My breath caught.
“Not just because of the barrier or the Inayari. I want you by my side, always.”
His golden eyes were steady, free of madness.
I glanced at the ring on my finger, the needle hidden within.
My choice, my destiny.
“Yes,” I said, smiling. “I’ll marry you.”
His face lit up, and for the first time in days, the weight of the past lifted.
The barrier, the Inayari, the Black Priest—they could wait. For now, I chose happiness.
Sys called out to me cautiously, his face still heavy with guilt.
“Would you like to take a walk?”
“…What?”
I sat up, giving him a gentle smile.
“It’s been a while since I visited Bisard Palace.”
He looked up at me, dumbfounded.
“You don’t want to?”
“No, I’ll have the carriage prepared at once.”
He sprang to his feet, and I closed my eyes, watching his hurried movements.
The subtle fragrance of Leisha flowers enveloped Bisard Palace. Bare branches that had stood stark through winter now brimmed with white buds, swollen as if proclaiming spring’s arrival. While blooming Leisha flowers were beautiful, these budding ones had their own charm.
“You’re not well. Why come here so suddenly?”
“For someone who jumped at the chance for a walk, you’re awfully curious now.”
“I couldn’t resist a date, could I?”
Gone was his earlier guilt; Sys linked his arm with mine, his face bold.
“With your father and brother-in-law constantly in the way, I’ve barely seen you. Do you know how much I’ve been starving for you?”
“Says the man who’s been showing up every day like clockwork.”
“I only got to see your face for the time it takes to sip tea. That’s not enough!”
He grumbled, his face full of mock indignation.
I reached out, brushing a bud just beginning to bloom. Its soft petals felt exactly as I remembered.
“Do you remember?”
“What?”
“The day we first met.”
“Of course I do.”
“Do you?”
I lowered my arm and began walking slowly. Sys matched my pace, striding beside me. I moved deliberately between the rows of Leisha trees, and he followed without complaint, adjusting to my slow steps.
The breeze carried the scent of Leisha flowers, tickling my nose. A deep breath filled my lungs with fresh air.
This tranquility felt rare. The spring sunlight was warm, just like that day we met.
“Do you ever regret meeting me that day?”
“What are you talking about?”
He stopped in his tracks.
I turned to face him. His expression was serious, his eyes locked on mine.
“Are you regretting the day we met?”
“The day I met you was the worst of my life.”
Those words had shackled me for so long. I’d been bound by them, trapped in their weight.
“You don’t really regret it, do you? Tell me you don’t.”
I gazed at him silently, watching anxiety creep into his face as my silence stretched. Finally, unable to bear it, he stepped closer, gripping my shoulders tightly.
“Answer me, Bee! Do you regret meeting me?”
“I fell in love at first sight.”
“What…?”
I reached out, touching his lips.
“The moment a petal landed on these lips, I was already in love.”
His tense face softened, his lips curving into a smile as radiant as a blooming Leisha flower.
“I win, then.”
“What?”
He took my hand, pressing soft kisses to each knuckle.
His kisses were gentle, like petals, careful and tender, reminiscent of the boy who kissed a flower that day—the boy I fell in love with.
“It was a day when Leisha petals fluttered like snowfall.”
He smiled, brushing my cheek with his fingers.
“Those haughty, cat-like green eyes widened in surprise.”
He leaned down, his lips grazing my cheek, soft and warm before pulling away.
“That’s when I first fell in love.”
His starlit eyes held only me.
“You said you wanted to live, to be happy no matter what.”
Why did the Black Priest’s anguished words, crying over my dying self, surface now? He’d asked why I wasn’t happy.
And now? Was I happy?
The answer was clear.
“I’ll make you happy.”
“What are you saying…?”
“No, I need you to be happy.”
“Bee?”
His lips parted slightly, eyes blinking in surprise. He looked so endearing, caught off guard.
“So marry me, Sys.”
Smiling, I rose on my toes, pressing my lips to his.
“No refusals accepted.”
I slid my fingers into his hair, kissing him again. Slipping my tongue past his parted lips, I teased his hesitant one. His rigid body softened, responding as his tongue entwined with mine.
“Ah!”
His initial passivity gave way to fervor. Our breaths mingled, his tongue invading my mouth like a conqueror, exploring every corner, grazing my teeth, and pulling at my tongue with fierce intensity.
It was a wild, unrestrained kiss, unlike the delicate ones before.
“Mm!”
His hand slid up my spine, cradling my head. My neatly arranged hair tangled under his touch, but I didn’t care.
I wanted only to feel this electrifying sensation.
“Haa, haa.”
When my lips burned and my breath ran short, he reluctantly pulled away. I gasped for air, and he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close.
“That’s unfair.”
“What is?”
He buried his face in my neck, his ragged breaths warming my skin.
“This is cheating.”
He tightened his hold, his embrace heavy but comforting.
I reached up, stroking his hair, its silver strands slipping softly through my fingers.
“So, what’s your answer?”
“Give me a moment.”
“Are you playing hard to get?”
I grabbed a handful of his hair, tugging lightly in mock threat.
“I said no refusals.”
“Heh, as if I’d refuse you. It’s what I’ve wanted all along.”
He chuckled, face still nestled in my neck. I tugged his hair gently, just enough to tease.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“It’s not a problem, more like… pride?”
“Pride?”
He pulled back, taking a deep breath. As he moved, the silver strands I’d gripped slipped smoothly from my fingers.
“I wanted to be the one to propose,” he said, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief and sincerity.
I laughed, the sound light and free.
“Too bad. I beat you to it.”
He grinned, pulling me closer.
“Then I’ll just have to make the wedding unforgettable.”
Under the Leisha trees, their buds ready to burst, we stood together, the past’s shadows fading in the spring light. The barrier, the Inayari, the Black Priest—they loomed, but for now, this moment was ours.
“Let’s make it a life worth living,” I whispered.
“Always,” he promised, sealing it with another kiss.
