Published at 5th of August 2021 10:39 pm

Volume 3 Chapter 22: The Engagement Announcement Party 2/2

This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml

There was huge applause alongside their introduction, and after that, when everyone had made a toast, music resumed playing throughout the hall.

Cain’s three fiancées lined up, and nobles came up to them one after the other to congratulate them.

Giving a sideways glance at the three of them, they seemed to be wearing light makeup, making them so beautiful that even Cain, who was used to them, was fascinated.

“Cain-kun, take care of our Silk, okay. Well, I think it’ll be fine no matter what happens though. And then––”

Eric motioned for Cain to draw closer and whispered.

“…Only make children after you’re grown up, alright?”

“Hey!!”

“Heey! Father!”

It seemed like Silk, next to them, had also heard it, and objected with a bright red face.

Telestia seemed to have also heard, and was holding her blushing cheeks with both hands, gazing slightly upwards, likely lost in some wild fantasy.

“Let’s have a mock battle again! Take care of Tifana,” was all Laysan said, smiling, before moving away again. After that, higher-rank nobles and their families came one after another to congratulate Cain.

Then, the familiar Marquis Corgino, dragging his son, Habit, along with him, also came to greet him.

Even while seeming to be in a slightly bad mood, Corgino congratulated Cain. Habit, next to him, was silent the whole time, obviously in a bad mood. Ever since his announcement party when he was five, Habit had been trying to charm Silk, so to him it must have felt like Cain had taken her from his side. And then Cain was also engaged to Princess Telestia, who was just as beautiful. There was no way Habit wouldn’t be jealous.

However, even if Cain was the same age as him, he was still the head of a family and a higher-ranked noble: a count. Habit could not complain.

However, apart from those two, who left resentfully right afterwards, Cain exchanged a few words with the nobles who kept coming to congratulate him.

And then, Garm and Sarah, who had been smiling the whole time, with a slightly unhappy Reine in tow, came to also congratulate him.

“Cain, even though you’re engaged now, you’re not a grown-up yet, got it?”

“Cain, bring some cute children to show us soon!”

Cain smiled bitterly as his two parents said completely opposite things.

“Your Highness Princess Telestia, Lady Silk, Lady Tifana, I’ll be leaving Cain in your care then.”

Garm bowed lightly towards the three of them.

Surprised at him doing so, the three of them quickly replied.

“Cain-sama and we will do our best!”

“We’re all going to be together, so it’ll be fun!”

“I shall bear a strong child.”

Only Tifana’s statement had problems in it, but Cain let it pass and nodded.

“Nice to meet you, big-sister-Reine.”

“Let’s get along, big-sister-Reine.”

At those words from Telestia and Silk, Reine’s expression relaxed.

“––big sister… big sister… Uhuhu. Yeeeees! Of course! As your older sister, we simply must get along!”

Reine, who had never had a little sister until then, had a huge smile on her face at being called ‘big sister’.

Garm and Sarah moved aside to let the next person congratulate Cain and the other three, with a now happy Reine in tow.

After that, more higher-ranked nobles and their families came to greet them, and when the congratulations from them were over, it was the lower-ranked nobles’ turn.

His huge muscles visible even underneath his nobles’ clothes and a hearty smile on his face, Viscount Tris went up to them.

He protected the fortress town of Lamesta in the Gracia territory, and had met Cain at Cain’s announcement party when he was five.

“Sir Cain, congratulations. To think that that little kid would grow up to be this splendid. Our soldiers are also surely happy.”

Tris might have been smiling, but as Cain was a count, he was careful about his wording.

“Come on Viscount Tris, just talk to me like back then.”

Said Cain, but Tris just shook his head.

“That really just would not do. Sir Cain, you are already a higher-rank noble. Perhaps when we meet in private, but in public spaces like this, one has to take care, otherwise people will become noisy about it.”

Hearing Tris’ explanation, Cain reluctantly nodded.

“Then let’s talk again in my dad’s mansion.”

Tris nodded, smiling, then disappeared into the crowd.

After several more nobles had come to congratulate them, it was the turn of Viscount Langdosha, whom Cain had met at the castle’s entrance.

“Count Silford, I’m really sorry for what happened earlier today. It was my first time coming to the royal capital in a long time, so I was in high spirits.”

Having a good impression of the honestly bowing Langdosha, Cain answered, smiling.

“Please, don’t worry about it. Once again, it is nice to meet you.”

Raising his head at Cain’s words, now with a relaxed face, Langdosha shook hands with Cain.

Having finished talking to Langdosha, the next one waiting in line turned out to be Sarah’s father, Viscount Santos.

“It has been a long time, Sir Cain. Truly, congratulations on today. To think you would be made a count… And then, Her Highness the Princess and Lady Silk. And Tifana-dono as well. This… I wonder who’s next… Anyway, as expected of my grandson.”

Langdosha, who was still nearby, reacted to the word ‘grandson’ and went back to the group.

“Sir Cain, is it true that you’re Sir Santos’ grandson…?”

Before Cain could respond however, Santos opened his mouth.

“Indeed, Sir Langdosha, he is my grandson. My daughter married Margrave Garm, you see.”

Seeing Santos speak in such a good mood, Langdosha was surprised.

“My word, to think that would be so… Sir Santos, I really am indebted to you. To think there was such a connection…”

“If we talk here, the others won’t be able to say their congratulations. Let us go and talk over there. See you later, Sir Cain.”

After the two of them left, the greetings from the nobles continued for over an hour, and by the end of it, Cain was completely exhausted.

Telestia and Silk had already excused themselves and were talking with friends from school at a table.

Tifana too, was having what seemed to be an enjoyable conversation with muscly military officers.

From time to time, they would pull out their swords to demonstrate a specific stance, which couldn’t really be helped, as they were all muscle-brains.

He had gotten a drink from a maid, and things were finally starting to settle down with the party starting to draw to a close, with the Saint coming to congratulate him second-to-last, and everything finishing with the king’s words.

“Just a bit more…”

He looked at Hinata, who was sitting at the same table as the royal family, and nodding at their words expressionlessly.

And then, the party was drawing to an end.

The music came to a halt, and the king stood up and looked at everyone there inside the quiet hall.

“It was enjoyable, but it’s about time now. Some closing words from the Saint-dono. Saint-dono, the stage is yours.”

Standing up, Hinata went and stood next to the king.

Noticing that Hinata’s face was red for some reason, Cain glanced at the table where she had been sitting, where he noticed a half-drunk glass of wine.

“…Don’t tell me…”

While Cain was becoming worried, his eyes met Hinata’s. Her face becoming slightly redder, she smiled at him.

“I would like to express my thanks for being invited here today. I, as the Saint, hereby congratulate Count Cain von Silford, Her Highness Princess Telestia, Silk-sama and Tifana-sama on their engagement. And then––”

After that, Hinata continued to speak to them all as the Saint about how they should worship the gods.

“––Finally, yesterday, as I was praying in the church, I received an oracle. I shall now speak the words it contained.”

All the nobles were surprised at hearing the word ‘oracle’. Hinata received a lot of applause and cheers from them.

Of course, the higher-ranked nobles, the king, and the bishop of the Esfort Kingdom also all widened their eyes in surprise at hearing the word ‘oracle’.

“I shall, here and now, convey to you all the oracle I received.”

Hinata looked out at all the nobles in the hall majestically in one great sweep.

Then, finally, she met Cain’s eyes and grinned at him mischievously.

(Something’s off here… With those gods, I really hope they didn’t say anything weird, but…)

Cain frowned slightly, worried about Hinata’s smile.

“The contents of the oracle from the gods went thus: ‘Hinata, thou shalt be the wife of Cain von Silford Drintor, and thou shalt support Cain von Silford Drintor alongside his other fiancées.’ That is what the gods said.”

“““““““““““………”””””””””””

Not a single person spoke a single word.

Everyone in the room was reeling from the shocking oracle.

Naturally, Cain, who knew the gods in person, was making the worst face. Hinata continued to speak with a face that said ‘I did it!’.

“I shall, naturally, obey an oracle from the gods.”

Stated Hinata, nodding with a smile.

The king and all the nobles present all became speechless at that.

Of course, Cain too was in a daze at the contents of the oracle.

Now, in addition to being engaged to a member of the royal family and members of ducal families, Cain would also be getting engaged with the Saint.

However, it was not something that would be accepted that easily. In the teachings of the world’s religion, the teachings of Marineford, the Saint was praised the second most after the gods.

“Sa-Saint-dono… That is quite impossible…”

However, Hinata followed up with another argument against the king, who had finally become able to speak again.

“But it’s an oracle. I have to obey it, no?”

“W-well…”

And while the end of the engagement announcement party drew ever nearer, everyone had tight-lipped smiles.

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