Chapter 42: Aftermath

The grand hall was abuzz, the echo of Montina's harsh words still hanging heavy in the air. Kai sat in silence, lost in his thoughts. The nobles around him were engaged in hushed conversations, dissecting the spectacle they had just witnessed.

Hiro and Maximus were engrossed in a serious discussion, their faces etched with concern. Sakura and Celestina, despite the tension, tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, their smiles strained as they continued to entertain the guests. Niatina, however, had vanished after her sister, worry clear on her face.

Kai's gaze was unfocused, the events replaying in his mind. "I bet, if the real one had heard it, he would have just killed himself." His reverie was broken by a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. It was Ray.

"Hey, are you okay?" Ray asked, his voice filled with concern. Kai simply nodded, forcing a small smile. They sat in silence for a while, the tension in the room palpable. Ray's furrowed brows and the worry in his eyes spoke volumes. Kai just smiled, as if he was reading Ray's mind.

Meanwhile, in the mansion's garden, Montina sat by the fountain, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She was a cocktail of emotions - anger, frustration, and a strange sense of guilt. The reality of her actions was slowly sinking in. "I shouldn't have said all those things," she whispered to herself, when she was startled by a sound of footsteps. "Huh…?" she looked ahead, as she spotted the person. It was Niatina, her face filled with worry.

"Mono," Niatina spoke up. "we need to talk," she said, her voice firm. Montina looked up, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I… I didn't mean to… I was just so angry…"

Back in the grand hall, the banquet continued, but the atmosphere had shifted. The joyous celebration had turned into a tense gathering, the guests whispering among themselves. The engagement announcement had certainly left a lasting impact, setting the stage for the events to come.

Maximus stepped forward, his face stern. He looked at Kai, his eyes filled with regret. "I'm sorry, Kai," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't know she would react like this."

Kai was deep in thought. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He looked at Maximus and gave him a small smile, then brought out his note.

"I can understand how she is feeling. The engagement announcement was unexpected for us, but she might have been more shocked."

Maximus read his words, guilt washing over his face. "I am not like others, so it's obvious she would say all that. I'm fine, so please don't worry, Uncle." Kai took back his notebook, as he started to wheel himself back to his room.

As Kai's words filled the room, Sakura and Celestina's faces turned from shock to a mix of sadness and admiration. They watched as Kai wheeled himself away, their eyes filled with unshed tears. The strength and grace with which Kai handled the situation left a deep impression on them. Hiro tried to call him, but he couldn't bring himself to do so.

In his room, Kai reclined on his bed. As he settled down, Eva broke the silence. "That was harsh," she remarked. Kai retorted, "What did you expect? That she would come running and say, 'Oh, My Prince! Take me on~'?"

Eva responded, her voice laced with curiosity, "Then Sir, what if she had agreed to it? Would you have accepted the engagement and married her then?" Kai froze at the question, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. Eva's question stirred a memory from his past life.

He found himself sitting on a bench in an amusement park, clad in a black hoodie and jeans, a cap pulled low over his eyes. He sighed as a girl approached him, two ice creams in her hands. She was wearing a sundress with a floral pattern, the hem fluttering in the gentle breeze. Her hair was tied up in a loose ponytail, a few strands escaping to frame her face. A pair of oversized sunglasses sat atop her head, holding back her bangs.

"Kai," she called out to him, her voice light and cheerful. As he turned to look at her, the sun caught her figure, casting a warm glow around her. But before her face was revealed, he was pulled back to the present, still staring at the ceiling. He covered his face with his arm, murmuring, "…I don't know…"

Meanwhile, Niatina had managed to coax Montina back to the hall. It was clear she had been crying, her eyes red and swollen. Maximus and the others spoke to her calmly as she apologized. After hearing Kai's words, they understood her feelings, and Celestina and Maximus pulled her into a comforting hug, assuring her that they weren't angry. Hiro and Sakura exchanged a small smile, while Ray and Niatina simply watched.

After a while, Hiro and Maximus escorted her, along with Niatina, to a room in their mansion. Ray went to check on Kai. Left alone, Sakura and Celestina sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The day's events had left them shaken.

"Sakura," Celestina finally broke the silence. "We need to do something." Sakura nodded, determination in her eyes. "Yes, we do. We can't let things continue like this."

The next day, Kai woke up to the morning sun, its rays casting a warm glow on his face. He yawned and stretched, ready to start a new day. As he wheeled himself out of his room, he was greeted by the worried faces of the mansion's workers.

"How are you feeling, Kai?" the gardener asked, concern evident in his eyes. Pulling out his notebook, he replied. "I'm fine," Kai reassured them with a smile. Despite his words, the workers continued to fuss over him, their actions speaking louder than words. Kai couldn't help but feel touched by their kindness.

As he was enjoying the tranquility of the garden, Ray approached him from behind. "Don't let her words get to you, Kai," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. Kai turned to look at him, as Ray smiled at him. "You're the strongest person I know." Kai responded with a grateful smile, appreciating Ray's support. They continued to chat for a while, Ray trying to cheer him up, unaware that Kai had already moved on.

Later in the day, Ray and Kai were summoned to the main hall. The sight that greeted them was unexpected. Hiro and Sakura, along with the Royale couple, were all present. The tension in the room was palpable. In a few seconds, Niatina and Montina also arrived. Niatina took a seat by Ray, while Montina, left with no choice, sat next to Kai.

Celestina broke the silence, asking Montina to apologize. Montina did so sincerely, and Kai accepted her apology, responding with a small note. "We should have discussed this with you two," Hiro admitted, followed by Maximus. Both of them apologized, leading Montina to ask, "Does this mean you will call off our engagement?" Maximus shook his head, explaining that the engagement must continue. Montina was visibly saddened, while Kai maintained a calm expression. "They should already call it off, no girl would want to be with a disabled guy who can't even protect himself," Kai mused to himself, jotting down in his note.

"I am sorry to say this, but I too wish that you guys call off this engagement," he wrote, causing a silence to fall over the room. "I can't walk nor talk," he continued. "I will be just a burden. Also, there are far better guys out there who are much more qualified to meet your expectations." At his words, Montina stared at him, amazed by his perspective while recalling her harsh words, a hint of guilt in her eyes. After a few seconds of silence, Hiro spoke up. "You can walk again…," he said, catching everyone's attention. The couples seemed to know, which left the twin princesses, with Ray, and Kai taken aback. "I won't just let my daughter be with anyone," Maximus declared. "There is a person who can help, to cure your legs." he declared. "You will be able to walk again, and I am sure you can make her happy." Kai pondered over their words, unsure of what to do when Montina interjected. "But Dad! Even if he is able to walk, how can I just get engaged to someone I barely know?" Her question made Hiro and Maximus doubt themselves, as Kai watched them with a small smile when both Celestina and Sakura giggled. "We knew this would happen," they stated.

"What do you mean?" Hiro asked. Sakura and Celestina smiled as they replied, "We have a plan to propose!" To this, everyone in the room wore a confused look, as they continued. "We want Mono and Kai to spend a month together, to date each other!"

As they stated this, Hiro and Maximus smiled as they understood what they meant, praising the plan they proposed. "They want us to get to know each other, huh. Nice plan I must say," Kai thought to himself. Celestina continued, "Starting from next month, after Kai's entrance exam, you two shall go on dates. If by the end of the month, you two still felt incompatible, the engagement would be called off."

"She will reject i-" Kai was thinking, when Montina agreed to the plan, much to everyone's surprise. "That's surprising," Kai thought to himself, when he noticed something. "Wait a sec…," as she agreed, the couples cheered in the room, oblivious to the mischievous smile playing on Montina's lips. "I might not be able to persuade my parents, but I'll make him beg to call off the engagement," she thought to herself.

"-that must be what she is thinking," Kai watched her, a knowing look in his eyes. But instead of feeling worried, he had a small smile playing on his lips. "I look forward to the fun," he thought to himself, both him and Montina in their own plan while the couples are assured that things will go smoothly.

But there were two people who were having a hard time, unnoticed by the rest. Ray and Niatina, seated next to each other, struggled to make conversation, their body language awkward and tense.