💕 💕 💕
WITH my memories restored and all my other issues finally put to rest, we set the date for our wedding. It would be just after graduation. The spring air would still be chill at that time of year, but it would be the start of a busy marriage season since many influential nobles were slated to be wed.
Among them were my foster brother, Harold Abarakoff, and fellow bodyguard and count’s heir, Margaret Falming. Their engagement had been common knowledge for two years now, and given the overwhelming support from myself and the other royals, their ceremony was to be held almost immediately following my own. Supposedly, other nobles were waiting to be married, but I’d yet to hear of them.
Not long after, however, Harold arrived with Edward Norden in tow.
“Prince Vincent, I come bearing grand news!” the knight shouted.
“Y-Yes?”
There was a piece of parchment in his hand—a declaration of marital engagement, it seemed. Before any nobles could be married, the royal family had to receive copies of that document from both families.
“I got engaged the other day,” he explained. “I figured it would be best to do it as soon as possible, so I’ve come to receive your blessing.”
“Oh, that’s great news.”
Small wonder he was happy, then. Being engaged was a rush of emotion, especially when it was a recent development. I could only imagine Lord Zachary was in a similar state of elation.
He nodded enthusiastically. “I’m to be wed to Lady Selena Haven!”
The princely grin instantly faded from my face. “What?”
Lady Selena, marry him?
She was the original author of Star Maiden, and while I’d thought that they would get along well due to Edward’s love of the novels, I didn’t expect my guess to be that true. Rather, I had the impression that Lady Selena disliked the trappings of high society in general, and marrying the son of the knight captain in light of that was an interesting choice, to be sure. However, one question outstripped all others.
“Do you mind if I ask how you met?” I ventured.
“I met her in the palace late last spring. I caught her when she was on the verge of tripping, and we hit it off splendidly from there. We got to know each other until finally we fell in love.”
Ah, so it was during the whole Leohardt debacle when I asked her to pen Star Maiden’s sequel!
I had no idea they’d met at all during that time, and in a way, that made me something of a matchmaker.
I flashed him a genuine smile. “I’m glad you were able to find love at the palace. Thank you for letting me know; you have my full support as your prince and as your friend. I’m looking forward to the wedding already.”
“Thank you so much!” Edward was practically in tears as he reverently bowed several times, then took his leave.
House Haven was likely in disarray from the sudden offer, but it seemed like a match made in heaven as far as I was concerned. Lady Selena was generous and good-hearted, and I believed she would get along well with Count Norden and the estate’s servants. Admittedly, I was concerned she was a little too weak-willed, but as long as there was love, there was a way.
Edward will be married soon… So will I, for that matter. The number of newlyweds will only increase, I imagine. I couldn’t be happier for them.
Before I could think on the topic too long, another knock came at my door, and Raphael burst inside with outstretched arms.
“Hey, hey! It’s been ages! Why, I’ve been so lonely this past year, I—”
The man vanished a moment later. I peered over my desk to find that Harold had him in an arm lock, immobilizing the slender mage.
Raphael let out a strangled cry and slapped the ground, but there was a joyous glint in his eyes. “G-Give! I give!!”
Harold released the mage and returned to his post composedly. Raphael stumbled to his feet a moment later, beat the dust off his robe, and sighed happily.
“Guess what? I’m here to ask for your permission to marry! You’re my first stop after coming home from the northern border~!” He winked as he flashed a declaration of engagement at me.
He sure recovered quickly… Wait, marriage?!
“With whom?” I finally managed to reply.
“Oh, don’t play coy with me! You know who I mean~~!”
He made a heart shape with his hands, and I got the distinct impression the number of tildes in his speech had already doubled. From that, it was clear enough who the bride-to-be was.
“It’s not Lady Yulisse, is it?” I ventured.
“Who else could it be~?”
“You can’t be… How did you get her to agree?!”
Lady Yulisse Merryfield was prosecuted a few years ago for acts of treason against Elizabeth and me and was taken in by Raphael after her house abandoned her. Even now, I could recall the mortified look on the marquis’ face at the news. Given Raphael’s intensely frivolous attitude, however, I’d thought Lady Yulisse had always turned him down.
“Did you hypnotize her?” I asked. “Brainwash her with magic, perhaps?”
“Perhaps he rewrote her memories?” Harold wondered aloud.
“Oh, relax, you know mind control magic is illegal!” he tut-tutted us. “Besides, brainwashing is so dull. If I’m going to woo a girl, I’ve got to make her crave me from the very depths of her soul~!”
The more concerning aspects of his dating ideology aside, he’d been patiently courting Lady Yulisse for two years. There was no need to press the matter at this point, so it only made sense that this development was uncoerced.
“I’m just impressed you got a yes,” I muttered.
“Haha, yep! And on only the second attempt! I told you she’s a sweet, straightforward little thing. Father readily agreed, as did His Majesty.”
“I mean, yes, from Lady Yulisse.”
Raphael was nothing if not a clever man; he no doubt prepared all manner of tricks to convince the marquis sooner or later, and I didn’t think Father would put up anywhere near as much of a fight. From the beginning, the single greatest obstacle to his love was Lady Yulisse herself.
Raphael, sensing the skepticism behind my words, gave me what was supposed to be a cheerful smile. I could feel the hairs rise on the back of my neck.
“There’s no hurdle the power of love can’t overcome~!”
Your love overcomes a little too much. That’s what worries me most.