Her delicately curved lips uttered an unbelievable statement.

“Eloise… He proposed to me.”

Eloise felt her heart sink with shock.

Her sister’s hand was hot and trembling.

However, what was visible on Sarah’s face when Eloise looked up was not anxiety. Rather…

“Are you joking?”

Even as she asked habitually, Eloise knew better than anyone. Her sister was not the type to make such jokes.

“Oh, Eloise…”

As Sarah trailed off, holding her trembling breath, at that moment, as if on cue, the sisters embraced each other and let out an ecstatic scream.

That loud and joyful scream continued for a while before ending in breathless laughter.

It felt just like they had returned to their childhood.

Sarah’s body rose and fell slightly as she caught her breath. She must have been feeling a mix of emotions.

Instead of asking various questions, Eloise hugged her sister a little tighter. Then, while gently patting her slender back, she whispered kindly.

“Congratulations, Sally. I mean it. I’m really happy for you.”

“Eloise, are you alright…”

Just then, with a cheerful knock, Mrs. Hurst’s voice was heard.

“Breakfast is ready. Come down quickly!”

“…Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”

Sarah, who had quickly risen, turned to look at Eloise.

“Let’s go, Eloise. They’ll be waiting.”

“…”

However, Eloise just stared blankly at her sister’s face, which had a faint blush.

‘Was she about to ask if I was alright just now?’

Alright about what?

That Lord Ansel proposed to her sister instead of me?

‘I don’t think my sister ever noticed my feelings. Though Archie might have, being so perceptive…’

Eloise, rubbing her face with complicated feelings, concluded this way.

She must be worried about me being left alone. My sister still sees me as a child left by the water’s edge.

But I already knew. That such a day would come someday.

“Eloise?”

“…Yeah. Let’s go down.”

Eloise got up, grasping the outstretched hand. The warmth of their joined hands was comforting.

As expected, this morning’s atmosphere was more excited than usual.

At the center of it was Mr. Bailey, who was in the midst of a long story while biting into an apple he held.

He talked incessantly about Sarah’s engagement, saying they had decided to skip the engagement ceremony and hold the wedding in three months, that the ring he had prepared would arrive tomorrow and it was a renowned masterpiece even in the capital Brightnem.

He particularly elaborated on how Ansel’s voice was extremely polite when asking for his daughter’s hand, yet his eyes were burning with passion.

He also joked that when he asked Sarah about her thoughts on marriage after Ansel left, he had never seen her answer so quickly in his life.

“The wedding venue will naturally be in Brightnem, right, dear?”

“Ah, the Blaine family prefers the capital. But they said if the bride’s side wishes, they’re fine with holding the ceremony here. Of course, I said we want that, so he said he’ll try to persuade his grandfather to allow the ceremony at Fairmont House.”

“My, how kind of him!”

“Seeing him rush through the night to ask for permission to marry touched my heart. He’s a handsome young man and the sole heir of a prestigious noble family, so he should be able to make our Sally happy for life. By now, he’s probably already discussing the marriage with the Earl.”

Mr. Bailey’s mouth was busy throughout the meal, clearly excited.

The main topics were praise for Ansel Blaine and celebration of this wonderful marriage.

“I hope our Sarah won’t be disliked, dear? Since we don’t have much of a dowry…”

“Oh, darling! Who could possibly dislike this lovely lady? Even if problems arise, Lord Ansel will protect Sally. You should have seen him say he wanted to hold the ceremony right away if he could. There wasn’t even a hint of laughter in his voice!”

His pronunciation was occasionally slurred from crunching the apple throughout his speech, perhaps due to lingering tension, but Mrs. Bailey smiled in relief instead of nagging.

It was a benevolent smile that had rarely been seen since their family fortunes declined.

“How does it feel to have completely captivated that fine gentleman, my dear? A love cherished for over a decade, it somewhat reminds me of my younger days.”

“Three months isn’t quite enough time to make a dress, but with Mrs. Hurst’s help, don’t worry. We’ll make you the prettiest dress in this kingdom.”

The couple looked at their beautiful and gentle daughter Sarah with eyes full of love and joy.

Seeing their eldest daughter, who had grown into an excellent lady and was now engaged to a gentleman far beyond their family’s station, the wife clasped her hands, seemingly overcome with emotion.

“Oh, this is truly a joyous occasion! Did you know he was going to propose, my dear?”

“No, Mother. I had no idea…”

Sarah trailed off, lowering her gaze to her cup.

Her ears, visible through her golden hair, were as red as if dyed with flower petals.

The wife’s happy gaze soon shifted to her younger daughter.

“Eloise, you tell us. You must have known, right? Your sister is so gentle, you know, and not very perceptive.”

Eloise answered without hesitation.

“Of course. He had always been interested in my sister. I even thought he might propose as soon as he came of age.”

“Oh my!”

“I knew it!”

The couple clapped their hands together, their eyes shining.

Today, they could pass for the finest couple in the Kingdom of Wellington.

“That’s not to say I wasn’t surprised. But that was because I thought his family would never allow it, not because I doubted Lord Ansel’s feelings.”

“…”

The couple fell silent, as if agreeing with those words. Eloise added with a bright face.

“I guess the proposal was delayed because he was trying to persuade his family all this time.”

“Yes, that must have been it. It couldn’t have been easy for him either.”

“Well, not just his grandfather, but I hear his father in the capital is quite stubborn too? The servants at Longfield were all wagging their tongues about it.”

“The Viscount in the capital, right? I heard he got that title thanks to his wife’s family, yet it’s only his son who regularly shows his face at Longfield.”

“There seems to be a complicated story there, dear. As with all noble families, I suppose.”

“My goodness, I thought I had said goodbye to the noble world for good when I married you, but by giving birth to such a beautiful daughter, we’ve become entangled with a noble family again. Fate is truly capricious…”

The wife sighed softly, cupping her cheeks.

Her face showed a strange mix of worry and anticipation.

“I’m worried because all our dresses are so old. I fear we’ll be laughed at.”

“Oh, nonsense, dear. Your every step is as graceful as an angel’s. I guarantee you, no noble, no matter how grand, could laugh at your elegance. They might admire it, if anything.”

Mr. Bailey quickly pressed his lips to his wife’s hand.

“Why else would Eloise call you Your Majesty the Queen?”

While the couple exchanged trivial conversation, the protagonist of this surprising proposal sat silently, her long golden eyelashes lowered.

Her face was blank, as if she couldn’t quite believe it yet.

“You know, until now, I had no intention of giving my sister away to anyone.”

Eloise wrapped her arms around Sarah’s back and rested her forehead on her sister’s shoulder.

“But this time is different. Of course, I still think you’re too precious, but if it’s him…”

“…”

Sarah let out a small laugh, seeming somewhat relieved.

“There are still three months left, you know.”

“…You’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world. I promise.”

With those whispered words, Eloise buried her face in Sarah’s embrace, feeling a gentle hand stroking her back.

Golden dust peacefully floated around them.

As soon as the long breakfast was over, Mr. Bailey sent the coachman to Fairmont House.

It was to ask if they could join for lunch today.

Soon after, when the coachman returned with a letter containing the Earl’s lunch invitation, the entire household was thrown into complete excitement.

“Dear! Take that off right now and wear this!”

“Alright!”

“And take a look at my hair ornament. Is the pearl better? Or this feather decoration…”

“Both are perfect, but I prefer the pearl.”

At those words, Mrs. Bailey quickly grabbed the pearl headband and shouted towards the second floor, quite unlike her usual self.

“Girls! We need to leave now! We’ll be back before dinner, ma’am.”

“Yes, have a safe trip.”

Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps coming down the stairs echoed behind the wife as she headed out the door.

Only Sarah came out to the garden.

“Sarah, where’s Eloise? The Earl invited all of us.”

“Eloise says she’s not feeling well, Mother.”

“What? But today is the day our two families are forming a connection!”

“I tried to persuade her too, but she says she was up all night. She looked so weak, as if she might fall asleep any moment, so I think going to Longfield would be too much for her.”

Only then did the wife remember that Eloise had not looked well all morning, and she mumbled her lips.

“But still… This is a matter of courtesy to the invitation…”

“Please let her rest, Mother.”

Sarah’s hand, clad in thin gloves, gently wrapped around her mother’s arm.

“I’ll explain it well to the Earl.”

“…Alright, dear.”

These sisters are just impossible to handle.

Muttering as if she couldn’t win, the wife got into the carriage with Mr. Bailey’s help. Sarah followed, escorted by the coachman.

At that time, Eloise was watching the carriage leave through the small window by her bedhead.

Only after the horses and carriage had disappeared into a small dot did Eloise crawl back into bed, staggering.

Her head was dizzy and she felt weak. Well, she had reason to be exhausted.

She hadn’t slept properly, had a strange experience as if dreaming, and something she thought would never happen had become reality right before her eyes.

And all of this had happened just this morning.

“Haa…”

Her mind was in complete turmoil. She closed her eyes, wanting to just fall asleep, but strangely, tears came.

Eloise didn’t even have the energy to wipe them away, so she just let them flow. Soon, uncontrollable sobs burst forth.

“Uh, hic…”

Even biting her lip in bewilderment didn’t help, so Eloise cried silently, like the rain that had fallen all night.

She liked him, but not enough to compare to her sister and family.

Moreover, it was an incredibly joyous thing that her beloved sister would spend her life with the person she had longed for.

This was her sincere feeling.

So right now, I’m shedding tears of joy. Nothing sad has happened. Eloise decided to think that way.