It Became A Serious Thing 8

Very Much 8 : A Visit Home

Lina Sidorova

With Colette in his arms, Lionel rode his horse into the centre of her town. They were very conspicuous. Here was a knight in ceremonial dress on a large war horse. Not only that, the knight was the leader of the Black Dragon Knights that had recently returned home victoriously. He had Colette in his arms, holding her like she was precious to him,

‘Are you alright, Colette?’

‘I’m not okay, everyone is staring at me…’

‘Don’t take any notice.’ He said. Although she thought there was a big problem, she didn’t want to start a quarrel with Lionel in the middle of the street with everyone watching. She covered her face with her hand and held on to Lionel,

‘Isn’t that the Folk’s young lady?’

‘Didn’t she go to the castle for apprenticeship? She seems to have caught a good man.’

‘But he seems higher than her level, don’t you think?’

They watched with expressions of curiosity and envy. It seems Lionel has always been exposed to gazes and words like these. Colette had only ever been watching from the sidelines. Now that they were at the same position, she could understand him a little more,

‘…Lionel is really strong,’

‘What did you say?’

‘You’re mentally strong. I don’t know if I can get used to…’

Even though, she would get used to it, it seemed to be a painful thing. Maybe it would really be impossible to be with him. She should try to dissuade him when they got to her parents’ home. As she was thinking this, he touched her face and said softly, ‘Don’t worry, I will be your shield,’

His gentle words melted her heart. That small comment made her love him even more. He pulled Colette even tighter to him. In the end, she was no longer angry when they reached her parents’ trading company.

It looked like someone had sent word that they were coming, for Colette’s parents were waiting at the entrance for them looking tense, but more well dressed than usual. They probably changed their clothes for their esteemed guest, Colette thought as Lionel dismounted and lifted her down gently. Everyone was welcoming, and they had their professional faces on.

Surely everyone was thinking: a serious thing has happened.

His war horse was taken by an employee to the stables behind the shop. So Colette and Lionel turned to her parents. They were led to the reception room, where the four of them faced each other. Lionel gave in first,

‘Pardon my sudden unannounced visit. I am Lionel de Guiryal, the Earl of Foleilly,’

‘Of course, we know who you are. How come the Earl wishes to see us?’ her father replied timidly. It seemed that they did not yet understand whey Lionel was here (Zuben: They ain’t psychic). How were they going to explain it to them? Colette’s heart pounded nervously.

Lionel replied, ‘Lionel would be fine. It will all be explained in time. We just need to wait for the rest of the party.’

‘What? What are you talking about?’ Her father said confused by the situation at hand. Colette also did not know who was coming, but she was amazed at Lionel’s boldness; using another man’s house like it was his own.

There was a knock on the door, her father called, ‘Enter, please,’ and an employee led two men into the reception room,

‘Matthew…’ Colette called as she realised who had arrived. It was Matthew her fiancé and his father. In the two years that she had been away, he had grown even taller. He was one year older than her, and he was a gentle person with a quirky personality and who did not get angry or raise his voice easily. He had a good head on his shoulders and he helped his father manage several stores in their textile trading business. Colette had not fought with him since they were children, and they had always been on good terms.

It made her chest feel heavy when she thought about telling Matthew she wanted to cancel the engagement. Matthew and his father were surprised to see Lionel and Colette. Lionel spoke first,

‘I have received permission to marry Colette from my liege,’

Colette’s mother covered her mouth in shock; her eyes looked wide enough to fall out of their sockets. Her father seemed to have lost his soul,

Matthew’s father seemed to be the only one who still had his wits about him, ‘But Colette has been promised to Matthew since they were young!’

‘I am sorry, but I am here to discuss terms of settlement to cancel the engagement.’

Colette’s mother recovered first and elbowed her father,

‘This marriage is a merger between both our houses, despite the promise of a settlement; we can’t just cancel the engagement just like that.’ Her mother said,

‘Before discussing cancelling Colette’s engagement, there is something I want to confirm,’ Lionel turned to Matthew with a cold gaze, ‘about Guilietta Flouqette and the child she is pregnant with.’

Matthew and his father’s complexion paled. Colette and her family were confused, they hadn’t heard about this.

Matthew tried to defend himself, ‘The child is mine, but I am not planning to make the child legitimate. I will be paying child support.’

Colette’s parents stared in shock; the child is his?! He has been being unfaithful and making children while Colette was away?

But Lionel was not finished, ‘There seems to be two or three other women you meet regularly other than Guilietta,’

‘They all know I have a fiancée, and I am going to marry Colette, so this doesn’t affect my engagement with Colette,’ Matthew replied calmly, trying to sound reasonable, but looking shaky.

There is no problem? No there is one! While Colette’s parents were at a loss of what to say about the current development, there was a knock on the door and a young woman entered. It was Sophie, Colette’s younger sister

‘Don’t just enter there, Sophie.’

Colette’s older brother followed. Sophie’s cheeks were dyed pink much like Colette’s but she turned to Matthew,

‘Mattie, if you cancel your engagement with older sister you can marry me. We can just change the name on the contract,’ (Zuben: The sister too?! Matthew, you harem master you)

Colette’s father flew into a rage and tried to punch Matthew, Matthew dodged and the punch landed on his father.

(Zuben: Is Colette going to say anything?)

Colette’s father shouted, ‘This arsehole! I will not forgive you! Sophie as well?!’

Matthew’s father shouted back, ‘What?! Your daughter also broke the promise!’

‘Your son was obviously cheating for a long time, you bastard! You raised a hapless son!’

‘Your daughter is also faithless!’

A fight broke out between the two fathers and their sons tried to stop them. Colette’s mother and sister were crying, while Lionel held Colette who just stared in shock, thinking; it has become a terrible thing… (Zuben: Conveniently terrible.)

Zuben: Whereever you may be hopefully you're free-ly living happily (terrible rhyme, but hey)

Index♙Chapter 9