Chapter 6.5

Rizle watched Gilbert with concern as he prepared to leave for the Empire.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“What if I’m not?”

“I’m sorry…”

Rizle apologized weakly. She felt deeply guilty, believing that Gilbert was forced into this marriage because of her stubbornness. Gilbert had always been popular but had his reasons for not marrying until now.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“Because you’re giving up your dream of marrying someone you love.”

Despite his appearance, Gilbert was a romantic at heart.

Gilbert glanced at Heizen, who stood calmly beside his apologetic sister. This mess was not Rizle’s fault but Heizen’s. Still, Gilbert didn’t intend to hold a grudge.

The charisma of the Princess made her seem like a remarkable person. However, when she lifted her veil to reveal her face, she wasn’t just remarkable—she was stunning. Without realizing it, Gilbert found himself staring in a daze. And then, her decisiveness—she was exactly the kind of woman he had been looking for.

But it would be troublesome if anyone found out about this. He had always dismissed people who fell in love at first sight as impulsive fools. If Rizle found out, she would mock him endlessly, saying, “So, after all your smugness, you’re falling for someone at first sight and even planning to follow her to the Empire?”

Thus, Gilbert decided to act as though he were sacrificing himself for his family and country, using the situation to make Rizle feel indebted to him.

“Not everything in life goes as planned.” 

Gilbert said, feigning resignation. Fooled by his act, Rizle looked at him with teary eyes. When Gilbert awkwardly told her not to cry, she couldn’t hold back and hugged him tightly.

“It would be a lie to say I’m not anxious about living in the Empire. But if I have a capable wife, I think I can manage.”

He reassured her, patting her back gently.

“Now that I think about it, my child might even become the Emperor of the Empire someday.” 

Gilbert added.

“What? Are you serious?” 

Rizle asked, her eyes wide.

“It’s a long shot. The Empire has a complicated hierarchy. Everyone related to the Imperial Family is called a Prince or Princess, but I heard she’s more distantly related. Still, you never know.”

He had already looked into such details. 

Was he genuinely hoping for his child to become Emperor?

Rizle warned him not to draw too much attention and risk upsetting the Empire’s powerful figures, lest he end up assassinated.

* * *

After seeing Gilbert off, Rizle boarded the carriage to return with Heizen. However, after several days of travel, Rizle began to feel something was off. It was summer, of course, but even considering that, the weather was becoming noticeably warmer.

When they finally arrived, Rizle realized why. Instead of Boeur, their destination was Kabakia.

“Why are we in Kabakia?” 

“You like this place, don’t you? You used to come here every year for vacation. Since you haven’t been able to visit in a while, I thought you might enjoy it.”

“I do like Kabakia. In winter, though!”

Heizen realized his mistake too late. He had been so focused on Kabakia that he hadn’t considered the season. They had arrived during the height of summer, when it was unbearably hot during the day, and no one ventured outside.

Though Rizle disliked the cold, she was from a colder region. The heat left her utterly drained, unable to do anything. She sat on a sofa with her feet in a bucket of ice water.

Heizen, sweating profusely, fanned her diligently. 

“Is this helping?”

“If I had known we were coming to Kabakia, I wouldn’t have followed you.” 

Rizle muttered. Hearing her words, Heizen fanned her even harder. By nightfall, Rizle, who had melted like cream during the day, finally regained some energy.

“Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m here.”

She said, still sounding discontent. Heizen, nervous that she might insist on returning to Troskan, broke into a cold sweat.

“We’re not even engaged anymore. Legally, we’re broken off.”

She reminded him.

She was right. King Loen had hastily issued an annulment order, leaving their engagement in limbo. Yet, she had followed him without much hesitation. Heizen secretly hoped this meant they could rekindle their relationship.

“We’re not exactly in the kind of relationship where I’d visit your vacation home.” 

She added.

“Please don’t say that. It breaks my heart.” 

Heizen said, holding back his true feelings as he took her hand. Rizle pulled her hand away and removed the ring she was wearing, handing it back to him.

Heizen was so shocked that his eyes nearly popped out of his head. Rizle deliberately returned the ring to him, as if to make a point.

Could she really want to end things completely? That couldn’t be. 

He had gone to great lengths, even sacrificing Gilbert, to secure peace. He had just started to feel happy. How could this happen?

As anxiety spiraled into dangerous thoughts, Heizen remembered that the estate was under an alias. Perhaps he could keep her here….

“If you want to marry me, propose again.” 

Rizle said, interrupting his thoughts. She smiled shyly and stepped back. Heizen closed his gaping mouth and extended his hand toward her.

“Would you accompany me to the garden for a moment?” 

He asked.

“Oh my, this is a good start.” 

Rizle replied, placing her hand gently in his. Heizen kissed the back of her hand and led her to the garden.

The garden, unbearable during the day, was now filled with flowers glistening under the moonlight. The dew left by the gardener’s watering made the plants look fresh and vibrant.

“Rizle.” 

Heizen called as she admired the flowers. His nervousness was evident on his face, making Rizle chuckle softly.

“Sorry.”

She said, quickly apologizing and trying to appear serious. But looking at Heizen’s face made her lips twitch with amusement.

“All the marriage—no, flowers planted here….”

Heizen, flustered, stumbled over his words. Rizle struggled even more to suppress her laughter. She knew it was rude to laugh when he was being so earnest, but she found his awkwardness endearing.

Heizen, determined, recited the proposal he had prepared. 

“Even if the flowers here wither and lose their color, my feelings for you will never change.”

Kneeling, he presented a ring to her. In his haste, he slammed his knee onto the ground with a loud thud, wincing in pain.

Trying to hide his discomfort, Heizen lowered his head and held out the ring. 

“Please marry me and spend the rest of your life with me.”

He waited, swallowing nervously, but Rizle didn’t respond. When he glanced up, she was covering her mouth with both hands.

As their eyes met, Rizle removed her hands and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. Heizen was dumbfounded.

Had I done something wrong? Why was she laughing so much? Was this a positive reaction or something else?

Countless thoughts raced through his mind.

“Rizle, please stop laughing and answer me.”

He pleaded, raising the ring higher.

Rizle, seeing the desperate glint in his eyes under the moonlight, smiled warmly.

“You know, Heizen, I just realized why you like shiny things.”

“I don’t understand. Could you answer me first?” 

Heizen’s mouth felt dry. Though he knew she wasn’t rejecting him, he was anxious for her confirmation.

“Rizle.”

He begged. Rizle leaned forward, holding his face in her hands.

“You like shiny things because your eyes sparkle. Unconsciously, you’re drawn to things that resemble them.” 

She said, gazing into his luminous eyes.

“Is the world you see through those eyes beautiful?”

Heizen, captivated by her blue eyes, nodded. His chest felt tight, as if he could hardly breathe.

Had he ever looked into his own eyes through hers? Was he captivated by her gaze, or was it because he saw her reflected in his eyes? Heizen, who had never thought of his eyes as beautiful, felt a strange sense of wonder.

“It’s indescribably beautiful.”

Pleased with his answer, Rizle smiled and lightly kissed his lips before offering her left hand.

Half-dazed, Heizen slipped the ring onto her finger. It was almost complete. All he needed was her verbal agreement.

Heizen’s eyes sparkled with anticipation, glowing brighter than before. Rizle looked at the ring on her finger, feeling a wave of emotion. Though it was the same ring she had been wearing earlier, it felt like something new.

Unlike last time, there was no alcohol involved. This moment would remain etched in her memory forever. Even on her deathbed, she would recall it fondly, thinking, 

“That was truly wonderful.”

Rizle began to look forward to her future with Heizen.

“All right. Let’s get married.”

As soon as Rizle Thruella finished speaking, Heizen abruptly stood up, attempting to embrace her. However, the sharp pain from his knee, which had collided strongly, caused him to falter and sit back down. Embarrassed by his clumsy appearance, Rizle burst into laughter and pulled his head toward her, hugging him.

“……I hope the child resembles you.”

“Isn’t this planning a bit too fast? We need to have the wedding first.”

Rizle chuckled as she stroked his hair.