Sister Eliza stands in front of me like a hen protecting her chick. There"re no fears, no hesitation, nor her timid att.i.tude shows in her face. It seems she already had steeled her mind and decided to face her fiancé head on. The resolute and confidence in her eyes makes me believe she wouldn"t going to back even an inch. If I try to pull her back, she wouldn"t budge. The usual gentle and timid expression on her face no longer can be seen there, just courageous and determined expression that show in sister Eliza"s face. I secretly admire what she looks right now.Since I"m no longer become the main character here, I decide to become a supporting role and help my sister whenever she needs any help.
"My brother is hundreds…no, thousands times better than you! He"s someone I can be proud of. If become your fiancé means give you the chance to humiliate him, I"d better not married to anyone for the rest of my life!"
"You!....You…Eliza? Is this really you?"
Roland seems shocked and surprised to see my sister who suddenly appears in front of him.
"Yes, I"m Eliza, the one who you called ugly woman before. What? Can"t you recognize me?"
Oh well, it"s not his fault to not recognize you, sis. You"re greatly changed from before, you"re no longer skinny unattractive woman but you now already become a fair lady. Meanwhile, in our VIP guests…
"Gentle…and courageous…just like Elena…"
Anthony is murmuring something.
"Huh? Did you say something, Anthony?"
"Nothing, father"
Earl Stamfort looks at Celes like want to confirm something from her, but Celes only give him a smile. Seeing the response from Celes, Earl Stamfort only grinning and continue to watch the confrontation between my sister and Roland.
"Yes, I"m Eliza…the one that you called ugly woman before. What? Don"t stare me with that disgusting look, I"m just an ugly woman…stop looking at me with that perverted eyes of you"
Ugh, I almost burst my laugh because my sister"s words and Roland"s expression. He still can"t believe that gorgeous woman in front of him is my sister Eliza, the one that he just called ugly woman previously.
"No…You…Just…Is this really you Eliza?"
"I"m Eliza and I"m now standing in front of you. Speak! What do you want from me?"
My sister still keeps her dauntless prideful style. Roland, who usually only can do hara.s.sing her, suddenly lost words to speak in front of my sister.
"Can…can we talk in private?"
"No! I"m busy with our important guest. If you have something to speak, spit it right now. You said you want to see me, now I"m here. Speak now!"
Ooohh…I love the way my sister speaks to him now. Strict and straight to the point. It"s really wasting time to speak with him anyway.
"That"s….ugh…you really want the dowry?"
"Yes! It"s our custom and I abide with the custom that already exists since centuries. If you don"t want to give the dowry…fine, consider our engagement ends here"
Oh, good timing to end her engagement. Just like what I"m planning before.
"No! No no no….please wait!"
Roland hurriedly searching his money pouches from his waist. When he found it, he stretches his hand and shows the money pouch in his hand.
"There…consider this as my dowry"
My sister didn"t move even an inch to receive that money pouch. It seems she decide not to accept anything from Roland directly. A servant hurriedly comes forward to serve for that role. With a tray in his hand, he accepts the money pouch and presents it to my sister. My sister still not take the money pouch and just stare it coldly
"Just open it and count how much it is"
I told the servant to see the content of the money pouch
"Yes, young master Henry"
Under the stare of many guests who still sit in the dining hall, the servant pours the content of money pouch on the tray and start counting it. When he finished counting the money, he reporting the result
"It"s twenty-two silver coins, young master"
*Pfft*
Many guests try to hold their laughter. If the commoner who give the dowry, that amount is sufficient enough, but Roland Easton position is as an Earl son. That 22 silver coins surely not represent his father position as an Earl.
"Mr. Roland…my sister is not cattle which you can buy with that amount of money"
My remarks make the guests can"t hold their laugh any longer. That makes Roland"s face becomes red again from anger.
"You!"
That 22 silver coins actually pocket money that he received from Baron Hermans, one of his father subordinates which have territory adjusted with Harvard territory, before he crossed the border and enter Harvard territory. Of course, they"re more than 22 silver coins originally but he already spends some during his trips to Castle town. His monthly allowance from his father is already long gone, used for pleasure and booze. And when he runs out of money, he usually makes trips to his father"s subordinates territory and gets some "pocket money" before going to his fiancé place which has relatively cheaper prices than the price in his father territory. After calming himself, finally, Roland can use his head again.
"Then say how much you want. My father will send it right away after I tell him about that"
"That"s…."
My sister looks at me with confused looks in her eyes. Oh no! This is bad….my sister is clueless about how much she should ask for the dowry. I also don"t know how much she should ask for her dowry, both of us completely clueless about the amount of dowry should be given among the n.o.bles.
"Brother….this is the right time if you want to act"
Celes whispers to her brother in the VIP seats.
In that critical moment, suddenly Anthony Stamfort stands up from his seat and walk approaching my father.
"Uncle Harvard, allow me to propose miss Eliza as my wife. I already prepare some dowry here to legalize my proposal"
Anthony speaks it calmly, but in the tone which everyone in the dining hall can hear it. For a moment, there"s silence enveloping the whole dining hall. If you drop a needle here, you can hear the sound of its falling. When everyone"s sense back, there"re loud cheers sounded in the dining hall, especially from Harvard"s side. The maids start whispering to each other over this unexpected development.