Chapter 207: Engagement
Giliath demands your power stones! Let's try to get over 500!
*
"Hoho, It is good that the food is enjoyable for you, Prince Naoto. It is quite clear to me that Princess Alfin has become quite attached to you over the last couple years too. She did inform me after her travels in Grancel City, but I didn't it would be to this extent.", Emperor Eugent mused to himself as he continued to observe Princess Alfin's current mood. I mean, she was allowing me to headpat her. I'm pretty sure she wouldn't allow most others to do this, minus Prince Olivert, considering he was her older brother.
"So that's what happened during your little escapade back then...You went all the way out to Grancel to get close with His Highness, and didn't even bother to invite us?", Musse said with a playful grin as she swirled a blue liquid around in her glass. It was non-alcoholic of course, considering more than half of us present in this banquet hall were still just kids.
I should probably talk about who all was present here at the banquet, right? This table was not only fancy, but it was one of the largest tables I have ever seen. The Palace was used to seeing a lot of guests at once, and it also was home to the Imperial Diet, so overall, the place was really large and very easy to get lost in.
To my left was the head of the table, so naturally the Emperor himself sat there, Emperor Eugent III. To his immediate left was Chancellor Osborne, and likewise, across from him was me. Positions were of high importance here in Valflame Palace, so I was pretty surprised to see myself positioned right in the middle of the Imperial Family and Chancellor Osborne.
This was likely the latter's doing, but I wasn't against it. After all, to my immediate right was Princess Alfin, still in a good mood from currently being seated next to me.
And it went as follows from her seat, Empress Priscilla was across from Princess Alfin, who had her usual aloof face. Prince Cedric and Prince Olivert were in the next two chairs. I have not personally come across Prince Cedric apart from seeing him as a toddler during my first visit here ten years ago. If I were to call Musse's glare piercing, then Prince Cedric's eyes that were glued on me only contained curiosity. I figured he was quite surprised to see the Emperor invite royalty from another country, but he is a spitting image of Prince Olivert.
Over time he would become the spitting image of an arrogant noble because he would refuse to see things his way until he received an eye opener by the actions caused by Rean and his group.
Unfortunately by then, the only path he could have chosen to take was to become a member of Ouroboros from all the damage he had cause, but with that being several years out, who knows?
Perhaps a similar line of thinking to Musse's future behavior, Prince Cedric's attitude problem could also change. That rapidly developed shortly after Duke Cayenne laid his hands on him during the October War. But now with my presence being a factor to that, I have a feeling I won't even need to do anything to make sure Prince Cedric turns out alright.
After all, it was Duke Cayenne's obsession with Testa-Rossa that drove Prince Cedric's desire for power. If I robbed that from Duke Cayenne at its core, what is left for Prince Cedric? The only thought I have toward this apart from taking the Vermillion Trials within the next year is if I should pay a visit to the Cayenne Duchy itself and see if there's any reaction. I haven't been to Ordis either so I might plan to do that after my next three months spent here in the Vander School. But for now, that thought could only be in the back of my head for now since I had this banquet and later, a dance, to enjoy with the rest of the people here.
I am not sure how many people I will come across to dance with, but seeing its mostly for practice, having more than one partner necessarily won't hurt. To my current thought though, next down the line next to Prince Cedric and Prince Olivert was Musse and Elise, with Renne, Sherryl, Emma, and Fie seated the furthest away. I did want to be seated closer to them, but Chancellor Osborne had other plans in mind, so I couldn't help but find myself be placed between the Emperor and Princess Alfin.
"You were pretty secretive about it too, Your Highness. I did have interest as to why you decided to go abroad for a short while, but I didn't think that would happen.", Elise also said, which continued the current conversation. Hearing that, Princess Alfin blinked her eyes before revealing a smile.
"Oh it was only only a small visit, I wish it could have been longer myself.", Princess Alfin happily responded, only to end my headpat.
"Was it really just a small visit though, I wonder? Would you like to enlighten the situation dearest Olivert?", Empress Priscilla said as she revealed a smile herself.
"Alas I would dear Mother, but Mueller kept me in check during the time I had spent in the Erebonian Embassy with the Ambassador. As such, I turned toward my friend, His Highness, here so he could escort my sister around the city. You should've seen the piles of paperwork I had to take care of during my time in Liberl. I had little free time myself.", Prince Olivert said with a laugh, only to shake his head a bit. He proceeded to look my way. Seeing Prince Olivert do this, I revealed a grin.
"Haha, trying to pin this on me now, are you Your Highness?", I said with a grin as I looked toward Prince Olivert.
"I am merely stating facts, Your Highness. But it is also quite true that my dear sister has grown rather fond of you. How about we plan a family trip somewhere?", Prince Olivert suggested, causing more gazes to be drawn his way. Yet seeing him do that, Chancellor Osborne let out a rare laugh.
"Hahaha, with how things are right now, I am afraid that isn't a possibility for you, Your Highness. I could try to make some room down the line. I am saddened we've been busy as of late. Just scheduling this banquet and ball tonight was hectic as it is.", Chancellor Osborne said as he took another sip of his wine.
"True, I do apologize for having take up some of yourtime whdn you're already so busy yourself, Chancellor. You have my gratitude.", Emperor Eugent said, nodding his head.
"Oh, it is of no issue, Your Majesty. These types of events helps alleviate the stress placed on one's mind, so I am welcoming it wholeheartedly. And while we are on this matter. The event thus spoken of has reached my ears as well, but I didn't think the result would be like this.", Chancellor Osborne said as he began to look in our direction.
"You aren't trying to suggest now something, are you, Chancellor?", Emperor Eugent asked as he looked at him.
"Perhaps. This matter may even fall in line with the Non-aggression Pact I have been drafting to present to Her Majesty Queen Alicia II at a later date. No, in fact, the timing for this could not be any more perfect.", Chancellor Osborne began to say, which caused us to stare at him. A serious look also appeared in Empress Priscilla's eyes as she likely guessed where this was leading to.
"...You aren't trying to suggest what I think you are suggesting, are you, Chancellor?", Empress Priscilla asked as she looked at him.
"Haha. The ultimate decision would still fall on Her Highness, but here I propose an engagement between our two nations. It has not been long since that tragedy befell on both of us, but on top of our nations signing this Non-Aggression Pact, it would even help bolster the relationship our two nations currently share.", Chancellor Osborne declared, only to take another sip of his wine as he declared that.
The moment Chancellor Osborne declared that, surprise and shock streaked across the large banquet table with all eyes landing on him. Even the Emperor turned serious, as he didn't expect the Chancellor to propose such an idea.
"A-An engagement!?", Princess Alfin's voice also rose in our current stupor. Yet as she yelled that out, a light blush began to appear on her cheeks as she glanced her eyes my way...