A Fake Marriage? Sure! …Wait, Is It Actually Fake? Something’s Not Right Here! - Chapter 6

“Congratulations, Alex.”

“Congratulations, Lidoria. I’m so happy for you.”

George clapped his hands while Sophia hugged Lidoria.

“Well then, I shall return to my office and begin preparing the documents for Alex’s engagement immediately. Thank you for your time.”

George bowed his head politely to Sophia and walked briskly toward the door.

“Ah, that’s right, Sophia. What color dress will you be wearing to the garden tea party this afternoon? I’d like to coordinate my tie with you.”

He turned around and asked innocently.

They stared blankly.

Not just Sophia, but Lidoria too stared at him in silence.

“Huh? It’s the tea party hosted by my sister Melissa. Surely you received an invitation too?”

George asked, confused. Noticing Sophia’s gaze, Lidoria hurriedly shook her head.

“There’s nothing like that on today’s schedule. We haven’t received any invitation either.”

As she spoke, she desperately racked her brain. Mentally reviewing Sophia’s available outfits, shoes, bags, and accessories, she bowed to George while asking:

“Forgive my impertinence, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Could you please tell us the color and design of your attire? We need to urgently prepare Her Highness the Crown Princess’s outfit.”

“O-oh, of course. Yes, I’ll contact you immediately. Sophia. My sister must have thought that since I’m attending, she didn’t need to send you an invitation. I’ll scold her for her rudeness.”

George stumbled over his words anxiously, but Sophia smiled gently and shook her head.

“It’s quite alright, Your Highness. I have official duties scheduled for this afternoon anyway. Right, Lidoria?”

When addressed, Lidoria hesitated but reluctantly nodded.

There were official duties.

That much was true.

But all of them could be postponed. If she wanted to attend Princess Melissa’s garden party, she could have.

But.

No invitation had arrived.

That was everything.

This was Princess Melissa’s harassment.

“Melissa is such a handful. I’ll give her a stern scolding and report this matter to Their Majesties. She’ll receive a strict warning, and we’ll accelerate those marriage talks for Melissa.”

“Please don’t trouble yourself, Your Highness. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Sophia…”

“Don’t make such a face. Oh, I know!”

Sophia deliberately adopted a light tone, bringing her slender fingers together as she looked at Lidoria.

“In one week, I believe there’s a day without official duties. Why don’t we have a tea party that day with His Highness the Crown Prince and both of you? In the garden pavilion?”

It wasn’t just Lidoria who was startled. Alex was too.

“Eh?! Us too?!”

I was about to say “This engagement is fake!” but desperately swallowed the words.

Even though it was true, the atmosphere wasn’t right to say it now.

Before them, George and Sophia were finally cheering up and smiling at each other.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Sophia!”

“Oh, thank you. Then I’ll proceed with the arrangements.”

I don’t want to ruin the mood between these two.

Even Alex, who usually couldn’t read the room, seemed to understand that much.

Though his face looked even more like he’d bitten into a sour bug than when he entered, he entered silent meditation.

“Um… For just the two of us to have tea with Their Highnesses the Crown Prince and Princess… That would be, well, presumptuous.”

After much hesitation, Lidoria finally spoke.

Thinking about it, it was obvious that conversation would run dry with just the four of them having tea.

Not only that, but their time-limited engagement might be exposed. After all, the Crown Princess’s intuition was sharp.

“Perhaps we could invite other participants too? I’m sure many people would love the opportunity to speak with Their Highnesses rather than listening to our stories.”

If more people came, the Crown Prince and Princess would have to divert their attention elsewhere. That was Lidoria’s calculation.

Sophia lowered her long eyelashes, casting a shadow across her beautiful face.

“But I don’t have anyone whom I can casually invite to a tea party. It’s certain they would decline even if I sent invitations.”

“That’s not true. Rather, isn’t this a good opportunity to expand Her Highness’s social connections?”

Though she’d initially suggested this to divert attention from themselves, upon reflection, this pretext might help gain allies for the isolated Crown Princess within the palace.

“But… if it becomes known they’re friendly with me, some might avoid them.”

Sophia shook her head slowly. She must mean Princess Melissa.

If someone attended a tea party hosted by the Crown Princess, it was clear they would become Melissa’s target from then on.

Princess Melissa’s marriage destination hadn’t been decided yet.

If she were to marry abroad, it would be beneficial to curry favor with the Crown Princess who would remain in the country. But if she were to marry a powerful domestic noble, siding with the Crown Princess now wouldn’t be wise.

The powerful nobles were acting based on such calculations.

“Then, how about inviting people in similar positions to me?”

In the room once again dominated by heavy silence, Alex—who seemed to have completed his silent meditation spoke up.

“Similar to Alex, meaning?”

George tilted his head quizzically.

“Your Highness seems familiar with Crown Prince’s civil officials and key chamberlains, but your interactions with military officers like me have been limited. Though I don’t want to think about it, if an unforeseen incident occurs and we rush to protect Their Highnesses, not knowing who is friend or foe would hinder our duties.”

His matter-of-fact tone sounded like a suggestion while also somewhat accusing the Crown Princess.

Lidoria looked up at Alex with an irritated expression.

“It can’t be helped that Her Highness doesn’t know you Crown Prince guards. Civil officials and chamberlains see each other daily in the palace and work together frequently, but you’re always outside on missions and such.”

“But she could have remembered if she wanted to. It’s been three years since she married into the family.”

“How many times do you think you’ve met during those three years? This is only my second time speaking with you like this.”

“I’m saying she could have known if she wanted to.”

“She didn’t need to know. After all, Her Highness has her own royal guards. Right, Your Highness?”

Lidoria snorted and turned to Sophia. Of course, she had royal guards too. But if asked whether they were as skilled as Alex and his men, she actually wasn’t confident.

That’s because the Crown Princess’s royal guards were composed of youths from their mid-teens to 22 years old. Most were noble boys selected for their appearance—essentially decorations. In fact, starting next year, her own younger brother would join those royal guards. Knowing her brother’s skills, one could easily imagine the others.

“There’s one thing that concerns me.”

The one who spoke with a furrowed brow wasn’t Sophia but George.

“Y-yes?”

Lidoria flinched, wondering what it was, but George maintained his stern expression as he looked up at Alex.

“Just now, Miss Lidoria said she’s only spoken with Alex twice.”

Oh no, Lidoria bit her lip, and Alex glared at her as if to say “You idiot.”

“Is that true, Alex?”

“…I acknowledge that as well.”

“I can’t believe it! If you don’t feed the fish you’ve caught, they’ll die!?”

The proverb seemed slightly off, but George admonished Alex with a look as if examining fishing bait worms.

“Just because you’re engaged doesn’t mean the woman will automatically marry you. Please treat Miss Lidoria with proper respect.”

“I understand clearly.”

“Send letters every day.”

“…Yes.”

“You were thinking memos would suffice, weren’t you? That won’t do. It must be letters. Meet occasionally to talk, and send flowers too.”

“Yes.”

“You were just thinking of having someone arrange flowers, weren’t you? That won’t do. Choose them yourself.”

Even though George was younger, his scolding was masterful. Lidoria nearly burst out laughing but blinked when she noticed Sophia move slightly.

“You’re not thinking you can just get married whenever and lead a casual married life, are you?”

Sophia stood beside Lidoria and pierced Alex with a cold stare.

“Or that you can just break off the engagement after a few years. You’re not thinking that, are you?”

Both Alex and Lidoria stiffened their expressions.

“Your Highness.”

But Sophia merely glanced at the two and deliberately said nothing more, instead turning a soft smile toward her husband.

“Could you please invite your ‘hounds’ to the tea party? I’d like to meet them too.”

“I don’t mind, but there are duty considerations. Is it alright if I just gather whoever’s available?”

“Of course. And let’s make an announcement there.”

Sophia deepened her smile.

“Let’s announce that the vice-captain of the ‘hounds’ has formally become engaged, and that his fiancée is the maid whom the Crown Princess values greatly.”

Ah, we’ve been outmaneuvered.

Both Alex and Lidoria inwardly groaned “Gyah!” in defeat.