Even as the Crown Prince’s engagement ceremony approaches, the world doesn’t just focus on the Crown Prince but rolls along in its own way, creating noise here and there.
Nevertheless, the engagement ceremony must proceed. With the joining of the Duke Ostein, the event preparation accelerated, but the time was equally tight.
The heavyweight and proud high-ranking nobles began to show their faces in Craine, and the royal palace was in a whirlwind of activity.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince!”
“Your Highness!”
Gregory, who was supposed to always stand quietly behind the Emperor, suddenly found himself thrust into the spotlight of the event and was overwhelmed by the calls from all directions.
“Marchioness, how should we handle this?”
“I, I think it’s better to ask the Grand Duchess rather than me.”
Moreover, his mother, the Marchioness of Schroz, who had initially refused to come out like a child and was finally coaxed by the maids, was of no help at all. She huddled in a chair, staring wide-eyed and watching Kaela’s every move. She trembled with fear, unsure whether to apologize or not.
So, as busy as Gregory was, Kaela was equally busy. However, she remained incredibly calm.
“Come this way, Your Highness.”
She had not been idle in practicing the procession and order of the engagement ceremony in advance.
When Kaela gave instructions, all the chaotic matters were organized, the lacking parts were filled, and people who were previously flustered became composed.
This was partly due to the Marchioness of Schroz stepping back, unable to do anything, but mainly because Kaela was exceptionally skilled at handling problems, structuring the event according to etiquette, and managing people.
The staff would follow Kaela’s instructions unconditionally. Even Gregory naturally did the same.
“You’ll walk here first. You’ll march alone. Go ahead.”
Gregory walked as Kaela directed, stood when told to stand, and gradually internalized the engagement ceremony sequence.
“When the banquet starts and it’s time to dance, Your Highness will initiate the first dance. Leading the princess.”
The haphazard engagement ceremony slowly began to take shape.
Kaela, acting as a stand-in for the not-yet-arrived Princess Keruzhan, helped Gregory naturally learn the engagement ceremony steps.
“Don’t tense your shoulders. Extend your hand naturally, and the princess will immediately respond. Yes, like that. Lead the princess, then turn and walk out alone. Keep in mind she’ll be wearing a heavy dress, so walk slowly.”
Gregory walked to the hall, escorted by Kaela, still tense.
“Relax. If you don’t relax now, you’ll be more nervous during the actual ceremony.”
“I’m trying.”
“Don’t forget to take care of the ladies’ dresses. Your Highness must dance not only with your fiancée but also with the Marchioness of Schroz. Always be careful not to step on their dress hems. Remember, if you’re precise with your steps, you’re unlikely to step on the dress.”
“How do you know all of this?”
Kaela, teaching him the etiquette, difficult rules, and various subtle tips all at once, seemed like she had spent at least 30 years in the royal palace, even though she was the same age as Gregory.
“Did you learn this from a young age?”
Gregory, a Crown Prince who was barely recognized as an illegitimate child in his late teens, had a complex about not receiving proper Crown Prince education from a young age. The Marchioness of Schroz, who should have been attentive to his education, knew very little.
“No. I haven’t been learning for long. I just often think from a woman’s perspective.”
Kaela responded smoothly, well aware of this.
“This is a celebration of a new betrothed couple, so soft music will play initially. The rhythm won’t be difficult to follow. Shall we start? Place your hand on my waist.”
Gregory carefully took Kaela’s hand and placed his other hand on her waist. Kaela grabbed his hand and calmly adjusted their positions. The band that had been preparing began to play one of the carefully selected dance pieces.
“Relax your shoulders. They’re too raised. Straighten your back more. Look at me naturally.”
At those words, Gregory stiffly looked down at Kaela.
Kaela de Chasser, wife of the man Gregory most struggled with and his mother most feared – a noble lady.
From her emanated a soft but vibrant southern flower fragrance. Up close, she was much smaller than he had imagined. She seemed larger because she was smart, spoke directly, and led all staff and nobles.
‘Smaller than I thought… and such long eyelashes.’
The Grand Duchess of Lusenford seemed like a chiffon dress, floating and swaying with the wind.
“Good. You dance well.”
After completing one dance, Gregory felt elated by Kaela’s evaluation. Had she been assessing his dancing skills?
“Kaela, you’re not my peer, you’re more like my older sister.”
He muttered dejectedly.
“I really don’t know what’s what, I’m just following you. How pathetic.”
“What are you talking about, Your Highness. I’ve been married before.”
In fact, twice. The first time was a mess, and the second time she wasn’t particularly interested, but she had done it twice. And both times with the man known to have a partner.
Thinking about it now, she found even the fact that Peon was known this way horrifying. How could a strong-willed person not have refused?
[He was my servant from childhood. That’s how I brainwashed him. To ensure he could never escape. You two are a pair of idiots. Well, I made him an idiot.]
Whenever doubts arose, Kaela habitually recalled the words Beatrice had rambled on the day she died. Brainwashed. To a strong-willed man, brainwashed.
‘It must be related to that black smoke in the eyes, perhaps?’
Beatrice’s standards for hiding lies and revealing truth seemed unnecessarily skewed in Peon’s favor. Foolish. Kaela quickly cut off her thoughts.
“It’s natural for someone who has experienced something recently to teach others. If the order were reversed, I would have probably asked the Princess who will become the Crown Princess for help.”
“So how do you know all this?”
Gregory whined and muttered, then chuckled. Kaela laughed in response.
“You’ll learn, Your Highness. You’ll learn as you go. Now, we must go see the jewels the Emperor has provided. Let’s go.”
Gregory followed Kaela, mentally noting to ask later about what to do after dancing. The engagement ceremony was truly entering its final countdown, and his mind was a jumble of forcibly inserted knowledge.
“Always take care of the Princess when walking. Imagine I am the Princess.”
“Like this?”
“Not with your hand.”
Gregory quickly extended his elbow.
“Oh, like this.”
“That’s right. An elbow is more comfortable for a lady to lean on than a hand. Especially take care when walking on stairs. The Princess could get hurt.”
However, Kaela skillfully ascended and descended the stairs without leaning on Gregory. Her posture was upright, her demeanor elegant and calm. Though she tried to exist as unobtrusively as possible, her innate nobility could not be concealed.
“Ah, you’ve arrived, Your Highness.”
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
Deep male voices welcomed them.
Gregory immediately spotted the Grand Duke of Lusenford, who stood out even in a group of three or four people, and tried not to shrink. But even before he could think that, he already felt himself shrinking, which irritated him.
Softly, the small woman in light chiffon naturally removed her hand from his arm.
“Grand Duchess, hello.”
“Hello, Lord Osius.”
“This way. These are the jewels the Emperor has specially opened from the imperial treasure vault for use in this engagement ceremony.”
Lord Osius, the treasure keeper, put on gloves and clasped his hands behind his back.
“Please lock all the doors first.”
Click, click.
The knights locked all the doors and stood guard. With security extremely tight, Lord Osius looked at those with significant positions, including the Grand Duke of Lusenford.
“I hope you will all serve as witnesses and fulfill the duty of imperial treasure guardians. I will now proceed to open them.”
Boxes from the Emperor’s treasure vault began to open one by one. Lord Osius explained each treasure with an extremely solemn attitude.
“This engagement ring was specially chosen by His Majesty. This was obtained when His Majesty’s great-grandfather, Philip III, conquered Philmar…”
A jewel’s value is determined by its historical significance. No matter how small, if its owner is a famous person, its price can skyrocket.
Gregory was genuinely quite pleased to hear about the precious jewels connected to Philip III.
“And next, this is the medal and star that will be used when Your Highness is appointed to the Order of the Golden Lion Knights. The diamonds on the front are from the Emperor’s great-grandfather Philip IV’s nephew…”
Of course, these weren’t actually jewels used directly by the emperors.
However, reusing such old and historically significant jewels, even if they were from distant branch family members, was a great honor for the Crown Prince.
No matter how much he had grown up in the royal palace, or how wealthy his mother’s family was, he could never match the royal family’s wealth and honor.
Being allowed to use royal jewels meant being completely recognized as a member of the royal family – Gregory was now undeniably the Emperor’s son.
Feeling extremely proud, he turned his head and suddenly noticed the Grand Duchess of Lusenford standing a step back.
Though she was the noblewoman in charge of the engagement ceremony and present at this gathering, her eyes seemed remarkably unimpressed by these extraordinary jewels.
‘Is it because she’s seen even greater things in Ostein?’
No, even the jewels of Ostein were mostly gifts and inheritances from the previous Emperor, and couldn’t compare to the vast royal collection.
Gregory, habituated to observing his surroundings, began to worry whether Lord Osius was exaggerating, and if the Emperor had actually just given him some insignificant jewels.
This was because, despite being the Crown Prince, Gregory had often not received fair treatment from the Emperor.
“This livery collar is made of pure gold, entirely decorated with diamonds and emeralds, and the medal attached here is the symbol of the deputy commander of the Order of the Golden Leaf Knights, a position exclusive to royal family members. You will wear this during the engagement ceremony.”
The Order of the Golden Leaf Knights’ commander was the Emperor, and the deputy commander was the Crown Prince. Gregory tried to calm his increasingly excited heart.
“Lord Osius, will I also use this livery collar during the wedding?”
Despite the dazzling brilliance, Kaela was merely checking the ceremony, showing no admiration whatsoever. Jewels were typically something women loved more, and she was the only woman present.
“Yes, that is the tradition. You’re well informed.”
Lord Osius nodded and opened the next box.
“And this is the medal and symbol for the Grand Duke of Lusenford, who will be appointed to the Order of the Golden Lion Knights alongside Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
The Crania Empire had multiple knight orders. There was the Order of the Imperial Knights, which was literally an army of fighting knights, and honorary positions like the Order of the Golden Leaf Knights and Order of the Golden Lion Knights, which were exclusively for royal family members.
Royal male members could serve in multiple knight orders, but these honorary knight orders were purely symbolic. They were a great honor bestowed by the Emperor.
This time, on the occasion of the Crown Prince’s engagement, the Crown Prince and the Grand Duke of Lusenford were both being admitted to the Order of the Golden Lion Knights, an order that no one could simply join and could only be entered upon the Emperor’s selection.
“These were specially ordered and newly created by His Majesty.”
Now Gregory realized that the Grand Duke was not here just to prepare for the engagement ceremony, but as a fellow knight being commissioned.
Wait a moment. Gregory paused his thoughts. The Order of the Golden Lion Knights appointment was typically notified in advance. But why notify each person separately instead of together?
‘Does this mean we’re in the same situation?’
They were both illegitimate children hated by the Emperor. But Gregory was of imperial blood.
“And since the Grand Duchess is also a member of the Order of the Golden Leaf Knighs, His Majesty has separately created the symbol for female knight members.”
Those receiving jewels at this gathering were not just the Crown Prince, but also the Grand Duke and Duchess of Lusenford. This was not a special ceremony exclusively for the Crown Prince.
Of course, it might be more convenient and secure to show everything at once, but knowing the Emperor’s complicated personality, there was surely another hidden meaning.
Gregory began to sensitively raise his guard.
“The Grand Duke and Duchess can take these with them. However, the jewels bestowed upon the Crown Prince are imperial property, so the principle is to keep them in storage and bring them out on the day of the ceremony.”
Thus, Lord Osius closed the most precious box meant for the Crown Prince and separately gave the box to the Lusenford couple.
Kaela received the box absentmindedly and looked down at the small symbol. Small pearls and diamonds glittered.
“How gracious of His Majesty. I am truly thankful.”
Though she spoke these words, Kaela’s expression was not radiant with joy or excitement. Her formal smile led Gregory to immediately conclude:
‘Kaela must be saying this because of her kind and cautious nature. These are clearly not excellent jewels. My status is still similar to the Grand Duke of Lusenford.’
Even at the engagement ceremony, they were reminding him of his place. Gregory, who had always been compared to others, interpreted it this way.
And Peon, who was watching Kaela just like Gregory, inwardly smirked.
For his wife, who had seen all sorts of jewels from the dragon’s lair, the imperial jewels were nothing special.
