FMY 16

“To think that the size the prince ordered in advance would fit so perfectly…! You two truly are a match made in heaven!”

The owner of the jewelry shop made a fuss, calling it fate. Serge was sending his soul far away as he listened to the words that were a delicate mix of the exaggerated social pleasantries typical of a merchant and a slight touch of sincerity. My goodness….

“I was thinking we might have to adjust the circumference if it did not fit well, but for it to fit so perfectly like destiny.”

Although he was making a fuss, what he said was true.

The engagement ring that Raphael had ordered in advance fit Serge’s left ring finger as if by magic. So perfectly that it was subtly infuriating. Did this bastard secretly measure my finger size?

Serge whispered through clenched teeth so that he would not notice.

“How sneaky of you to prepare a ring in advance like this…”

That damn apple seller who only deceives his customers. Serge looked at Raphael as if he were looking at the swindler of the century. He knew it was necessary, but the feeling of being a small-time citizen who had been fooled by a false advertisement did not disappear right away.

“No need to be so moved.”

Knowing full well that he was trying to have a secret conversation, Raphael answered smoothly in a loud voice. As if for all the patrons of the jewelry store to hear. He did so even though they were in the most luxurious private reception room in the innermost part of the store, reserved only for distinguished guests.

He was the very picture of a man determined to advertise their relationship.

“It is just that I heard a fine item had come in. If I miss this, I do not know when I will be able to get my hands on a step-cut diamond of this size again. The setting of the small emeralds on the edge is also excellent.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness. We had our most skilled artisan in the shop make it with the utmost care.”

“Indeed. It has captured the color of my lovely lover’s eyes perfectly.”

“You said it was a green close to dark green, so we took special care in selecting a clear, deep green gemstone.”

“Perfect.”

Inextinguishable laughter erupted from those who had completed a satisfactory transaction.

So dramatic, really…. Anyone would think you two were the ones getting engaged. Standing behind the two people who were in a harmonious mood, Serge shot them a rotten smile, watching as if he were a stranger observing someone else’s business.

After a long relay of compliments with the jeweler, Raphael turned to Serge who was behind him.

“Chouchou, I apologize for the lack of a grand proposal to go with the ring.”

Raphael said with a very regretful expression, stroking the back of Serge’s hand where the ring was. A slight wink signaled the start of the act.

A small stage had opened.

‘Hoo…’

Serge put aside his inner sigh and began to immerse himself as if a switch had been flipped.

“Such a trivial thing does not matter at all. Your true feelings have already been conveyed enough, Raphael.”

It was a delicate voice, as if trembling with emotion. The omega’s brown eyelashes, who had clasped the held hand back, were already moist.

“Haa……”

A deep, trembling breath escaped from Serge, as if he were a person whose emotions were so overwhelmed that he was out of breath.

He had the appearance of a single lily from mythology. At his pure and beautiful sight, not only Raphael but also the jeweler fell silent, gazing at him with eyes full of enchantment. He had drawn the attention of others through his acting.

Serge pressed his chest with his other hand, which was not held by Raphael, and raised his wet eyelashes. His eyes, with clear tears welling up, shone as purely as the morning dew.

“I am so happy. But my father does not know yet…”

“I must send a proposal to the ducal house of Arthur for you right away.”

Raphael declared as if making a firm resolve, kissing the back of Serge’s hand.

“We will leave with this on. Please wrap the box nicely and send it to the ducal house separately. Did it come out as I ordered, to match this ring?”

“Of course. The box itself was also made and decorated with large, glittering jewels, so much so that one might mistake the box itself for a precious treasure before opening it. As you requested, we will wrap it carefully and entrust it to Your Highness’s attendant for proper delivery.”

It seemed the ring was not the only thing prepared in advance. The jeweler spoke with a determined expression, as if he were a witness to this historic engagement of the second prince.

His face was filled with the will to play the role of Cupid, connecting the lovers. He was undoubtedly deeply immersed in this situation.

The next sequence of events followed as smoothly as flowing water.

The second prince’s aide took out a checkbook to pay the remaining balance of the transaction, excluding the down payment, and Raphael and Serge left the place with their arms linked, offering friendly nods to every nobleman they met.

Immersed in his acting, Serge played his part as a ‘colleague’, a role he had so desperately cried out for in his dream, by painting a brilliant smile on his face along with Raphael, laughing ‘ha-ha ho-ho’. He constantly covered his mouth or swept back his hair with his left hand, which wore the heavy ring that was impossible for others not to see. In this way, he naturally showed off the ring, which anyone could see held an extraordinary meaning.

Tinkle.

As they left the traditional jewelry shop with the clear sound of a bell, Raphael, who had wiped the smile from his face, whispered in a low voice.

“That jeweler is known as the trumpet of this street. The rumor will now spread throughout the entire capital.”

“You must be so proud.”

Serge, who had likewise erased the politician’s smile from his face, retorted.

“I appreciate you trusting my quick thinking, but would it not be more appreciated if you could tell me the next plan in advance?”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Walking to the carriage with Raphael, who affirmed his promise, Serge once again held out his left hand with the ring in front of his eyes. As it was a wealthy main street, there were many nobles passing by, so the act was not completely over yet. Raphael, under the pretense of escorting Serge, had linked arms with him, so they were still stuck close together.

Serge whispered in his ear like a lover sharing a lovely conversation.

“I will take this as the establishment of our contract engagement and alliance. Although we have not signed a contract, I will trust your honor, Raphael, and agree to this contract, and this ring is the proof.”

“If you wish, I am willing to write up a contract at any time.”

“That is fine. If we have something like that, it will only become a weakness if a rat finds it.”

As it happens, a rat with the name of an angel lives in his house. One who is always on the lookout for Serge’s weaknesses.

“Leaving physical evidence will be troublesome. So, Prince, you must promise me here, staking everything you have. You must help me prevent Gabriel from becoming the crown princess. And as promised, as soon as this contract ends, you must let me go so that I can live quietly.”

In a situation with Raphael, Serge did not bother to add the clause about helping him not become the crown princess. After all, if he was with Raphael, he would naturally be far from the position of crown princess. Anyway, as he listed the conditions he so desired, Raphael’s mouth also slowly opened.

“Alright. I accept your conditions. What I want from my side is for Serge d’Arthur to become the definite and public fiancé of Raphael Duke de Bernadotte, so that the Duke will support me.”

“I promise on the honor of my family. It will be a most perfect deal.”

“And a perfect lover as well.”

The two smiled at each other, more brightly than the flowers in spring.

Enjoying the sidelong glances of the nobles passing by on Champatignolles Street, just as they had planned.

After parading through the main street, displaying the image of a newly in-love couple for all to see, they returned to the carriage. Once the carriage door closed and the two were left alone in the enclosed space, Serge asked frankly.

“Raphael.”

“What is it?”

“Are you not going to tell me what your real purpose is in this engagement?”

“……As I have said before…”

“No, not just the support of the conservative faction with the ducal house of Arthur and its vassal families as a backing. What you believe those things will ultimately bring you. You have to tell me that properly so that I can plan my next move, right? I need to know exactly what you will have accomplished before this contract ends.”

Serge’s end was set, but Raphael’s end was unknown. He needed his honest answer to plan for the future more systematically.

However, the answer that came from the prince’s mouth was rather disappointing.

“…I will tell you that properly at the upcoming royal ball. It is in the near future, so you can rest assured that the wait will not be very long.”

“Hmm.”

Serge leaned back against the carriage seat and stared at Raphael.

‘He still does not trust me properly. He will only tell me after it is so open to the public that I cannot back out.’

So Serge decided to show him that he was by no means the subordinate in their relationship.

“Actually, I think I know what kind of desire you have.”

He did not know exactly what Raphael’s future had been because Serge had died shortly after, but when he recalled the society before his death, it was not entirely unpredictable.

In the past, Raphael had achieved merit in war instead of consolidating power through marriage. Serge remembered that the royal family’s treatment of him had changed significantly after that.

Perhaps Raphael’s goal was the same as then? To improve his current unfair treatment and solidify his position as a man of power. With that prediction in mind, Serge continued.

“To be honest, it is an obvious story, is it not?”

“What is?”

“What it means to marry the son of the Comptroller-General.”

The Minister of Justice and the Comptroller-General, who held the greatest power in the country after the king. In particular, the Comptroller-General was in a position to directly manage the country’s finances. To be engaged to such a person’s son meant that the power of that influential figure would be transferred to him.

“Do you know how my father, Duke Arthur, thought he could make me the crown princess even with a son as foolish and frustrating as my past self?”

Serge’s index finger pointed at himself. As if to remind him of his former self before he started dressing up so neatly.

“It is because he knows that the royal family covets Arthur’s power. To be precise, not only the power of the Comptroller-General, but also the immense wealth that Arthur possesses. All the influence that we have.”

“……”

“You want even greater power, do you not? Are you planning to break away from the royal family’s exclusion and establish a separate duchy?”

Although it was the farthest from the capital, the vast duchy of Bernadotte was a place where one could aim for independence. Of course, it would not be easy to achieve.

“That is also a good method.”

Despite knowing that he was being looked at with suspicious eyes, Raphael wore his usual smooth and pleasant smile. It was a method chosen by someone who knew he was a peerless handsome man and knew how to use it to his advantage.

To answer with a smile instead of words. Serge, whose job as an actor had always been to put on such a smile at the right time, instantly saw through Raphael’s intentions. However, the face that was putting on a false smile for the sake of evasion was also so incredibly handsome that Serge felt a little annoyed.

The smooth way he changed the subject made it seem like he had no intention of telling him the truth yet.

Serge decided to ask another question to that enigmatic face. As he continued his speculation, another doubt had arisen.

“But do you think His Majesty the King or Her Majesty the Queen will just stand by and watch something that everyone covets so much? As it goes to you, the prince, and not His Highness the Crown Prince?”

It was a question of whether they would stand by and watch immense power go to the son they had raised as a subject. It was not as if he had naturally consolidated power through something like a ‘victory in war’ for the sake of the nation, as he had in the past. Would the people who were always worried that the second son’s influence would become too great and block the path of the first son really stand by and watch as Raphael’s power grew through a marriage alliance? Serge pointed out the reality precisely.

“You do not fully trust me yet.”

“The same goes for you, Prince. You are not telling me exactly what your goal is right now, are you?”

At Serge’s words, spoken with a frown, Raphael burst out into a pleasant laugh, “Haha.”

“It is not a very pleasant feeling to have my abilities doubted. But fine, I will show you clearly from now on.”

Raphael did not lose his smile, as if persuading his parents, the King and Queen, was no big deal.

Concluding that it was probably a lost cause to find an answer today, Serge gave a short nod.

“…Alright. I will be watching.”

“Then, have a safe trip back.”

Thud!

Serge momentarily grabbed the arm that was about to close the carriage door.

“I have one last thing to warn you about. Our contract can only be considered complete when you agree to this perfectly. I would like you to think of it as an addendum to the contract that you and I have shared through words and in our minds.”

“What is it?”

Looking into Raphael’s eyes, which were filled with question, Serge warned him.

He had a very serious face.

“Never fall in love with me.”

What came out of his mouth was a warning that was at once as cheesy and ridiculous as a romance novel, and at the same time, intense.

Of course, between them, who had not a single ounce of affection, it was a statement that was blander and more insipid than anything else. To the point of being excessively absurd and laughable.

“Look who is talking.”

Hearing those words, Raphael let out a chuckle as if he had heard the most ridiculous thing.

“Promise me now.”

“Is this something we even need to promise?”

At the question of whether such an assumption was even plausible between two such rational people, Serge’s brows furrowed. It was a very important part for him, who was living on borrowed time.

“This is a serious warning. If you fall in love with me, our contract is void.”

Raphael, who had been snickering at first, asking what kind of nonsense he was spouting, soon became composed at Serge’s serious expression.

“…You can rest assured.”

What was the big deal that he would mention voiding the contract over something so trivial. But it was an undeniable fact that Serge’s expression was more serious than ever before. Besides, Raphael was the one who would be more disappointed if the contract was voided. He placed his hand over his heart and affirmed.

“Yes, I swear on my honor. I will not love you even if we were the only two people left in the world.”

“……”

“If I fall in love with you, our contract will be automatically voided.”

“…Yes. I will believe your oath sworn on your honor, Raphael.”

Raphael, his expression seriously hardened, slowly closed the door of the ducal house of Arthur’s carriage.

He felt an indescribable sense of unease, but Raphael soon suppressed and dismissed such feelings with reason.

“Well then, until next time.”

“I hope that ‘next time’ is a little later.”

Raphael did not answer Serge’s words, which now sounded completely annoyed. With an indescribable strange feeling, he simply saw the carriage off with a smooth smile still on his face.

It was a simple farewell befitting the word ‘contract’.