Alliria: Fulfillment of Dreams

PACE FORTY THREE: The Proposal, for Real

“So this is your favorite place here, huh?” I mentioned, sitting next to her at the bench near a fountain.

“Yes... The sound of the rushing water from the fountain always calms my mind...” she replied, closing her eyes for a few seconds.

“Good to know about that... But is your mind not all calm right now?”

She tittered, “No... I-I mean, my mind is calm now... But I really like going here once in a while... and it will be a nice change if you are here with me.”

“I guess...”

Hm, Brimo’s taking so long to buy a bouquet of roses...

I wonder if Amey’s ready for my real proposal...

“Is something bothering you, Hail?”

“Huh? Um...”

I don’t know why, but I started feeling a little embarrass...

Brimo... Where the hell are you now?

Just when I was getting a bit frustrated, I heard his voice from afar.

He handed me the bouquet of roses the moment he reached me, “Thanks, Brimo.”

“Hm? What is with the roses?” Amey asked, looking at the roses in my hands.

I knelt my knee in front of her, offering it to her.

She smiled and took the roses from me with kind of a red face.

That’s actually cute...

“T-thank you... T-this is the first time I received a bouquet of roses...” she thanked me, stuttering.

With a pounding heart and shaking hands, I picked out the little box of ring from my parka’s pocket.

Okay, my nervous heart, will you please calm down even for a bit...?

“Amey, y-you still might not be ready for this, but...” I took a deep breath before talking once again. “You see, I-I’m truthfully in need of a Queen that will stay by my side forever... A lifetime partner that will help me carve a better future for the Haypri tribe...” I show her the box and opened it, making her eyes widen for a second. “Now that the conflict between our tribes has finally been settled... W-will you marry me and be my Queen...?”

The moment I finished asking that big of a question, I gave her a nervous smile while waiting and hoping for her positive reply...

Her eyes started to well up with tears and her lips started to shake.

It’s giving me a hard time to read her expression; I can’t figure out what the exact emotion she’s feeling right now... But still, I’m hoping... and hoping for her to say ‘yes’...

She took a deep breath and I saw her bit her lower lip.

“H-hail... I know we are still a little young to rule over a tribe...” she finally managed to say, wiping every tear that falls down from her eyes. “But I am aware that it is essential for you to get married...” she took a deep breath again. “I am not certain I can be an efficient Queen for the Haypri tribe, but... I will still try... for I would like to be with you for the rest of your life...”

“So...” I gulped. “...that’s a ‘yes’, right?”

She nodded, “Y-yes...”

While she’s sobbing a bit and sniffing, I gradually put the ring on her left ring finger.

She stood up from the bench and pulled me up.

Then, as if on cue, we hugged each other tightly, not even wanting to let go.