Chapter 7

"Here you are!"

Shurigan's voice comes from the garden.

"Whaaat! It's still too early!"

Dressed in formal attire, I rush out of the room in a panic!

"Your Highness! That's improper behavior!"

I get scolded by the head maid as she catches me running.

"Selia is already here!"

"The salon first, then I'll announce you. Please wait."

"I can't wait that long!"

Today is the day of Selia's first audience with His Majesty the King. As my fiancée, the entire family will be present, including my mother, the queen, my older sister, and my younger brother and sister.

On the other hand, Selia will only be accompanied by her father, Duke Colette.

Selia once paid a visit with her parents when she was very young, but since she was just a baby then, this is effectively her first official duty as the prince's fiancée.

She must be feeling lonely, so I need to be by her side.

As I run from the hall to the main gate, Shurigan, the royal guard, chases after me.

"Your Highness! Wait, wait, wait! Stop!"

"What!"

Shurigan grabs my hand as I stop and turn around.

"Your Highness, you shouldn't run to greet her. Men should stand firm and wait in the hall. It's like dancing, you know."

"Um, I understand."

I return to the hall and stand next to Parker, the head butler, in front of the main staircase, behind the lined-up maids.

"Your Highness is greeting her personally?"

The head butler smiles at me.

"Yes, she's my precious fiancée, so I want to be the first person she sees when she arrives at the castle."

"That's a good precedent to set."

Straightening my back, I stand tall as a four-horse carriage approaches the front.

The carriage pulls up, and Duke Colette steps out first.

Then, the carriage door opens, and Selia, in a dress, steps out, escorted by the duke.

She wears a white blouse with a large bow at the chest, a black jacket, and a black skirt. Her elegant and simple attire suits her shiny, long black hair.

Escorted by the duke, Selia walks towards me.

"It is a great honor to be invited here today. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity for my daughter, Selia, to meet His Majesty the King."

"Thank you for coming, Prince Shin. I am Selia Colette, the eldest daughter of the Colette family. It is a great honor to meet His Majesty the King. Please be kind to me."

She curtsies gracefully, holding her skirt.

"Thank you for coming. Let's make today a good day. Please, follow me."

I bow and then extend my hand, palm up.

Selia looks puzzled.

"(Selia, your hand, your hand!)"

It's an escort. She quickly places her hand in mine.

"I will guide you."

Parker spreads his hand and leads the way up the stairs.

"Huh? Shouldn't we go to the salon first?"

"His Majesty is already waiting on the throne. You're quite impatient, aren't you?"

I see. Everyone is so eager to meet her.

Selia looks nervous.

I glance back and see the duke smiling as he follows. He and my father, the king, are old friends, so he's not nervous.

The guards open the doors, and we are led into the throne room.

We walk on the red carpet to the front of the king.

Father is wearing a simple suit, not the usual regal attire. My mother, sister, and younger siblings, who are lined up next to the throne, are also in casual clothes, not the elaborate evening gowns.

It's a warm gesture to make the atmosphere less tense, to show that it's okay to make mistakes or not speak perfectly.

Holding Selia's hand, we walk together.

She looks very nervous.

We stop in front of the king, kneel, and bow. Selia spreads her skirt before kneeling.

I start with my lines.

"Your Majesty, thank you for granting us this audience. I am Shin, your only son. Today, I have come to introduce my fiancée, Selia Colette, the eldest daughter of the Colette family. Please be kind to her."

Next, Selia's lines.

"Thank you for inviting me. I am Selia Colette, the eldest daughter of the Colette family. It is a great honor to meet His Majesty the King. Please be kind to me."

The same greeting she gave in the entrance hall.

"Good, raise your heads."

We lift our heads.

"Selia, you've grown. The last time I saw you, you were just a baby."

"Lord Haust said he was so happy to finally have a daughter. I even held her. I doubt you remember."

Father and Mother look pleased.

"Back then, I jokingly said she would be Shin's bride. It's wonderful to see it come true today. I hope you two will support each other, work hard, and study well to prepare for the throne."

"Your words are too kind. I will remember them well."

"I am deeply honored by your kind words."

We bow together.

"Indeed. Come, show your face."

Father stands from the throne and comes down to us.

He stands in front of Selia and kneels, smiling.

Mother and my siblings gather around.

"Beautiful! Haust, you did a great job!"

"I'm still reluctant to give her away, but she's a perfect match for a prince. Ha ha ha!"

"Are you not satisfied with my son?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant."

"You did say it."

They laugh. Father and the duke have a good relationship.

"So cute!"

My sister is delighted. She can see Selia's good qualities.

"You're my big sister, right?"

"Yes, but more like a big sister to you."

My younger sisters are being cheeky. They're closer in age to Selia.

Selia looks flustered and blushes.

"Don't be afraid. We are family now. You don't need to be so tense, Selia."

"Indeed. It's okay to make mistakes or be impolite. She's like a daughter to me."

Mother gently presses a handkerchief to her eyes.

"If Lady Karen were here, she would be so happy."

"If I mistreat the youngest daughter my wife left behind, I'll start a rebellion and destroy the royal family."

They may be close, but Duke, please don't joke about that. I might break off the engagement with Selia. It's unfair to say the country will fall because of my infidelity.

"Haust, don't say such things. Talk to Shin. I can't do anything about it."

Father, don't pass the responsibility to me so easily.

"Let's stop the serious talk and have tea. In the salon, or the garden?"

"Before that, Father."

"Hmm?"

Everyone stops at my words.

"I have something to say to His Majesty."

"Speak."

This is important. It's a foundation for the future.

"We are only ten years old. As prince and princess, we still lack the awareness and resolve to be fully prepared."

"Indeed."

"That's why we want to decide when we will get married. We will discuss it and marry when the time is right."

"Of course. Both our royal family and the Colette family have already achieved our purpose with the engagement. There's no need to rush. It's your right to decide the timing of your marriage. I leave it to you."

"Thank you."

Great! I got the commitment!

"Hehe, but as a parent, I want to see my grandchildren. Don't make us wait too long, okay?"

"Of course."

"Life is fragile. My life and the duke's life are not guaranteed. They could be lost at any moment. From now on, always remember the resolve to take the throne and the responsibility to be with the people."

"Yes."

"Selia, being a princess is like being a prince, with the resolve and responsibility to be the next queen. I allow you to bear this responsibility. I hope you will be with Shin, support him, and correct him when he is wrong, and be his strength."

"Your words are too kind. I will remember them well."

The atmosphere was a bit tense, but everyone laughed and moved to the garden.

We had a pleasant tea party outside, but Selia still felt out of place.

Later, she told me she felt uncomfortable the whole time.

Well, we don't usually eat together. Everyone is just bored most of the time.

In the afternoon, Mother and my sister had a luncheon.

Then, Selia met the teachers and the dance hall where she will have lessons, and was shown her private room by the head maid.

"When I get married, I won't use this room anymore, so you can use it freely. Everything is yours, Selia!"

It's my sister's room, fully equipped.

"Whaaat! I wanted it!"

The older sister complains, but my sister scolds her. "She's like a big sister to you too. Be patient." The younger sisters have their own rooms and personal maids, so they can't be so selfish.

When Selia comes to the castle, she will use this room to rest, change, or even stay overnight. It's next to my room.

"You'll be coming here often."

"Yes, thank you."

Selia bows deeply, looking very humble.

She's been bowing since she arrived, so she must be tired.

Again, I stand with the head butler to see her off from the main hall.

She and the duke leave in a carriage.

I'm relieved that the first audience went well.

"Your Highness."

The butler smiles at me.

"You did well."

"I didn't choose her. It was decided between Father and the duke, so it's not my achievement."

"No, no, that's not what I meant..."

Such a dramatic and vague statement is hard for a child to understand.

Please explain more clearly...

A week later, the day of my sister's wedding arrives.

The entire royal family sees her off.

Selia, as my fiancée, attends the ceremony. It's her second official duty.

The farewell party last night was a big success with many guests. I realized how extensive my sister's network is. As the main guest, she was the center of attention, so we stayed in the corner and went to bed early.

The next morning, the carriage procession to Halva Kingdom lines up in the main hall.

"Selia, take care of Shin. If he does anything, you can hit him."

Sister, don't give her such advice.

Sister hugs Selia and sheds tears.

Then, she hugs each family member.

Finally, she hugs me.

"Shin, protect Selia. Don't let her be sad, no matter what. Promise me."

"Of course. I promise. Take care, Sister."

"See you!"

The procession moves slowly and solemnly.

We watch until it disappears from sight.

Sister is gone.

As a royal heir, I am now the top of this castle.

I will take over the duties my sister used to perform.

Can I do it? No, I must.

I look at Selia.

I realize the great responsibility of protecting this girl, who will share the same burden as me.

"Even though it was only for a week, I will never forget that you were my big sister, Lady Saran."

Sister, be happy.

I might be presumptuous to say I'll take care of things, but I'll do my best.

Next: "8. A Day Off in the Capital"