Chapter 677: Engagement
Chapter 677: Engagement
"So... we're officially engaged now?"
Isabelle lay quietly on the bed, slowly raising her left hand and spreading her fingers in front of her. Staring at the silver ring on her ring finger, she still couldn't quite believe it.
It had been a simple engagement ceremony.
Neither their families nor friends had been present.
Nico and his wife had been the sole witnesses to their engagement, hosting a very small party in the Le Mai family's grand hall.
Now that she thought about it, it all felt rather surreal.
"What are you thinking about?" Albert pushed open the door and smiled at the young girl lying on the bed, staring dreamily at her ring.
"It's nothing," Isabelle sighed softly, still worried about how to break the news to her mother. "Mom is definitely going to hit the roof when she finds out that I secretly got engaged to you without her knowing."
"Don't worry, Mrs. McDougall won't be angry," Albert reassured her gently.
"And how would you know?" Isabelle rolled her eyes at him. As a natural Legilimens, she had a keen understanding of people's thoughts, and she was certain that her mother would be furious if she found out that her daughter had gotten engaged behind her back, even if she didn't oppose their relationship.
"Actually, Mrs. McDougall already knows about it," Albert said, and proceeded to explain Daisy and Herb's involvement in the matter to a surprised Isabelle.
The Anderson couple had sent a letter to Mrs. McDougall through Sheela soon after Albert had left for France, inviting her over to discuss the details of their children's engagement and wedding plans.
"You did all this behind my back!" Isabelle playfully pounced on Albert, pinning him to the bed. "Do you have any idea how worried I've been about how to break the news of our engagement to my mother?"
"I just wanted to give you a pleasant surprise," Albert said innocently, batting his eyelashes. "They thought it would be appropriate for the Le Mai couple to preside over the engagement ceremony."
"Your family seems to be in quite a hurry," Isabelle remarked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
"They know about my prophecy," Albert explained. "They want us to get married and leave the country after I graduate, to avoid the storm that's coming."
"You told them?" Isabelle was taken aback by the Anderson couple's actions. It seemed like they were quite anxious to ensure their son was married off, even though he was still years away from adulthood.
"Yes," Albert nodded, his eyes fixed on Isabelle's delicate face as he smiled. "They probably think that once we're married, I'll be more cautious and put my family first, and thus less likely to take risks. That's why they're rushing me to marry you and then leave the country after my graduation, to get away from all the trouble here in Britain."
"You didn't tell them that you don't plan on leaving the country, did you?" Isabelle arched an eyebrow.
"I did," Albert acknowledged. "But they have their own ideas, don't they?"
He was well aware of his family's concerns and didn't take them too seriously. After all, he wasn't an impulsive person, and he valued his life just as much as anyone else.
Life was just beginning to get sweet, and who in their right mind would want to throw it all away for a thrill?
"Now that we're engaged," Isabelle suddenly remembered something and poked Albert's chest with her finger, "you're not allowed to flirt with other girls anymore. The hopes of those two or three girlfriends of yours are going to be dashed."
"As if I'm always flirting with girls," Albert protested, offended. He was a very devoted man, and the accusation of him being a philanderer was simply preposterous.
Otherwise, how could he have gotten engaged to Isabelle so early on?
"That Katherine girl from America seems to have taken a liking to you, and she's a real beauty too!" Isabelle counted off on her fingers, "And then there's Louise, whom you met not long ago. Don't think I didn't notice—that girl with Muggle lineage has completely fallen for your good looks, talent, and fame."
"We're just pen pals," Albert reminded her, exasperated.
"That's just your wishful thinking," Isabelle scoffed. "And what about my poor, clueless sister Katrina? She's always had a soft spot for you, and I dare say that with a few sweet words, you could easily win her over."
"If you even think about making a move on Katrina..." Isabelle's eyes narrowed dangerously as she spoke of her sister.
"Ahem, you're reading too much into it," Albert sighed. Louise truly was just a pen pal, and he could count the number of times they had met in person on one hand. As for Katherine, their relationship was strictly professional, and he had no intentions of ever returning to America.
As for Katrina, Albert had lost interest after winning over Isabelle. Despite the fact that they were sisters... well, he knew better than to entertain such thoughts, as he wasn't one to court death.
"Hmph! There's no such thing as a purely platonic relationship between a man and a woman. The more familiar you become and the longer you spend time together, the more things tend to change." Isabelle had a very clear understanding of such matters. "And what about that Gryffindor girl, Hermione Granger, I bet that once she's a little older..."
Albert stared at his fiancee, speechless, though he was loath to admit it, the last thing Isabelle said made a lot of sense.
"Going by what you said, maybe we should have waited a bit longer before getting engaged," Albert joked, "Then perhaps I would have had a chance to date two or three girls before getting married!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, his face was cupped by two hands and vigorously rubbed.
"What a pity, we're already engaged now," the young girl said with a smile, "Your dreams are shattered."
Isabelle herself was glad that they had gotten engaged early. After all, Albert still had two years left at Hogwarts, and who knew what could happen during that time.
As Albert began to showcase his talents and achievements, coupled with his gentle and refined demeanor, and of course, his overflowing Gringotts vault, he would undoubtedly become a tempting target for countless girls.
However, Isabelle had no intention of sharing this sweet cake with anyone else.
After a kiss, Albert suddenly remembered something. "By the way, the letters from school have arrived. I'm now a prefect, so I don't have to sneak into the prefects' bathroom anymore."
"When are we heading back to Britain?" Isabelle changed the subject.
"In a couple of days," Albert replied. "We'll need to inform Mr. Nico first, and then make a trip to Diagon Alley to get everything we need for the new term." He didn't plan on staying at Nico's house until the end of the summer vacation. He wanted to spend some time with his own family as well, especially since such opportunities would become rarer after his graduation.
Not to mention, Isabelle didn't seem to fully trust her own family.
(End of Chapter)
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