"…Excuse me, just a moment."
I gripped the veil with one hand, covering my face with the other, and groaned.
"Can the Tidros Royal Family please gather here for a moment?"
They say even ferocious beasts become hesitant when they face me.
Yet, from my mouth, known as 'The Winter Bear of Tidros,' came an incredibly pathetic voice.
The Crown Prince sprang to his feet in a panic, and my father, the King, was rigid and pale. But, no, I was the one who was a little confused.
"Wh-what's the matter, Commander?"
Raoul quickly grabbed my arm and leaned in close.
"What's wrong, Salu?!"
The Crown Prince stuck his head in too, scolding me in a low voice, but instead, I grabbed both their necks, turned my back on the "White Cocoon" lady, and whispered, "What part of her is ugly?!"
"... She's so beautiful it's hard to imagine."
"Yeah, she looks like a doll."
The Crown Prince and Raoul nodded, so I tightened my arms around their necks.
"C-can't breathe!"
"Stop it, Commander!"
"What do I do?! What do I do with such a beautiful girl?!"
I threatened them, shaking their necks with tiny, vigorous movements.
"It's me! What am I supposed to do?!"
"It's fine, she's a beautiful girl. ...I mean, hey. Raoul's going to die."
"Guh, gu-fuhh..."
Raoul emitted a strange groan and began to collapse to the floor from his knees.
"Um, did I... displease you?"
At a voice like ringing bells, I instinctively spun around.
At the same time, the Crown Prince and Raoul, whom I had held by an arm each, were forcefully turned as well, and both groaned "guh-fuh" simultaneously.
In front of the altar.
The sole girl standing bathed in the stained glass light.
Her violet eyes were fixed directly on me, and her peach-colored lips parted.
"Did my appearance displease you?"
She asked again, and I stared at her, dumbfounded.
In her expression.
In her eyes.
In every single strand of her hair.
Sadness permeated and trembled.
"No!"
Before I knew it, I was shouting.
I threw aside the Crown Prince and Raoul, clenched my fists, and stood upright.
"I'm so flustered because you're too cute! Can I have some time?!"
My voice echoed repeatedly in the cathedral, eventually growing fainter.
Until it faded and disappeared.
No one uttered a word, but...
Pfft.
The first to burst out laughing was Mother.
"Oh, this boy. What is he even saying?"
"No, Lord Barrymore, my apologies. Our third son, you see, spends his time running around the frontier. He seems to have no immunity whatsoever to lovely women."
My father was bowing his head to Lord Barrymore, but the content of his statement was highly misleading.
It sounded as if an idiot was just running around all the time, didn't it?
Even though I was performing my duties, this is what he says.
"No, well... I'm relieved. I'm overwhelmed."
But Lord Barrymore smiled gently, completely unlike how he had looked three months ago. He even had a faint tear in his eye.
Ah, I guess it really was painful for him to see his daughter rejected in front of so many people.
That Crown Prince Arios. He truly is a sinful man.
If even the father felt that way.
How much more hurt must the person directly involved have been?
Thinking that, I looked at the "White Cocoon" lady.
No.
Now that her veil was off, she wasn't a "White Cocoon" anymore.
She was Miss Citoyen.
Looking at me, she stood there.
Her smooth, boiled-egg-like cheeks were flushed pink.
Her violet eyes were moist and glistening, and earrings of the same colored stone subtly swayed. She seemed to be trembling.
As for the maid?
She had already collapsed at Miss Citoyen's feet, crying. She was saying something like, "It's wonderful, Princess!" But it was quite a scene.
"Take a deep breath, Salu," the Crown Prince, who had somehow recovered, commanded.
"Go to the lady, take a deep breath, and on one, two, three, forehead kiss."
He explained it as if teaching manners to a two-year-old nephew.
"Don't get too carried away and headbutt her! You'll need to squat down, or you'll miss the height, and it'll be an air forehead kiss!" Raoul quickly added. What does he think of me?
A forehead kiss? You, that's child's play for me. Leave it to me.
"Come on, come on. Don't keep your fiancée waiting. Besides, the events still continue after this."
The Crown Prince nudged my back.
Indeed, indeed.
After this, Miss Citoyen would change into her dress and go to the reception venue to meet all the relatives.
Then, directly to the dinner party.
After that, dismissal.
From tonight, she would be living together with me in my mansion.
Normally, they'd live together after the wedding, but because the previous engagement was annulled in such a manner, the King of Tania was quite cautious and apparently ordered, "After the engagement ceremony, live together immediately."
It's probably to create a fait accompli and ensure they get married this time.
I felt a bit sorry for her.
She's suddenly living with a man she just met today...
Even though Crown Prince Arios was entirely at fault, this decision makes it seem as if all responsibility lies with Miss Citoyen.
However, this time, my royal family is drilling into me, "Don't lay a hand on her until the wedding reception."
Well, even though I'm a prince, I'm the third son, so I won't have a week-long wedding like the Crown Prince.
There will be a parade in the capital for the public, and Mother's favored churches in various regions will ring bells and give alms.
But if, during that parade, my wife's stomach is big, or she's suffering from severe morning sickness...
Well, there would be various issues with the public.
I understand, somewhat.
I'd probably be rumored about and ridiculed a lot.
I'm a man, and I basically live with only men in the Knights, so I don't care what they say about me. But Miss Citoyen, who will become my wife, will participate in social gatherings, tea parties, and volunteer activities, mainly with other women.
... Just imagining it makes me sigh.
So.
According to the Crown Prince and my second elder brother, the next six months will be "nothing but endurance."
I walked on the red carpet, approaching Miss Citoyen, feeling a little troubled.
I had just assumed she wouldn't be my type.
"Easy-peasy. Just drink tea and eat meals together, and six months will fly by," I thought.
This is bad, though.
She's exactly my type. She's incredibly cute, seriously!
I stopped in front of Miss Citoyen and looked down at her.
Seriously, does she even have pores? Her skin is so smooth.
And her hair, is it really human hair? It looks like it's made of silk or some fiber that a celestial maiden would wear.
If I keep looking, I'll want to touch it. This is bad. This is bad.
I cleared my throat.
I turned and looked at the attendees.
The Crown Prince was also properly seated.
"Well then."
I wasn't sure what "well then" was supposed to mean, but I said it anyway.
Meanwhile, Raoul dragged away the maid who had collapsed from crying too much at Miss Citoyen's feet.
I faced Miss Citoyen again.
"Excuse me."
When I spoke, there was a small reply, "Yes."
Then, she lifted her chin to look up at me and closed her eyes.
Oh my god, seriously!
This destructive power is no joke!
Her defenselessness is cute! Her cuteness is defenseless! It's a crime!
Just as I was instinctively drawn to her lips, I heard a cough from behind me. I just glanced towards the attendees, and the Crown Prince was mouthing. "Forehead!" Tch.
Reluctantly, I gripped Miss Citoyen's shoulders.
It seems I grabbed them rather roughly.
Her thinness and delicacy startled me, but Miss Citoyen seemed surprised, too.
She trembled with her eyes still closed...
...She's incredibly cute. What is this small animal? Ugh. She looks like the rabbits I often see in snowy mountains. No, maybe a stoat.
No, discard all impure thoughts, me!!!!!!!!
As I was told, forehead kiss, forehead kiss. Not the lips.
I bent quite low and kissed her forehead.
It was as smooth as porcelain.
The sweet, fragrant oil she was wearing made me feel dizzy.
"Congratulations," "Congratulations!"
Applause and blessings were offered from around us.
It seemed the engagement ceremony had now concluded.
Phew.
Now, until the wedding ceremony...
Will I be able to keep myself in check...?