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Luigi Claes was a lucky man — he thought, as he helped his dear wife climb down the carriage, then their adorable daughter, followed by their lovely son. They had just arrived at the royal palace for his future son-in-law’s tea party, and he couldn't be happier to show everyone there just how close their family had become recently, specially he and Miri Diana.
Maybe that's why other people saw him as a lucky bastard instead, the man noticed with a smug smile as the children ran to the buffet table (more like Keith babysitting Catarina) and he conducted the duchess, her hands resting on the inside of his elbow, to where their old friends were standing, waiting for them.
"Miri, Luigi." The king greeted the moment he saw them. "It's been some time."
"Your majesty." Miri bowed to the royal couple with her husband, turning right after to the other couple with a small smile. "Dan, Radea, we haven't met in a while too."
Luigi had to hold himself not to openly laugh when the queen, the king, and the premier and his wife all but melted at Miri's brightness. It didn't matter how many years passed, it seemed their shenanigans would never change.
"It is really good that we are meeting each other today." He took the opportunity to slip his hand around Miri's shoulders, bringing her closer to him. The duke was immediately rewarded, both by her cute blush and his friends' stares, variating between envy and total disbelief. He couldn't help but feel satisfaction filling his chest — those reactions took him back to their wedding or when they announced their pregnancy, and it was priceless. "Since our kids seem to finally be getting along well now too."
"Oh, of course." The queen said, being the first to recover from the shock of the two of them suddenly acting more than friendly. The question was clear in her eyes, however, as her unpleased glance went from the point where they were connected together to their fond expressions when looking at each other. "After all, our kids have got engaged recently! My husband and I are very happy to have Catarina in the family in the future, although not as much as Geordo must be, I suppose."
"And Nicol and Sophia finally were able to attend a tea party with everyone together." Raeda also took the opportunity to bring her kids to the conversation, earning stiff smiles from the royals, but a supportive nod from her husband. "I hope they also can become friends with Catarina and Keith."
"I'm sure they will, but about Geordo and Catarina..." Miri stepped out of her husband's embrace for a moment and approached the queen and the king, fierce determined eyes facing the couple as if they weren't the highest in status in that kingdom — not that they'd ever complain, though. Quite the opposite. "Please, I beg you! Tell your son to call off this engagement!"
"W-what!?" The king stammered, while his wife choked with her own spit and the premier couple also widened their eyes and gaped. The only one not surprised was Luigi, who was trying to conceal his own laugh in the background. "Lady Miri, I am sorry but I can't just tell my son to break his relationship. He's in love with your daughter! We were so certain you'd find it perfect!"
"Normally I would, please your majesty, don't take me wrong. Geordo is a sweet boy, the problem is Catarina. She doesn't have any manners proper of a high-class lady, much less of royalty. If this wedding really happens, it'll be bad both for the Claes' name and the kingdom!"
Whilst the prince's parents were trying to recover from the heartbreak, the other couple couldn't help but smile slightly, both in pity and amusement. Luigi kept quiet in the background, trying not to laugh too loud as he had fun watching the exchange.
"If that's so, then maybe..."
"You are being too harsh on your daughter, Diana!" The queen interrupted the premier before he could offer his own kids in marriage to the girl. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with Miss Catarina! She makes our sons happier than they've ever been, and that's more than enough."
"Besides, if this engagement is to be called off, that is a decision for Geordo and Catarina to make themselves, not us."
At that, Diana all but pouts and that's enough to make the five adults (Luigi included) almost swoon on the spot, but the moment doesn't last much as the woman walks away, muttering something about 'having to talk some sense into that boy herself'.
Without the duchess's presence, all eyes fell on her husband, who had put his smug smile back in place.
"Alright, what was that!?"
"I don't remember you and Diana being this close!"
"What did you do this time!?"
"You're not forcing her somehow, are you!?"
All those nervous questions thrown at his way only made Luigi smile wider. "I didn't do anything."
None of them believed that for one second. They were all childhood friends, but it didn't change the fact that Luigi was the last one to join the run and somehow managed to be the one to get married to their oblivious beloved Miri Diana anyway. Even today, the four of them had their doubts about what the guy had done to get such an advantage out of nowhere.
"Miri just realized that my feelings for her are pretty much romantic and real."
They gaped. That story was getting more unbelievable by the second.
"How!?"
"All of us have said 'I love you' to her, there's no way she suddenly 'just realized' you meant it romantically all by herself."
"Well, our daughter did help us with that. Thanks to Catarina, we are closer than ever."
As if on cue, all the adults averted their gazes to the little girl happily eating sweets from the table, also oblivious to the lovestruck stares she was receiving from her early harem, including Geordo, who was pretending he was hearing his future mother-in-law's pleas at the other side of the garden.
"It seems history is really repeating itself though."
"Well, people did use to say that Miri's uncle had an ever increasing number of admirers to whom he was oblivious too. And before that, his father, and before him his great-aunt." The prime minister sighed. "Suppose it is just her family's fate."
"Cheer up, dear." His wife smiled by his side, attracting the others' attention again. "I'm sure this generation either Nicol or Sophia is going to win."
"Excuse me? Our Geordo is already engaged to her, and I doubt Miri will convince him to call it off. Her power only works with us, while the kids are wrapped around Catarina's little finger instead."
"Exactly. However, I'm a bit sad that we didn't see it coming." The queen turned her head towards her own kids, glancing at them with a soft smile. "If only we had known, we could have arranged for Alan to pass more time with her before the engagement was settled, although it probably would end up the same since even now he doesn't seem aware of his own affections anyway."
"They're still kids, a lot will happen until the time comes. Mary can also win, and there's the possibility that some new suitor will appear later, for that matter." Luigi said diplomatically. It's not like he could root for his own son like his friends did for theirs, after all. “It’s too early to conclude anything.”
"No. We may not have been able to be with Miri, but one of our kids shall be the one this time. You'll see."
Their conversation was cut short after that, as Lady Claes walked back to them, a very annoyed expression on her face after failing her mission. Her husband, of course, was the first to try to cheer her up again, being closely followed by his former competitors, who, despite everything, would never grow tired of making their darling smile, even if they knew they’d never be more than her dear friends, especially after that day.
In the end, all of them were doomed to live a harem life, whether the admired was aware of it or not.