Chapter 104
“So… you said you were engaged?”
Luciard and Hestia sat with their hands neatly folded on their laps, their heads bowed in a gesture of remorse.
Standing before them, arms crossed and eyes blazing, was Derrick.
When Derrick had almost flipped a table in the dining hall in anger, Luciard and Hestia had hurriedly pulled him aside to explain what had happened the previous day. However, his fury showed no signs of calming.
“Oh-ho-ho, engaged, you say? We must prepare for the wedding soon!”
Unlike Derrick, who was seething with rage, Anna was beaming with joy, wholeheartedly welcoming the engagement.
“You! Now’s not the time to be happy! And why do you want to rush a wedding when it’s not even a real engagement?”
Derrick yelled in frustration.
“You’re something else. The kids just lied to fool people, so shouldn’t we play along a little?”
“Even so, this isn’t something to be happy about! No matter how common broken engagements are these days, think about the pain Tia will endure when it happens!”
“Who still cares about that these days? Who’s truly perfect, huh?”
“Anna…”
“Besides, didn’t you always tell Tia to wait until later to get married or even engaged because she was too young?”
Derrick winced and stepped back, remembering past conversations.
“A fake engagement would still be better for Tia! She’s never shown any interest in men or dating!”
“…Mom?”
“She’s always working, staying late, and busy with her father’s people—when is she supposed to have time for romance?”
It was unclear whether Anna was upset with Derrick or Hestia at this point.
“Tia! Tell me honestly! Have you ever willingly attended a tea party? Or even gone to social gatherings often?”
“…No.”
“Then, have you ever mingled with other nobles your age?”
“…I don’t have any close friends. I didn’t attend the academy, after all.”
“See! And why didn’t you go?”
“Because I had too much work….”
Fearful of Anna’s increasing intensity, Hestia shuddered like a scared puppy.
“See? Hystia living so focused on work—don’t tell me that’s not your fault!”
“…Yeah.”
Now, it was Anna who was raising her voice.
Derrick, like Luciard and Hestia, ended up adopting a remorseful posture.
“Anyway, Hestia would do nothing if left alone—engagement or not! She’d just grow up to be an old maid! It’s better to have a fake engagement and break it off than never get married at all! And the other party is none other than Luciard!”
“Alright, alright! I get what you’re saying…”
As Derrick tried to defuse the situation, Anna glared at him with narrowed eyes.
“If you really understand, then don’t say another word about Hestia’s engagement unless you’re bringing her a good marriage partner.”
Only when Derrick nodded did Anna finally step back.
The three of them let out a sigh of relief.
“Since you even mentioned your engagement in front of His Majesty, it’s not something you can easily take back. Even if you plan to break it off later, you still have to go through with the formalities.”
“Formalities…?”
“The engagement ceremony, of course.”
Luciard and Hestia stiffened.
“But, Mom, some people skip the ceremony altogether, so we don’t necessarily have to—”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Of course, you need to have one! Otherwise, people will start to gossip!”
Hestia, having failed in her protest, sighed and backed down.
“Especially given your unique circumstances, it’s even more important to hold the ceremony. Otherwise, people will speculate.”
Some might even bring up their backgrounds to criticize them.
“I refuse to let that happen.”
Anna’s eyes blazed with determination. Sensing that there was no stopping her, Hestia resigned herself to fate.
“As long as we meet the basic formalities, we can just invite the southern nobles.”
“That… should be fine.”
At least she wouldn’t have to worry about the entire empire’s nobility being invited.
“But how are you going to explain this to the young lord? Judging by the fact that you called only us here, you’re keeping it a secret, aren’t you?”
Luciard and Hestia exchanged glances before nodding.
“Yes, we think that’s for the best.”
“Leon is too young to fully understand that it’s a fake engagement, and if he accidentally spills the secret, it could be a problem.”
“That makes sense.”
“And what about the your siblings?”
When Derrick mentioned Hestia’s younger siblings, she hesitated.
“Elvin should be fine… but please keep it a secret from Annie and Eric.”
“Alright, we’ll talk to Elvin about it.”
Though things had gotten a bit chaotic, at least the situation was somewhat under control. Now, there was just one problem left.
“…I have a bad feeling that the young lord will love this news.”
“We can’t tell him the truth, so we have no choice but to go along with it…”
Thinking about how Leonhard had excitedly reacted to their supposed engagement in the dining hall, Hestia and Luciard sighed deeply.
“A fake engagement, huh? You two certainly caused quite the stir while I was away.”
A few days after the Milky Way Festival ended, Hestia had returned to Chest, only to be met with Jerome’s knowing smirk.
“I’ve already been dealing with enough these past few days, don’t start with me too!”
She snapped in frustration.
Since their engagement news had been published in the newspapers, people in Byron and Chest had congratulated them nonstop whenever they were seen together.
The craftsmen of Byron were eager to handle the engagement preparations, saying they could take care of everything if given the date.
The people of Chest welcomed the union wholeheartedly, having witnessed Hestia’s competence and Luciard’s devotion to the territory.
“How many people know the truth? I assume Lord and Lady are aware.”
“My parents, Elvin, you, Hilde, Gallion, Lloyd, and some of the Blaze mercenaries.”
Since they were keeping it a secret from Leonhard, they couldn’t exactly tell all the servants either.
So Hestia had only confided in a few trustworthy people.
“Still, quite a few know. I suppose it makes things easier for you two. So, when’s the engagement ceremony?”
“…Why do you sound amused?”
“Me? Oh, you must be imagining it.”
The way Jerome hummed and grinned made it clear he was enjoying this far too much.
“You, my mom, Gallion—you’re all way too excited about this! It’s just a fake engagement!”
“My lady, history is often made in small moments. Who knows? One day, this act may become reality.”
“Aaah! That’s exactly what my mom said!”
“‘Hoho, Hestia, you should keep up the act even in daily life. That way, one day, it might become real! By the way, if it’s Sir Luciard, I wholeheartedly approve.’”
“Everyone’s trying to set me up with Luciard, aren’t they?!”
Hestia dramatically flailed her fingers in exasperation.
Jerome chuckled.
“A confession is better than too much denial, you know.”
“What?!”
“See? You’re overreacting again.”
Feeling like she was getting roped into Jerome’s teasing, Hestia clamped her mouth shut.
“Ugh, forget it. I didn’t come here for this nonsense!”
“Of course, of course.”
Jerome placated her with a slice of chocolate cake and a fragrant cup of tea.
Hestia composed herself and got to the point.
“I need you to investigate an orphanage.”
Jerome took the paper she handed him.
“This is Albert’s job application?”
“Yes. I had Gallion look into it after what Leitner said.”
They had found it in an old storage room after returning from the festival.
“He was from an orphanage… but he attended the academy with excellent grades?”
“Exactly. Doesn’t that seem suspicious?”
Hestia had always found Albert’s background questionable.
His betrayal, his sudden death—it all felt too convenient.
And now, she had a hunch.
“Something’s not right about that orphanage. Find out everything you can.”
Hestia thought for a moment before shaking her head.
“For now, I’ll ask you to take care of these two. Can you do that?”
“Of course, my lady. That’s why I’m here, after all. I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll do my best.”
Seeing Jerome readily accept her request, Hestia smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Jerome. I knew I could count on you.”
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