Chapter 86: Engagement Party
"I can't believe it..."
Sebastian looked at today's venue, The Golden Rabbit.
He remembered what Markus told him just a few hours prior.
'Since we're done here, go ahead and change into a suit at the next room. An attendant is already there to help you.'
'A suit? For what?'
'For your formal engagement party.'
'My what?'
"Seriously, how could the main characters of the event not know about their own engagement party?"
While it's true that they had yet to have an engagement party after being engaged for so long, it was too sudden. Sebastian only had a few hours to prepare, and so did Amy.
Sebastian had yet to see her shadow but he believed that she was as flustered as he is.
After calming himself down outside, Sebastian walked through the doors of The Golden Rabbit. He didn't need to show his invitation as the staff was already informed.
"James, Willow, Freddie..."
"Oh! Long time no see!"
Freddie, the most energetic of the bunch, was the first to greet him.
"You've grown a bit taller, haven't you?"
Willow neared him with a woman locking arms with him.
"Ah, this is Jessica Furen."
"Nice to meet you."
"It's a pleasure."
Sebastian responded to Jessica's curtsy with a light bow.
"You look haggard."
James commented.
"Well, I was just informed of my own engagement party a few hours prior. It took a lot out of me to get ready so fast."
"Eh? We've been invited a few weeks ago though."
"..."
How come the guests had more time than him?
"Sebastian!"
"Mother!"
Sebastian turned his head and saw Clarice accompanied by Jonathan. Her belly was swollen, it was more apparent than two months before.
"Mother, you don't have to strain yourself to come to the party."
"Nonsense! This is my son's once in a lifetime engagement party!"
Though it wasn't once in a lifetime for many, Clarice had confidence that Sebastian wouldn't be swayed by any other.
"Father."
Sebastian greeted Jonathan.
"Nn."
A man of few words as usual.
Just then, the doors opened and Sebastian held his breath.
Amy walked in wearing a bright blue dress. Her hair was waved and braided. There were quite a few ornaments in them as well. Though her lips were thin, the vibrant red rouge made them stand out even more.
Seeing Sebastian frozen, Clarice lightly nudged him.
"What are you doing? You two are today's main characters, you have to be together."
"..."
Sebastian thanked Clarice inwardly before walking up to Amy.
"You're already here!"
Amy smiled at Sebastian. He had seen her smile many times before but they had never failed to make his heart skip a beat. Now, he felt as if his heart would leap out of his chest excitement.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing as how Sebastian didn't respond to her, Amy moved closer to check on Sebastian. She raised her hand to the side of his face.
"Ah..."
Sebastian finally snapped out of his daze. He raised his hand to hold hers and whispered in her ear, "I was too enamored with the beauty of the goddess in front of me that I lost myself for a moment."
"..."
Amy's face reddened as she retracted her hand.
"Ehem... Shall we?"
Wanting to stop herself from being embarrassed any further, she locked arms with Sebastian and the two began walking together.
Luckily, an engagement party didn't require them to do anything special other than socialize. With Amy by his side, Sebastian masterfully accepted the congratulations of the guests.
"You're doing a lot better than I expected."
"You knew that the party would happen today, didn't you?"
"Teehee."
Amy stuck out her tongue cutely. It would be strange if she didn't know about the party considering how she was dressed up.
The dress was new, Sebastian hadn't seen it before. The ornaments and jewels in her hair looked like the ones he had heard about while he was in Tidas.
"Haaa..."
Sebastian just sighed at Amy's antics then immediately put on a smile. He couldn't frown for his own engagement party after all.
"Congratulations, Sir Sol."
Sebastian turned around at the source of the voice and saw the head of the Walt House.
"Lord Walt, thank you for coming."
Even if Sebastian didn't have any good feelings towards the man in front of him, he couldn't just ignore him in front of everyone. The other party was still a house head and one of the kingdom's strongest.
"Though there's been many up and downs in our relationship, let's let bygones be bygones, shall we?"
"..."
Sebastian couldn't respond for a moment. Amy took the initiative to take a step forward.
"Of course, Lord Walt. We didn't hold any grudges to begin with. It was just a squabble between us of the younger generation."
"Haha! That's wonderful news."
Sebastian took a glance at Amy. That was the biggest lie she had ever told. He knew how much she hated—loathed the existence of Gilbert and the Walt House that nurtured him into who he is.
Sebastian would even go as far to say as they wouldn't be able to live in the same sky in the future.
After a few more exchanges, the Walt House's head looked at his watch.
"Oh, look at the time. Well, I should be going. I apologize for not being able to participate in the rest of tonight's festivities."
"That's a pity, but business is business. We won't hold you any longer, would you like someone to escort you out?"
"That won't be necessary. Congratulations once again."
With that, the head of the Walt House left the scene.
Sebastian took hold of Amy's hand and whispered.
"Something's weird."
Amy responded by grasping his hand tighter.
The head of the Walt House wasn't so mild a person. The moment they lost face by Gilbert's intention for marriage being rejected, they were the sworn enemies of the Walt House.
Even if Sebastian hadn't set the condition in front of all to see that Gilbert wouldn't approach Amy anymore, the Walt House wouldn't allow him to do so anyway.
It was a prideful house.
"I'll ask father later. For now, we need to stay here. It is our night after all."
"Nn."
Once Sebastian agreed, they roamed around once again to receive the pleasantries from the nobles and Inheritors attending.
It wasn't until late until the actual events started.
Sebastian and Amy sat atop the stage. It wasn't a very big stage, just enough for a few dozen people to stand on. It was formally used for announcements, and Markus took the lead.
"Good evening to everyone who has attended. I'm Markus Luna, the father of the bride-to-be, Amira Luna."
Nobody in the venue were ignorant of his identity, but nobody dared talk.
"As most of you already know, my daughter and her future husband have had a special relationship since they were children. They were inseparable."
Markus wet his lips and continued.
"They've been engaged for a little less than six months already but only now could we hold a formal celebration for this joyous news. I don't have much more to say other than this to the future groom, take care of my daughter."
A resounding applause. Many were moved by his heartfelt expression while the few who knew his real face shivered. He really looked like someone who would throw away everything for his daughter.
Even Sebastian and Amy felt the hairs on their body standing.
"Jonathan, my long time friend, do you have anything you'd like to add?"
Markus turned around and made eye contact with Jonathan who held Clarice's hand.
Jonathan inwardly scowled at Markus' mischievous smile.
Long time friend? Eternal enemies was a better term.
Markus knew that Jonathan wasn't one for words and now, he put him on the spot. If he were to reject him, then it would seem as if he were against the engagement.
"You're right."
Jonathan stepped forward and left Clarice in the care of one of her attendants. Markus took a step back and Jonathan took his place.
"I thank everyone for attending my son and his fiancée's engagement party."
Sebastian sucked in a breath.
"While there have been many troubles in their path, they have finally reached this point and... that's something they can take pride in."
Clarice tearfully listened to Jonathan's every word. Though she was only a mistress, Jonathan treasured her and she wanted her son to feel the same.
"...A toast! To the future bride and groom!"
Clarice froze. Sebastian froze. Everyone froze.
Jonathan had suddenly raised his wine glass and offered a toast without so much as even a sign. The guests quickly raised their hands and scrambled to toast.
"""To the future bride and groom!"""
After a few seconds of awkward silence, Jonathan's toast was finally returned. He nodded in satisfaction and headed back to Clarice's side. He didn't forget to give Sebastian one last look as he did so.
"Lord Sol... is amazing, in a way."
"Haha..."
Sebastian couldn't help but give a wry laugh. Now that he thought about it, Jonathan probably hadn't ignored him all those years on purpose.
He must not have known what to do.
'All of my siblings were willful and expressed what they wanted but I stayed silent.'
Part of it had to do with his hair being black and his half-siblings having red though they shared the same blood and the rest would be because of his meek personality.
'Well, it's just a speculation.'
Sebastian shrugged it off. There was no use dwelling on the past, what's important is the present and future.
It was because of his black hair and meek personality that helped him get along with Amy. Black hair was a characteristic that very few houses had, and the House of Luna was one of those houses. Excluding Inheritors, it was fairly common among commoners.
When Amy had gone along for a visit, she encountered Sebastian who had the same hair color as her despite being from a different family and that was the reason they had managed to hit it off.
'In a sense, it's because I was ignored did I met Amy.'
Sebastian reached out to Amy and put his nose against her hair.
"W-what is it?"
They were on top of the stage for all to see yet here he was, sniffing her hair in public.
"Nothing. I just love your long hair."
"..."
Amy looked at Sebastian oddly but took it as another one of his weird whims and decided to ignore him.
This day, their engagement finally became official. Acknowledged by both their family and the kingdom.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
SeverTheHeavens
SeverTheHeavens I forgot to schedule the chapter and fell asleep.
Well, with this, Volume 3: The World's Enemy has officially started! (Applause)
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
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