Chapter 33
Engagement
A ceremony held as a promise of marriage.
Adele had never experienced one in her previous life, but she wasn’t particularly worried. After all, she’d once attended her cousin’s wedding.
An engagement was basically just a smaller version of a wedding. Surely, it would be easier.
At least, that’s what she used to think.
“I really underestimated it.”
Adele set down her pen, gazing at her trembling wrist. Right now, she was writing invitations for the guests who would attend the engagement ceremony.
Some noble families hired professionals to write them, but this household didn’t have anyone like that. So she and Lucas had to split the task evenly.
While she leaned back and massaged her sore wrist, Lucas came over and glanced at the invitations she’d written.
“Your handwriting is graceful and beautiful.”
Even though he was complimenting her penmanship, she somehow felt embarrassed. Adele accepted the praise awkwardly.
“I still have a long way to go before I can match yours, Lord Lucas.”
“Seems to me you already have.”
“Not at all.”
“All right, if you say so. How many invitations are left?”
“Twelve.”
Adele looked hopelessly at the thick stack of paper still waiting to be written.
“Then I’ll take care of the rest. You can go and rest now.”
“Thank you!”
She quickly thanked him and stood up—but her work wasn’t done yet.
Madeleine appeared at the door.
“Lady Adele!”
Hearing her suddenly use such formal language still felt strange. But this, too, was something Adele would have to get used to.
“Come on, we have to hurry! There’s still so much to do!”
Madeleine wasn’t exaggerating. The engagement ceremony truly required a mountain of work. Every detail had to be prepared by hand—and the one doing it was Adele herself.
She’d already learned etiquette and ceremony procedures from a specially invited tutor, and now she was working with Madeleine to decorate the venue.
Which lace pattern to use, what color the ribbons should be, which flowers and candles matched best—
The endless decisions slowly wore her down.
“At least I’m not the only one suffering.”
Since Lucas was being dragged through just as much, she couldn’t really complain.
“A seamstress will be coming today,” Madeleine said. “I wanted to bring someone more skilled, but this is the best we could get out here.”
She sighed, listing the names of several famous tailors from the capital. Of course, Adele didn’t recognize any of them.
“They’re not here now, but you should remember them for the future. You might end up having your wedding in the capital, after all.”
Then came another flood of information.
“A wedding, huh? I doubt it’ll ever come to that.”
Just being engaged already felt like a huge imposition. Marriage was out of the question. Sooner or later, Lucas would surely meet someone he truly loved.
“Did the novel ever mention his lover?”
Even someone as remarkable as Lucas had only been mentioned briefly in the book—a few lines at most.
There was nothing to recall. Adele gave up thinking about it and threw herself back into the busy preparations.
Delicate fingers pulled the bowstring taut, releasing an arrow.
It flew true, striking a deer cleanly in the neck before coming to rest.
“Retrieve it!”
When the tall man lowered his bow, waiting attendants rushed forward to collect the game.
“That’s enough for today.”
Satisfied with the hunt, the man ordered everyone to pack up.
When they returned to the estate, the butler greeted him at the entrance.
“Lord Aspen, did you enjoy the hunt today?”
“It was the same as usual.”
Which really meant: boring.
“Then how about attending Lord Rockten’s gathering? A number of skilled swordsmen will be there.”
“Skilled swordsmen, you say?”
Aspen gave a short, amused snort and shook his blue hair.
“If that’s what passes for swordsmanship, our ancestors must be weeping in their graves.”
“My lord…”
“Yes, yes, I know. I shouldn’t say such things. But it’s suffocating to hold my tongue even in my own home.”
Aspen handed his coat to the butler, Sebastian, with a weary sigh.
“It was more interesting back when Lucas was still in the capital.”
Lucas had been an excellent sparring partner—an opponent worth crossing swords with. Aspen had lost ninety-nine times out of a hundred, but still, Lucas was someone he needed.
He’d trained desperately, hoping to one day surpass him… but before he could reach that level, Lucas had simply vanished.
“Speaking of which, Lord Lucas sent you an invitation,” Sebastian said.
“An invitation? For what?”
It had been years since Lucas left the Imperial capital for a life abroad. He’d completely cut ties. Had he suddenly changed his mind?
Aspen accepted the envelope Sebastian handed him.
“Wait a minute—this is…”
It was the kind of invitation only sent for joyous family occasions—an engagement, a wedding, or the birth of a child.
He tore it open and stared at the contents in shock.
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”
His friend, who had once sworn never to marry, was getting engaged.
Aspen turned the invitation over several times, doubting his own eyes, but the words didn’t change.
“This isn’t even Lucas’s handwriting.”
It must have been written by his fiancée. Judging by the elegant script, she must be a lady of good birth.
“I’ll have to clear my schedule immediately!”
Even if Lucas had been infuriating enough to send word this late, a friend was still a friend. Aspen began rearranging his plans to attend the engagement ceremony.
Despite the chaos of preparation, the long-awaited day arrived—the day of Ronshka and Lucas’s duel.
Ronshka had been fired up since morning. She ate a bigger breakfast than usual and did some light stretches.
“I’ll win!”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” Adele asked anxiously.
“We agreed to fight one-on-one.”
“Still…”
“It’s fine!”
Ronshka marched off confidently. Lucas, already waiting and adjusting his gloves, gave Adele a small, reassuring smile.
That look was enough to calm her nerves a little.
“It’ll be fine… right?”
Ronshka had finally learned to control her spirit properly—hopefully there wouldn’t be another outburst.
Adele spent what felt like both a short and endless amount of time waiting, her heart pounding.
“It’ll be fine,” Leon said beside her, sipping his tea. “Master is so skilled he knows how to fight without hurting his opponent. I’ve sparred with him several times myself.”
“That’s reassuring… I think.”
Adele couldn’t even touch her tea. She just sat there, waiting for Ronshka’s return.
By the time the sun was high, both Ronshka and Lucas came back.
Just as Leon had said, Ronshka was completely uninjured—though she did pout a little, lips sticking out.
“Then, as promised.”
Lucas bent slightly, lowering his gaze to her level. Ronshka nodded solemnly.
“As promised.”
Then she held out her pinky. They hooked fingers. Even in this world, that gesture meant: a promise kept.
Afterward, Ronshka ran to Adele and threw herself into her arms. She didn’t say what they had talked about, only pressed her lips shut with determination.
Adele could have asked—but she chose not to.
It was Ronshka’s promise, after all, and she hoped the girl would keep it well.
“Even if you get engaged, you’ll still be my mom.”
“Of course, always.”
Touched, Adele kissed her cheek and baked her a lemon pound cake.
It was a large one—but Ronshka managed to eat half of it all by herself.
Days flew by in a blur of frantic preparation. As the engagement day drew closer, all their hard work finally began to show.
“What do you think?”
Adele blinked slowly, taking in the sight of the dress she wore—her first time ever wearing something so fine.
“We prepared three dresses in total,” the seamstress explained. “One for before the ceremony, one for the ceremony itself, and one for after.”
The first dress was a soft, pale yellow that brushed just above her ankles. With gentle drapes and pearl accents, it looked like a flower blooming in spring.
When Adele stepped out wearing it, Madeleine gasped.
“It looks perfect on you!”
“Does it?”
“Absolutely! You look like a fairy!”
In her small village, Adele had been the prettiest girl around—that was why Hayren had chosen her in the first place.
But in a wider world, there were surely women far more beautiful than her.
“A fairy, though? That’s… a bit much.”
Her cheeks burned at the compliment.
“May I come in?”
A voice came from outside. It was Lucas.
“Of course! Please, come in and see her, Lord Lucas!” Madeleine exclaimed, flinging open the door.
“So that’s why you called me.”
Lucas stepped into the room with a faint smile.
