THJDM 45

chapter 45

As Rubiana returned to the mansion, she immediately received her mother’s summons for tea time.

Though nominally a casual tea, it was easy to predict that it would essentially turn into an interrogation.

At the tea table set under the gazebo in the garden, Virginia and Stephanie were already seated.

“Ruby, you’re back.”
“Welcome.”

Stephanie grinned at her younger sister, a curious expression on her face.

But it was Virginia who spoke first.

“How is the Grand Duke? Was his injury severe?”

“The visible injuries weren’t serious. Perhaps he was unwell, but his magic became unstable, and that made things difficult for him. Fortunately, the magic stabilized almost completely by this morning.”

After answering, Rubiana took a sip of her lemon tea.

Stephanie frowned at the news.

“I see… I thought it was serious since he lost consciousness and collapsed. But it’s a relief that it wasn’t. Still, unstable magic… that’s surprising.”

Elion had personally led elite troops at the forefront in countless battles. He had suffered injuries many times, but no matter how severe, he would only show a slight frown.

For him to suddenly collapse—not due to injury but because of unstable magic—was worrying.

“Unstable magic is concerning. Stabilizing it would be trickier than treating physical injuries.”
“But the Grand Duke’s skilled personal physician said he’s fine now, so don’t worry, sister.”

Rubiana smiled faintly at Stephanie’s furrowed brows.

‘That’s probably why she’s a knight of the Royal Knights. Always perceptive.’

Chewing her cheesecake thoughtfully, Rubiana realized she should be careful mentioning magic in front of Stephanie, even though she had coordinated with Elion beforehand.

“By the way, Ruby, if you spent the night out, shouldn’t you have a reasonable explanation for it?”

Heh heh heh. Stephanie’s smile turned mischievous.

So it begins.

Rubiana swallowed a sigh and subtly gauged her mother and sister’s expressions.

Virginia seemed a little tense, while Stephanie’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Since she couldn’t tell the full story, it seemed better to drop the bomb all at once.

Slowly setting down the fork she had been holding, Rubiana spoke.

“I… have decided to become engaged to the Grand Duke.”

“…….”
“…….”

Virginia and Stephanie blinked, showing no immediate reaction.

Perhaps they misheard, or were just doubting their ears.

After all, it wasn’t every day that someone announced an engagement out of nowhere.

Rubiana understood perfectly why her mother and sister didn’t immediately grasp it.

She spoke again, clearly.

“I said I’m engaged to Grand Duke Klitzman. I think the proposal from the royal family will arrive soon.”

“Ruby, you’re getting engaged?”
“To Grand Duke Klitzman?”

Rubiana nodded slowly at their questions.

“It hasn’t even been long since you started seeing each other, right?”
“The length of the relationship doesn’t necessarily correlate with knowing someone is the right person.”
“So what about the Grand Duke captured your heart?”
“He… is kind. I thought he would be frightening, but he’s unexpectedly gentle and warm, which drew me in. And he’s very handsome.”
“You’re not going to live off his face, you know?”
“Most married women do, in a way. If you can’t enjoy your husband’s face, married life becomes dull.”

Virginia and Stephanie nodded vigorously in agreement, though only briefly.

Then the questions poured down like a waterfall again.

Having already simulated these questions in her mind, answering them wasn’t difficult.

Abandoned prince and war enthusiast aside, Elion was a pretty decent groom: handsome, a Grand Duke, and wealthy.

It wasn’t illogical for a young lady who had just started seeing Elion to suddenly decide on an engagement.

So acting naturally while answering was easy.

Rubiana calmly responded to each question, maintaining a composed smile.

Then Stephanie asked something that made Rubiana momentarily catch her breath.

“If you like him that much, why not just get married from the start? Ruby, you’ve always said it—you don’t want to waste time with an engagement if you meet the one you truly love. You want to marry right away.”

Ah… that was the old Rubiana.

Her heart sank, but she managed to fix her lips in a straight line and speak.

But Virginia was quicker.

“That’s absolutely impossible.”

Her voice was firm. She looked at her daughters with wide eyes.

“Important matters that affect your life must not be rushed. The engagement ceremony must be done properly. Everything has its proper order.”

Wow, thank you, Mother!

Rubiana breathed a sigh of relief and nodded slightly.

“Ruby, and Stephanie, the same goes for you.”
“…Yes.”

Stephanie pouted slightly but nodded.

Then, glancing at Rubiana with astonishment, Stephanie raised her voice.

“By the way, Ruby! What did you do to your face? It’s glowing! You look so beautiful!”
“Really? I didn’t do anything special.”
“Then it must be the power of love?”
“…Power of love, huh.”

Rubiana touched her cheeks, blushing.

Her sister was right.

Sitting at the vanity, Rubiana stared blankly at her reflection.

Her face, endlessly captivating, glowed with transparency.

It wasn’t just her face.

Her red eyes sparkled with overflowing vitality.

Her hair shone more than ever.

‘Come to think of it…’

So much happened yesterday and today.

Worried about Elion’s severe injury, she headed to the Grand Duke’s residence.

Intoxicated by magic, she spent a passionate night with Elion.

This morning, she met His Majesty the Emperor for the first time.

Under his questioning and pressure, she reluctantly promised to hold an engagement ceremony with Elion.

She had faced the hurried arrival of the saintess and even witnessed Elion collapse.

After returning home, she had to endure endless questions from her mother and sister.

‘And yet I’m not even tired. Amazing.’

Just before going to the Grand Duke’s residence, she had been utterly exhausted.

Since the day of the heavy rain, she hadn’t slept or eaten properly. Her face was pale, eyes darkened, and her limbs weak.

But after spending one night at the residence, all her fatigue vanished.

‘Could it be… because I received so much magic from spending the night with Elion?’

The cause-and-effect was clear.

Rubiana was almost certain.

The amount of magic she received last night far exceeded anything she had received from holding hands or kissing.

‘I’ll have Omar examine me tomorrow.’

Early in the morning, Rubiana woke feeling refreshed.

Usually a heavy sleeper, it was rare for her to wake early by herself.

Moreover, her body felt so light she felt like she could fly.

It was proof that her hypothesis from last night was correct.

She couldn’t waste this early morning. She wanted to experiment with her refreshed body.

Changing into her riding clothes, Rubiana went to the stables.

She wasn’t alone there.

“Oh? Ruby? What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I just woke up early, so I thought I’d go for a ride. And you?”
“My little sister, I wake up at this hour every day for morning exercise. Even though I’m a knight of the Royal Knights, you know?”

So Rubiana and Stephanie mounted their horses together.

The morning forest was shrouded in mist.

The fog drifting through the trees was like a soft veil.

“Giddy up!”
“Giddy up!”

They raced, taking turns leading.

Every breath brought in cold, fresh air that filled and left their lungs.

After running for thirty minutes, they stopped by the lakeside.

Panting heavily, they looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“I can’t believe I’m riding in the morning with Ruby!”
“So you’re happy about it, right, sister?”
“Of course!”

Stephanie draped her arm over Rubiana’s shoulder, beaming.

Then, still smiling, she added:

“But it’s really strange. The usual late-sleeping lady wakes up early! Goes for a morning ride! And doesn’t even look tired!”
“Right? I feel great.”
“This… I have a feeling I know what’s going on!”

Startled, Rubiana paused and looked at Stephanie cautiously.