Chapter 127 Celebration Dinner
After finishing my preparations and arriving in the dining room, the place was filled with a festive mood. The flowers were decorated more beautifully than usual, and the candles looked brand new and shiny. The tableware and cutlery also looked different from what we usually use.
'They really went all out, huh!?'
It was decided from the start that Scott and Blaze would sit with Thomas as part of their etiquette training, but it was lucky or unlucky that this was their first dinner at a celebration.
Blaze, who usually struggles with regular dining manners, seemed uncomfortable and fidgety. Sara whispered to Blaze, "You don’t have to stress. Everyone is in a good mood, so even if you mess up a little, it won’t matter," and Blaze nodded silently in response.
Then, Robert and Rebecca arrived with Marquis. Marquis was clearly in a good mood, while Robert tried to keep a serious expression, though his mouth was slightly smiling. Of course, Rebecca was her usual graceful self, smiling elegantly, but her cheeks seemed a bit more flushed and glowing than usual.
Everyone at the table stood up and waited for Marquis to speak.
"I think many of you already know, but Robert and Lady Rebecca are getting married. This is a formal engagement approved by Viscount Orson."
'Wow, they got approval from the Orson family in such a short time. That's impressive.'
"Also, Lady Rebecca has been granted the right by His Majesty to choose her husband freely, so there is no need to wait for royal permission for their marriage. We plan to hold their wedding ceremony in time for the next social season."
Everyone present, including the servants, applauded to celebrate the two.
"Rob, finally! You’ve kept us waiting too long. Is it really okay for Revi to be with such a coward like you?"
Jeffrey unusually relaxed his words in front of the Marquis. He must be speaking as an old friend right now.
"I’ve given up being a coward."
"Whether you really did or not is questionable, but you barely passed. I think it’s thanks to the Marquis and Ms. Sara setting everything up for you."
"Hey, I'm completely caught."
"Of course I know. I've known for over 20 years. Rob would never prepare a ring himself, and he wouldn’t ask Ms. Sara for out-of-season flowers. You probably had everything arranged by them, right?"
‘Oops, did I go too far?’
"Did I do something unnecessary, Sir Jeffrey?"
"No, no. I was actually happy thinking Ms. Sara was cheering for Rob. Rob was a coward, though."
"So, Miss Rebecca agreed to marry Uncle even though he’s a coward?"
"At first, I was rejected, Sara. She punched me, and my nose broke."
After everyone stared at Rebecca’s graceful hands, they looked at Robert’s face.
"Miss Rebecca, your healing magic skills are impressive."
"I think so too."
"I’m not sure, but is it common to punch someone when refusing a marriage proposal?"
Sara tilted her head while asking. She wanted to confirm if this was a unique rule of this world.
"Of course, there’s no such custom."
Rebecca smiled brightly.
"Uncle, what does this mean?"
"Well, when I asked for a marriage, I was asked for a reason..."
"And then?"
"Well, I said, 'Sara said that even if she became my adopted daughter, there wouldn't be a mother' right? Hahaha."
Everyone there shot accusing looks at Robert all at once.
"Uncle... that's a problem beyond being a coward."
"Yeah, I was really stupid. I never properly said it before."
"You didn't realize until you got hit?"
"To be exact, I didn't notice even after getting hit. It was only until Revi said, 'I want to marry someone who will only love me.'."
'Yeah. Uncle is really stupid.'
"Miss Rebecca, I have something really important to say..."
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry for supporting you, but are you reconsidering this marriage? This is way too much."
"Wait, Sara, I'm really going to change my mind, so please don't reconsider!"
As Robert panicked, the Marquis cleared his throat and interrupted the conversation.
"Sara, please let it go for now. I understand your feelings well. I know my foolish son doesn't deserve such a wonderful bride, but I'm really worried if Lady Rebecca would actually reconsider."
"Grandfather really likes Miss Rebecca, doesn't he?"
"I like her enough to kick Robert out and adopt the man Lady Rebecca brought."
"That's nice. If possible, I wouldn't mind becoming his adopted daughter too."
"Hmm, it sounds worth considering."
The Marquis and Sara exchanged glances and smiled widely.
"Father and Sara, you both are too much!"
"Well, Rob, I think what you did to Revi is way worse."
Jeffrey also cut Robert off sharply.
"Well, well, please stop there. It's true that he’s a coward and pretty hopeless, but he’s going to be my husband."
"If Miss Rebecca says that, then I guess there's no helping it. I can only hope that my uncle will do his best from now on."
"Don’t worry. If he doesn’t improve, I’ll just hit him with fire attribute magic in his behind."
"Then I’ll support with wind attribute magic!"
"Thank you!"
Jeffrey gave Robert a light pat on the shoulder and said, "I'll pray for your butt’s safety, but... well, just do your best not to mess up." His encouragement felt a bit unreliable.
"It seems like everyone has their thoughts, but for now, this is a happy occasion. Let’s eat!"
Meanwhile, Blaze, who had been silently watching this exchange, relaxed his shoulders and was able to enjoy the delicious meal without any tension. On the other hand, Scott felt a shiver run down his spine imagining Sara's magic aimed at his own behind, but he had enough sense not to say it out loud.
After the meal was finished and it was time for tea, Robert seemed to have been waiting and asked Sara,
"By the way, Sara. Since it looks like I can get married too, how about you come be my adopted daughter?"
"Hmm. What does Miss Rebecca think?"
"I’d be honored to be Ms. Sara's mother. I’d be happy if you could be my friend as well. Of course, I wouldn’t be a governess anymore, but it’s not strange for a mother to educate her daughter, right?"
Robert and Rebecca looked at Sara with hopeful eyes. If one looked closely, the Marquis and the servants were also watching Sara with great interest.
"I appreciate the offer to adopt me, but..."
Sara's words started off negative, causing Robert's expression to darken.
"But?"
"As I've said several times, I think it's difficult for me to live as a normal noble lady. Even if I'm adopted, my background doesn't change, so it's clear I would still face discriminatory gazes."
"Of course, I'll protect you, Sara!"
"That's true. I am free now because my grandfather and Uncle Rob are protecting me. But how long will that last? I hesitate to say this at such a joyful occasion, but will the future head of the Grandchester family protect me in the next generation or the one after that?"
"Well..."
"So, I must live with strength on my own."
At that moment, Scott interjected.
"I'll marry Sara and protect her! Wouldn't that work?"
"Thank you, Scott. But I have fairy friends. That means, unless I have an accident, I will live much longer than you."
"If we get married, we could have kids, right?"
"I don't want to rely on my own children. They have their own lives and shouldn't have to live for their parents."
Sara took a deep breath to steady herself and turned back to the Marquis and Robert.
"The noble women in this country can't live without depending on men. Of course, you might say they have their own way of living, and it's not dependence but coexistence. There may be strong women who control their husbands and sons from behind the scenes. But I don’t want to live in a humiliating way because of my birth, nor do I want to be in a position where I can’t show my strength without noble men. I want to earn my own money and live an independent life."
"But... if you come to me, you don’t have to earn money, and I’ll leave you a proper inheritance, okay?"
"That's not what I mean, Uncle."
Suddenly, Rebecca laughed with a voice like a rolling bell.
"Hehehe. Ms. Sara, you never change. Of course, I understand your feelings well. That's why I want to adopt you."
"Miss Rebecca?"
"Actually, it might be fine if I don’t adopt you. But I think this way, I can help you build a proper foundation. Don’t forget, I have fairy friends too. So shouldn’t we protect each other?"
"But Miss Rebecca is a noble lady by birth, so she won’t face discrimination, right?"
"Well... but I'm just a viscount's daughter, and the Orson family is a branch of the Grandchester family, so in terms of future worries, I’m not that different from Ms. Sara. Besides, my husband is Rob, right? There’s no way I wouldn’t be worried about the future."
"Ah, I see."
"Hey, wait a minute, am I being treated badly here?"
"Robert, Lady Rebecca's worries are quite valid."
The Marquis scolded Robert.
"Ms. Sara can earn money in any way, and being a noble won't be a problem. Having support is definitely an advantage. So I think Ms. Sara should become our daughter and earn money freely. To be honest, I also want to do business together. There’s a strong trend that looks down on nobles who make money through business, but managing a territory is really just another form of business, right?"
"That’s true."
"Isn’t our house the only one that can give Ms. Sara noble status while allowing Ms. Sara to do business freely, without forcing you to marry? All we need is for His Excellency the Marquis to not interfere until he retires, and then we can gain enough power."
"That’s a very convincing and appealing proposal, Miss Rebecca."
"Hehe. I thought a lot about how to keep Ms. Sara close."
"I'm nervous about becoming Uncle Rob's daughter, but if it's Miss Rebecca's daughter, then that's fine!"
"Then it’s settled."
Sara and Rebecca raised their teacups as if to toast, smiling at each other.
"I don't know... I'm happy, but it feels strange."
"Rob, you brought this on yourself."
"Yeah, that’s true."
Robert's complaint was heard by Jeffrey and the Marquis, but neither of them offered comfort. It was indeed his own fault.
Meanwhile, Scott, who felt like he had been rejected by Sara for no reason, was being comforted by Blaze.
"You haven't been officially turned down yet, right?"
"Yeah. That's right."
"You still have a chance, right?"
"Who knows? If I work hard on studying, magic, and swordsmanship, maybe I can manage? But I don't think I can work that hard."
"But if you don't try, you won't be able to meet someone like Ms. Sophia, right?"
"Ugh... I see."
It seems Blaze is also growing well as a devoted Grandchester boy.
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