Chapter 52: Engagement

Today is the tea party with Mr. Joel, the second prince of the Kingdom of Algray, whom milady has allowed being a candidate as his fiancé.

When I saw him for the first time, I thought he was like a prince in a picture book.

“Your Highness Joel, we are delighted to have you here today.”

“Sharon, I’m sorry to call you out on such short notice.”

Oh, I see. The one milady just greeted was Mr. Joel, wasn’t it? Of course, I remembered. I won’t be so rude as to forget.

But, by the way, milady has really grown up to be a fine young lady. She was a shy young lady who stammered whenever she was called out to, but she can still greet His Highness the Prince with aplomb, even if she is not very stable.

“…… Letty. You’re thinking of something strange again.”

“I have been chewing on milady’s progress. But I’m a little nervous, so I’m glad you’re so adorable with your fingers on my sleeve.”

“Letty, shh.”

While we are secretly exchanging such exchanges, the butler, who has arranged the seats, ushers milady in.

Today, since we are going to have an important talk, there were no maidservants or guard knights who are usually lined up in a row of ten or more. Only a tight-lipped butler and two elderly maidservants, and the only escort was Mr. Andy.

“Would you like to join us, Miss Fleurety?”

I’m normally standing diagonally behind milady, and Mr. Joel (I assume) calls to me.

“Letty …….”

Milady turns slightly and calls out my name in a small way.

Milady would be more at ease if I took my seat. And as expected, I don’t mind being at the same table as the prince of a country at all, but I am unable to take care of milady to the fullest extent, so I will not be able to sit.

“I am sorry. Today, I will remain at milady’s side until further notice.”

“Well, ……. I was wondering if this was the last time I could have tea with you.”

Mr. Joel seemed somewhat disappointed, but he withdrew surprisingly easily.

I seem to remember Miss Emily saying that he used to be interested in me or something like that.

“That said, I’m concerned about the …… maid’s shiny face. ……”

“I’m sorry.”

The two old maids of honor look at each other and bow.

“The …… item that Sharon’s handmaiden brought to us has been inspected and found to be ……”

“…… What did you bring to the table?”

Mr. Joel looks at me with a slightly zit-eyed look. I don’t like it. ‘All the strange things are not because of me, you know.

“At milady’s tea party, we bring sweet treats, but today, Your Highness Joel (I assume) invited me, and I thought that Mr. Andy would be with us, so I made something to fill your stomach.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Mr. Joel, who was growing up, looked a little happier, and milady looked astonished when she realized that she didn’t have anything sweet to eat.

“I’m looking forward to that. ‘Andy, you can join us, too.'”

“…haha.”

Andy, who was behind Mr. Joel, replied with a bit of confusion. Or was he staring at milady and his reaction was delayed?

“Here’s a snack for you.”

“Ho-oh, …… what’s this, it’s ……”

“It’s a meat burger that is popular with boys.”

You may think that a normal burger is made of meat, but this is a burger made of ground ork and minotaur meat, kneaded with salt and pepper, wrapped in thinly sliced cheese and paradise bird meat to keep the juices flowing, and then fried with 100% lard. It’s a masterpiece made with two 3cm slices of top marbled Devil’s Iron Minotaur steak sandwiched between two steaks, with the juices of the meat melted in a sauce of wine and butter.

“…………”

To briefly explain, everyone was staring at the meat burgers in silence.

Of course, I have to tell you that it’s monster meat. For you to enjoy it hot, I’m distorting space-time with all my might.

You can see how effective it is by looking at the condition of the maids of honor who took a few bites of the meat.

“It’s strange to see ……. It seems to be a little unresponsive. …… haha, if you’re”

“I’m sorry, milady. Did you run out of calories?”

“I don’t really like calories, you know!”

“Well, I asked Sharon to come over because I had something to tell you.”

“Yes, yes ……'”

After enjoying tea and snacks for a while, we finally got to the main topic of today’s meeting.

Everyone’s faces were shiny and healthy. Milady and I don’t eat fattening food like that.

“Come to think of it, Sharon has been my potential fiancée for a long time since I was a little boy, but I have decided that the one to escort me to my graduation party is Miss Ginko.”

“…… is the right thing to do.”

It is a bit far-fetched, but it is a de facto dissolution of the engagement.

Generally, it is a disgrace for a woman to have her engagement dissolved, but in Joel’s case, it is not so bad since there were five candidates for the engagement.

If milady and Mr. Joel were not on good terms, the engagement could have been broken off on the day.

In this case, if there is a problem, it’s that milady would be the one who would be talked about by the ladies since it looks like she was thrown away.

Of course, you understand that much, don’t you, Mr. Joel?

“But of course, I’ll make sure Sharon gets a proper apology and compensation, and I’ll give her proper notice.”

Mr. Joel, who seemed to have felt my gaze (finally convinced), added the words as if in a hurry, and continued to say, “But ……,” as if he was having difficulty saying it.

“My sister Emily, …… is a pain in the ass when it comes to me. If possible, I’d like to proceed in confidence until the day …….”

Mr. Joel’s gaze passes over milady and me as if he were looking for air.

“That’s fine with me. Your Highness Joel”

When milady who had been silent until then said that with a smile, Mr. Joel let out a breath as if he was relieved.

It is likely to draw curious eyes to milady on that day, but because of the original plan, I have coordinate with milady and Miss Ginko in this way.

“Now, …… it’s my turn, isn’t it?”

“So, how will you escort milady to the event?”

With a proper escorting partner, milady is less likely to be exposed to curious eyes.

At my words, Mr. Joel glances behind him and begins to speak as if choosing his words.

“On that note, there’s been a strange rumor about Sharon lately. That Sharon has been doing things to …… its, well, Ginko that are hard to say in public.”

Oh, is it about my sexual harassment?

“Emily also told me that Sharon is doing terrible things to Ginko, and in fact, it’s not as if the rumors are true, but Emily says that Sharon who does that is fine with Brother Yuri or my side room, but …… Sharon has no desire to do that. Isn’t it?”

“…… Yes, I’m sorry.”

“No, that’s fine then. The rumors are too weird to be credible. ……”

Miss Emily is being tricked well. However, nothing has been resolved concerning milady.

However, I can’t leave milady in charge of a partner, unless he or she has a clear vision of the future, not just a partner for that moment.

“So, what do you do ……?”

“……”

My question again stops Mr. Joel from saying anything with his gaze and intimidation.

I don’t mean it seriously, but my intimidation, which leaked out in a whisper, made them all pale.

“……….. Sharon. Would you mind allowing me to escort you?”

It was Mr. Andy who released such a voice.

Milady, who had fallen on her face as if frightened by something, looked up vigorously at those words.

”Is that all?”

In a small voice – but in the stillness of the place, my words would certainly have reached Mr. Andy. Mr. Andy’s expression tightened and he stepped forward forcefully, kneeling in front of Miss Sharon and looking up at her.

“Sharon. …… Will you walk with me for the rest of your life? I swear to you that I will protect Sharon with my life.”

At this confession, milady rolled her eyes, held her (flabby) chest, and let out a slight shudder.

“I don’t want to risk …… my life. I want to stay with Mr. Andy forever.”

“…… Sharon.”

Outstretched hands from either side overlap each other.

That was really good, milady. …… I was about to take a nice shot if Mr. Andy dipped in at the end.

The sight of the two of them brought a smile to everyone’s face, including Joel’s. Joel stood up, happy as if it were his own, to make his declaration.

“Andy and Sharon. Their engagement was witnessed by me, Joel, Royalty of Algray.”