Chapter 60. The Shape of Love

The engagement ceremony began with Enoch introducing me to the guests on the podium.

Next was the ring exchange ceremony, followed by cutting the ceremonial cake together. After descending from the podium, we greeted the guests one by one.

Although it was supposed to be a simple event with only key figures invited, there were a lot of guests. How many invitations did I send out… around 100? Those 100 people must have attended with their families, which explained the large crowd.

‘The wedding will be even more complicated than this…’

I sighed inwardly and tried to remember the names and faces of the guests. Sometimes I got confused about who was a baron and who was a viscount, but luckily, I managed to guess correctly.

Every time I did, Enoch would give me an enigmatic smile, clearly amused by my childlike confusion.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness. …And Miss Lopez.”

Although the Lopez family had gone bankrupt, my family name was still Lopez. I forced a smile and responded to the guest who had just greeted us.

“Thank you, Marquis Philoan, and Marchioness.”

…Yes, the Marquis of Philoan and his wife were on the guest list too. Enoch made the list, and I wondered what he was thinking. Maybe he included them simply because the Philoan family was powerful.

For the record, Iris didn’t come. Officially, it was due to health issues.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Philoan didn’t look very happy, but they offered a few polite words of congratulations and left a gift. Their gift was added to the already towering pile of presents behind us. Unwrapping all those gifts would be the maids’ job, not mine.

“Congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness. And Miss Lopez.”

“Congratulations on your engagement, Enoch. And to you too, Miss Lopez. You look very beautiful today.”

The next guests to greet us were Angela Besnard and her grandfather, Morpheus Besnard, the current director of the Royal Library.

Since reading books at the library was a free hobby, I often visited there and occasionally ran into this old gentleman.

Once, he even recommended a book to me. It was such a fleeting moment that I doubted Morpheus Besnard would remember it.

“To think I would see our dear Grand Duke getting engaged. It’s good that this old man lived long enough. And to think your fiancée is Miss Lopez… Miss Lopez, did you enjoy the book I recommended to you last time?”

“……!”

To my surprise, he remembered me. When I opened my mouth in surprise, the elderly librarian gave me a kind smile. I took a deep breath to calm myself and glanced sideways. Enoch was looking at me and Morpheus Besnard alternately with a surprised expression.

“Yes, I found the book very moving.”

“Oh? Which part did you find particularly moving?”

I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to discuss books at an engagement ceremony, but I answered the librarian’s question honestly. The book wasn’t very difficult, so even someone as academically inexperienced as I could easily share my thoughts.

After hearing my opinion, the librarian’s eyes sparkled with interest, and he promptly asked another question.

“So, you believe that even if religion disappeared from the world, human beings would retain their religious nature. In that case, what do you think could take on a religious form in human life?”

“Well, that’s…”

At this point, the conversation became a bit challenging. Feeling pressured to answer quickly, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Love, perhaps?”

“Love? Why do you think that?”

“…I think the abstract concept of love has too many definitions for each person. For some, love might be just a physical reaction driven by instinct, while for others, it could be something sublime that transcends physical desire. So, what I mean is…”

I wasn’t even sure what I was saying. I was just speaking whatever came to mind.

“If the ‘emotion’ of love is temporary, then deciding to love someone unwaveringly for a long time… or being in such a state, is similar to religious faith, isn’t it?”

“In other words, for some people, the object of their love could be their religion itself.”

“Well, perhaps?”

“Then, clever young lady, do you think this ‘religion of love’ could save us? Could it achieve the salvation that even monotheism couldn’t…”

“Wait, Teacher.”

Just as Morpheus Besnard was about to go off on a tangent, Enoch thankfully intervened. I hid behind him and breathed a sigh of relief. The librarian was, in some ways, a frightening person.

“You’re making my fiancée uncomfortable. Stop bothering her.”

“Hm? Ah… I lost myself again. This habit is something I’ll never fix!”

Morpheus Besnard laughed heartily and waved his hand. I awkwardly smiled, unconsciously clutching Enoch’s coat tightly. Enoch looked back at me with a strange smile on his lips.

Despite the overly enthusiastic librarian being an unexpected challenge, the task of greeting the guests went fairly smoothly. Angela, as always, behaved like an angel on the surface, leaving no room for criticism.

About five people couldn’t attend due to unavoidable circumstances, including Penelope Ashwood and Warren Norbert. And…

‘So, Duke Julian Berstein and Princess Roelyn didn’t come after all?’

They didn’t appear during the greetings, nor could I spot them in the hall. I was more relieved than disappointed by their absence. At least I could relax a bit.

But before I could catch my breath, I faced the final challenge. King Henry and Queen Olivia who arrived late.

“The glorious King, His Majesty, and the Queen, Her Majesty of Freuden are entering!”

People began to murmur. They parted like waves, making way for the royal couple. The sight of so many people bowing to the highest-ranking individuals in Freuden was almost majestic.

Although they arrived too late to witness the important parts of the engagement ceremony, no one criticized them for it. It was well-known, even to a four-year-old, that the king was constantly burdened with state affairs.

“Oh dear, am I too late? I’m sorry, Enoch. And my sincere apologies to you, Miss Lopez.”

King Henry approached with an awkward smile and apologized, while Queen Olivia murmured similar words, adding congratulations as well. I was busy trying to express both my forgiveness and gratitude simultaneously.

“I put some thought into your engagement gift, so I hope you like it.”

At King Henry’s gesture, two of his attendants hurriedly approached with one rather large box and a smaller one.

After offering the customary words of thanks, Enoch had the boxes placed behind us. I glanced at the size and shape of the boxes, feeling a bit anxious. …Surely, they weren’t guns too, right?

After that, a few more formal words of goodwill were exchanged. As people’s attention began to drift, King Henry leaned close to Enoch and whispered.

“I confirmed that a ‘dog of Atreos’ has been implanted with more than three types of magic, including body enhancement. They also sensed one more type of magic, but before the head of the Royal Magic Research Institute could figure it out, the ‘dog’ died from rejection. It seems impossible again this time. Removing the forcibly implanted magic and restoring the ‘dog’s’ original personality…”

“……”

His voice was low enough for only Enoch, Queen Olivia, and me to hear. I saw Enoch clench his fists tightly, gritting his teeth. It was clear how much he despised Atreos.

“…Well, that’s all the bad news for now. And… I heard Father is in the capital. Have you met him? It seems he came for your engagement ceremony.”

Father?

The unexpected term made me flinch and widen my eyes. By Father, did he mean… the former king?

Wasn’t he supposed to be recuperating in a rural estate owned by the royal family…?

“I’ll meet him soon.”

“Is he here?”

“Yes. He’s probably waiting anxiously in the reception room by now.”

“Hmm… Alright, then. Olivia and I will take our leave.”

“Aren’t you going to see him? Father.”

“What more would I have to say to that man? I’ve had enough. …Anyway, congratulations on your engagement, Enoch.”

King Henry gave Enoch a few pats on the shoulder, smiling a painted-on smile, and then turned away. Queen Olivia also nodded slightly in our direction before following him.

After the two left the Blooming Hall, I looked up at Enoch standing beside me and cautiously asked,

“Uh, so… His Majesty the former King is here? Right now?”

“Yes. We should go see him soon.”

Enoch took out his pocket watch to check the time and then firmly grabbed my hand. Wait a minute.

“Isn’t there some sort of rehearsal…?!”

“What rehearsal?”

“But, it’s His Majesty the former King…!”

And he’s your biological father! I screamed internally.

“There’s no need to be nervous. Just think of him as a harmless old man.”

A harmless old man…

I felt dizzy. As we left the hall hand in hand, countless guests’ gazes pierced us like needles.