Oh, what the hell, Lucas thought. I might as well be nice.
He walked up to the booth. "I'll take that one," he said, pointing to the book Lydia had been staring at.
Lydia spun around, her face going red. "Lucas! You don't have to...."
"Consider it thanks for all the study help," he said, paying the librarian.
"That's... thank you," Lydia said softly before taking the book and quickly shoving it into her bag like she was hiding something illegal.
Celeste's face darkened. "I want a book too."
Oh no.
"Of course," Lucas said, because what else could he say? "Which one?"
Celeste pointed at the most expensive-looking book on the table, probably just to be difficult.
As Lucas paid for it, Marie cleared her throat. "So Lucas is just buying books for some of us? What, are we not friends as well?"
"I want one too!" Charlotte said.
"This seems cleary unfair," Marie said.
Lucas looked at his rapidly shrinking coin purse, then at the four expectant faces, then back at his coin purse.
How did this happen?
[Is Host sure he isn't a harem protagonist?] the System asked.
Shut up, Lucas thought as he started pulling out more money.
By the time he'd bought books for all four girls, his festival money had taken a serious hit.
The librarian looked thrilled with the sales. The other guys were barely holding it together.
"You're too generous, Lucas," the librarian said, winking at him. "These ladies are lucky to have such a thoughtful friend."
Before Lucas could respond, a trumpet blast cut through the festival noise.
Everyone turned toward the main square where a herald in royal colors stood on a raised platform.
"Attention, citizens of Lerastad!" the herald announced in a magically amplified voice. "His Majesty King Darius III, along with Her Highness Princess Leyla and Crown Prince Hugo, will address the people! Everyone's invited to gather and hear the royal announcement!"
The crowd immediately started moving toward the square, excited chatter spreading through everyone.
Lucas was shocked.
A royal address? With both the princess and the crown prince? This never happened in the game.
"I guess this is the 'something big' Leyla mentioned," Marie said.
"Come on!" Damion was already moving with the crowd. "We should get a good spot!"
The main square was absolutely packed by the time their group managed to squeeze into a decent viewing spot.
Lucas found himself wedged between Celeste, who had reclaimed her death grip on his arm, and Raymond, who looked like he was about to pass out from being surrounded by so many people.
"You okay?" Lucas asked.
"Too many people," Raymond said. "Why are there so many people?"
"Because the king is about to speak?"
"Right. Yes. Obviously." Raymond said. "I knew that."
A temporary stage had been erected in the center of the square, decorated with the royal colors of Noclies: gold and deep blue.
Guards in ceremonial armor stood at attention around the perimeter, their halberds gleaming in the afternoon sun.
"I can't see anything," Charlotte complained from somewhere behind Lucas.
"Here," Damion said, and suddenly Charlotte was being lifted slightly by Zacard and Damion working together to give her a better view.
Her face went bright red, but she didn't protest.
"That's cheating," Marie said. "Why don't I get lifted?"
"Because you're taller than Charlotte," Lydia pointed out.
"Only by like two inches!"
The crowd's murmuring died down as three figures emerged onto the stage.
King Darius III walked with the measured grace of someone who'd been royalty his entire life.
He was a man in his late forties, his dark hair touched with silver at the temples, wearing elaborate robes that probably cost more than Lucas's entire dorm room.
Behind him came Crown Prince Hugo, a young man in his early twenties who looked like a younger, slightly more serious version of his father.
And then there was Leyla.
She wore a beautiful gown of silver and blue, her honey-blonde hair arranged in an intricate style that probably took hours.
She smiled and waved at the crowd, playing her role of beloved princess perfectly. Lucas couldn't see any hint of the manipulative person he knew from the game.
Either she's an incredible actress, or something about her has changed too, he thought. Though given what I know about her, it's probably the first one.
"Doesn't my cousin look beautiful?" Marie whispered proudly.
"She does," Lydia agreed.
Celeste said nothing, but her grip on Lucas's arm tightened.
King Darius stepped forward, and the crowd fell completely silent.
"People of Lerastad," he began, his voice magically amplified to reach every corner of the square. "I come before you today during our celebration of the Autumn Harvest with news that will shape the future of our kingdom."
Oh great, Lucas thought. This sounds like the beginning of a boring *SS political announcement that's going to screw everything up.
"As you know, our kingdom has long maintained peaceful relations with our neighbors through careful diplomacy and strategic alliances," the king continued.
"Today, I am pleased to announce a new chapter in those relations."
He paused for dramatic effect. Lucas could feel the anticipation rippling through the crowd.
"Crown Prince Hugo will be wed to Princess Celina of the Montrose Kingdom, uniting our two great nations in a bond that will last for generations!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Lucas felt his group stirring with excitement around him.
"Oh wow," Marie said. "A royal wedding!"
"That's huge," Damion agreed.
"The political implications are massive. Montrose has always been our biggest opposition," Zacard said.
But Lucas was barely listening.
A marriage alliance between Noclies and Montrose? This definitely didn't happen in the game. Montrose was one of the kingdoms that fell early to the Legion's invasion. If they're now tied to Noclies through marriage...
"Furthermore," King Darius continued, "we have reached an agreement with the Eastern Territories regarding trade routes and military cooperation. Together, we will ensure the safety and prosperity of all our peoples."