I take a break to look at the prince and the shock he shows on his face from my insinuation. He should know I know now. I get ready to continue, but Prince Horus speaks first.

“Lady Amy, I told you I too had something to discuss with you today. It just so happens to be the same thing as you, it seems. As a matter of fact I have indeed heard of the search of a husband for you. I once said to you that I would marry the person most qualified to be empress, and after keeping watch for this half year, I have seen how you have grown tremendously. It is not something any ordinary person can do. It also seems you know of my… Hrm hrm… Secret. Which is why, Lady Amy, could I ask for your hand in marriage?”

Huh?

HUUUUUUUUH?

What the actual freak just happened? WHAT?

I drop my jaw to the floor, once again forgetting everything I have learned of social etiquette.

No, scratch that, I just forget everything I ever learned, period. Mind blank, head empty, what is life? Was it supposed to be this easy?

What is actually happening here? I mean, sure, it’s great the proposal came from his side, but this didn’t happen in the original novel!

He wasn’t interested in marriage at all! He shouldn’t even have thought about taking a wife.

Huh?

Shouldn’t have thought about it….

Wait, isn’t this all MY FAULT? I was the one asking him what kind of person he would marry. I was the one that made him think about it. AAAAH MY HEAD.

Accidentally locking eyes with Prince Horus in my state of panic I get pulled back to the situation I’m currently in. It’s not like I would say no to his proposal, so I should just get it made official and wonder about the rest afterwards.

I stand up, take a hand to each side of my dress, pull it out in one motion while making the best and deepest curtsy Duchess Burtwell ever taught me.

“It would be a great honor, my prince, sunshine of the empire, I, Amy Wells, Daughter of Duke Wells, humbly accept”

“I will visit House Wells in the nearest future and make our betrothal official. We will then hold a betrothal party, and declare it to the empire. I will have you admitted to bridal training as soon as you father approves. Now, lift your head, it is unsightly to see my own fiancé curtsey to me”

Is it just me or does this go too fast? What is happening? Wasn’t I supposed to be the one with the upper hand? Did something happen?

I just nodded along, doing as I was asked. Where did my cute little tsundere gay baby go, though?

No wonder he was praised as the best leader for the empire. He was meticulous in his approach and did everything perfectly. It made the sides I had seen of him seem like a dream. Or a nightmare. In any case, it seemed fake.

He stood up, walked to the door and held out an arm, much as Sir Windsor had done whenever he was escorting me.

Huh? Already?

Did he wanted to show off already?

It was unheard of for the princes to walk with anyone other than family or soon-to-be family in the escorting kind of way. He was basically about to tell everyone we were engaged.

Oh! I see! He was about to make it impossible for my father to decline. Not that he would decline in any case. Me getting married to a prince was the best thing he could hope for in terms of status, after all.

With a bit of a sigh I got my social mask on, went over to take his arm, and out we went. Into the lion’s den.

As expected, everybody was staring.

I think I even saw someone drop their glass once catching sight of us.

The Great Prince Horus, notorious for putting the empire as a whole in front of everything else, as well as saying no to countless of marriage offers, was now standing, almost yelling, that he now had a fiancé.

I wanna go home and go in bed and read BL to my hearts content, but can I do that? Oh NOOOOO, I have to stand here like an animal in the zoo being observed and judged by an entire empire. And this won’t be the last time. Everyone’s eyes will be on me from now on…

Is it even worth it? Why did I think this was a good idea again? I could probably save him in some other way… Oh right, there is the whole thing about me getting married off to someone anyway, might as well be someone I have no obligation to sleep with…

OKAY LET’S DO THIS!

Pushing myself a bit closer to Prince Horus to put on the extra bit of acting, I can feel him tensing a bit. Then relaxing. I guess this isn’t fun for him either.

With a big smile on both our faces we willingly move out to get roasted, and just as we reach the middle of the room we get swarmed with people. I catch sight of Rosa Montes, still sitting drunk in the chair feeling sorry for herself. Oh well, me going over there now wouldn’t do her any good.

What feels like hours later I’m exhausted. There’s not a single question we didn’t get asked. People seriously doesn’t respect privacy here.

Prince Horus had already prepared answers for every single question, so I just had to stand and nod. Something I had been growing really great at lately, since it seems like people would rather just me agree with them than tell them my own opinions.

Freaking nobles.

The very next day Prince Horus came by to make it official with my father, that was, as expected, ecstatic about it, and now a huge supporter of the prince. -Though he claimed he had liked him all along.

In any case, suddenly I was officially betrothed to Prince Horus, and would soon begin my life as his official beard as well.

As Prince Horus had also said, it was quickly arranged for me to begin my bridal lessons. At the palace. Where the royal family lives…

I hope they have great cookies there, at least.

Sir Windsor will be there as well, so I’m not gonna be completely alone.

It would also be easier to keep an eye on Prince Chaker and make sure he doesn’t catch any sight of gayness from Prince Horus.

Speaking of which…

I’m the prince’s beard????