Kays Translations

Chapter 322: Please Give Me Your Daughter

That morning, I was due to visit House Ambert. After one delay after another, the time had finally come to face Baron Ambert and say, “Please allow me to marry your daughter.”

Ugh, my stomach hurt. It was my first formal greeting to her parents. I had never imagined doing this at ten years old. Perhaps I should take some strong stomach medicine.

I ate breakfast in a daze, then changed into formal clothes with Nero's help. Mira seemed to sense the seriousness of the occasion. They did not leap onto me, perhaps because they were trying not to leave fur on my clothes.

“It is all right, Mira. You hardly shed, and any white fur will be easy to spot against navy fabric.”

“Is everything ready, Nero? Do not forget the gifts or my lab coat.”

“They are already packed.”

Nero opened the travelling case to show me. House Ambert probably had everything we needed, but I had brought the ingredients for Hot Cookies just in case. I stopped Mira from climbing into the case, tucked them under one arm, and boarded the carriage.

The Ambert estate was not far away. Snow would have made the journey difficult, but with the roads clear, we arrived quickly. When the baron's manor appeared beyond the carriage curtains, my nerves intensified, and I found myself holding Mira tightly.

“Kyuu?”

“Sorry. I am nervous. I wonder whether this will go well.”

“It will be fine,” Nero said. “Father's letter has already arrived, has it not?”

“Yes, but House Heine holds far more power. They might have felt unable to refuse the engagement.”

“That would never happen.”

Nero smiled wryly. He was probably right, but I could not stop worrying. Lady Fabienne had likely expected the engagement, yet I could not know exactly how she felt.

“Lord Julius, we have arrived at the Ambert estate.”

“Ah… could we circle the manor once before stopping?”

“Lord Julius.”

“Kyuu…”

Nero immediately rejected my suggestion as a pointless waste of time. Even Mira looked at me with pity.

Resigned, I stepped from the carriage and found the entire Ambert family already waiting outside. Thank goodness we had not circled the manor. Nero's advice had been exactly right.

“Welcome, Lord Julius.”

“We have been awaiting your arrival.”

Baron Ambert and Lady Fabienne greeted me first. Baroness Ambert stood beside her husband with a smile.

“I apologise for visiting on such short notice. Thank you for receiving me today.”

“Not at all. Please do not concern yourself. We have prepared tea, so let us go inside.”

Baron Ambert led us to the salon. Colourful sweets had already been arranged on the table, and tea was served as soon as we sat. Its pleasant fragrance eased some of the tension from my body.

I could not continue making small talk in this state. I must not put it off. I needed to say what I had come to say.

“Baron Ambert.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Please allow me to marry Lady Fabienne!”

“Kyuu!”

The three members of House Ambert stared with their eyes and mouths wide open. No, there were four astonished people if I included Nero. Had I said something wrong? Mira raised one forepaw as though making an emphatic appeal of their own. Were they asking for Lady Fabienne too?

“W-well, of course. She still has much to learn, but please take good care of her.”

Clearly bewildered, Baron Ambert bowed his head. A moment later, Baroness Ambert and Lady Fabienne bowed as well.

That was the correct response, was it not? Nero had begun writing in his notebook. He needed to stop that immediately.

“Kyuu, kyuu!”

I did not know whether Mira understood what had happened, but they leapt into Lady Fabienne's arms. She looked surprised, then quickly caught them and began stroking their fur. It seemed Mira had accepted Lady Fabienne too.

“Then… please continue to treat me kindly, Lady Fabienne.”

“I look forward to our future together as well. Lord Julius, please call me simply Fabienne.”

“Very well… Fabienne.”

That was embarrassing. Was it because her parents were watching? I also wondered what nickname would suit her. Fabi? Fabie? Bienne? Surely not Fabby. I had no idea.

“Oh, that is right. I brought you presents, Fabienne.”

I glanced at Nero. Understanding at once, he brought forward a gift box containing two smaller boxes: a specially made glass pen and a specially decorated magic-stone hand warmer. I hoped she would like them.

“Thank you. You have gone to so much trouble… May I open them?”

“Of course.”

Baron and Baroness Ambert watched curiously as Fabienne opened the boxes one at a time. When the glass pen appeared, they all exclaimed in admiration.

“What a beautiful colour! It looks like the starry sky just before dawn.”

“I am glad you like it.”

“Of course I do. It is almost too beautiful to use.”

“Please do not hesitate. If it breaks, I will make another.”

Fabienne opened the second box and revealed the magic-stone hand warmer. I had already mentioned glass pens and hand warmers in my letter, so Baron and Baroness Ambert would not be suspicious when we discussed them.

“This is the magic-stone hand warmer, is it not? Oh, it has an adorable little bird pattern!”

“The design may be hidden while you are using it, but I thought a decoration would be better than leaving it plain.”

“Not at all! When I am not using it, I will display it in my room.”

I had not considered that. Perhaps the hand warmer could double as a room decoration… although that might be stretching things. Fabienne's expression, however, was completely serious.

Perhaps I should display mine during the warmer months too. I was glad I had put so much effort into the design.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter