with their favored partners, the mere sight of Serdin and me entering together would undoubtedly capture everyone’s attention.
‘What Hayron did is actually proving to be useful in a way.’
I smirked at Serdin, who seemed slightly tense beside me.
“Let’s go in.”
“Alright.”
Serdin responded with a smile and escorted me inside.
For a more dramatic effect, Blueny decided not to step in, and Delight would join later.
“If Delight initially opposes and then reluctantly agrees, it will make things even more dramatic. That way, people will remember it more vividly. If I were there, they might wonder why I wasn’t trying to mediate.”
That was Blueny’s judgment, and we all agreed with it.
Thus, Serdin and I entered the banquet hall side by side.
“Oh, the princess has returned!”
“And… she’s with Prince Serdin?”
“Entering together… They must be quite close. Hehe.”
As expected, all eyes turned to us.
Some people even murmured teasing remarks.
And then—
Derek spotted us and approached excitedly.
“P-Prince Serdin…! Princess, you’re here?”
“Derek, are you alright? Are you sure you should be moving around already?”
Serdin asked, concerned about his condition.
“Yeah, I recover faster than I thought.”
Derek responded a bit shyly, lightly patting his chest.
Apart from a few remaining scratches, he looked completely fine.
I had assumed he was fragile and timid, but—
He seemed to have a surprisingly sturdy physique.
Still, it made me wonder why he was so timid.
“I just really hate pain, that’s all.”
As if sensing my thoughts, he scratched his head and muttered.
“I’m glad. I was worried about you.”
“Y-You were actually worried about me…?”
Derek’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“Of course. I was planning to check on you after the banquet.”
“R-Really? I would always welcome that…”
“By the way, Derek, we’re friends now. So just talk to me casually.”
“Huh? Oh… um, o-okay.”
Derek hesitated for a moment before nodding shyly.
Still, I was surprised to see him moving around so soon.
Since he had been hit by a magic attack, I was worried about any lingering effects.
It was truly fortunate that he was doing so well.
Derek grinned and slightly shook his head, seemingly in a good mood.
“Huh? But why are you two standing like that? People are going to misunderstand.”
Derek glanced around while whispering after noticing how close Serdin and I were standing.
“I-I think it would be better if you two stood a little apart.”
His eyes wavered anxiously as if he were worried that rumors would spread.
Then, he deliberately squeezed himself between us, creating some distance.
Once he seemed more at ease, his eyes sparkled as he whispered in a lower voice.
“Oh, by the way, I’ve been working hard spreading the word.”
“Huh?”
“I heard everything from my father. He said I needed to help clear up the misunderstanding about you two.”
Derek spoke enthusiastically, as if excited about his role.
Ah… could it be?
“I explained that Princess and Prince Serdin are just good friends and that I also hang out with you two.”
As expected.
“Of course, not everyone will believe me just because I say it a few times. But if we show them that we’re simply friends—”
Derek eagerly continued speaking, but he froze when he saw our expressions harden.
This won’t do.
Before Derek spread the wrong information further, I had to tell him about the change in plans.
“Derek, the situation has changed.”
“…Huh? What do you mean?”
I moved closer to him.
“From now on, you need to spread the opposite story.”
“…Huh?!”
Confusion filled Derek’s face as question marks practically floated above his head. I leaned in and whispered softly enough for only him to hear.
“Just repeat what you hear and say it out loud.”
I also told him exactly what he needed to do next.
Derek blinked a few times, rolled his eyes, and then suddenly opened his mouth wide.
“Whaaat?! You mean… you two actually like each other?!”
Derek’s voice rang throughout the banquet hall.
The entire room fell into an uproar.
Even with my hands covering my ears, his words were impossible to ignore.
“W-What did he just say?”
“Did you hear that?”
“How could I not?”
“Wait… does that mean they’re really…?”
“Are they going to get married?”
“No way! The Emperor would never allow it.”
“Then… does that mean they’ll be forced to separate?”
“Is this a Romeo and Juliet situation…?”
Across both the Empire and the Kingdom, people started drawing parallels between this situation and tragic love stories.
“That’s too sad.”
Some even had tears in their eyes.
“What should we do?”
“But don’t they look good together?”
“That makes it even more heartbreaking. They suit each other so well, yet they can’t be together.”
“W-Who knows? The Emperor always grants the Princess whatever she wants…”
“Still, the prince of Ilnord is a different matter…”
“A love doomed to end just as it begins.”
“Such a pity.”
The spectators’ speculations had already jumped far into the future.
Listening to their murmurs, I secretly smirked.
Because all of their predictions were completely wrong.
Hmm.
The reaction was even more explosive than I had expected.
After letting them talk long enough, I turned to Derek with a feigned look of frustration.
“Derek, I told you this in confidence.”
“You’re the only close friend we have.”
“…Really…? Oh, I mean, really?”
Derek twisted his body in embarrassment.
Why are you the one getting shy here?!
It was a little ridiculous, but not entirely unwelcome.
“You’ll always be on our side, right?”
“Of course!”
Derek shouted with all his might, his fists clenched tightly.
“Then congratulate us.”
The stage was set.
Confirming that everyone’s attention was on us, I turned toward Serdin.
“Serdin, I’m happy that you’ve returned after so long.”
Taking his hand, I spoke in a soft yet deliberately audible tone.
“Meeting you again this time made me certain—I don’t want us to part ways again.”
“…Ollia.”
Serdin called my name in a trembling voice.
“Will you marry me and stay by my side?”
I held his hand and confessed.
In front of everyone.
There was no murmuring this time.
Instead, the entire banquet hall fell silent.
The difference between guessing at something and witnessing it with their own eyes was staggering.
And now, they were witnessing it firsthand.
A princess—me—proposing first.
“I’m the one who will confess.”
“What’s wrong with our Ollia?! Why can’t you even confess properly?!”
When we had planned this, Delight had dramatically clutched his head. Even though this wasn’t a real confession, he was still too immersed.
But I had my reasons for insisting.
“If Serdin confesses to me, will you approve, Dad?”
“Even if I went crazy, I’d never allow it.”
“See? I have to take the initiative so my father has a reason to approve.”
“…….”
Delight had no argument left and shut his mouth.
“So, we have to show everyone the entire process—proposal and approval included.”
That was why I was making this grand declaration now.
Serdin, who had been watching with an overwhelmed expression, finally spoke.
“I wanted to be the one to confess first… But no matter what happens, I’ll never let go of this hand I’m holding now.”
It was a bit cliché, but weren’t all confessions like this?
Regardless, our feelings were clear.
Following our planned sequence, Serdin and I locked eyes, still holding hands, and then pulled each other into an embrace.
“Hold me tighter.”
I whispered so only he could hear.
“Why are you being so forward?”
“We need to do this properly.”
Like a couple who had just confirmed their love, we held each other closely.
“What is this scene supposed to be?”
Delight’s cold voice cut through the air.
With that, our grand act reached its climax.
