Chapter 48

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 48

Chapter Title: Shocking Sight at the Party

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“What the hell is...!”

Lucas's hand trembled as he held his wine glass, his face full of shock as he stared at Lucia in the distance.

No matter how much he rubbed his eyes, there was his adorable, utterly lovable little sister clinging to some guy's arm.

“Honey, what's wrong?”

Noticing something off about Lucas, his lover Becky asked.

“Oh, nothing. I just thought I saw something weird for a second.”

“Really?”

Becky tilted her head curiously. Lucas kept up a smiling face as he chatted with her, but his mind was racing nonstop about Lucia.

A guy? With Lucia? Who the hell is that punk? What kind of guy is he to be all buddy-buddy like that with my sister?

Caught up in a whirlwind of random thoughts, Lucas finally couldn't hold back any longer and excused himself to Becky.

“I'll go talk to Ares for a bit. Wait here for me.”

“Okay. Hurry back.”

After a quick peck on the cheek from Becky, Lucas used Ares as an excuse and set off to find Lucia.

She had definitely been right there just moments ago, but now Lucia had vanished.

“Damn it, where the hell did she go?”

“And what are you looking for?”

Hearing a familiar voice right by his ear, Lucas made a face like he'd seen a ghost. Turning around, he saw his best friend and boss, Ares.

Dressed to the nines as the star of today's engagement party, he looked sharp.

“What are you doing here? Where's the Imperial Princess?”

“She'll show up soon. The star of the party always makes an entrance late, right?”

“Ah, yeah.”

Lucas shot Ares a half-hearted glance before scanning the surroundings.

“Did you spot an ex or something?”

“It's not that...! Sigh, it looked like Lucia was with some guy. Have you seen her by any chance?”

“Yeah, just a bit ago.”

“You did? Where?”

“Right over there.”

Lucas's face lit up when he spotted his sister where Ares pointed, but it froze solid the moment he noticed Bern beside her.

“Yep, she's definitely with someone. And they're standing awfully close—not just friends, by the looks of it...”

“What the hell happened while I was gone?! I'm going after them right—”

Before Lucas could bolt, Ares grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.

“Calm down. What are you even gonna do charging in like that?”

“What do you mean? First, I gotta ask what gives him the right to be next to my Lucia. And as her big brother, I need to check if he's some shady creep or not!”

“At least he's not a shady creep, so relax.”

“How would you know?!”

“Cool your jets and take a good look. It's a face you know well.”

Ares calmed Lucas down and pointed at Bern. Once his excitement subsided, Lucas finally recognized the man.

“...Marquis Casper?”

“That's right. We've met him a few times. I remember he wasn't a bad guy. Didn't you even say you liked him last time?”

He recalled running into Bern once before. Lucas had thought well of him back then.

It was a relief he wasn't some weirdo, but Lucas still couldn't figure out why he'd be with Lucia.

“What's all the commotion about?”

A tongue-click and displeased voice came from behind. Turning, Lucas saw Yohan and Julian.

Instead of greeting his parents, whom he hadn't seen in half a year, he pointed at Lucia in the distance.

“Mother, Father! What the heck is going on over there? Why is Lucia with Marquis Casper?”

“A few weeks ago, Lucia went on a blind date with the marquis.”

“What?”

“She'll be engaged to him soon, so keep that in mind.”

“Engaged?!”

Lucas freaked out after hearing Julian and then Yohan confirm it.

Ares shook his head as the man who usually advised him with smooth charisma devolved into a total little-brother simp.

“There are eyes everywhere. Keep it down.”

Yohan clicked his tongue again, warning Lucas. Only then did Lucas realize how loud he'd been and cleared his throat.

“Ahem. An engagement out of nowhere... Isn't that too soon? Lucia's only 21. And if she's getting engaged, it should be to Herwin, not Marquis Casper...”

The moment Herwin's name left his lips, Yohan sharpened his gaze and glared at Lucas.

“Say that name one more time, and you won't get away with it.”

Reprimanded out of nowhere, Lucas flapped his mouth helplessly and looked to Julian for help. She just shook her head darkly.

Lucas had no idea what had gone down while he'd been away.

He'd have to ask Julian about it later in private.

Leaving his bewildered son behind, Yohan gazed at Lucia in the distance. She'd spotted them right then and was approaching with Bern.

Her bright smile beside him was stunningly beautiful, yet somehow it felt lonely too.

Yohan watched her thoughtfully.

Lucia began properly mingling with people alongside Bern.

First up was the Agnes family. Spotting them nearby, she formally introduced Bern to her relatives.

As expected, Julian welcomed him warmly, and contrary to her worries, Yohan said he'd take good care of Lucia in his usual gruff tone.

The problem was Lucas. He glared at Bern like he wanted to devour him.

But despite the intense vibe, he didn't say much—just tossed out a cheesy line like he'd make him pay if she so much as shed a tear.

Considering Lucas's personality, that was tame, but it embarrassed Lucia anyway, so she apologized to Bern. He chuckled it off with a wave.

After the family greetings, they met others.

Naturally, far more people sought out Bern the marquis than her, a mere count's daughter.

Most were trying to cozy up to the new marquis, and a few had brought their daughters hoping to introduce them—only to smack their lips in disappointment upon seeing Lucia.

As Bern handled the endless stream of people, he spotted someone and lit up, quickening his pace.

Sensing he'd found an acquaintance, Lucia steeled herself.

“Well, well, if it isn't the great Bern showing up here too.”

“You're still alive? I thought you'd kicked the bucket with no word all this time.”

Like Lucia and her friends, they bantered freely with Bern—no pretenses.

Bern smirked and fired back.

“What's the big deal about me being here? Inheriting the title's kept me swamped. Sorry for going radio silent.”

“Good that you know. Make it up to us with a feast later, and we'll forgive you.”

The laughing guy glanced sideways, eyeing Lucia with her arm linked in Bern's.

“...So, who's the beauty on your arm?”

“Let me introduce her properly. This is Lady Lucia Agnes, my fiancée. Lucia, these are friends I've known since childhood. We've seen each other at our best and worst, so forgive their rough speech.”

“It's fine.”

After his explanation, Lucia curtsied slightly in greeting.

“Pleased to meet you. I'm Lucia Agnes.”

Lifting her head, Lucia sized up Bern's friends.

One looked intrigued, another flustered and dazed, and the last puzzled, frowning like it didn't add up.

Wondering if she'd messed up her greeting, Lucia felt a bit deflated.

“You... for real...?”

“Delighted to meet you, my lady. I'm Adolph Bailey.”

Before the displeased guy could finish, Adolph approached first, eyes full of curiosity.

Regaining her composure, Lucia returned his greeting with a faint smile.

“I was so shocked I was rude. I'm Hector Chase. Hope we see lots of each other.”

Hector smiled as he greeted her, then jabbed his buddy in the ribs.

The guy looked like he had a lot to say, mouth flapping silently before he ran a hand over his face and spoke.

“Derek Harrion. I was so surprised I acted rudely too. Please forgive me.”

Unlike expected, Derek was polite. Lucia waved it off hurriedly.

“No, no. Bern said no one knew, so I expected you'd all be shocked. It's fine—please, chin up.”

Derek smiled awkwardly in relief, then shot Bern a look.

The meeting with them wasn't much different from how her friends had reacted to Bern at first.

They wondered how the two had met, expressed shock at him bringing a woman, and so on.

“Never thought it'd be you suddenly showing up with a fiancée.”

“Time heals all wounds, huh?”

“We're not officially engaged yet.”

Bern grinned sheepishly.

“Truth be told, today's only our fourth meeting...”

“What? Four times? That's it?”

Their surprise drove home just how brief her time with Bern had been.

“Yeah, we haven't gotten super serious yet...”

Bern glanced her way cautiously, and Lucia smiled back. His worried expression eased.

“Meeting Lucia made me think an engagement would be fine. Not sure what she thinks, though.”

Suddenly put on the spot, all eyes turned to Lucia.

“What do you think of Bern, my lady?”

“Fourth meeting means you've only really met three times. What about him caught your eye?”

It was a tricky spot, but way better than Herwin's question earlier. Bern patted her hand on his arm reassuringly. Bolstered, Lucia replied.

“It's definitely short notice. And he was 30 minutes late to our first meeting.”

“Huh?”

“Tardy and still...”

Bern broke into a sweat under their sharp stares.

“I planned to wait just 30 minutes at first. But right as I was about to leave, he showed up. We talked, and he had a good reason. He turned out way better than I expected, so we kept meeting. And—”

Lucia looked up at Bern, who seemed embarrassed.

“Talking with him feels so easy, somehow. Right?”

“Yes, being with Lucia puts me at ease too.”

Bern smiled with his eyes—a genuine, heartfelt one, far warmer than his usual public smile.

To onlookers, they already seemed like lovers. Their trust and comfort shone through.

Dazedly watching them, Derek spoke seriously.

“You've really sorted everything out now, huh?”

“...Yeah.”

Bern gave a faint, meaningful smile.

“Time for me to get my head straight.”

“Glad you found someone good.”

“Yeah. Now I can stop worrying about you settling down.”

“My lady, he's a hopeless guy, but please take good care of him.”

Adolph stepped forward after Derek and Hector, offering his hand.

Lucia blinked rapidly before shaking it in a fluster.

She'd worried rumors might make them dislike her, but they'd welcomed her warmly—her needless fears dispelled.

It felt embarrassing, like a tickle at her fingertips, as if she'd earned their approval.

Baam-pa-ra-bam!

Then, trumpets blared from the second floor as the star of the night, the Imperial Princess, appeared.

Everyone bowed as she entered on the Emperor's arm.

The Emperor gave a brief speech, the orchestra struck up, and the princess danced with Ares in the center of the hall to the music.

The engagement party was officially underway.