Chapter 6 – Nothing Happened To Be Sad About

Her delicate lips uttered an unbelievable phrase.

“Elsie… He proposed to me.”

Eloise felt as if her heart had plummeted from the shock.

Her sister’s hand was warm and trembling.

But what was reflected on Sarah’s face as she looked up was not anxiety. Rather…

“Are you joking?”

Even as she reflexively asked that, Eloise knew better than anyone. Her sister was not the type to make such jokes.

“Oh, Elsie…”

At the moment Sarah’s trembling breath stopped, as if on cue, the sisters embraced each other and let out a rapturous scream.

The loud and joyful screams continued for a while and then settled into breathless laughter.

It felt like they had returned to their childhood.

Sarah’s body rose and fell gently as she caught her breath. She must have been feeling a whirlwind of emotions.

Instead of bombarding her sister with questions, Eloise hugged her a little more closely. Then, while patting her delicate back, she whispered affectionately.

“Congratulations, Sally. I mean it. I’m really happy for you.”

“Eloise, are you okay…”

Just then, there was a cheerful knock and Mrs. Hearst’s voice was heard.

“Breakfast is ready. Hurry and come down!”

“…Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

Sarah quickly stood up and looked back at Eloise.

“Let’s go, Eloise. They must be waiting.”

“….”

However, Eloise just gazed up at her sister’s slightly flushed face.

‘Just now, was she about to ask if I was okay?

Okay about what?

That Sir Ansel proposed to my sister and not to me?

I don’t think I’ve ever let my sister know how I feel. It’s understandable that Archibald, being perceptive, might have noticed, but…’’

With a complex expression, Eloise brushed her face and came to a conclusion.

‘She must be worried about me being alone. My sister still sees me as a child who needs to be looked after.

But I already knew. I knew that a day like this would come eventually.’

“Eloise?”

“…Yes. Let’s go down.”

Eloise grasped the outstretched hand and stood up. The warmth of the hand she held was comforting.

As expected, the atmosphere at breakfast was more excited than usual.

At the center of it was Mr. Bailey, who was biting into an apple and telling a long story.

He talked endlessly about how they decided to skip the engagement ceremony and hold the wedding in three months, how the ring he prepared would arrive tomorrow and was a renowned brand even in the capital of Brightnum, and many other details about Sarah’s engagement.

He particularly elaborated on how Sir Ansel’s voice was extremely polite when he asked for Sarah’s hand, yet his eyes were burning with passion.

He also joked about how he had never seen Sarah answer so quickly when asked about her thoughts on the marriage after Ansel left.

“The wedding will be in Brightnum,  right, dear?”

“Oh, the Blaine family prefers the capital. But they said if the bride’s side wishes, they could hold the ceremony here. Of course, I said we wanted that, so he said he would try to persuade his grandfather to allow the ceremony at Fairmont House.”

“Oh my, how considerate!”

“Seeing him rush here overnight to get permission for the marriage made me feel quite moved. He is a fine young man and the only son of a prestigious noble family, so he will surely make our Sally happy for life. By now, he must already be discussing the marriage with the Earl.

Mr. Bailey was excited and talked non-stop throughout the meal.

The topics were mostly praises for Ansel Blaine and admiration for this wonderful marriage.

“There’s no chance our Sarah will be disliked, right, dear? She doesn’t have much of a dowry…”

“Oh, dear! Who could possibly resent this lovely lady? Even if there were any issues, Sir Ansel would protect Sally. You should have seen him saying he wanted to have the ceremony right away. There wasn’t a hint of a smile in his voice!”

Perhaps still tense, Mr. Bailey occasionally slurred his words as he crunched on an apple while speaking, but instead of scolding, Mrs. Bailey smiled in relief.

It was a gentle smile that had been rare since their family’s fortunes had declined.

“How does it feel to completely captivate such a fine gentleman, dear? Holding onto love for over ten years… it somehow reminds me of my own youth.”

“Three months isn’t a lot of time to make a dress, but don’t worry. Mrs. Hearst will help, and we’ll make the most beautiful dress in the kingdom.”

The couple looked at their beautiful and gentle daughter Sarah with eyes full of love and joy.

Watching their eldest daughter, who had grown into a fine lady and was about to marry a gentleman far above their station, the couple felt a wave of emotion. Mrs. Bailey clasped her hands together.

“Oh, this is truly a joyous occasion! Dear, did you know he was going to propose?”

“No, Mother. I had no idea…”

Sarah trailed off, lowering her gaze to her cup.

Her ears, peeking through her golden hair, were flushed as if touched by flower petals.

The mother’s happy gaze soon shifted to her second daughter.

“Eloise, you tell us. You must have known, right? Your sister is so gentle and oblivious.”

Eloise answered without hesitation.

“Of course. He has always shown interest in her. I even thought he might propose to her as soon as he came of age.”

“Oh my!”

“I knew it!”

The couple clapped their hands together, their eyes sparkling.

Today, they looked like the most perfect couple in the entire Kingdom of Wellington.

“That doesn’t mean I wasn’t surprised. But it wasn’t because I doubted Sir Ansel’s feelings; it was because I thought his family would never approve of us.”

“……”

The couple fell silent, seemingly in agreement with her words. Eloise added with a bright expression.

“He must have spent all this time convincing his family, which is why the proposal came late.”

“Yes, that must have been it. It couldn’t have been easy for him.”

“His grandfather is one thing, but his father in the capital is known to be very strict. Even the servants in Longfield are amazed by him.”

“He’s a Viscount in the capital, right? They say he got that title thanks to his maternal family, but it’s only his son who regularly visits Longfield.”

“It seems there’s a complicated story there, dear. Though I suppose that’s common with noble families.”

“When I married you, I thought I’d left the noble world behind forever, but because we had such a beautiful daughter, we’re now tied to a noble family again. Fate is strange…”

Mrs. Bailey sighed softly and cupped her cheeks.

Her face was a curious mix of worry and anticipation.

“I’m worried because all my dresses are so old. I’m afraid I’ll become a laughingstock.”

“Oh, nonsense, dear. Even your walk is as graceful as an angel’s. I guarantee no noble would mock your elegance. They’d be more likely to admire it.”

Mr. Bailey quickly pressed his lips to the back of his wife’s hand.

“Why else would Elsie call you ‘Her Majesty the Queen’?”

While the couple exchanged their trivial conversations, the protagonist of this astonishing proposal sat silently with her long golden eyelashes lowered.

She seemed dazed, as if she couldn’t quite grasp the reality of it all.

“You know, I never thought I’d let anyone have you, no matter who came.”

Eloise wrapped her arms around Sarah’s back and rested her forehead on her sister’s shoulder.

“But this time is different. Though I still think no one is good enough for you, if it’s him…”

“……”

At that, Sarah let out a small, relieved smile.

“There are still three months left.”

“……You will be the most beautiful wife in the world. I promise.”

As Eloise whispered and buried her face in Sarah’s arms, a gentle hand patted her back.

Golden dust floated peacefully around them.

* * *

As soon as breakfast, which felt endless, was over, Mr. Bailey sent the coachman to Fairmont House.

It was to ask if they could join the Earl for lunch today.

Not long after, the coachman returned with a letter inviting them to the Earl’s luncheon, and the entire household was thrown into complete excitement.

“Dear! Take off those clothes immediately and put this on!”

“Got it!”

“And check my hair ornaments. Do you think pearls are better? Or this feather decoration…?”

“Both are perfect. But I prefer the pearls.”

At those words, Mrs. Bailey, who had quickly picked up the pearl headband, uncharacteristically shouted towards the second floor.

“Girls! We have to leave now! We’ll be back before dinner, Mrs. Hearst.”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps coming down the stairs echoed behind Mrs. Bailey as she stepped out.

It was only Sarah who came out to the garden.

“Sarah, where is Eloise? The Earl invited all of us.”

“Eloise isn’t feeling well, Mother.”

“What? Today is the day our families are joining!”

“I tried to persuade her, but she said she couldn’t sleep all night. She looks like she might fall asleep any moment, so going to Longfield would be too much for her.”

Mrs. Bailey, remembering that Eloise hadn’t looked well all morning, bit her lip.

“No, but still… This is an important invitation…”

“Let her rest, Mother.”

Sarah’s gloved hand gently wrapped around her mother’s arm.

“I’ll explain everything to the Earl.”

“……Alright, dear.”

‘Oh, these sisters.’

Muttering as if she couldn’t win, Mrs. Bailey climbed into the carriage with Mr. Bailey’s help. Sarah followed, escorted by the coachman.

At that moment, Eloise was watching the departing carriage through the small window by her bedside.

It was only after the horses and carriage had become tiny dots and disappeared that Eloise staggered back into her bed.

Her head was dizzy, and she felt weak. It was no wonder she felt exhausted.

She hadn’t slept properly, had experienced a strange occurrence that felt like a dream, and something she thought would never happen had become a reality before her eyes.

And all of this had happened just in the span of the morning.

“Sigh…”

Her mind was in complete turmoil. She wanted to sleep and closed her eyes, but strangely, tears began to flow.

Eloise didn’t even have the energy to wipe them away, so she just let them fall. Soon, uncontrollable sobs burst forth.

“Uh, sob…”

Even biting her lip in embarrassment did no good, so Eloise cried silently, like the rain that had fallen all night.

She liked him, but her feelings for her sister and family were far greater.

Moreover, it was a joyous thing that her beloved sister would spend her life with the man she had longed for.

This was her sincere feeling.

So now, I am shedding tears of joy. Nothing happened to be sad about.

Eloise decided to think that way.