A Fake Marriage? Sure! …Wait, Is It Actually Fake? Something’s Not Right Here! - Chapter 22

“Y-yes. That’s right. I was just discussing that matter with Lady Lidoria.”

“Forgive me for saying something so terribly rude, Lady Lidoria,” George interrupted Alex and turned to face Lidoria.

“Y-yes…”

“You have no parents. Your only family is Finley here, correct?”

“That appears to be the case.”

“And Alex, your parents are rather opposed to this marriage, aren’t they?”

“…That’s correct.”

“Even if we held a wedding ceremony, neither of your parents would attend or rather, they wouldn’t. So why not hold the ceremony right here? We’re in luck; the Winged Lion Knights have a military chaplain with them. Let’s call him here, right now.”

“Your Highness, that would be too cruel to Lidoria,” Sophia interjected.

Until she cut in, both Lidoria and Alex and even Finley had been frozen like statues, unable to move a muscle.

“A wedding is the day when a woman shines brightest. To have it like this… with so few people…”

“We can hold the reception separately, on a grand scale. In fact, Sophia and I could even organize it for you,” George said, smiling warmly as he placed his hand over Sophia’s arm where she held his.

“Today is only for exchanging marriage vows. We can host the reception with friends, acquaintances, and relatives on another day. We’ll plan it.”

“Oh! That sounds wonderful!”

Seeing Sophia’s wholehearted enthusiasm, Lidoria let out a flustered “Awaawaawaa” without thinking.

At this rate, they’d be forced to have a reception for the royal family’s amusement.

“Th-the rings! We don’t have rings!” Alex rushed over, raising his hand.

“I haven’t prepared a ring for Lady Lidoria yet! Wh-what?!”

“Y-y-y-y-yes! The rings!”

Alex and Lidoria exchanged glances and nodded vigorously, but the crown prince and princess simply smiled.

“Today, I’ll give Alex this ring from my right hand.”

“Then I’ll give Lidoria this ring from my index finger.”

“No, that’s not it!”

Just as Alex desperately tried to stop them, Finley suddenly spoke up with energetic determination. “Yeah, that’s right! Let’s do it!”

“Otherwise, Princess Melissa will never give up, right? Even after you two are officially married, she might think ‘Just die!’ and come to kill you, sis!”

“Finley, how could you say such a thing!”

Lidoria turned pale and covered her brother’s mouth, but the crown prince and princess nodded with grave expressions.

“That seems possible. Don’t you think so, Sophia?”

“I… can’t deny it.”

“See?! So why not get married today, and then Lord Alex, why don’t you move into our mansion?! Then you can protect sis from any assassins she might send!”

“Whaaaaaaat?!”

Though Alex and Lidoria screamed in shock, the crown prince and princess clapped their hands as if it were a brilliant idea.

“That’s right! The Zoe Count’s mansion might be attacked too—by your sister! She might even burn it down!”

“For the protection of the Zoe Count’s household, you two need to live together. If you’re officially married, living together won’t seem strange to society.”

Lidoria felt like crying rather than that, why not do something about the sister?

“Lady Lidoria’s mansion has you in it too, Finley! That won’t do! It’s unacceptable!” Alex firmly refused.

Finley pouted. “What’s wrong with me being there? We’ll be brothers-in-law. Let’s protect sis together!”

“That’s a good idea. Alex, withdraw from your dormitory immediately and move into the Zoe Count’s mansion starting today.”

Pressed even by George, Lidoria grew anxious. At this rate, Alex would end up living with them.

Her perceptive brother would likely see through their fake engagement.

“No, that’s…! That won’t do! With Finley, a minor, there too! It would be inconvenient, surely!”

Lidoria objected without reason.

Alex backed her up. “Exactly! My married life with Lady Lidoria would be too stimulating for a minor! As long as Finley is there, living together is impossible! It would harm his emotional education! He might turn delinquent!”

At Alex’s words.

The room fell silent once more.

“Well… perhaps that’s true. This is Alex we’re talking about.”

“Oh my… is that so? What should we do, Lidoria? Will you be all right? Should you take some time off work until you adjust to married life?”

George cleared his throat, Sophia flustered, and Finley being fifteen turned bright red and looked down, overwhelmed by the vivid fantasies swirling in his mind.

As for Lidoria.

(Lord Alex…! I’ll kill him!)

She had meant to say that living together was impossible because with a minor present, there would be limitations and potential improprieties.

Why did she have to suffer this humiliation? She glared at Alex with furious eyes, while Alex, for his part, was relieved to have avoided cohabitation.

“Anyway, summon the military chaplain here.”

Ahem. George cleared his throat again.

Alex hesitated.

If he went to get the military chaplain, they’d be forced to exchange vows.

But if he stayed in the infirmary, he’d have to endure the awkward atmosphere he’d created.

“…I’ll be right back.”

In the end, Alex left the infirmary.

“Ah! Then I’ll go inform His Majesty Michel! He’s my guardian!”

“Stop, Finley! Please stop!”

It would become irreversible! She tried to cling to her brother’s arm, but he slipped out of the infirmary with ease.

“Regarding your new residence, would you like to use my private townhouse in the royal capital?”

After the door clicked shut, George tilted his head slightly.

Lidoria no longer had the energy to argue.

Why would a mere impoverished count’s daughter live in a royal private residence?

“The security is thorough, and it’s a relatively new building. Alex is familiar with it too.”

“But assassins might infiltrate among the maids or butlers,” Sophia said.

George sighed. “You’re right. Since we’d have to hire new staff, it would be fine if Alex were always home, but he has his duties. We can’t have him take time off until Melissa marries. I’d be in trouble without him too.”

That’s true, Lidoria hurriedly nodded.

She meant to continue, “So please don’t consider any further assistance,” but—

“Ah! I’ve thought of a wonderful idea!”

Releasing George’s arm, Sophia clasped her hands together with a cheerful voice.

“My home country’s embassy! It has extraterritorial rights there. Even a princess cannot enter. There’s a single-story section in one corner of the embassy. Why not use that for a while?”

“That’s completely unnecessary!!!!!!”

This is turning into a diplomatic issue! Lidoria screamed internally.

That her fake engagement and marriage would cause a diplomatic problem—

“Sophia! What a generous offer! Are you sure?!”

“No, Your Highness! Please stop the crown princess!”

“Why hesitate, Lidoria? It’s fine. I’ll explain it to the ambassador. Besides, you’ve always been so helpful to me since I married into this country. The ambassador always praises you.”

“If necessary, I’ll accompany you as well.”

“That’s not needed, really not!”

Though she desperately refused, they seemed to interpret it as stubborn reluctance. Soothed by the crown prince and princess with “Don’t worry about it,” Lidoria despaired. It’s over.

Amid this.

Alex returned with the military chaplain.

Finley returned with the former queen Michel, Michel.

After that.

Lidoria and Alex, watched over by three members of the royal family in the small infirmary of the arena, exchanged marriage vows and rings that only fit up to their second knuckles.