"I know what's here. I don't know who you are, sir... But there's something I really want to say." "..." "I love you. Please marry me... after I grow up." "...!?"
As Yuri uttered these words with a smile, the church quickly turned into a frenzy. Marry her!? Was that a proposal just now? Was that what it was? Charlotte and Yuliana, taken aback, had to pinch each other's cheeks to check if this was a dream or reality.
'But more importantly, there’s only one person here who could be the dark-haired gentleman...'
Yuri claimed she didn’t know who it was, but the only people present were women... except for Aslan.
If the dark-haired gentleman is here, it has to be Aslan! Isn’t that too obvious?
"Then..."
Enjoying the crowd's reaction, Yuri slowly turned back to face Aslan. With a bright smile still on her face, she looked up into the bewildered Aslan's eyes.
"That's all I wanted to say. Please proceed with the coming-of-age ceremony, Count." "..."
Yuri casually called Aslan 'Count,' as if nothing was amiss. Aslan chuckled awkwardly, clearly caught off guard.
It's clear that Yuri has figured out my identity... What is she trying to do now? Pretend she doesn’t know? After declaring to the whole world that she's caught on, now she acts this way?
Despite the absurdity of the situation, I couldn’t exactly press her why she was pretending not to know. Doing so would be to disgrace myself, revealing my own identity in the most shameful way. Aslan was forced to swallow his pride with a bitter smile.
"Very well. I shall oversee your coming-of-age ceremony as your guardian." "Hmm. I was hoping the dark-haired gentleman would take that role." "..."
Grinning unabashedly, Yuri continued to gaze up at Aslan. The more she looked at him with that questioning look, the harder it was for him to contain his laughter.
What’s the big idea? It's obvious. You want me to reveal that I'm the dark-haired gentleman myself. You're desperate to have me disclose it, but your pride won't let you do it directly.
'Can you really hold yourself back?'
I just proposed to the dark-haired gentleman, not Count Aslan Vermont. To accept my proposal, you inevitably have to reveal your identity... Can you really do that?
Yuri felt her heart pounding with anticipation.
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"Well, if the dark-haired gentleman isn't going to step forward, I guess it's alright if the Count takes over." "..."
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Did I push too hard all at once? I decided to give him a moment to breathe. Aslan closed his eyes for a while, then let out a small sigh.
"Alright. Let us begin the ceremony, marking your transition into an age where you can take responsibility for your own choices."
How far will you go with your pride? Fine, I’ll take up that challenge. Clenching his teeth, Aslan continued the ceremony as if nothing was amiss.
The baptismal coming-of-age ceremony ended without incident. It's still a grey area to call her an adult, but she’s definitely no longer a child.
It is common among nobility to engage at the coming-of-age ceremony. It’s too early for marriage, but to avoid others meddling, it's like making a reservation in advance.
Yuri, being a match for any worthy suitor, would surely attract a pack of wolves, so it seemed wise to get engaged sooner rather than later...
"Never thought I’d receive a proposal instead..." [The evil god, 'Kalri,' sheds tears of emotion!]
Who could have imagined receiving a proposal on the day of the ceremony, even before it had officially started? It was expected that Yuri would uncover my identity, but everything that followed completely deviated from my calculations.
"So, you want me to reveal my identity to get engaged..." It was clear why Yuri hadn’t spelled it out despite knowing my identity. She had noticed that I wanted to be caught. She deliberately refrained from revealing it herself, making me do it through the bait of engagement.
What a trap she set, using engagement as the lure. To engage with Yuri, I'd have to reveal my identity.
"Argh, °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° this is driving me crazy. Pride or engagement. I have to choose one..." [The evil god, 'Kalri,' suggests discarding what little dignity you have left, as it's as good as trash anyway.]
My dignity is trash? Are you serious? Considering the vast reputation and dignity I’ve built with great effort, it’s not a decision I can make lightly.
Do I fulfill my desire to get engaged to Yuri right now, or do I maintain the image of a cold and competent Count that I’ve created? It's a choice between the two...
"Ah. Wait. Do I really need to choose just one?"
An incredible idea suddenly struck me. ... ... ... "Hehehe... Hahaha..."
Imperial Magic Academy dormitory. Lying on her bed, clutching her pillow, Yuri couldn’t stop her legs from kicking joyfully.
"Aslan Vermont was the dark-haired gentleman..."
These were the two men who had troubled me recently. I was in love with the dark-haired gentleman. I could only meet the dark-haired gentleman and truly know his identity after three years. But it was Aslan Vermont who was pestering me now.
While Aslan Vermont wasn’t entirely disagreeable, realizing they were the same person had complicated my feelings. Now that I knew they were one and the same, I didn't need to agonize over it anymore.
"Ah...!"
Yuri felt a sense of relief and exhilaration, unable to contain the joyful screams.
The reason I suspected Aslan Vermont was the dark-haired gentleman? At first, it seemed like a baseless intuition. But now, I understand. It wasn’t just a simple hunch; unconsciously, I had noticed how much the two men resembled each other.
In the realm of consciousness, there was a great disparity between Aslan Vermont and the dark-haired gentleman. But in the unbiased world of the subconscious, a more objective comparison was possible, and that intuition manifested itself.
In retrospect, it seems strange that I hadn't considered the possibility that Aslan Vermont might be the dark-haired gentleman. After that time, although he seldom wore suits, their builds were identical, and their silhouettes from behind matched...
"Ah. That wonderful person was Aslan Vermont..."
With the mystery solved, the illusion was completely shattered. I could no longer imagine the gentle, sturdy, and dignified dark-haired gentleman. But the opposite was also true. I could no longer conjure up the image of a frivolous and sinister Aslan Vermont. No matter how hard I tried, the image of the kind and impressive dark-haired gentleman overlapped with that of Aslan Vermont.
What is this all about...? Surely one of their images should have collapsed? Why are they superimposing over each other instead...? Yuri felt utterly confused.
"Huh? A letter?"
Just then, someone knocked on the door, and an envelope slid under it.
A very familiar envelope... Of course, it was from the dark-haired gentleman. Yuri picked up the envelope, puzzled.
"Well, now that I know it's from Aslan Vermont, there’s no need to open it carefully..." Just as Yuri was about to tear open the envelope roughly, her hand stopped as if it had caught on something.
Hmm... Maybe I'll carefully open just this letter and keep it neatly in my drawer... Yuri decided to change her approach and took out a knife to gently extract the contents.
"Congratulations, Yuri. You've finally undergone your coming-of-age ceremony and shed your childish image. Some say it marks the age when one can take responsibility for their own decisions. In that sense, your proposal is not something to be taken lightly. Traditionally, such matters are proposed by men... But yes. I accept your proposal. The engagement ring is with Count Vermont, come to the mansion to receive it."
"Ha!?" Yuri exclaimed in astonishment. What is this man saying!? Is he accepting the proposal through a letter? Written engagement? Is that what this is?
"This petty man is really...!" Using such a sordid tactic because he doesn't want to reveal his identity himself! Who’s the child, and who’s the adult here? Yuri tapped her forehead, unable to stop the incredulous laughter escaping her.