"Celestine, you must thank His Highness. After all, it was the prince who secured your dress."
"Oh, is that so?"
My wife’s surprise mirrored the prince’s perplexed expression.
Meanwhile, the baron’s daughter, standing beside the prince, wore a scowl at the mention of him giving a dress to his former fiancée.
"What do you mean? I don’t recall preparing Celestine’s dress," the prince asked, his confusion evident.
Before I could respond, a loud voice echoed across the venue.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please! His Majesty has an important announcement!"
All eyes turned to the King as he cleared his throat and began to speak.
"I have an announcement to make tonight. My son, the Crown Prince, is to be married."
The crowd, initially alert, relaxed with either relief or disappointment. After all, the prince’s engagement to the baron’s daughter had already been announced at our wedding. This seemed redundant.
"Oh my, Your Majesty, what a sudden announcement. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?"
The baron’s daughter appeared delighted, turning to the prince for affirmation. He, however, looked conflicted, glancing between my wife and her with a troubled expression before nodding faintly.
The lighthearted atmosphere changed dramatically with the King’s next words.
"The bride is none other than Her Majesty, the Queen of Solié."
"…What?!"
For a moment, the entire room fell silent.
"The Crown Prince will depart tomorrow to become the 13th husband of the Queen of Solié. Let us send him off with great celebration."
Solié’s culture is unique: only women may ascend the throne.
The Queen, now 50 years old, is known for her intense appreciation of beauty and currently has 12 husbands.
"Father, surely this is a joke…?"
"It is no joke. The matter is already decided."
The prince’s trembling laughter turned into visible despair as the King, with a stern expression, shook his head.
"But the prince is engaged to me!"
The baron’s daughter’s cry of protest rekindled a glimmer of hope in the prince’s eyes.
"Yes, I am formally engaged to her," the prince added quickly.
"The Queen of Solié is aware of this. She has graciously allowed you to bring her as your second wife."
Solié is a liberal nation regarding matters of love. Whether same-sex couples or polyamorous arrangements, no one is criticized for their choices.
It is rumored that the Queen has a particular interest in younger women, finding them especially enticing.
"Fortunately, your younger brothers are quite capable, so you may leave the affairs of the kingdom in their hands. You need not worry and can depart with peace of mind."
The King’s final words left the prince utterly drained. He fell to his knees, his strength gone.
"This can’t be happening! I refuse to go!"
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