Ch.321Chapter 321 – Engagement Ceremonies Are Tough!

The act of engagement was something that most people in modern times rarely practiced.

Even in my own experience, when I saw people around me getting married, they typically didn’t have an engagement ceremony. Instead, they would meet each other’s families, set a date, and proceed directly to the wedding.

I had thought of engagements as events held by royalty in monarchies like Britain or Sweden before their marriages.

Never in my dreams did I imagine I would be the one going through it.

Right now, I was receiving help from the imperial palace servants for what was my first-ever formal grooming.

“My Lord, please don’t move.”

“If your posture shifts, it will cause problems with your grooming.”

“Just bear with it a little longer.”

Being surrounded by more than ten servants and having to maintain a rigid posture for over an hour was absolute torture.

However, I endured it because this was one of the proper etiquette protocols that nobles were expected to follow.

According to the book on noble etiquette given to me by the Prime Minister, it was essential to undergo formal grooming before major events such as engagement ceremonies or banquets.

Moreover, as one of the main participants in the engagement ceremony and the future consort of the First Imperial Princess, I needed to be especially meticulous about my appearance.

No wonder the palace servants had such visible tension on their faces. Their requests for me to maintain a rigid posture stemmed from their fear of making even the slightest mistake.

After all, when important people hold events, it’s always the staff who bear the burden.

‘Not that I would scold them for minor mistakes anyway.’

The servants responsible for grooming at imperial events were professionals in their field.

My only job was to maintain a rigid posture so they wouldn’t make mistakes, and wait for the grooming to finish.

It seemed about 30 minutes had passed since they asked me not to move.

“My Lord, we’re finished now.”

“Now that your grooming is complete, you truly look like a perfect match for Her Imperial Highness.”

The servants each offered their compliments before bowing in unison and leaving the room.

Left alone in the empty room, I paradoxically felt comfortable in my solitude.

‘In my life, I’ve never been surrounded by so many people at once.’

After the hour-and-a-half battle of being surrounded by servants, I finally had some time to myself.

Someone would come to escort me to the engagement ceremony soon, but until then, I should take a moment to rest.

“My Lord, I’ve come to escort you as the engagement ceremony will begin shortly.”

The person who came for me while I was sitting quietly in the chair was the imperial head steward.

Despite his age, the elderly man who had served the imperial family for many years exuded natural dignity.

I rose from my seat and began following his guidance.

If preparations for the engagement were still underway, the palace interior would have been bustling with servants and attendants moving about, but now we were approaching the start of the ceremony.

The corridor was empty except for me, the head steward, and the soldiers standing guard.

Walking down the quiet corridor, all I could hear was music presumably coming from the engagement venue and the sound of our footsteps.

The growing volume of the music suggested we were getting closer to the ceremony location.

“You’ll be entering soon. There’s nothing difficult about it. Just follow His Imperial Majesty’s instructions.”

“I understand.”

The head steward bowed to me and opened the doors to the engagement hall.

As the doors opened, the music swelled magnificently, and I saw Karen, His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, and other members of the imperial family.

All their eyes were fixed on me as I walked into the engagement hall.

‘This is slightly uncomfortable.’

Though I found their interested gazes somewhat burdensome, I didn’t show it.

I would need to get used to this from now on, as such occasions might become frequent in the future.

“Marquis Patos Severio. Approach Our presence.”

As I stood in the center of the engagement hall, His Imperial Majesty called for me.

I approached the Emperor with measured, composed steps, and an attendant brought forward an elegant leather case placed on a cushion.

When I came to stand about two paces away from His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor looked toward Karen.

“Karen Lucien Dekatro Gelebrio Aurelios, step forward.”

When His Imperial Majesty called for Karen, she walked forward in a golden dress that seemed to match her hair color and stood beside me.

“Today is a most auspicious day for Us, the Imperial Family, and the Gelebrio Empire. It is the day Our eldest daughter finally meets her life partner.”

His Imperial Majesty handed us the leather case that the attendant had been holding.

“Open it.”

At the Emperor’s command, I opened the leather case without hesitation.

Inside were a pair of magnificent rings with a gold base adorned with various precious gems.

“These are the rings I used when I became engaged to the Empress. For generations, our Gelebrio Imperial Family has conducted engagement ceremonies with these rings.”

His Imperial Majesty seemed to be lost in memories as he looked at the pair of rings in our hands.

“Now, place the rings on each other’s left ring fingers.”

So even in this world, marriage-related rings are worn on the left ring finger. How interesting.

“The left ring finger has a mana circuit that directly connects to one’s heart. Therefore, placing a ring here signifies that you trust each other with your mana.”

‘Does that mean you lose all your mana if you get divorced?’

I had a strange thought for a moment, but quickly refocused on the engagement ceremony.

I first placed the ring on Karen’s left ring finger, and then she placed the other ring on mine.

Being an engagement ring, it seemed quite large and loose, but surprisingly, once placed on my finger, it automatically adjusted to fit my finger size.

Could this be another type of artifact?

“Seeing the two of you exchange engagement rings brings me great joy. Now, I shall make the engagement declaration.”

When His Imperial Majesty announced he would make the engagement declaration, the atmosphere in the hall grew solemn.

“In the name of Dekatro IV, sovereign of the Gelebrio Empire, I declare the engagement of Marquis Patos Severio and Karen Lucien Dekatro Gelebrio Aurelios. This shall be protected by imperial law, and divine punishment shall befall anyone who attempts to interfere with or separate this union.”

As His Imperial Majesty made the declaration and raised his hand, applause erupted from all directions.

“With this, the engagement ceremony is concluded. See to it that a wedding date is set promptly.”

“How could there be any delay? We have already selected an auspicious date for the end of this year.”

“Is that so? Then I shall look forward to the wedding as well.”

His Imperial Majesty looked at me with eyes that subtly conveyed expectation.

“I will not disappoint you.”

“Congratulations on becoming a member of the imperial family, son-in-law.”

After His Imperial Majesty called me son-in-law, Her Imperial Majesty approached.

“Marquis Severio. I cannot express how fortunate we are that someone like you is taking our Karen.”

“Your Imperial Majesty…?”

Wait, why are you suddenly being so intimidating?

“She was such a tomboy, but as she grew older, she suddenly started acting like a proper eldest daughter. However, she showed no interest in men, which worried me greatly as her mother.”

“M-Mother!”

“But now she has met such an excellent and splendid man as her life partner, and as a parent, I am truly relieved. Please, do not leave our Karen feeling lonely.”

Her words were filled with concern and affection for a daughter who had finally reached the age of marriage.

Particularly, Her Imperial Majesty’s final words carried significant meaning.

It meant, “Don’t just focus on other women; please pay attention to our daughter as well.”

“I understand. I will strive to meet your expectations.”

I responded to Her Imperial Majesty’s words by promising to do my best.

Being human, I cannot give equal love to everyone, but shouldn’t I take responsibility for those I’ve chosen or who have chosen me?

“Yes. I hope you will.”

Only then did Her Imperial Majesty smile and step back.

Next, as one might expect, came a barrage of questions from members of the imperial family.

“Brother-in-law, when did you meet Karen?”

“Brother-in-law! How many nieces and nephews are you planning to have?”

“When will you marry your other sisters-in-law?”

I was the target of this questioning offensive, and as a result, I was held captive for over two hours, having to answer their questions.

Whew, next time I should skip the engagement and go straight to a modern-style proposal followed by marriage. That was my thought for the day.