Ch.215214. Proposal (3)

# 214. The Proposal (3)

“Of course you can…”

She found it strange.

The fact that he was asking for permission when he could have just said it.

But such thoughts vanished completely when she saw his expression and heard his words.

“We’ve been dating for quite a while, right? It’s been about three years now.”

“That’s… right? But why?”

“And we’ve been dating with marriage in mind?”

Hearing those words, she finally understood what he was trying to say.

And because of that, she felt a bit shy.

“Y-yes?”

“But I felt the need to make this official, given the circumstances. I really want to do this.”

With those words, she looked into his eyes.

Those eyes were filled with determination and courage.

He looked at the daisy flowers filling the space with those eyes.

“Do you know what daisy flowers symbolize?”

The moment he brought it up, goosebumps covered her body.

Was it because this wasn’t the first time she’d heard that question? Or was it because of this situation?

Hiding her bewilderment, she answered.

“Peace and… hope.”

“That’s right. That’s why she liked them so much. Because she lived a life deprived of peace, with no hope in sight?”

He looked straight into her eyes.

“That’s why I liked them too, not just because you liked them.”

“…”

It was a first.

Him directly expressing something he genuinely liked, something he liked for his own sake…

‘Ah… maybe it’s not the first time?’

With such thoughts, she looked at the small object in his hand.

The object was tiny.

But its presence was anything but small.

“Originally, I was going to give you a diamond ring like everyone else, but you already have something so nice, right? Besides, I wasn’t really drawn to that idea. So…”

Albert seemed to be asking what she thought with his tone and expression.

It was so endearing.

It meant that even after deciding to do this, he had repeatedly worried about whether she would like it.

She quickly answered his unspoken question.

“I like it.”

Those words also meant that she still loved daisy flowers.

Hearing her answer, Albert finally exhaled in relief, as if he’d been holding his breath.

Even that was cute.

“So…”

He knelt on one knee and gently took her left hand.

Her heart began to race wildly.

She placed her right hand on her chest.

-Thump! Thump!-

Perhaps because it was finally sinking in, she couldn’t calm down.

As she blushed and fidgeted, Albert gave her that characteristic sly smile of his.

Then, slipping the ring onto her ring finger, he said:

“Will you marry me?”

She knew how much he had struggled and worked to say those words.

That made her even more proud of him.

She gave her proud boyfriend a bright smile.

And then answered his proposal.

“Yes!”

With that answer, a status window appeared before her eyes.

-Ding!-

The status window was floating right above the ring.

[Fruit of Destiny (EX)]

[A miraculous destiny that has finally borne fruit]

[This miracle will exist forever wherever they are together]

She stared blankly at the message.

He asked her:

“What’s wrong?”

“A strange message appeared, but more importantly…”

With those words, she plucked the whitest daisy flower from the place.

Then, just like him, she made a small ring.

“It’s a wedding ring after all, so it would be weird if I’m the only one wearing it.”

With those words, she gifted him peace.

Wearing the second ring on the ring finger of his left hand, just like her, he was doing the exact same thing she was.

“Is it because of that?”

“It’s amazing, right? I was surprised too…”

“Wait.”

Albert suddenly wore a deeply serious expression.

He looked directly at her face and spoke.

“We’re going to get married now, right?”

“Y-yes?”

“But I think it’s a bit off that you’re still speaking formally to me.”

“Th-then?”

“From now on, speak casually to me, no exceptions.”

He looked at her reddened face and said:

“Understand, honey?”

***

At that moment.

Those who were secretly watching the scene from somewhere were enjoying the proposal as if it were their own.

“Did you hear that?! He called her ‘honey’! Honey!”

“They’re being ridiculous.”

“Are you perhaps feeling sad that your friend is getting married? You really are a loyal friend who cares.”

“No, I’m not?”

Unlike Ellin and Raycle, who were showing such boisterous reactions, Riel and Leo were quietly appreciating the scene.

Especially Riel, who was wiping away tears with a handkerchief.

“Sis, don’t cry… If you cry, I’ll… actually, I’m not tearing up.”

“Want to die? I’m already embarrassed for crying without knowing my place…”

Since even the couple themselves didn’t cry, that’s what she thought.

“But I expected one of them to cry, it’s a bit unexpected.”

“Right! Now I feel like I’m the only crybaby.”

“Because you are.”

“Seriously… what’s with you lately?”

“It’s a joke, just a joke.”

Feeling wronged by the teasing, Riel spoke in a voice so small that only Ellin could hear.

“So when are you two going to do it?”

“What..!?”

“You’ve been dating for quite a while too, and it seems like you’ve already… done everything?”

“N-no, we haven’t!!?”

“They say strong denial is strong affirmation.”

“Ugh…”

Ellin was flustered by those words.

“Someday… someday.”

Since Ellin never denied the possibility, this couple too would bear fruit someday.

Someday.

***

I knew it would succeed, and of course it did.

But I was still happy, incredibly happy.

Because I had achieved something I had wanted so badly.

And doing this made me feel relieved.

“It’s definitely reassuring…”

I looked at the ring on my hand, which matched the cold night air so well.

That ring was on my finger.

“Miracle…? What does that even mean…”

The message clearly said a miracle would exist.

Of course, we couldn’t even begin to guess what that miracle might be.

But in this situation, that wasn’t our concern.

Right now, it was the right decision to enjoy this happy moment.

I suddenly gripped her hand tightly as she stood there, seemingly tense.

“..!”

Her wide eyes turned toward me.

I asked her, who was unbearably cute:

“By the way, honey, why did you act like that this morning?”

“Wh-what…?”

Unfamiliar casual speech.

She was still stumbling over her words, probably feeling awkward.

But she seemed to be getting better, perhaps because she’d been doing it since morning.

“You ran to me and hugged me as soon as you saw me, why was that?”

“Well… I don’t usually dream much.”

“Yeah.”

“But I had a dream yesterday, and you were in it…”

It must have been quite a bad dream.

I wasn’t planning to ask further, but she spoke first.

“In that dream, you were crying when you saw me… asking why I came so late… and then you disappeared in an instant…”

“That’s strange.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s something from my memories.”

There was definitely such a time.

The last time I visited this place, although it was a hallucination, I had seen her.

At that time, I had said something like that too.

Asking why she came so late…

And at that time too, when I approached her, she vanished as if it were a lie.

“It’s too cruel to be a coincidence.”

“There was a similar incident before… when my mother almost died. You prevented it, but… I was worried.”

“You must have been scared.”

I would have been too.

And given what happened before, she must have been even more anxious.

“But it seems like nothing like that happened, so that’s good…”

“You never know, it might have been referring to today’s events.”

“Ah… don’t say that…”

Judging by her reaction, she seemed to be aware of that possibility.

Seeing her pouting, I said:

“It’ll be fine, who do you think I am?”

“I… guess so?”

“Yeah, and even if I were about to die, I have you, right?”

As long as she was by my side, I could face any opponent.

At least, that’s how I felt.

“I’m not that strong, you know?”

“What are you saying… I’ve only just caught up to you, and you say you’re not strong?”

She is strong.

Especially compared to people her age, she’s so strong that it would be disrespectful to even compare.

Yet she was genuinely denying that fact.

“Of course… with you and Father around, how could I be?”

“I agree with the latter, but me… aren’t I still lacking?”

She shook her head.

Then she leaned against my shoulder.

“If you were lacking, you wouldn’t have been selected for the Special Forces, and you wouldn’t have received the special duty to protect me.”

She smiled at me as I stared blankly at her.

“And if that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t rely on you this much.”

“That definitely gives me strength.”

Those words boosted my confidence and hope.

I enjoyed the night with her, who always gave me strength.

Because it could be the last night we could be at peace like this.