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Chapter 76: Starting Point (4)
I first released the twins’ hands, and as the waiters approached, I thanked them and accepted the dishes they offered.
While each dish adorned the table one by one, an eerie tension flowed between both families amidst the sudden silence.
No matter how much we tried to ease the atmosphere, the long-standing animosity built up over history didn’t vanish in an instant.
As if to prove that point, Nera Ice, the Ice family’s eldest daughter, was looking at me with a faintly displeased expression.
Even though they were a noble family belonging to the good faction, there seemed to be individuals like her. It was clear that her gaze changed the moment she heard about the news of my expulsion from the family. It might be some sort of elitism she carried.
Anyway, it was a society strongly bound by social status.
However when quietly observed, you come to realize some peculiar things; The high-ranking nobles, especially the heads of the families, seem to care less about social status than members with low status.
Grandma was like that, and so was Duke Ice. It seemed they didn’t attach great importance to the fact that I was of common birth.
On the contrary, others might be looking down on me, much like Nera Ice appeared to be doing from what I could tell.
It was not a big deal, but it was indeed intriguing.
Of course, it might not be the only reason. We shouldn’t rush to judgments.
Nera was never against my marriage with Judy. She was the first person to say she would agree if I marry Judy.
Perhaps she was just on guard against the Pryster (me).
But then again, it occurred to me that she might just dislike Judy.
However, considering the look in her eyes that I didn’t see when I first came as Pryster, but I did see after the expulsion topic, it might be a matter of social status rather than birth.
Come to think of it, Judy also suffered a lot in the family due to her birth... Could Nera be the reason?
So, she made a proposal that was difficult to think of until then; that the Ice family would accept me only after I married Judy.
It was all just my speculation without any concrete evidence, but I couldn’t help but see Nera with a different gaze.
When all the dishes were placed on the table, the waiters bowed and left.
Various dishes were laid out on the center of the table, and wine was poured into each glass. It was still early for drinking, but it would be awkward not to have alcohol on an occasion like this.
Especially for the Ice family, who lived in a cold region, they must have been used to alcohol.
Grandma was the first to lift her utensils and speak.
“Please enjoy.”
“Before that, shall we toast to this occasion?”
Duke Ice lifted his glass and suggested. Following suit, Grandma raised her glass, and then everyone else did the same.
“For Ice and Pryster.”
Duke Ice said.
“For Pryster and Ice.”
Grandma replied.
We each clinked glasses with the person sitting opposite us.
As the clear sound of glasses clinking filled the air, a sudden voice rose above it all.
-Clink! Gush!
Keirsey, who had clinked her glass with Nera’s, missed and spilled the wine on her side of the table.
“Keirsey!”
I put down my glass and immediately stood up alongside Keirsey.
Keirsey blinked her eyes in a bewildered manner, looking at Nera.
“Why... why did you clink the glasses so hard...”
I also looked at Nera with a sharper gaze than I intended. I had been feeling uneasy since earlier... Was it because of this?
Nera blinked for a moment, then composed her expression and spoke.
“...I’m sorry.”
When Nera apologized, I first calmed my gaze. I took a deep breath to settle my emotions and grabbed a white cloth napkin from the table to wipe Keirsey’s clothes.
“...Are you okay?”
I asked.
“...I’m okay.”
However, her eyes didn’t look alright at all. Her answer of being fine seemed shallow.
Perhaps she didn’t like this situation... Was it because of what I said before coming to the engagement? It seemed like she was trying to endure it.
No matter how much I wiped her clothes, the already-formed stain didn’t disappear.
“...Do you want to change your clothes and come back?”
I asked her, but Keirsey hesitated for a moment and shook her head.
“...I’ll stay here.”
As Keirsey sat back down, only then could I confirm the numerous gazes that had been on us.
Duke Ice was the first to speak.
“...Lady Keirsey, let me apologize on behalf of the family. And Nera, be careful.”
“Yes, father. And Lady Keirsey, I apologize again.”
Nera readily acknowledged her mistake.
Without knowing, my eyes turned toward Sid Ice. I didn’t know why, but I wanted to receive an apology from him as well.
Sid Ice didn’t say anything even when he met my gaze. Although we were having a private conversation to reconcile, it seemed like he hadn’t forgotten the hostility between our families.
Of course, I wasn’t really looking for a fight... but I was also the eldest son of the family.
I didn’t want to avoid Sid’s gaze.
While I was staring at him for a while, Asena grabbed my hand again.
“...Calm down, Oppa.”
Asena’s reaction was quite different from earlier. When she brought up the expulsion story, I thought she wanted to break off the engagement and spoke out of frustration. Now she was trying to maintain the warm atmosphere.
Perhaps the reason she brought up that story earlier was that it shouldn’t be postponed.
But then again, her action of lowering her head afterward didn’t explain much.
All these complex thoughts worried me and couldn’t be resolved because I couldn’t see into the hearts of others. I also couldn’t ask about them right now.
Letting go of all the complicated thoughts, I sighed and withdrew my gaze from Sid Ice.
“...Let’s have the meal.”
Grandma refreshed the atmosphere.
Upon her words, everyone lifted their utensils again.
“...Ah.”
At that moment, Keirsey cried out.
Sensitive to her reaction, I asked, “...Why, Keirsey? Would you like to change your clothes after all?”
“No... It’s fine.”
Her reaction was strange, but seeing her refusing the proposal, I turned my head forward.
Judy was looking apologetic.
Forgiving her was Keirsey’s job, but my anger towards her faded as I looked at her.
Yeah, it must have been a mistake.
My outburst of anger was probably due to my own assumptions that it was intentional.
It was me holding onto unnecessary grudges based on the Nera’s character I had assumed.
To lighten the atmosphere, I tried to do something myself.
I raised the glass I had put down without taking a sip and extended it to Judy.
“It’s for us.”
Judy blushed and slowly raised her glass.
-Clink.
The glasses clinked with a clear sound.
Duke Ice smiled, and even Grandma had a small smile on her face.
“Oh!”
At that moment, Keirsey cried out again.
When I turned my head toward her, she had a pained expression.
“What’s wrong?”
I asked her with a more serious tone.
“N-No, it’s nothing.”
Keirsey tried to evade the topic again, but this time, I didn’t let her.
If it’s something she can’t say out loud, she can tell me quietly.
I leaned in closer to her and asked softly, “What’s wrong? Tell me.”
“Oppa... It’s okay not to make a fuss about this. Don’t raise a problem because of me.”
“What do you mean?”
My voice began to fill with anger.
“N-Nera Ice... keeps hitting my leg.”
At her words, I felt my face flush for a moment.
Was Nera continuously kicking Keirsey under the table?
And Keirsey endured all of that just so the atmosphere of the engagement wouldn’t be ruined?
“...”
But even in my anger, I felt ashamed... but a doubt arose.
What if this was an act?
Keirsey hadn’t lied to me face to face, but this might be the first time.
I had promised to be her support to lean on, so it was truly embarrassing for me to think this way, but I needed evidence.
“Let me see.”
As we continued to whisper, the attention of others was drawn again, but there was something more important to me.
Keirsey shook her head.
“N-No, it’s fine, Oppa.”
“Let me see.”
My voice had grown louder.
Keirsey hesitated and turned her body in her chair.
Her leg was facing me, and I cautiously lifted the hem of her dress.
And there, I saw a red trail flowing down her fair leg.
That’s it.
I lifted my head and stared directly at Nera.
“What is this, Nera Ice?”
My words didn’t come out politely. My younger sister’s blood, something I had never seen before, angered me.
Nera seemed flustered. She rolled her eyes and bit her lip.
“...She did it first.”
She, too, sensed my anger and adopted a hostile tone.
“Keirsey did it first?”
“Yeah. She kicked me first and gave me a look.”
When I turned my head to Keirsey, she lowered hers.
“I-I accidentally did it. But I didn’t give her a look; I was trying to apologize.”
“And then?”
“After that, I didn’t do anything. But she spilled wine on me, kept kicking my leg, and...”
I looked back at Nera.
“Nera Ice. It may be ridiculous to argue over trivial matters, but even after seeing my sister’s blood, you can’t apologize?”
“I already apologized earlier.”
Seeing Nera’s demeanor, it seemed like she didn’t want to admit her mistake, not that she thought she had done anything wrong.
Yeah, now that I think about it, Keirsey... and even Asena. They didn’t like this occasion from the beginning.
Perhaps Sid Ice didn’t either, but I couldn’t tell for sure.
“Nera, understand the atmosphere.”
Duke Ice’s threatening tone resounded.
However, Nera seemed to have reached her limit and rebelled against him.
“Father, didn’t I say she did it first?”
“It was a mistake, and she was trying to apologize. But who kicked her and ruined the clothes?”
“...”
I spoke through gritted teeth, “Now I see, the wine was deliberate too.”
“...”
“Haha, this is...”
“Father, let’s stop this now.”
Nera said coldly.
“What?”
“This prank. I mean, we can’t make peace with the Prysters, as expected.”
Grandma also intervened.
“Don’t speak ill of the Prysters, especially in that manner.”
Only then did Nera flinch, avoiding eye contact and closing her mouth.
But the heated atmosphere was difficult to calm.
Judy’s surprised eyes wandered around. She had dressed up prettily, but now it seemed like a waste.
“Apologize to my sister.”
I said, but...
“I have no intention of listening to a Pryster. Especially if he’s a commoner.”
Now it was getting confusing. Was it always like this, or was it because of the hostility between the families?
Asena stood up at that moment.
Then, she picked up the wine glass and splashed it right at Nera.
-Splash!
“Ugh!”
Nera couldn’t avoid it in time, as Asena was too fast.
Just like Keirsey, her clothes got soaked.
“Don’t speak ill of my brother like that.”
Nera wiped her wet face and said unyieldingly.
“Hmph. That brother, who came with a hickey on his neck while meeting his future wife?”
It was a comment directed at me, so I wasn’t too angry. But considering my position, I couldn’t just let it slide.
“Nera Ice, you should take responsibility for that insult.”
“How do you intend to make me responsible?”
“I’m thinking about having a public duel with Sid Ice to settle things between our families.”
Sid Ice looked at me. This time, I didn’t avoid his gaze.
“Enough!”
Duke Ice stood up, banging the table.
Following him, Sid Ice, who had remained silent, stood up as well.
Judy was still hesitating, looking at me as if seeking help, and Nera wiped the remaining wine, standing up.
Duke Ice spoke again.
“Mrs. Liana, I apologize for all the rudeness today.”
“...I’m sorry too.”
Grandma apologized, which was rare.
Duke Ice continued.
“...The chasm between our families seems deeper than expected.”
“...Indeed.”
“...Let’s reconsider the engagement.”
Judy exclaimed in surprise.
“F-Father!”
“Judy, we should leave now.”
He moved away, and Judy, with a distressed expression, looked at me again.
I was also suffering, but no, this was not right. I didn’t want to go under the Ice family at the cost of humiliation of my sister.
When I couldn’t react at all, Judy slowly stood up from her seat. She bowed to Grandma and left the place as well.
Yes, in the end, this is what an engagement ceremony is like. To see if families can get along.
...And we couldn’t.
****
It was just a mistake.
As she sat on the chair, her leg accidentally hit Nera Ice’s, which was improperly stretched out.
Keirsey was startled and looked up at Nera, but she didn’t react and just averted her gaze.
Was it because she didn’t want to show any weakness? With her lack of response, Keirsey doubted if she had even hit Nera.
Keirsey slightly bowed her head and apologized to her.
Still, Nera didn’t react.
But Keirsey’s attention wasn’t focused on that, so she let it go.
The important thing was... Asena’s words.
The news that Cayden would be expelled from the family. She had to hope that with that, everything would work out.
But because of Grandma’s promise, that plan had fallen apart beautifully, and Keirsey tasted deep despair.
Now, what should she do?
She couldn’t figure out how to stop Cayden from leaving.
As she looked up, Nera was still glaring at her.
Unlike before, Keirsey did the same seeing her like this.
The apology earlier wasn’t because she lost in a quarrel. Avoiding eye contact was because she was merely focused on Cayden.
But Nera’s determined gaze, as if she would fight, made Keirsey receive that gaze with the same attitude.
She stared at her like that for a while.
Then, just as their glasses were about to touch, Keirsey saw that Nera’s hand was approaching faster than expected.
In an instant, a decision was made. The plan as well.
Keirsey loosened her grip on the glass she was holding, and as Nera’s offered glass collided with hers, the wine spilled on her.
Right after that, she pretended like the kindest person in the world. She acted so nobly, not wanting to be disliked by Cayden.
In reality, it wasn’t that difficult of an act. She was better at pretending to be kinder than anyone else in front of Cayden. She was better at throwing a fit at Cayden than anyone else as well.
There was no sense of guilt either. Apart from accidentally hitting Nera’s leg and lightly grabbing the wine glass, she hadn’t done anything wrong.
She was just seizing the opportunity.
Nera was pushed by Duke Ice to apologize to her.
And Keirsey... when no one was looking at her, raised the corners of her lips and smirked at Nera.
She never thought she had such a malicious side, but if it was to protect Cayden, it didn’t matter.
And the plan she had set earlier to protect Cayden had fallen apart, which made her feel sorrowful and complex.
But Nera Ice seemed angry as she had to apologize and hit Keirsey’s leg forcefully.
With that pain came Keirsey’s joy.
It seemed like a clear path. Considering Cayden’s personality, it was an all-too-obvious path.
“...Ah.”
Keirsey pretended to be hit with more force than she had been. Then, immediately after, she smiled at Nera, as if saying, ‘Is that all you’ve got?’
Her pained voice was for Cayden to hear, and her smile was for Nera to see. She was progressing with the plan.
So, when she saw Cayden getting angry for her, Keirsey had to calm down her pounding heart.
She felt so happy that he had done something for her even when his engagement was at stake.
Of course, she couldn’t laugh or cry with joy.
Right after replying to Cayden, Keirsey put all her strength into hiding her emotions.
Looking into Cayden’s eyes, he still seemed angry, and Asena was as indifferent as usual.
But seeing Asena’s lips trembling like Nera’s, Keirsey could tell that she was also suppressing strong pleasure.
.
.
.
The pleasure didn’t last long though.
The next day.
Grandma called the three siblings again.
As we all gathered, she said,
“Cayden, I found your next fiancĂ©e.”