53. Organizing the past and present (3)

“Is this the first time the daughter of the Bordens is showing up?”

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Not many nobles attended the engagement ceremony. Only a few nobles with ties to the Borden family attended. They held a ‘formal’ conversation as they each raised a glass at the engagement ceremony in the open air.

“Finally, I can show up in public. It’s a pity that it’s your engagement ceremony.”

It was a sunny morning. A haze rose faintly over the wide yard of the Bordens house. It was not a high temperature. The sounds of summer and people’s chatter filled the mansion.

“Still, I still go to Borden. It was very difficult to see a high-level social church for a while, but I thought they would prepare such a luxurious place.”

“It’s the first appearance wrapped in the veil of Miss Borden, so you’re lucky.”

The aristocrats living in the royal capital criticized the president of the society with a vanity-stricken appearance.

“Well, it will be hard to see a place like this for a while now.”

“I see…”

A sweet smell permeates the backyard. It was the smell of fruit wine. The engagement ceremony hadn’t even started, but it was also the sweetness that emanated from the mouths of the nobles holding a toast in advance.

“By the way, I think the time has come to find out whether the rumors of the cult are true or not.”

“Baron Borden’s daughter… I’d like to marry her with my family’s child if I could.”

“I don’t know yet, whether it will be a bummer or extremely ugly.”

Such chatter was noisy. It went beyond being noisy and offended Maxim’s heart. Maxim frowned and glared at the nobles who were having such a conversation from behind the door.

“Maxim?”

As Maxim’s expression distorted, Marion, who was standing in the salt, looked at Maxim with pensive eyes. Maxim belatedly put on a wrinkled expression, but Marion turned her gaze toward the banquet hall with gloom in her eyes.

“…don’t worry too much about it.”

Maxim saw Marion grabbing his sleeve. Marion seemed to be worried about Maxim, who was worried about her. Maxim asked while looking at Marion. There was no need to pretend not to feel bad. It was as if Marion was looking into her own emotions.

“it’s okay?”

Marion looked up at Maxim and nodded. The hand was still holding Maxim’s sleeve.

“it’s okay.”

Those eyes that said it was okay seemed like nothing was really wrong. Maxim raised his eyebrows when he realized that those eyes were not the result of her natural strength, but rather were adapted. Whether it could really be called a good state, Maxim did not know.

At least, it should be considered fortunate that it is a small social church where only acquaintances gather.

Maxim, not knowing what to say to Marion, held her hand. It was the gloved right hand. Marion smiled.

“It’s really fine. I…I am rather happy now.”

Maxim’s hand that held Marion’s hand trembled slightly. Marion’s face flushed red, turning pink.

“happy. Not just a seat… the fact that we can be together.”

Marion held Maxim’s trembling hand. For the first time, the gloved hand held someone else’s hand warmly.

“It’s just, it’s big enough to say something like that casually.”

Marion smiled. It was an honest and innocent smile that hurt my heart.

“yes. okay. It’s really fine.”

Maxim carefully raised his hand and stroked Marion’s hair. Maxim stroked Marion’s black hair as if praising a child with twinkling eyes that she had grown up. My hair was tied back so it didn’t twist that much.

“Sorry.”

When the time is over, when Maxim stays in the capital, he will have to face monsters again and fight against Behemoth in the no-man’s-land where he may die at any moment. Marion was smiling, saying that it was okay even though she knew that.

“…Don’t apologize. You don’t have to be sorry.”

One day, Marion returned what Maxim had said to her. Do you remember those words? Maxim kept eye contact with Marion for a while.

“Because it’s the same?”

At Maxim’s words, Marion nodded. Maxim could barely pull out the scene from his imperfect memory. It’s still fine. Still, it’s okay. can remember The door facing the backyard of the mansion was quiet. There was still a distant commotion in the banquet hall.

“When are you coming out?”

“It’s time for this banquet to begin soon.”

The nobles’ dissatisfaction flowed in one ear. A man was walking towards the doorway where Maxim and Marion were waiting.

“Are you ready?”

Emile Bordain looked at Maxim and Marion in a cold voice and asked. Marion squeezed her voice and answered.

“…Yes.”

Emile Bordain looked at Marion with downcast eyes, then raised his head towards Maxime and twisted the corners of his mouth. The back door of the mansion opened, and Emile Bordain slipped out into the banquet hall. Marion’s eyes did not subside. Marion looked at the banquet hall with the light-filled blue eyes she had sent to Maxim.

“Oops, Maxim, Marion. What are you doing without leaving quickly?”

Another voice came from behind Maxim and Marion. Maxim’s father, Louis Appart, was walking with a relaxed smile on his face contrary to his words.

“It is said that the main character appears last, but people will resent it if it is too late.”

Louis Apparte stopped in front of Maxime, rummaged through his pockets, and handed Maxime a small box.

“I am a son, but I have to take care of all these things.”

Maxim looked at his father as if he was sorry. Louis Appart waved his hand away, saying he didn’t have to say anything.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t look ugly.”

Louis Apparte gave Marion the same smile.

“After the engagement ceremony, Marion, you will probably come to our estate.”

Marion nodded. Louis Apparte was looking at Marion with pitying eyes. The reason why the Borden family willingly made Marion betrothed to Maxime. Louis Afar’s eyes are directed to the mask that covers her scars.

“…Enjoy your engagement. If you don’t like that, it’s okay to just finish it ASAP.”

“thank you.”

Marion closed her eyes nicely and replied.

“Go out right after I leave. I guess it’s really time to start.”

Louis Apparte also followed the open back door to the banquet hall. The commotion was getting closer and closer. Marion pondered whether to set foot outside following the way she went out. But then Maxim gently grabbed her by the shoulder and made her turn to him.

“Maxim?”

“Wait, before we leave.”

Of course, the time is now only.

Saying that, Maxim let out a wry smile. A small box was held in Maxim’s right hand. Marion looked at the box Maxim had taken out with puzzled eyes.

“A bit late, but”

Maxim opened the box. Upon opening the box, what Marion saw was a pair of rings. A sapphire similar to the color of Marion’s eyes was embedded in a small circle that glowed silver. Marion stared at Maxim’s ring, dumbfounded.

“This…?”

“An engagement ring.”

Maxim smiled and took out the ring. Set up an assortment of arranged marriages. empty promises. The ring Maxim presented seemed to contain a lot of stories.

“I…can I take this?”

Marion looked at the ring and said with a puzzled face. Embarrassment. And thanks and surprise. Maxim looked at that face and nodded.

“Can you accept it?”

The ring was not to be shared out of love. Both Maxim and Marion knew that very well. The walls between their relationship were too thick. It may be the stubbornness of both of them. The primordial guilt and identification the two have for each other.

The ring was shining in the sun. Marion hesitantly held out her left hand in front of Maxim.

“…insert it.”

Marion blushed and said that. The blue eyes were watery and glistened. Maxim carefully accepted the words and placed the ring on Marion’s left hand. A ring was placed on the ring finger of Marion’s left hand. On Maxim’s left hand and on Marion’s left hand, the same ring shone.

“Let’s go out now.”

Maxim held out his arm. As Marion had learned from etiquette, she carefully placed her hand on Maxim’s arm and crossed her arms.

close.

Marion’s heart beats loudly. There was a ring on Maxim’s left hand that was draped over his outstretched right arm. Marion put some weight on Maxim’s steady arm.

Is it okay if my heart beats like this?

Marion looked up at Maxim.

“what’s the matter?”

“No… nothing…”

To Maxim’s question, Marion blurted out her answer. Maxim slightly raises the corner of his mouth and goes outside.

Maxim’s feet stepped on the grass. The heat of the sun was not hot compared to that of midsummer, but the heat of the heated ground added to it, creating a suffocating air.

“He’s coming.”

“Does it look right?”

As Maxim walked out, the voices of the waiting nobles died down and turned into whispers. It was not a large number of people, but there were enough people to call it a social church. They all looked at Maxim and Marion as they walked out arm in arm.

“Ah, is the person standing over there a man from the House of Apart who was lucky enough to become Borden’s son-in-law?”

“He was handsome. tall too. Are you a knight?”

They first talked about Maxim’s family and appearance.

“I heard you were a knight. They say he works for the Royal Capital Knights…”

“I don’t care what kind of order it is. To be honest, I’m not interested in the Knights, so you won’t understand what I say.”

And, when they saw Marion crossing Maxim’s right arm, their whispers grew even louder.

“Hey, the youngest member of the Borden family is coming.”

“this…”

And then half of the murmur turned into sighs.

“What the hell is that mask?”

“I’m fine too…”

“If you look closely, you can see that he is wearing a glove on his right hand even though it is summer.”

“What happened?”

I heard someone whispering.

“The rumor that the face was ruined must have been true. So, why didn’t he appear with a mask covering his face like that?”

And a nobleman clicked his tongue in a small way.

“It’s too bad. Even if it wasn’t broken like that…”

Marion’s half-exposed face could be said to be beautiful. Certainly, if the face covered by that mask was the same face, it would surely be the most beautiful lady in the capital. A sigh escaped from the mouths of the nobles.

“Well, it’s not that Baron Borden’s decision doesn’t make much sense.”

“I’d rather say I was smart.”

heard I heard them.

are you okay.

Maxim could feel Marion giving more strength to his arm. The murmur continued until they walked slowly and completely into the center of the banquet hall.

“Here, today’s main character has appeared.”

Emile Bordain approached them with a fake smile. When Emile Bordin took a quick look around at the aristocrats who occupied his place, their turmoil completely subsided.

“First of all, as the host who opened this event, I will say hello and go in.”

Emile Bordain clapped his hands lightly.

“Thank you to everyone who attended my daughter’s engagement ceremony. Even if it is an engagement ceremony, there is no grandiose event, it is a place to eat, drink and enjoy with the music of the orchestra, so let’s just listen to the couple’s greetings and enjoy the banquet.”

Emile Bordain handed over his seat to Maxime with a smile. Maxim kept his face as calm as possible and accepted his seat. Marion let go of Maxim and watched him with a half-nervous, half-worried face.

“This is Maxime Apart from the Baron Apart.”

Maxim let out a breath.

“…I would like to say thank you to Baron Borden for preparing the place and to all of you who came to bless our future.”

Maxim then looked at the faces of the nobles who were listening to him. I was feeling disillusioned watching them just trying to evaluate Maxim’s value or appearance without listening.

“I hope that you will enjoy the place Baron Borden has prepared for you, and I will briefly say hello.”

Marion stepped forward. Maxim secretly held her hand as she stepped forward.

“…Marion Bordain.”

Marion’s words. All the nobles were keenly aware and glaring at Marion as if they were hunting her. Maxim did not like that gaze. He had no intention of protecting his daughter, he had no expectations in the first place, but he did not like Emile Bordain either. Maxim let go of his hostility just a little, very briefly. Some of the nobles who were caught by Maxim’s spirit held their breath and trembled their eyes.

The escorts tried to put their hands on their hips, but withdrew their hands as if embarrassed by the hostility that soon disappeared.

In the meantime, Marion safely finished her greeting.

“…thank you.”

Silence enveloped the banquet hall for a while, and starting with Emile Bordain’s applause, the quiet applause broke the silence.

“Then, let’s start the banquet.”

As soon as Emile Bordain spoke, the bands started playing. A light minuet flowed from the resonator of the string instrument.

“I told you to be careful with your actions.”

Emile Bordain, who sneaked up on Maxim, whispered that. Maxim only returned an empty, golden gaze. Emile Bordain shook his head.

“I don’t see anything that the curse has been activated anymore.”

“…isn’t it time to pay attention now?”

At Maxim’s sharp words, Emile Bordain sneered and retreated.

“Maxim?”

Marion’s voice came from behind. Maxim turned his head to see Marion. In the crowded banquet hall, the eyes of the people around her clung to her. Maxim stepped to her side as if to protect Marion from her gaze.

Maxim held out his hand, and Marion, embarrassed, gladly accepted the escort.

It was then that the banquet hall was once again in a commotion. The new guest seemed to arrive a little late. Maxim and Marion looked at the falling nobles with puzzled eyes.

“…to come.”

“No, I didn’t expect you to visit here like this…”

“I heard you were invited, but I didn’t expect you to come like this.”

Judging from the conversation, it seemed that he was a person of a fairly high position. I couldn’t hear anyone mentioning who it was, buried in the fuss. Maxim turned his head slightly to see the new guest entering the banquet hall.

And, the person entering the banquet hall was someone who was not at all in Maxim’s expectations.

Platinum-colored, Theodora, whose usual shrill mood has disappeared.

Theodora was dressed differently than usual, that is to say, dressed appropriately for a banquet hall.

Her dark-clouded eyes meet Maxim’s and look down.

What Theodora’s eyes saw was a ring with a blue jewel on Maxim’s left hand and on the hand that hand held.