The king's private meeting room is thankfully a normally sized room. The furniture are mainly made of stained wood, and the walls are covered in row after row of filled book shelves. It almost seems more like a library, but these are likely records, speeches and other things the king would need for diplomacy, or preparing for diplomacy.

The room is still grand though, despite mostly being book shelves, as it connects straight to a balcony, which itself is large enough to hold a meeting outdoors if needed. I assume it also doubles as a little piece of garden. Yes, I am painfully serious. That is how many pots of plants and flower beds there are out there.

So... about the current situation. I am really not sure why both Eric and I need to be present. Neither why... Alstair... is. Furthermore, this time it's up close so a beginning paranoia is beginning to work its way through my mind.

Finally off the podium one of the king's strands of blonde hair slides out of its smoothed back position. Honestly, his mask just came off, and all I see now is annoyance on a face I assume would be taken as handsome for his age. A couple of the strands shimmer silver as he leans forward in his chair, almost menacingly. The gap between this and his generous attitude before reminds me of Alstair.

"So, Lord Celeste. Why had you not told me of Augustus?"

His Majesty's face scrunched into a grimace, and his silvery eyes shimmer with suspicion.

I learned two things.

His Majesty considered Father close enough to complain to him... or at him... but didn't care enough for him to use his given name. As such, I instinctively ended up glancing to Eric. Eric had always been by Alstair's side in the novel, but I couldn't remember if Alstair ever called Eric by name when they got older.

"I never saw the need, your Majesty."

My Father responded calmly, as if the king's behavior was the usual, or expected. No, even if Father had kept a son like this hidden, it was unexpected for the king to be this angry. Was the king thinking I would have been a threat to the throne? I do suppose I showed mass healing magic during the battles... but would something like that be enough?

The king leaned back in his heavy chair and slowly crossed his arm, while inspecting me with hints of greed in his eyes. I don't like those eyes. Etiquette in my former life demands that we do never obsess over money, but over glory instead. Those with greed are seen as... well... commoners.

"So, what country are you marrying him away to?"

The irritation on his Majesty's face grew. I can imagine that he was probably worried it was either an enemy or competition.

"I am not..."

My Father hesitated for a long breath before he continued.

"Augustus cannot sire children." Sire?

...

HAH!

I press my lips together lightly as I hear those words so as not to actually laugh or smile. It's a brilliant truth and deception in one, and with Father's frown caused by his Majesty's displeasure it comes off as if he's irritated about it. It is a truly brilliant diversion, I mustn't ruin it by laughing, but my muscles tighten up none the less.

His Majesty's brows furrow and he turns his eyes to me. I, of course, lower my eyes to the carpet at my feet. Oh god, don't look at me, I'll break. Oh god, to think Father would play it so close to the truth. I don't have time to be amused with it, I need to confirm my Father's words.

"Due to... certain circumstances... they are not there..." I let my voice drift off at the end as I gasp the breath nearly turning into a laugh. The certain circumstance being that I'm a lady.

I glance up cautiously, still trying to hide my amusement.

His Majesty's face has fallen into a round eyed and brows furrowed grimace with his lips pressing together. Meanwhile Alstair shifts uncomfortably and can't look at me at all. I can even see his hands clenching and a visible shiver crawling through him. They're thinking of how you lose those, and how painful that would be... and it's showing all over their faces. Alstair looks like he wants to cover his crotch just from the imaginary pain. They're in plain shock and don't know how to respond, it's so painfully obvious I nearly crack again and turn my eyes back down at the floor.

Ah... my eyes are tearing up from holding it in, no no no, I can't laugh. No matter how stupid their faces look or how silly this situation is, I mustn't laugh. Shoulders! Stop shaking!

The men from my former life always cringed just a little when the subject of losing that or those came up in war stories, so I just instinctively went for those, since that is the most painful from what I heard. Since it was uncomfortable to hear, I made a bet that they wouldn't want to even ask about it. I didn't think that they'd react this vividly!

I try to blink the tear away as his Majesty clears his throat uncomfortably.

"A...ah... I see... you'll have no choice but to feint an heir..."

The king already made assumptions, but my Father's answer came like salt to an opened wound.

"We cannot do such an immoral act with our rank, your Majesty. Augustus' healing magic will not be inherited either."

It was the finishing blow. His highness had gifted me the mansion with hopes that Augustus' family line would show loyalty to him. I want to see his expression so badly. Just the horror and shock he'll show because he didn't research these things first!

Oh god, breathe. Breathe. Stop imagining things that'll make my own condition worse.

There was no answer, so instead Father took control of the situation.

"If your majesty has no further questions, I will proceed to the subject I wished to discuss."

Thankfully, since the king didn't respond I had time to collect myself before Father delivered the next line without any hesitance.

"I would like to annul the engagement between Lily and his Highness Alstair."

Eh?

WHAT?!

No, don't misunderstand. This is exactly what I want, but why is Father requesting this? Didn't he just go through all of that to get Augustus out of his Majesty's eyes? No, the loss of the engagement wouldn't be a good deal for us. Since I was Alstair's fiance, we had multiple opportunities go our way because everyone else were trying to suck up to the future queen. Furthermore, the king has just spent a lot of effort in trying to tie our families together. There's no way he'd accept something to pull us further apart.

There was no remains of the laughter in my body, as I looked up at Father cautiously, then to his Majesty that was as surprised as I was.

"Before anything else, the engagement was made because we had not seen battle for decades. Because of the siege, there is no longer any need for such a gesture from your Majesty, or his Highness, who can choose a more suitable partner."

No, even then I am still a rather suitable partner. Something like this isn't going to convince them. Alstair isn't in love with anyone, and I am considered the most blessed of the girls around his age.

"Lily is a fine partner. They may have had their disagreements, but nothing that would make her unsuitable for him," the king defends the engagement. Father doesn't budge.

"As it is, Lily received multiple injuries during the siege. She won't be able to wear anything that doesn't cover her up to the neck if she is to hide her scars, and she is suffering greatly from nightmares every night from the horrors she saw."

Ah....

He's not wrong. I have been suffering from countless nightmares. The situation in the observation tower has haunted me... and because of that I remembered multiple horrid memories from my past as well. It's fine, really... it'll be over in a couple of weeks. However, the expressions on the king and Alstair's faces scrunch together at the words.

"How many scars?" I expected him to reject it fully, but instead his expression darkens.

"After making her personal maid count multiple times... 53 scars."

53? I'd counted it to around 20?... ah, they were counting the scars that would fade over time as well. Still, it sounds a lot worse than it felt-

What is with that expression?

Why do you look like I just died? Alstair's eyes fill with horror and anguish? Like he's in pain... He even goes as far as to cover his mouth. The king's face appears to have lost color as well. What in the world are you imagining?

"That's..." Alstair doesn't manage to answer, but the king does:

"In that case all the more reason not to break the engagement. She will never find a fiance in such a condition... Alstair is a gentleman, he will treat her well." His voice fades at the end though. He pushed all the responsibility onto Alstair. Father doesn't relent though.

"To be quite frank, your Majesty. We are still unsure whether she can still birth a child. Furthermore, I believe she will detest being looked upon with pity. She would prefer remaining a maiden over being pitied."

I did get a few stabs in that area, that is true. It should be fine though as I healed it after and didn't let it heal up wrong. Not that I'll tell them that. Father appears to be sincerely trying to convince the king to annul the engagement.

Father then uses the trump card I didn't consider.

"Furthermore, there is a much more suitable partner to his Highness... During the siege a young girl blessed by a fairy of light was discovered. She appears to be eight years old, as with your highness."

The king perks up at those news.

"Was she not a commoner?" So he'd heard of it.

"She is the illegitimate child of Baron Talwen, who has taken her in. She will likely be hidden until she enters the Magic Academy, however, if you covertly provide Queen's training until then, then she should be quite ready to take the throne when needed."

He was totally using the Heroine as a sacrifice! But, wasn't this beginning to diverge too much from the original story? If she was engaged to the prince now, then wouldn't I be safe?

I perk up a bit and follow the conversation closely. To think that I'd get unexpected assistance from Father about this.

The king goes quiet at Father's brilliant suggestion, and even Alstair looks fascinated.

"What is she like?"

Alstair is the one to ask.

"Determined innocent cute kitten."

I respond calmly while trying to change my voice just a little. Alstair stares at me since I spoke up... but I didn't really have a choice. I was the only one that had met her.

"She is definitely your type, your Highness," Eric backs me up.

The room went quiet for a painfully long time... and then...

"You surely seem to have your arguments prepared, Lord Celeste. However, we cannot just annul the agreement for such a reason, or it will seem we are insulting House Celeste. In turn, how about this. If Lily cannot birth children, or if Alstair ends up preferring Baron Talwen's daughter, then we will annul the engagement," the king offers. However, this is problematic for me.

"With what excuse?"

I ask out before Father can agree to the deal.

They go quiet again, and I know why. There were probably plans for making it seem like it was our fault. I want to click my tongue. Things nearly ended up back on track there.

I want to sigh.

"Then, how about this: His highness finds 'true love' and our side annul the engagement because of this. As compensation, would the Semper Augustus Mansion be enough?"

I realize that I likely speak out of turn, but this way both sides take about equal damage. Our side take the monetary damage, and the Royal family takes a little bit of damage for 'infidelity' that isn't really 'infidelity' but also gets the bonus for 'true love'. Since it also gives them a bit of bonus, I assume that the Mansion the king gave me as a reward might just be enough.

The King's eyes round with shock, Alstair's as well. Glancing to Father and Eric they look satisfied.

"Are you okay with this? The Semper Augustus Mansion could provide you money for a lifetime without service." The king expresses his shock, and I admit... I am shocked too... what kind of valuable thing did you just give a child?! No wonder the nobles were all shocked!

"It is fine," I respond plainly. It is not as though I would have gotten to use the mansion anyway. For there was never anyone named 'Augustus'. The less trace there is of him, the better.

"...Very well..." The king agrees to the condition and appears to think the conversation is over.

"I believe the agreement should be written down, your Majesty."

Father stops the king from getting up. Father appeared to have noticed the problem with the agreement after I mentioned specifying the reason for the broken engagement. His lips are pressed together, probably irritated that the king tried to manipulate him.

The king looks as though he is about to say something like 'you do not trust me?', but pulls it back. He probably realized that would be bad from the collective slightly annoyed stares of all three of us. Even Eric looks annoyed after all.

In the end the contract is signed. Now all I have to do is to make sure that Alstair falls for her when the time comes. Of course, he could stick with me, but I honestly doubt that will happen. I personally don't like him, and I doubt he likes me either. Since Eric just mentioned Alstair's type, I am pretty sure I do not fall into it.

We walk out, and my steps feel light. I might actually start looking forward to the academy now.