Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon - Volume 1 - Chapter 31

Chapter 31 - The engagement between the two

The formal engagement between Miyo and Kiyoka was completed with a very simple
procedure, basically just writing their names down.

Since Miyo's maiden home, the Saimori family was in such a state, there would be no ceremonial exchange of engagement gifts.

As for Kiyoka's parents, he said they were living in retirement so it’s fine to just leave them be. They would surely have to greet Kiyoka's parents before the marriage but since Kiyoka is the head of the family, they didn't seem to need to obtain any special permission. Apparently, Kiyoka had already contacted them once to tell the previous family head not to send another marriage proposal and that's it.

That's right, that was the first time Miyo learnt that this matchmaking was brought in by Kiyoka's father, the previous head of the family.

"The former head was always trying to procure a match from somewhere. Supposedly, he would use all the tools at his disposal to bring it to my attention whenever he caught word of a suitable lady of age."

From the weary way Kiyoka said that with gloomy eyes, she could see that he has had a lot of trouble previously. However, the previous head couldn't have just thrown any lady of suitable age that he could grab hold of Kiyoka's way, so he must've had some kind of standard of his own.

Miyo didn't know the details about that.

However, one thing was for sure: the rumour that the previous head heard about a ryoung lady of marriage agej from the Saimori family was probably Kaya and not Miyo.

Amongst the upper class, the Saimori family was one that only relied on the glories of the past. For a household like that, no one would even hear about a daughter who was treated as nothing more than a servant. There was no doubt that Saimori Shinichi made the decision to send Miyo to Kiyoka because he didn't want to let Kaya go.

Wouldn't the previous head be disappointed and angered when he finds that it was Miyo who arrived even though the rumours he heard were about Kaya?

When Miyo expressed her concerns to Kiyoka, he simply sneered and made a dangerous declaration-if that happened, he would turn the former head to charcoal, no questions asked- which worried her even more.

"...They're probably on the train now."

Kiyoka suddenly muttered when they were done going through the formalities and wandering around town.

"...Yes"

Today was the day the Saimori couple would be moving to a villa in the countryside while Kaya heads for the family she would be serving. She could've seen them off but she didn't. She already had nothing more to say to them and of course, they weren't on good enough terms for her to see them off.

"I did something unnecessary."

"Danna-sama..."

"I'm partly to blame for it becoming such a big issue."

She had already heard that he demanded an apology from the Saimori family for her in exchange for financial support in the form of betrothal gifts.

But Miyo didn't think he would call it unnecessary.

For Miyo, it was necessary to help her settle her feelings in some way. When she left the Saimori family, she thought she had cut off any feelings she had for them, but that wasn't the case.

Just like when she bumped into them on the streets and had harsh words thrown at her, her sense of inferiority would resurface. If she got frightened and broke down in tears each time, she would not be able to move forward at all.

"What Danna-sama has done for me is not unnecessary."

"Miyo..."

"I'm happy, really happy."

What a blessing it was to have someone who cared for her, even just a little; she had forgotten how that felt until recently.

It was Kiyoka, Yurie, and all that happened in that house that helped her remember.

"Miyo."

"Yes?"

They stopped in their tracks and Kiyoka turned to face her with a very serious, albeit slightly nervous expression.

He held her hands and encased them in his own.

"In the future... I might give you a hard time—No, I'll try my best not to do that, but I am also a soldier; there will be times when I have to go to the toughest battlefields. And my personality... although I probably shouldn't say this myself, not only am I dull, I might be insensitive at times... but I want to be with you."

"..."

"Will you marry such a troublesome man?"

They met because of a forced matchmaking that no one held any expectations for.

Kiyoka asked her sincerely as if wanting to start over, to which Miyo replied with a smile.

"I don't find it troublesome, but rather, I'm the one who's much more troublesome... Don't you regret it, Danna-sama?"

"Of course not. I chose you myself."

"I'm glad to hear that. —I may be lacking in many ways, but I'll be in your care from now on."

In the hustle and bustle of the city, there was no one there to witness the promise of the future made between the two of them, but that was enough; being ostentatious did not suit them.

"Please take care of me too."

Then, after sharing a smile, the two of them got back on their way to their small and cosy home.