Chapter 60: Setting Off on the “Cancel the Engagement” Journey!

“Alright, everything’s ready! Young Master, take a look in the mirror—how does it look?”

“Hmm… this, huh.”

Will turned to look at himself in the mirror, even spinning around once. He felt incredibly out of place.

For the first time, he was wearing a formal suit. Though it was a high-end custom design sent by Carver, wearing a suit at the age of fourteen made him look like a child playing dress-up in adult clothes.

Despite being the young master of the Hysterm family, this was his first time attending a formal banquet.

Logically, the Hysterm family should’ve had plenty of social events, but none of them had ever involved him. His father had never once invited him to participate.

As for his previous life…

Uh…

The gaming company he worked for wasn’t exactly big on formalities. He had never attended a formal banquet there either.

Even the annual company party was more about raffling off gaming consoles and having fun—there was no need for suits.

So…

Rather than saying this was Will’s first time wearing a suit, it was more accurate to say it was his first time dressing this formally in his entire life.

“Even though I practiced tying ties on mannequins so many times during maid training, this is… this is my first time doing it for the Young Master… I’m a little nervous…”

Eir stood in front of Will, carefully looping the tie around his neck. She tied it once, frowned, undid it, and then tied it again, even more meticulously.

“Eir, it doesn’t have to be perfect. I can’t even tell the difference.”

“No way!” Eir looked up, her face full of determination. “This is the Young Master’s first formal banquet. As your maid, I have to make sure you make a perfect entrance! Otherwise, the other side will look down on you!”

As she spoke, she gave the tie a firm tug, making Will feel a brief tightness around his neck.

“There, now it meets Eir’s standards.”

After tying and untying the tie several times, she finally stopped, satisfied with her work.

“But… why is the Young Master suddenly being called to… um, that royal banquet?”

“You’re surprised too?”

“Uh… it’s just… I don’t know if I’m right, but it always felt like the Master didn’t care much about you… It’s hard to imagine him inviting you to such an important banquet.”

Will was a bit surprised. He had assumed that only a few particularly perceptive people could pick up on his strained relationship with his father.

Yet Eir had noticed as well.

“Exactly. That bastard Carver wouldn’t invite me to a royal banquet just for the sake of helping me build connections. That’s not something he’d do.”

“Then why—”

“Oh, because this isn’t just a social banquet hosted by the royal family and the Hysterm family. It’s actually an engagement announcement ceremony for me and Princess Treya. It’s not super formal—just a gathering of the most prominent and influential people to let them know about the arrangement.”

“Oh, so it’s an engagement ceremony. Eir… wait?! What?! Young Master, what did you just say?! Engagement ceremony?!”

Eir’s brain struggled to process the overwhelming information.

She had initially thought her Young Master was finally stepping up, attending formal banquets like the other Hysterm siblings who frequented social events.

But…

The Young Master was telling her he was getting engaged?!

Wha—wha—what?!

Did this mean she’d soon have to serve the Young Master’s fiancée?!

And Treya?

Eir wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about politics, but she was very familiar with that name.

“Treya?! You mean the incredibly beautiful, pure, and adorable Ninth Princess that everyone loves? I’ve heard so many people say she’s the cutest princess ever.”

“That’s her.”

“And isn’t she supposedly a top-tier swordswoman, the most promising swordsmanship heir in Entark?”

“That’s what they say.”

“And she’s a half-elf? Elves have been reclusive ever since the Witch Yaar incident four hundred years ago—they’re so rare now!”

“Yeah, her ears are pointy, I guess…”

Eir surrendered before the battle even began.

If the fiancée was such an adorable princess, how could a maid like her ever compete? She was destined to remain a maid for life.

“Sniff, sniff… Young Master, I understand. This day was bound to come. I wish you happiness… but… but Eir still wants to stay by your side as your maid…”

“Huh? What are you talking about? There’s no way this engagement will succeed.”

“…Huh?” Eir tilted her head. “But it’s Treya, such a cute princess! If the Young Master—”

“There are many reasons,” Will interrupted calmly, pulling a pair of shoes from the cabinet. “But the main reason is…”

He put on the shoes and opened the door to the first floor.

The afternoon sunlight gleamed off his black suit as the steward stood outside, waiting with a carriage.

“She’s far too innocent—not my type at all.”

—

Listening to the sound of the carriage wheels clattering over uneven ground, Will stared out the window at the riverside scenery, bored.

The road from the capital to the royal palace—marked by the castle perched atop a hill—was particularly quiet. However, the roadside trees were well-maintained, their appearance suggesting that, despite the royal family’s decline, they still cared about keeping up appearances.

The banquet wasn’t set to begin until five in the afternoon, but Will had been instructed by his father to arrive early, allowing him to explore the palace with the servants.

From the sound of it, his father wanted him to mingle with the palace’s residents.

But…

His only interest was in Treya.

The carriage carried only Will and the steward, and neither had spoken for half the journey.

“Young Master, I must admit, I didn’t expect you to obediently follow the Master’s instructions and attend this event.”

Perhaps the steward found the silence awkward and decided to break it.

“Hmm… do I seem like the type to defy orders, rebel without cause, or throw a tantrum out of incompetence?”

The steward chuckled.

“Haha, of course not. Perhaps I don’t know you well enough and saw this as an opportunity to learn more. What surprises me is that you’re actually wearing the suit the Master sent—and it fits you perfectly.”

“I didn’t have anything else to wear. I couldn’t exactly show up in my school uniform…”

“Even this level of compliance is surprising.”

“I’m curious—what kind of person do you think I am?”

“To many, the youngest Hysterm son is seen as moody and eccentric. To be honest, I thought the same before sitting here with you.”

“I see…”

Will wasn’t surprised.

It was strange. Although he had been “Will” since birth—meaning the original hot-headed, foolish, and somewhat perverse young master didn’t exist—most people still perceived him that way.

Perhaps it was due to the Hysterm family’s poor reputation, his lack of social appearances, or the mysterious pull of fate steering him toward the original story’s trajectory. Whatever the reason, people’s impressions of him hadn’t changed much from the original narrative.

This might also explain why Eugenie still believed her plans to provoke him—through attacks, bullying, and public humiliation—would work.

“However, the Master doesn’t see you that way.”

“What does he think?”

It was rare for Will to hear someone talk about Carver’s thoughts.

His relationship with his father…

Was distant, both physically—given how rarely they met—and emotionally, given how little they understood each other.

“I can’t fully understand the Master’s thoughts. But, and I mean this sincerely, the Master does care about you. He’s always keeping an eye on your progress.”

“Oh…”

The steward spoke earnestly.

But Will found it hard to believe anything about Carver’s supposed concern.

“He’s mentioned many times that, while your other brothers are doing well, he believes you have the most potential.”

Carver…

Really thought that?

Was it because the original story dictated it, or was it because Will’s presence as a variable had influenced things?

If it was the former, it wasn’t credible. But if it was the latter…

Then it was worth considering.

“Young Master, the Master will also be attending this event. This might be a good opportunity for you to talk to him.”

Though Will personally disliked his father…

The steward had a point. It was time to engage with him.