"Did I just hear correctly?"
"No, this makes absolutely no sense at all. Is this real?"
"This isn’t a joke, right?"
"The Zenith is engaged?!"
The news was explosive. Not just because Delilah’s appearance was sothing that attracted the attention of many individuals, but because of the significance that her title and presence held.
As the one beneath the Zenith, and the strongest within the Empire, she held one of the highest authorities within the entire world.
There were only a rare few individuals that held more authority than her — mainly the Emperors. And that was primarily due to the fact that they commanded enormous armies and had many powerful individuals under their command.
The reason they held more power was because they weren’t alone, unlike her.
This was what truly separated the two.
However, when it ca to individual standing, she was second to none.
"Who is she engaged to?""...Is he from the royal family? If he’s from the royal family then the battle for the throne is as good as over!""It doesn’t just have to be soone from the royal family. Anyone who gets engaged with her will have the backing of the Rosemberg Duchy, alongside her. They’ll soar to the next level!"
The room grew imdiately tense. Everyone started to realize the crux of the situation.
Delilah’s engagent wasn’t a simple announcent of the Duke’s daughter’s love life.
It was a significant declaration that signified an incoming political shift.
What followed after the realization was a brief mont of silence as everyone looked at each other. Shortly after, all eyes fell on Orson, who stood in the middle of the room with a thin smile on his face, seemingly enjoying the chaos that had unfolded before his very eyes.
Seeing how the situation was shifting, he raised his hand, and any lingering noise around the room faded.
He waited a couple of seconds before clearing his throat and continuing.
"It looks like everyone here is shocked by the news. I myself am also shocked by this sudden piece of news. I would’ve never expected my daughter to actively look for a partner."
His words were t with a brief mont of silence. Everyone stopped for a mont to digest them.
But then—
"What...?!?
"This wasn’t an engagent that you proposed?"
"She actively looked for the engagent?!"
The crowd erupted into murmurs and whispers once more.
"How does this make sense? She seems completely different from the rumours. Who could’ve convinced her?"
All eyes fell on Delilah as she stood in the middle of the hall without any expression, taking in all of the attention.
She was already used to being the center of attention. As such, feeling everyone’s gazes, she remained indifferent as she kept her gaze fixed toward her father.
However, it was her silence and indifference that confird the news to everyone.
"A mont please."
Raising his hand again, the crowd stopped speaking as Orson gathered everyone’s attention once more.
"I understand that everyone has questions they want to ask, but allow to speak first."
Pausing, the silence lingered as everyone understood his ssage. He nodded quietly before continuing, "Yes, my daughter was the one to directly choose her partner. This wasn’t an engagent that I forced upon her. In that regard, you all don’t have to worry about the hidden political intentions behind the engagent."
The crowd stirred.
Many opened their mouths, ready to speak.
But before the noise could return, Orson raised his voice.
"Her partner is soone whose identity we’ve chosen to maintain as a secret for now. I understand that everyone here wants to know who it is, but we’re holding off for a few months. This is sothing that I’ve also decided based on the current setting. This isn’t the right place where such important news should be announced."
With a smile, Orson looked around the room.
"...And that leads to the main announcent. In about a month or two’s ti, the Rosemberg Duchy will be holding an engagent party between my daughter and her partner. I’d like for everyone present to participate in the event when the ti cos. You’ll find out who her partner is then. I hope that everyone here can make it."
Boom—
The place erupted into chaos again.
It looked like the nobles couldn’t stop themselves from stirring commotion at every opportunity, throwing one question after another at the Duke.
However, the Duke maintained his composure as he looked around and ignored all of the questions. He was well versed with these sort of situations.
Eventually, he settled his gaze on a certain individual.
His voice raised.
"Leaving the announcent to the side, today shouldn’t be about my daughter’s engagent. Today we should focus on the main star of the event."
Tapping his foot against the ground, the noise forcefully ceased, unlike the previous tis, and a certain figure beca the focal point of everyone present.
With hazel-brown eyes that glead under the hall’s light and a visage sharp enough to seize attention the instant one looked upon it, Julien stepped forward.
His back was held perfectly straight, shoulders squared with confidence, and his expression remained calm... so steady it was difficult to tell whether he was truly unaffected or simply masking his thoughts behind a composed facade.
Every movent he made was calm, unhurried, and carried with it a quiet weight that naturally drew the eyes of all present.
Feeling everyone’s gaze, he walked toward the Duke as the Duke smiled in his direction.
He eventually stopped right before the Duke, his eyes briefly pausing on Delilah as he gave her a brief nod.
Delilah nodded back, and the two didn’t look at each other any longer.
The Duke nodded at the sight before shifting his attention elsewhere.
"Marquis..."
All eyes turned in the direction of where the Duke looked.
Eventually, several nobles stepped aside, parting to allow the approach of a figure whose composed presence seed at odds with the tension of the mont. Adjusting his glasses with deliberate ease, the Marquis ca to a halt before the Duke and Julien.
The Duke looked at both sides before taking out two papers, upon which two signatures appeared.
"These are the contracts that both of you signed at the start of the Rite. I’m sure both of you rember them."
Neither Julien nor the Marquis said a word. However, their silence spoke volus as the Duke handed the files to Julien.
"The mont these docunts are delivered, all lands and stipulated terms will pass to Julien of the Evenus Household. Within them are the conditions pertaining to the other parties. If any among you would voice an objection, speak now. Otherwise, I shall proceed and formalize the transfer."
The Duke stared at the Marquis, waiting for him to say sothing. He was sure he’d have words to say. It was usually always like this.
’I’m sure he’ll bring out the situation with the dragon, but I’ve already prepared for that.’
The Duke was ready for any argunt that might be raised.
And yet—
"I am fine with the terms."
The Marquis seed strangely ta as he nodded his head.
His actions threw the Duke off a little, but he quickly recovered as he nodded and turned toward Julien, handing the papers to him.
"In that case, I’ll proceed with the transfer."
With Julien extending his hands, the Duke placed the papers into them, officializing the transfer.
That mont marked the end of the Rite.
***
’Sothing is odd.’
Following the transfer of terms, I was quickly dismissed by the Duke, who talked for a few more monts before eventually leaving.
Staring at the papers in my hand, I found the situation sowhat odd.
I expected there to be more trouble. I didn’t expect things to be this easy.
In fact, I was expecting the Marquis to make a scene about Pebble and whatnot.
And yet—
’He was strangely docile. Is it because he knew that it wouldn’t lead to anything, or is there more to it?’
For so reason, I didn’t have a very good feeling about the situation. The issue was that I didn’t have a concrete idea as to what he had planned, or if it was just overthinking things.
I did tend to overthink from ti to ti.
I sighed and looked around . All eyes seed to be trained in my direction. I ignored the stares and continued scanning the room. Eventually, my gaze settled on a certain individual.
He stood with his back straight, expression completely frozen and stiff.
I walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.
"That was so crazy announcent..."
Leon’s body stiffened further.
"The Chancellor is getting engaged? Wow!"
Leon’s body twitched.
"Whoever must’ve attracted the attention of such a beautiful and capable woman must be extrely handso and capable himself."
Leon’s face started to contort. I laughed inside my head.
I wanted to tease him more, but before I got the chance, a couple more voices joined in.
"No, but seriously. Who do you think the Chancellor is engaged to? I expected her to be the last person to get engaged with soone."
Turning my attention toward the voice, Evelyn and Kiera walked in our direction.
Holding onto a couple of pastries, Kiera handed a few.
I took them without much reservation and ate one.
"It looks like they’re holding so sort of engagent party in the upcoming months. I can see the event becoming extrely big. It’ll probably attract the attention of the entire world."
Evelyn’s face was quite serious as she spoke. Thinking about it, her seriousness was understandable.
In fact, just thinking about it made my stomach churn.
I would’ve loved it if they warned in advance...
I could practically imagine the chaos that was set to unfold in the coming days after the announcent was made public.
Ruffling my hair, I put another pastry in my mouth before eventually settling my gaze on the distance, where a certain figure appeared.
Seeing her blend through the crowd, and as if noticing my gaze, she turned her back against and walked away. I smiled before stuffing the last pastry in my mouth and excusing myself.
"I need to go. I have to handle sothing."
Without waiting for the others to say anything, I moved, feeling my heart quicken.
...It had been too long since I had last seen her.
I really missed her.
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