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We spent a whirlwind of days at the Continental Academy. But once the storm passed, everything began to flow as smoothly as a calm stream.
The graduation exam for the Swordsmanship Department, originally held in the dangerous Carmedan Jungle, was relocated—since monsters no longer appeared there—and proceeded as scheduled under the supervision of Emblem.
Enoch and Kane graduated as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.
Despite the unrest caused by the dean’s sudden disappearance, the unexpected enthronement of Crown Prince Pavan, and all the rumors spreading through the academy, the graduation ceremony managed to conclude safely.
At the same time as his graduation, Enoch was appointed as the commander of the Gray Knights.
“Hey, congratulations.”
“At least pretend to look like you mean it, Cherrya.”
At Enoch’s inauguration ceremony, I gave him a bouquet—the very one I had refrained from giving him at graduation.
This symbolic act of presenting flowers took place under the burning gazes of distinguished guests who had gathered from across the Lutinas Empire to celebrate.
Enoch, wearing a reluctant expression, pretended to receive the bouquet joyfully and whispered to me.
“Even if you don’t mean it, I’ll pretend to appreciate it.”
Time flew by swiftly, and before I could even come to terms with our fates, our families had already begun earnest preparations for our engagement ceremony.
It was because of that situation that I, quite uncharacteristically, ended up bringing a bouquet to Enoch’s inauguration as a knight commander.
“Well, you seem to be good at this.”
That lukewarm compliment I threw at Enoch’s insufferable face was the entirety of our conversation that day.
Yet even that was enough for the attendees at the Gray Order’s ceremony to start spinning tales.
“Has Emblem ever attended the inauguration of a Gray Knight Commander?”
“Never. Not even once.”
“Didn’t Dame Melsia and Dame Diana fight just by making eye contact until they each became commanders?”
“Cherrya Emblem’s appearance at this event… could it mean—?”
“Are they actually going to fulfill that prenatal engagement?”
Everyone’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. It must’ve felt like life had just become more interesting.
I ground my teeth in frustration and returned to Emblem like some zoo animal on display.
[After Cherrya Emblem left, it is said that Enoch Gray’s gaze lingered on her vacant seat for a long, long time. Could it really be… Is the day we've all been counting down to since their birth finally approaching?]
Of course, the events of that day were sensationalized and splashed across every high-society gossip magazine in the Lutinas Empire.
***
“Hey, Jessia.”
“Yes, my lady?”
“If I really end up getting engaged to Enoch, and it actually leads to marriage… what kind of life do you think I’ll have?”
“I’m not sure.”
Jessia, entirely focused on brushing my hair, responded with little interest in my question.
I felt oddly disappointed by her lukewarm reaction. Tilting my head back, disrupting her brushing on purpose, I pressed again.
“Everyone already knows about the prenatal engagement we’re tied to, so… is it really necessary to hold an engagement ceremony?”
Letting out a long sigh at my persistence, Jessia finally answered seriously.
“That ceremony is simply meant to ‘certify’ that His Majesty himself arranged the prenatal contract. You know it doesn’t have any legal power on its own.”
“So what changes once the engagement ceremony is held?”
“Well, once it’s official, it becomes a formal union between noble houses. At that point, the two of you are legally recognized as a bonded pair—essentially a state-sanctioned couple.”
A couple.
That word felt so awkward, sitting next to my name and Enoch’s.
“You’re saying Enoch and I would become an officially recognized couple?”
“Yes.”
“Even if I say no, the state will still acknowledge it?”
“Yes. It’s a political marriage, after all.”
Jessia’s matter-of-fact tone made me quietly despair.
Just the thought of being in a relationship with Enoch made my heart race uncontrollably and my face burn like it was about to explode. I must’ve broken my heart from pure rage.
“Honestly, Enoch is practically family to me! How am I supposed to get engaged, married, and have kids with someone who feels like family?”
I clung to Jessia with a face on the verge of tears. She, who was always patient with my complaints, looked at me with a strange expression and replied.
“My lovely lady, both the family head and Lord Benedict have always said the same—this is just a formal engagement, nothing more.”
“…”
“There are plenty of political engagements where the couple never even makes it to marriage. Just take the benefits the engagement offers and move on.”
“So you’re telling me to go through with this fake engagement with Enoch just for show, and then break it off later?”
“There’s always a way out—you know that. So if you're aware of that, there’s no reason not to enjoy the present.”
Jessia cupped my cheeks with both hands.
Looking at my face—now red like a ripe apple—she continued warmly.
“Honestly, try finding a real lover. If our lady were to truly fall in love, you know Emblem would do anything to annul this engagement.”
“So you're saying… unless I bring someone I truly love, this engagement is just going to continue as it is.”
“Well, if you’re not going to find someone else, shouldn't you at least have a decent future husband—even if it’s political? And really, if it’s Enoch Gray…”
Jessia gave a casual shrug, as if to say, What’s the problem?
Even Jessia, who used to grind her teeth at the mere mention of Gray, had shifted her tone once my engagement started to move forward.
“Do you realize your fiancé is the most popular man in the Empire right now? I mean, it hasn’t been long since he was appointed Commander of the Gray Knights, but he’s already making waves.”
“Of course he is. He’s a Gray, and he’s Enoch.”
“People are thrilled that the Gray Order is finally proving itself worthy of being on par with Emblem. They think things are finally getting interesting.”
“Oh, come on! Are we some kind of imperial entertainment? Is this a spectator sport or something?”
I kicked the air in frustration, my indignation boiling over.
It was a far cry from anything remotely graceful, but Jessia didn’t scold me—she merely furrowed her brows slightly.
“Anyway, be nice to Lord Enoch today. Unless you plan on falling in love with someone else and blowing this engagement to pieces.”
A person I truly love... I love many people.
Grandfather, Mother, Father… even Jessia, who is here with me, and my dear knights—I love them all.
But why? Why is it that the phrase “someone I truly love” pierces my heart and leaves me breathless?
“How do you even do that?”
“You just follow your heart.”
“So is that why your heart told you to reject Senior Henry’s love so coldly every time?”
“...How did you know about that?”
“He cries every night.”
“Stop wasting your thoughts on pointless things and get up already. Lord Enoch will be arriving soon.”
Jessia gave me a light smack on the back. I sat up with a face full of dread.
“Please… do I really have to greet him dressed like this?”
“Of course. I’m looking forward to seeing you act even better than yesterday, my lady.”
Jessia gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and flung the door open.
Outside stood Kane, his brows furrowed deeply.
“No matter how often I see it, I just can’t get used to this.”
“I’ve gotten used to seeing you in uniform just fine.”
“Same here, I’ve adjusted to you as our commander. But this? This is impossible.”
Embarrassed by Kane’s blunt comment, I looked into the mirror Jessia was holding with a cheerful smile.
Long, flowing red hair; a soft silk dress that hugged my body’s lines; pearl accessories to emphasize purity; and a shawl that beautifully traced the curve from my neck to my shoulders.
“Who lounges around the house dressed like this?”
“Exactly.”
Kane and I both let out heavy sighs.
“Enoch—no, Commander Gray—is already downstairs waiting for you.”
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1 Comments
Ty for the update!!
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