Hunter escorted me to my room and then left. That night, I stayed awake on my bed lost in thought. I had always felt this way for a long time but it seemed like game characters shouldn't be seen merely as just characters. They had pasts, beliefs, and emotions that I didn't know about. They bled if they were hurt, shed tears if they were sad, or even swallowed their tears.
Recalling Hunter's earlier advice not to pity himself, I couldn't help but think of Khan and Alan, whom I had left behind as if completing a stage. Even though I thought leaving the Northern region meant as one step toward the end of the game for me. At this moment, they were likely still breathing and living. That realization weighed heavily on my heart.
That night, I tossed and turned until dawn and finally fell asleep.
***
The next day, I woke up late, around lunchtime. Whether it was the noble's laziness or the fact that attendants and maids only came in after I woke up, they treated me very politely and carefully. It seemed like news of me being Hunter's fiancée had spread.
They dressed me in a light, sky-blue shirt and dark blue velvet pants. They adorned me with long, droplet-shaped earrings and an emerald brooch that matched the color of my eyes. In the mirror, I looked like a manifestation of beauty. A light faxen cape with a transparent texture, reminiscent of fairy wings. I truly felt like an angel descended from the heavens.
"Wow.....It's very pretty."
I murmured as I looked into the mirror. The servant who was fixing my hair blushed as she straightened up.
"Even the first sunlight of the morning won't shine as brightly as Narcissus."
One of the maids, who was helping with my outfit, nudged the servant with her elbow.
"Sorry, sorry."
The servant quickly apologized, but since I was in a good mood, I laughed brightly and patted her shoulders.
"It's a compliment. Thank you."
At that moment, someone outside the door opened it and exclaimed, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, is here!"
I turned towards the door. As I moved, the cape's hem billowed like a dress, then settled down. The light reflected off my clothes stung the inside of my eyelids. As I playfully winked one eye, Hunter, who had casually walked in, froze.
[Hunter Melian's liking has increased by +1!]
Humans are visually sensitive creatures. In response to the increased liking, I smiled warmly at Hunter.
"Welcome, Your Royal Highness."
"Here to escort you, Narcissus"
Hunter walked up to me gracefully, extending his hand as if challenging me to a duel.
"I'll be your escort."
<Okay>
I replied briefly in Teheit, taking his hand. We looked like a couple from a fairy tale—prince and... prince, if such a couple existed in a fairy tale. The surrounding servants simultaneously sighed in admiration, their breath catching at our enchanting presence.
Ignoring their reactions, we walked down the corridor. Hunter then spoke.
"Are we going to the Empress's Palace?"
"No, we're going to the Grand Hall. We need to announce our engagement first."
"Huh?"
I realized that while I was asleep, Hunter had urgently gathered everyone.
"There was a noble meeting anyway. Since they're all here, it's best to get it over with quickly."
Hunter said it casually. I suddenly felt the weight in my steps as I reluctantly followed him. If all the nobles were gathered, my father, Ulin Narcissus, would probably be there. Given my recent escape from the ice prison, I was afraid about how he would react.
Hunter seemed to sense my anxiety as he tightened his grip on my hand.
"Don't worry. Woofu will be behind us."
As soon as he finished speaking, two knights emerged from the opposite end of the corridor, leading a restrained Woofu. One of the knights was Devan. He approached with a tense face.
"Devan!"
"Young master!"
Devan rushed towards me and knelt down.
"Have you been well so far?"
Even though I saw him yesterday and am meeting him today, Devan was moved as if we had been separated for decades. I gently helped him to his feet.
"We're going to see our father. Devan, stand behind me."
"Count Narcissus...?"
"We're announcing the engagement."
At my words, Devan's eyes widened.
"S-so, um... is the marriage proposal you mentioned... for Crown Prince?"
Well, it was surprising. Devan probably didn't connect my mentioning of marriage when coming to the palace at all. As I nodded, Hunter, who was untying Woofu's mouthguard next to me, answered instead.
"It seems my fiance was already dreaming of marrying me. How naughty."
"Na...ughty you say?"
"If you want, I can call you "Naughty Del" from now on."
"I don't want that."
Even though I responded coldly, Hunter didn't seem to mind. After handing over the mouthguard to the knight, he scratched Woofu's forehead a few times and stood next to me again.
"There you go, Naughty."
[Hunter Mellion's liking increased by +1!]
Is this also some kind of joke...? Seriously, what a lunatic!
Throughout our journey, Hunter maintained his poker face but consistently inserted the word 'Naughty' into our conversation. Naughty you, Naughty boy, Naughty Narcissus, and so on. It made me feel even more like a fool.
Finally, we arrived at the Grand Hall. A servant opened the door for us, and Hunter and I entered the Grand Hall with a large tiger, two knights, and a line of servants and maids following behind us.
Inside the hall, about thirty nobles gathered for a meeting. They were high-ranking and influential enough to attend a noble meeting at the imperial palace. Among them was Count Narcissus, of course.
He grinned widely upon seeing me standing next to Hunter. The likability indicator hovering above his head had dropped to -40 without me noticing. Since he wasn't the male protagonist, his likability wasn't something I cared about, but I didn't feel good about it.
"There's no separate circus troupe here."
A young man with sharp, cat-like eyes and light brown hair sneered at us.
"A Tiger and a beautiful assistant. Will there also be a magic show, brother?"
Only then did I realize that the man was the Second Prince. He looked more handsome than in the game illustrations, but his impression wasn't great, so I didn't feel any liking toward him.
Hunter cleanly ignored the Second Prince's words and escorted me to the front of the Grand Hall. Woofu followed behind us. Half of the nobles looked at Hunter with a mix of fear and awe, while the other half stared at me with enchanted eyes.
"I have summoned you all today to make an important announcement."
Hunter said this and then turned his gaze toward me. All the nobles' attention was now on me.
"I promised to marry Del Narcissus here yesterday."
"M-Marriage?"
"What?"
"Count Narcissus, did you know about this?"
The murmurs of the nobles echoed through the hall. Count Narcissus seemed on the verge of collapsing, grabbing the back of his neck and writhing.
"I will soon hold a grand engagement ceremony. I'll send formal invitations, and I'd appreciate it if everyone could attend to brighten the occasion."
With that, Hunter, in a voice that didn't seem thankful at all, announced our engagement and then ceremoniously put a ring on my finger.
"If you have something you want to say, please do so, my future crown princess."
What am I supposed to say? The moment I was about to shake my head, I heard a familiar ding-dong sound rang in my ears.
1. (Kissing Hunter's hand) Darling, make the engagement ceremony grand.
2. (Waving a whip) Everyone, show respect in front of the future Crown Princess!
3. (Taking off clothes) Anyone who wants to hang out before I officially become a married man should speak up now.
In my opinion, the craziest character in this game seemed to be Del Narcissus, not the male leads. I was dumbfounded and looked in front of me, and just before the scary automatic bed scene alert appeared, I chose option 1.
Smack.
The sound of my lips making contact with Hunter's hand resonated loudly as if I were inhaling his palm.
"Darling, make the engagement ceremony grand."
Narcissus, who finally spat out those words, had a sly smile on his face. Amidst the astonished looks from everyone, including the Second Prince, Hunter subtly lifted the corners of his mouth, showing a faint smile.
[Hunter Elian's likability has increased by +1!]
"Of course. my dear."
Hunter casually replied and briefly kissed the back of my hand.
And so began the start of the Crown Prince couple who would become a world-famous couple.
***.
"Now, let's go to the Imperial Queen's Palace. We have a promise from yesterday to keep."
Hunter, who left the Grand Hall leaving the stunned Royal family and nobles alone, had his knight put a muzzle on Woofu and take him back to his quarters.
He was still holding my hand tightly. Feeling my palms sweating for no reason, I secretly wiggled my fingers, but someone behind us began to clap slowly yet loudly enough to be annoying.
Turning around, the Second Prince was following us. He clapped a few more times, then opened his mouth.
"Engaged to the male prostitute of the Empire, isn't that amazing my brother."
His eyes were fixed on me.
Now... is this bastard picking a fight with me?