BGFV Chapter 109

Chapter 109

“I never thought I’d see our leader’s engagement ceremony.”
“After finding out he’s a noble, I decided to stop being surprised by anything.”
“Ugh, I’m so jealous…! To be engaged to such a beautiful angel! Even if it’s just a fake engag—mmph!”
“This guy never knows when to keep his mouth shut. How many times do I have to tell you it’s a secret?!”

The Blaze Mercenary Group was dressed unusually well, looking almost as refined as the nobles. They were important guests at the event, which would last for two days.

Brina and Lavio quickly covered Neville’s mouth, worried he might slip up. As the time for the engagement ceremony approached, more and more people gathered in the garden. Looking at the noble guests, all exuding elegance, Yelluna nervously hid her face behind her long hair.

“…Are we really supposed to be here?”
“I do feel a bit out of place.”
“What’s there to be nervous about? We’re invited guests too.”

Even though they were dressed in expensive outfits provided by Hestia, it still felt like they were wearing clothes that didn’t quite suit them.

Lavio silently scanned the surroundings, paying close attention to the guards standing throughout the venue. His expression darkened slightly.

“Lavio! Lavio!”

A familiar voice called out to him. Lavio quickly snapped out of his thoughts and smiled warmly.

“Yes, young master?”

Leonhard, dressed in a formal outfit, approached with Annie and Eric.

“Has my uncle not arrived yet?”
“No. Since he’s the main person today, he’ll probably come out a bit later.”
“Oh, I see.”
“Lord Luciard and Lady Hestia are hiding!”
“They’re not hiding. They’re just getting ready.”

Annie scolded Eric for his words.

“I can’t wait to see Hestia! Mom said she looks really beautiful today!”
“Hehe, Hestia will be beautiful, and Uncle will be handsome, right? I’m so excited!”

Seeing the children’s excitement, Lavio let out a small chuckle.

“Seems like we’re the only ones truly celebrating this.”

From the moment they arrived, Lavio had been hearing whispers about the engagement. Many guests had their doubts.

Some said it was just for show, others speculated they would break up later, and some even wondered if they were truly in love.

‘Well… it is a fake engagement.’

But since they had gone this far, there was no way Hestia and Luciard would give anyone an opening to criticize them.

“Ah, there you are. What are you guys doing here? You’re not bothering Lavio again, are you?”

“Brother!”

Elvin approached them, checking on the children.

“When did we ever bother him? Where have you been?”
“I was with Master. Hestia and Lord Luciard will be out soon, so let’s go back to our seats.”

After apologizing to Lavio for any trouble, Elvin guided the children back to their places.

Just in time, people started cheering as two figures stepped into the garden.

“It’s finally starting.”

Under a crystal-clear sky, it was a perfect day for a new beginning.

---

“Hah… Why am I so nervous?”

Before stepping out in front of the guests, Hestia took a deep breath to calm herself.

A pair of polished black shoes stepped beside her.

“That’s unusual. You actually get nervous too?”

“I’m human too, you know—of course, I get ner—”

As she turned her head, Hestia’s words stopped.

Luciard, looking slightly uncomfortable, was tugging at his collar.

He was dressed in a custom-made suit tailored by the finest craftsmen in Byron. His refined and disciplined appearance enhanced his natural wild charm even more.

Luciard glanced at Hestia.

Just like she had done, he quietly looked at her appearance from head to toe before swallowing hard.

The sharp line of his jaw tensed slightly as his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Yeah… I guess this is nerve-wracking.”

Luciard quickly looked away, scratching his cheek.

“The ceremony is about to begin.”

At the attendant’s words, the two walked toward the garden together.

Before reaching the main area, Luciard casually extended his hand.

“Wouldn’t it look better if I escorted you?”

He wasn’t wrong, so Hestia placed her delicate hand over his large one.

As his firm grip tightened around her hand, a strange warmth spread through both of them.

‘Why does it feel…’
‘…so hot?’

They had held hands like this before, yet today, they were oddly aware of each other.

Even though this was just a fake engagement, it almost felt real.

A warm summer breeze swept past them, mirroring the heat between them.

But as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause, the two quickly put on their masks of polite smiles.

They waved as if genuinely happy, their eyes scanning familiar faces.

‘Dad, why are you tearing up even though you know this is fake? And Mom… why does she look like she has everything in the world?’
‘Those guys over there are definitely trying not to laugh. I bet Neville’s going to make an error again at any second now.’

Hestia and Luciard were both lost in thought as they approached their designated spot.

At the front, Leonhard was waiting with his arms wide open.

‘He’s going to get tired of holding his arms like that.’
‘We’re the ones getting engaged, but he’s the happiest one here.’

Seeing him, their forced smiles naturally turned into real ones.

“Wowwww!”

Leonhard’s eyes sparkled like the sun as he gazed at the perfect couple.

Luciard raised a glass of champagne and looked around at the guests.

“Thank you all for coming today to celebrate our engagement.”

The crowd quieted down to listen.

“Today is a special day as Hestia Frost and I, Luciard Winston, promise our future together.”

Luciard flawlessly delivered the speech he had memorized in advance.

Beside him, Hestia put on a slightly shy expression, making everyone believe they were truly in love.

“Before we finish, I’m sure many of you are curious about the future of Winston’s leadership.”

The audience perked up, sensing an important announcement.

“Even after our engagement, my fiancée, Hestia, will continue as Leon’s guardian. If there are any changes in the future, we will inform you then.”

Many guests had been watching closely to see how power would shift after this engagement.

Some were surprised that Hestia was still the guardian, while others assumed that now, with Luciard by her side, the two would share the role.

But since the ceremony wasn’t over yet, no one spoke out loud.

Finally, the engagement ceremony wrapped up with a cake-cutting.

In truth, the ceremony itself wasn’t long—the main purpose was to celebrate with their guests.

“Congratulations on your engagement!”
“Wishing you both happiness!”
“You two look perfect together!”

Surrounded by applause and cheers, Luciard and Hestia waved, gradually bringing the event to a close.

And then—

“Wait, aren’t you forgetting the vow kiss?”

A cheerful voice cut through the air.

Everyone turned to the source of the voice.

Of course, it was Leonhard.

“Huh? Young master, what did you just say…?”

A stunned Hestia asked again.

“The Oath Kiss! You still haven’t done the Oath Kiss!”

An Oath Kiss… In other words… a kiss?

This wasn’t part of the plan at all. Both Luciard and Hestia froze, their smiles stiffening.

“Haha, Young Master, the Oath Kiss is something you do at a wedding,” Luciard tried to laugh it off.
“But you two aren’t getting married today, just engaged.”

The crowd chuckled at the child’s innocent joke.

“But there’s no reason not to, right? Your engagement isn’t just a political arrangement!”

If only they could have ignored it. But someone in the crowd decided to stir up trouble.

“Give us a passionate kiss!”
“It’d be a shame to end like this!”

Seeing the blushing couple, the guests smirked in amusement.

‘Young Master, why did you have to say that…!’

Hestia glanced around in panic. Derrick was about to protest loudly, but Anna held him back. The younger siblings covered their eyes but still urged them to do it. The Blaze Mercenaries whistled and laughed.

And then there was Leonhard.

He was staring up at them, his eyes shining brighter than if he had just received the best gift in the world.

‘What do I do…?!’

Hestia’s mind went blank, and she squeezed her eyes shut.

A rough hand touched her cheek.

Luciard had cupped her face.

Not only that—his large hand wrapped around her slender waist, and the hand on her cheek moved to the back of her neck, pulling her closer.

Hestia’s eyes trembled as she looked up at him in shock.

They were already so close she could feel his breath.

Luciard whispered in a voice only she could hear.

“This is the only way I can think of. I’ll make it quick.”

Hestia gulped as she stared into his serious blue eyes.

“O-Okay. But… do it above my lips, alright?”

Her nervous, pleading eyes flickered up at him.

For a moment, something flashed in Luciard’s gaze.

Then, she felt it.

A soft, warm sensation on her lips.

‘Wait. Hold on…!’

Panic shot through her. He had misunderstood.

‘I meant above my lips—like on my cheek or just slightly off to the side!’

Reflexively, she shut her eyes tight.

As she clutched his coat in shock, Luciard’s eyes slowly closed too. He tilted his head slightly, pressing their lips more firmly together.

Their breaths mingled.

Everywhere their bodies touched felt hot, burning with heat.

…Five seconds.

It wasn’t that long, but for them, it felt like an eternity.

When their lips finally parted, Hestia let out the breath she had been holding and slowly opened her eyes.

‘My… my first kiss…!’

In both her past life and this one, she had never kissed anyone before.

Her head spun. Her legs nearly gave out, but Luciard’s strong arm around her waist kept her standing.

“That was intense!”
“Haha! Looks like the groom-to-be really likes his fiancée!”

As the crowd whistled and cheered, Hestia finally snapped back to reality.

Covering her mouth, she took deep breaths to calm down. But then she thought—was she the only one flustered by this?

Feeling wronged, she lifted her head.

And saw Luciard’s face completely red.

He muttered in a voice only she could hear.

“Sorry. There was no other way.”

Whether it was still part of their act or something he did instinctively, Luciard gently tucked her loose hair behind her ear.

“…Are you okay?”

His blue eyes held a mix of worry, apology, and something else—something warm.

‘Wait. I’m the one who got kissed, so why do you look even more embarrassed?’

Hestia suddenly realized she could feel his heartbeat.

She had her hand on his chest.

And his heart was pounding.