I was dressed simply, not unlike any other ordinary citizen. I didn’t wear any accessories either, and I knew that the immediate area was safe. A short walk would take me to busier streets, so I didn’t think there was any cause for concern at all. However...
“Are you hiding something from me, sister?” I asked.
I saw Gerda flinch.
So she is hiding something.
I knew it was best not to get involved in whatever scheme she had cooked up. If she was hiding something from me, I very much doubted that it would be good news for me. Gerda tried to take hold of my arm, but I weaved away and tried to make my getaway.
“Well, it’s too late now,” Gerda remarked.
She flashed a bold grin. I noticed her gaze was not on me, however, and I followed it to a black shape in the distance. I let out a squeal very unbecoming of a noblewoman. It was a carriage, and while I couldn’t make out the family crest, I could tell by the make of the carriage, the driver’s uniform, and the fine chestnut horses that pulled it along that it belonged to a distinguished family.
“Gerda! What is this?! What have you done?! Ah, I’m so scared!”
“Don’t worry, little sister. I just thought that the two of you might like to chat.”
Gerda’s fists were clenched with excitement.
Oh no. Oh no, I don’t like the look of this at all!
I was right to be terrified. The carriage came complete with a number of knights, all of whom had the fierce and dignified pressure of military types. Had any children been around, I’m certain they would have burst into tears at the mere sight of them. There were females among the knights, to be sure, but they too showed not a hint of weakness. In a word, they were terrifying. To put it simply, the knights had that aura of professional military men and women who have long forgotten how to smile.
Gerda! What have you done?!
When the carriage door swung open, I shut my eyes tightly as its passenger alighted.
Sister, you should reconsider the meaning of the word “surprise.”
If she had done this with ill intent, then she could have called it a tremendous success. But I knew for a fact that she thought I would be delighted. The man who stood before me was so handsome that I couldn’t even look at him directly. He had a head of shiny blond hair and wore a graceful smile.
“It appears we are late,” he said, taking my sister’s hand and planting a kiss upon her fingers. “I do hope you will accept my apologies, Lady Saburova.”
“You made it in good time, Reinald. How is Marquis Rodenwald?”
“In fine health, thank you. Regretfully, he is busy with other matters and could not be here to see you today.”
“There’s no need to worry about such things with me. Compared to business with the queen, I am but an unimportant stone along the wayside, no?”
“You judge yourself too harshly. I assure you that the marquis is honest about his regret.”
Saburova was the new family name given to my sister as concubine. In her own shrewd way, she was playing the part of the sulky girl who didn’t matter, and she was enjoying it.
Ugh, this is going to be such a pain to deal with...
As I’m sure you’ve already gathered from the names, the man standing before me and my sister was the very man she expected me to marry. We weren’t any more than ten years apart in terms of age, yet seeing him in person had me trembling with fear.
I’m so scared, ugh. I hate it! Why am I so scared?!
Reinald had a face that went above and beyond mere good looks. It was a face carved by the gods themselves. He was also very clearly in great shape, and he cut a dashing figure at his full height. For a man to be made so incredibly beautiful pointed to the idea that the deities were not, in fact, of the belief that all people were created equal.
Reinald turned toward me and took my hand, just as he had my sister’s a moment ago. It was such a graceful movement that I couldn’t help but blush. Fortunately, I did stop myself from squealing which, as far as I was concerned, was worth a passing grade. That said, I did not need Gerda uttering the words “Oh, my,” and coquettishly covering her face with her fan.
“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Karen. I am Reinald, second son of the Rodenwald family. As I’m sure you’re already aware, I am your proposed fiancé.”
He placed a kiss on my fingers. I could have done without it, honestly. Nonetheless, Reinald must have been used to seeing girls blush. He flashed me a smile so sweet that I almost sighed, such was its enchantment. He spoke a few words in a kind, gentle voice, but I didn’t hear them. My thoughts were elsewhere.
Fiancé? The heck?
I didn’t know for sure, but my guess was that these two had already assumed I’d turned down the old man and informed the Dunsts that I was marrying Reinald! The Dunsts would be tearing their hair out! Gerda, you fool!
It was all so off the rails that I wanted to throw my head back and cackle with laughter, but I couldn’t. This had the potential to be disastrous. I now realized that even though I’d chosen the man I wanted to marry, that choice might’ve been completely ignored.
I looked down so as to hide the twitching in my cheeks, but fortunately Gerda and my would-be fiancé didn’t cotton on to why. Gerda had gotten me into this mess and made it so I’d have to head home with Reinald, but I wasn’t going to complain. Throwing a tantrum here would be utterly shameless.
Instead, as we parted, I threw Gerda a smile that said, “I won’t forget this!”
In return, her smile replied, “Best of luck!”
We were sisters, yes, but ultimately, and unfortunately, we didn’t always understand one another.
Reinald helped me up into the carriage, which was surprisingly simple. The seats were upholstered leather, but otherwise the interior was sparse of decorations. This was a carriage intended for more practical use.
“I have heard that you recently returned to the Kirsten family,” Reinald said. “I also heard you are attending school in the city. You will graduate fairly soon?”
“Oh, um, yes, that’s right...” I uttered.
I had feared that our conversation would be stilted and awkward, but Reinald was quite the skilled conversationalist. He was open and kind, and never spoke of any topics that were too difficult; he was ever aware of my age. He was, without a doubt, stunning to look at; had we been back in Japan I might well have been screaming and clamoring to take photos of him. As it stood, I simply couldn’t believe that a man destined for the hallowed halls of the most beautiful people of all time could have ever been one of my prospective husbands, and so it was easier to imagine it happening to someone else entirely.