H-How do I explain this...
I-I didn't expect this topic to be brought up during our sleepover!!!!
Moreover, isn't my engagement with Alexus supposed to be secret?!?! How did Evelyn's mom know about this?!?!
Kuh... I feel so embarrassed... Is this how the girls in my class feel when their secret relationship was exposed?!
I-I can't believe they found out about it before the Kingdom's Founding Festival... I've been preparing my heart to tell them about it then, not now!!!!
I looked at the girls and saw them all staring back at me with gazes demanding answers.
I-I don't want to lie to them, but it's still so embarrassing!
Ah! That's right! I can just deflect it right?!
"B-Both of my parents are close friends with his and her majesty, so our family has always been very close to the royal family. H-His highness the crown prince is also very close to my brother and frequent this mansion to meet him, so..."
I-I'm not lying, right? They really are close to each other, and Alex frequently comes to visit and talk to Lu-nii! And since I am his fiancee, he'd also talk to me while he's here.
But instead of accepting my answer right away, Evelyn slightly pouted and continued her interrogation.
"I am aware of the close relationship between the Lorya household and the royal family. However... I've also heard from my dear mother that he seemed to especially favor you. Is that true...?"
"Eh?! Really?! Aunt did?!"
Celine's eyes widened and looked at her cousin in shock, a shimmer of curiosity and interest starting to manifest in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Noir and Illya were looking at me with anxiousness and shock.
Kiara, who was eating peacefully, also pouted just like Evelyn and averted her gaze away. She seemed to dislike Alex as usual...
On the other hand, Lily, who already knew of it, simply stayed silent.
Lily! Why are you silent now?! Help me!!!!
I-Is there really no way out...?!
U-Uuuuuhh... I-I'm still so embarrassed...
I fidgeted on my seat as everyone stared at me... I-I'm sure my face is blushing super red right now!
Kuh! I never understood why girls feel so embarrassed when talking about their love stories before, but is this how it feels?!?!?!
"A-Actually... I-I'm engaged with h-his highness..."
Everyone gasped the moment I said it.
"W-What?!"
"I-Is that true, Alterisa-sama?!"
"R-Risa-chan, you're engaged?!?!?!
"U-Uhn... The engagement is supposed to be announced during the grand ball on the final night of the Kingdom's Founding Festival in a few months... I-I hope you can all keep this a secret..."
The Kingdom's Founding Festival would be one of the, if not, the largest celebration in the kingdom. The entire kingdom, including all the businesses, nobles, and the royal family had already started preparing for the week-long festival now!
It's a super big deal, and that may be why his majesty chose the final night of the festival, which is considered the grand finale, to announce Alexus's engagement with me.
Come to think of it, I don't think the announcement was that big of a deal in the game. I'm sure there was a large celebration, but I've never seen any anecdote about the announcement being done in such a grandiose manner.
U-Ughhh... I've been feeling nervous about it, but now that I think about it again, isn't it too much?! I-I'll die of embarrassment!
Well... that is if I don't die of embarrassment right now...
Kuh... I've shown these cuties such an embarrassing part of myself. How can I maintain my cool, impeccable, and reliable onee-san image?!?!
I want to be just like Evelyn! The super elegant, beautiful, and sexy "ara-ara onee-sama" who's also very reliable and strong!
But now... I'm sure they've seen how red I am... It's over...
Suddenly, Kiara, Evelyn, Illya, Noir, and Valerie-chan all swarmed me and hugged me.
"I love nee-cha the best!!! I won't let that prince steal nee-cha!!!"
"Why is Risa-sama engaged with that prince?!?! Tsk... I knew something was suspicious when he acted that way when I mentioned Risa-sama..."
"Uuuuh... But I love Alterisa-sama the most!!!!"
"I-I love Alterisa-sama the most too!!! Kuh... Onii-sama, you're too slow... You need to work harder...! Or should I take matters into my own hands...?"
"..."
E-Eh?! W-What's going on?
Why did everyone suddenly hug me?! I-I mean, I welcome it with open arms, but it's so sudden!
Wooww... They all smell so amazing... I-I feel like I'm in a garden in heaven...
"I-I love all of you as well! Y-You're all my best friends! B-But why so suddenly..."
I looked around and saw them all pouting and hugging me tightly.
Celine was crossing her arms and looking away with a small frown, while Lily was giggling to herself.
I-I'm really confused right now...
"Risa-sama! Since when were you engaged with his highness?"
"Eh? Uhm... A few months, if I'm not mistaken...?"
"Kuh... It's already that long huh... I should've made my move sooner..."
Eh? What did she sa-
"Alterisa-sama! Why didn't you tell us?!"
"That's right! Risa-chan you never even told me!"
"O-Our family agreed to keep it a secret for the meantime since we were still very young... At least in the beginning. But it seems like they're going to announce it anyway..."
I was very surprised when I heard about it as well... I wonder what made his majesty change his mind?
Was it because of the shampoo?
When it releases into the public, I'm certain it will be an extremely popular product since even the queen loves it. Our family would definitely gain an enormous amount of profit from its sales as well as the influence amongst the nobility and popularity from the citizens.
So does his majesty want to truly cement the relationship between the royal family and our household by announcing our engagement?
Hm... It's possible, but their relationship is already super close as it is, right? I mean, dad is the prime minister while mom and Seara-sama are absolute best friends.
...Well, thinking about it won't help. It's going to happen either way.
Hah... I should really start having Lily teach me how to act like a princess...
I'm too scared to even think about the consequences if I acted inappropriately during such a grand event.
"...I've decided."
Hm...? Evelyn?
Evelyn suddenly smiled at me so brightly and hugged my arm with such a cute expression.
W-Wha-?! W-What's this destructive power?!
"Risa-sama~ May I sleep next to you tonight~?"
Wha-?! An even more destructive line is here!!!!
"Ah! That's unfair, Evelyn-chan! I want to sleep next to Risa-chan too!"
"M-Me too! I-I want to sleep next to Alterisa-sama!"
"U-Uuuuhh... A-Alterisa-sama..."
Ah~ Is this heaven~? For these cuties to be fighting for a place to sleep by my side, this must be heaven!!!
"Hehehe~ I'm so happy~ Let's sleep close together so we won't be cold~"
Ufufufu~ It seems like I'll be rewarded for all the embarrassment I've suffered~
That night, I dreamed of standing in a field of flowers, surrounded by my best friends, my family, and the golden-haired boy that had been taking me through an emotional ride.
It was the best sleep I've ever had since coming here.
AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!