VIP Chapter 66: Smile
“Now? Alright… I didn’t expect Mr. Carver to be impatient.”
“I’m not impatient, it’s just…”
Carver glanced behind Queen Anna.
Eugenie had already blended into the social circle of others, but Treaia…
She stood with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable, yet her eyes kept drifting towards Will’s direction as she took small steps.
Will smiled and waved at her.
“Princess Treya seems to be the one who’s impatient.”
The moment Treya realized Will was looking at her, as if to cover something up, she immediately averted her gaze elsewhere, pretending nothing had happened.
That made sense.
In this complicated setting, it wasn’t the right time for them to make eye contact.
Will shifted his gaze slightly and saw Eugenie, arms crossed, watching with the attitude of an observer, tinged with some jealousy towards Treaia, anticipating Will’s next angry move.
After all, Eugenie was not a seasoned adult. Despite planning so much behind the scenes, most of her emotions were displayed on her face.
Anna also noticed Treaia’s unusual behavior.
“It’s rare for Treaia to be very interested in someone.”
“Oh dear, maybe it just proves the two children are quite destined?”
But…
Carver watched Will’s actions, as if he had already guessed something, and smiled with understanding.
“In such a formal occasion, both of you must attend. Come along.”
Anna waved at the two, signaling them to follow.
“First… Sir, was that you at the training ground before?”
Treya, holding her slightly long dress, followed behind Will, asking him cautiously as if afraid of making a mistake.
“Hm? From the sound of it, you mean… you didn’t recognize me?”
“I’m a bit face-blind. I might not remember people I meet for the first time. I apologize if I caused any disturbance.”
“Yes, it was me.” Will nodded. “If you’re face-blind, then how did you come up and ask me?”
Treya pointed to her eyes.
“Your glasses. I still remember the same glasses.”
“…I see.”
It seemed that the flaw Carver had passed down to him was occasionally useful.
They followed Anna up the steps to the banquet hall. Anna was a queen who cared about appearances. Even though they weren’t her own children, she seemed to want the engagement announcement to be grander.
“So… Sir, you are my fiancé, right?”
Treya, following behind Will, asked in disbelief.
But given the current situation…
From Anna’s behavior and his own actions…
It was confirmed.
This person, who she believed from the moment he appeared was trying to provoke her and her sister, who spoke so many bad words to her, and who pretended to know sword skills and tricked her…
The black-hearted fellow.
Was her fiancé?
In Treya’s fourteen years of life, it was the first time she experienced the collision of ideals and reality.
She… hated this guy.
He was the first person she hated.
Why would her long-awaited fiancé be this kind of person—
“In about five minutes, yes. But, in about ten minutes, no.”
“Hm? What is this…”
Before Treya could finish her question, Anna was already on the raised platform. Although there were no amplification devices, Anna, being a former singer, used the height difference and the acoustics of the vast banquet hall to make her voice carry over the hushed whispers of the guests.
“Everyone, please be quiet. Welcome to this banquet hosted by the royal family. I’m sure you’ve made many new friends here. We are pleased that leaders from all walks of life have accepted our invitation. On behalf of the royal family, I’d like to offer everyone a toast.”
Will observed Treya’s expression.
Of course…
She had no expression.
However, at this moment, Treya chose to listen to her mother speak, not looking at him, which perhaps indicated something…
Like she already disliked him during their encounter at the training ground today?
“So, today we have an announcement to make to everyone.”
“Considering the future development of the royal family and the need for greater attention to exploring the dungeon domain, we have decided…”
Anna paused here deliberately.
“The Entak Royal Family and Will Hysterm, the young master of the Hysterm Family, will be engaged to strengthen our respective forces.”
Upon hearing this, the hall first fell silent, then polite applause was given to the two.
The applause was sparse, and it sounded like the guests weren’t particularly enthusiastic.
Anna’s expression was grim, while Carver, who stood with his arms crossed watching the show, maintained his usual social smile.
As expected, the Hysterm Family and the Royal Family were both powerful, and they had been in a cold war. If the Hysterms hadn’t made this move, it might have helped to balance the politically dominant Entak family.
But this way, it would only lead to a monopoly and make them even stronger.
However, there would surely be conflicts between the two families afterward.
As for who would ultimately assimilate whom, it would depend on the abilities of both sides.
“Good. That’s all for the public announcement. For those within the family… would you two like to get acquainted?”
Oh right.
—There were two pawns caught between the two biggest powers on stage, about to face each other!
“Treya, Treya Entak.”
Treya turned, and judging by the stiffness of her movements and her eyes darting elsewhere instead of looking directly at Will, it was evident she was extremely unwilling.
“Then, let me formally introduce myself.”
Will extended his right hand. Unlike Treya’s slight resistance, he showed friendliness.
“Will Hysterm, it’s a pleasure to meet you today.”
Will displayed the brightest and gentlest smile he had managed in his fourteen years.
Treya was taken aback.
However, she remembered that although her fiancé had ill intentions, using her sister and father to provoke her, and casually giving her sword skill advice as an amateur…
He had always smiled at her.
What a weirdo.
This “black-hearted” villain, a liar full of falsehoods, a ruffian in a suit, could still smile so brightly at her at a time like this.
Treya recalled what her sister Eugenie had told her: when meeting her fiancé, at least smile.
That was true. Although she didn’t really like him, it was part of etiquette.
And since he had fulfilled his part of the etiquette.
Then, as a princess who valued etiquette even more, she naturally had to…
Treya took a deep breath, gripping Will’s palm as if holding a sword hilt, causing him to frown slightly. Then, she raised her head—
She forced the corners of her mouth up, managing a smile.
Will almost couldn’t contain himself. The smile was too strained, as if her facial muscles were uncoordinated, looking fake from every angle.
In a way, this princess’s smile could compete for an alternative Mona Lisa smile; she was smiling, yet not smiling from any perspective.
He finally understood why Treya rarely smiled in public; she genuinely didn’t know how!
Will deliberately glanced towards Eugenie in the audience.
She couldn’t help but cover her mouth, laughing more heartily than anyone else.
Alright, Will knew who had come up with that terrible idea.
Eugenie, you wouldn’t try to sabotage Treya’s first impression with her fiancé, would you?
Just…
Will looked at the “forced smile for her fiancé.”
She truly revealed an unexpected seriousness amidst her clumsiness.
“This makes it a little difficult for me to say what I’m about to say.”
“Hm?”
Will released his right hand, but instead of withdrawing it, he raised it, addressing both Treya and the guests below.
“Miss Treya, I am honored to have this engagement with the royal family. However, there is a question I would like to ask.”
