Meteor doubted his ears.
If he hadn’t misheard, his mother had just said, “Sienna will soon be engaged to Meteor.”
Was she referring to him?
Engaged? This was the first he’d heard of it.
As he passed Crescent, Meteor confirmed again.
“Are you saying I’m getting engaged?”
Rearwin chuckled softly.
“Surprised, Metty? Of course, you should get engaged.”
“...”
Meteor was at a loss for words.
He alternated his gaze between his mother and the girl named Sienna.
Engagement... all of a sudden?
He’d always known, somewhere in the back of his mind, that one day he would marry someone chosen by the family. That’s just how things were done.
But that was before the Demon King returned.
Now that the world had become overrun with Magi, marriage seemed like an entirely different matter—far removed from reality.
“Mother. I could die at any moment. And you want me to get engaged?”
“!”
Everyone in the dining hall flinched at his words.
It was a truth they all knew but avoided acknowledging out loud.
No one knew when their time would come.
It wouldn’t even be surprising if Magi appeared this very moment and consumed the dining hall.
Especially for Meteor, a holy knight who fought on the frontlines.
Rearwin’s expression grew a touch more stern.
“All the more reason to live boldly and happily, wouldn’t you agree? If we give in to the Magi and forsake engagements or marriages, wouldn’t that be even more unjust? Besides, as a holy knight, it’s your duty to produce as many descendants as possible. You know that.”
“...”
Meteor opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it again. He was at a loss for words.
Holy power was passed down genetically, which was why holy knights married early and had children.
In times like these, increasing the number of holy knights was crucial.
But even so, he was only fifteen. The girl his mother had brought as his betrothed seemed to be around the same age.
Marriage and children were things he had never even imagined before.
Rearwin seemed to sense his discomfort immediately.
“Of course, I’m not asking you to get married right away. But, Meteor, you’ve been away from home for six years. It’s time you made a commitment. I understand that your focus on training might have made household matters feel sudden. But as the heir, it’s time for you to fulfill your duties.”
Rearwin smiled gently, an almost wistful expression meant to persuade her son.
Faced with that smile, Meteor found himself unable to argue.
It was too logical, too inevitable.
After a moment of silence, Rearwin clapped her hands, breaking the tension.
“Metty, Centi? Come, sit down. We’ve kept Sienna standing for too long.”
“Oh, no, Madam,” Sienna replied with a soft, polite voice.
Rearwin beamed at Sienna before continuing as if she’d just remembered something.
“Oh, right, I was introducing Crescent to you earlier, wasn’t I? As you know, this is Crescent, who recently became part of our family.”
Sienna turned to Crescent with a radiant smile, as if her very presence carried a sweet fragrance.
“Who doesn’t know Crescent Delight? It’s an honor to meet you. My name is Sienna Tudor.”
“An honor? Please, the pleasure is mine, Sienna. Just call me Crescent.”
“Thank you, Crescent.”
Sienna smiled, her eyes curving gracefully.
Crescent couldn’t shake the feeling that an aura of sweetness surrounded Sienna.
Rearwin watched the two with satisfaction before turning her attention back to Meteor.
“And now, it’s time to introduce an important connection. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have you all together in one place. Meteor, this is Sienna, your fiancée. She tells me she has admired you for a long time.”
Sienna covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.
“Oh, you flatter me. Is there a single lady in the empire who doesn’t look up to Meteor? You dedicate yourself to protecting the powerless every day.”
“What a lovely way with words,” Rearwin said, clearly pleased. “And look, you’re even the same age as Meteor. Isn’t that perfect?”
“...Yes.”
Meteor managed only a single word.
He didn’t feel like saying anything more. In fact, he had nothing to say.
Barely two weeks had passed since he returned home after six grueling years of special training.
And now? Crescent had been adopted into the family.
On top of that, he was expected to get engaged to someone he’d just met.
He hadn’t even fully processed the fact that Crescent was now his legal sister.
Becoming family with someone unrelated by blood was strange enough. But to enter into a betrothal with an even stranger girl? It was overwhelming.
Was it really all because he’d been away for six years, as his mother claimed?
His thoughts were a tangled mess.
He barely noticed as the dinner came to an end and the guests began to leave.
Lost in thought, he was about to retreat to his room when—
“Metty?”
His mother’s voice called him back.
He turned, startled from his reverie.
“Mother.”
Rearwin approached him with a concerned look.
“Was the news of the engagement too sudden? You seemed quite shocked, and it’s been on my mind. Honestly, you should have read the letters I sent during your training.”
“Did the letters mention an engagement?”
“I even threatened to send your betrothed directly to your training site if you didn’t come home.”
“....”
“Did you see it and ignore it, thinking I wasn’t serious?”
“....”
How could she know him so well?
Meteor hesitated, recalling vague memories of such a letter.
Rearwin chuckled softly.
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“Well, it shows how important your training was to you. But remember, Meteor, you are the heir of the Pluto Ducal House. I want you to keep that in mind. Sienna will someday become the Duchess of Pluto, just as I am. So treat her with all the respect she deserves.”
“....”
He wanted to say, Yes, I understand.
But the words wouldn’t come easily.
It took a moment before he finally managed to respond.
“...Understood.”
Only then did Rearwin smile in relief.
***
Late into the night, Meteor found himself unable to sleep.
The events of the past two weeks weighed heavily on his mind: his homecoming after six years, Crescent’s debutante, her adoption into the family, the incident in the Winter Domain, and now, his engagement.
Even without today’s news, his thoughts had been swirling.
He’d come home hoping for a quiet return, only to be swept up in a storm of changes.
It left him feeling unsettled.
With a sigh, he sat up in bed.
Why do I feel like this?
Engagements were ordinary, weren’t they?
Something everyone went through.
So why did it bother him so much?
Wrapping himself in a long robe, he stepped outside.
The weight of everything that had happened felt like it was pressing down on him.
It wasn’t just the engagement—it was the culmination of everything that had occurred since his return.
As he wandered into the garden, he spotted a figure stretching under the moonlight.
Even by silhouette, he could tell who it was.
“Crescent?”
Why was Crescent out here at this late hour?
At the sound of her name, Crescent spun around in surprise. Her pink eyes widened when she saw him.
“Meteor?”
Meteor began walking toward her.
“What are you doing out here instead of sleeping?”
“What about you? I couldn’t sleep, so I came out for some air.”
Crescent flashed him a bright smile as she spoke.
For a moment, he simply stared at her.
Why couldn’t she sleep?
He was curious but decided not to ask.