After finishing his words, Hersion added once more, albeit belatedly, for Meriel to calm down.

“Y-your younger sister?”

Only now learning the truth, Meriel felt embarrassed and cleared her throat unnecessarily while calming her excitement. As her heightened emotions gradually settled, Meriel clasped her hands together and approached Nereida, bowing her head in apology.

“I truly committed a great discourtesy. I sincerely apologize.”

“It’s all right.”

The way she readily and remarkably calmly accepted the apology resembled Hersion exactly.

‘So they really are siblings?’

Blood relations must show in moments like these. Thinking this, Meriel looked at Nereida again with apologetic eyes.

Nereida glanced between the two for a moment, then openly pointed at her brother, revealing a more spirited personality than Hersion. Simultaneously shaking her head and sighing, she began speaking.

“Well, this brother of mine. He left behind the bouquet he was supposed to give to Miss Meriel, who might become my future sister-in-law! I heard he’d set the meeting place here, so I deliberately grabbed the bouquet and caught a different carriage to rush after him.”

“Oh! I-I see. Once again, I apologize. Miss Nereida.”

After apologizing to Nereida once more, Meriel also turned to express her regret to Hersion.

“I’m truly sorry, Knight Commander. I misunderstood. I apologize for flustering you.”

“It’s all right. I understand it was a situation where you could easily misunderstand, Miss Meriel.”

Hersion actually felt sorry for Meriel. If only he hadn’t made the mistake of leaving the bouquet behind.

He embraced the sobbing Meriel and gently stroked her hair. While Meriel, still feeling sorry toward both of them, continued sniffling, Nereida glanced at Hersion and spoke again.

“He was so nervous he left the bouquet behind! What an impossible brother, right? Hear the details from him directly later, future sister-in-law.”

“Future sister-in-law… We don’t even know what will happen yet.”

Nereida smiled meaningfully and greeted the two.

“I’ll head back first.”

She glared sharply at Hersion.

“Never make that kind of mistake again, brother!”

“I understand.”

Hersion answered seriously. Only after hearing his response did Nereida hail a hired carriage.

Soon a carriage arrived, and Nereida returned home after bidding farewell to Hersion and Meriel.

* * *

The commotion caused by the misunderstanding had passed. Meanwhile, the snow had piled up even more heavily.

Meriel entered the restaurant again with Hersion’s escort. Walking side by side close to him, Meriel still felt so sorry toward him and Nereida that words wouldn’t come easily.

Only after sitting down did Meriel completely regain her composure. Clearing her throat, she apologized to Hersion once more.

“I’ll say it again, but I’m truly, really sorry about earlier. I was too hasty.”

“Are you still dwelling on it?”

Hersion gently arranged Meriel’s bangs, telling her to put aside such worries with a sigh.

“You can stop worrying now. If anything, I apologize for being late to our appointment.”

“No, the roads are slippery, so that’s understandable.”

“But this is our first date.”

If anything, Hersion ended up feeling more sorry toward Meriel. Meriel waved her hands and shook her head.

“Though I felt anxious and impatient because you were late, I also thought you might be delayed because of the weather. I’m relieved all the misunderstandings are cleared up.”

The two, who had been continuously exchanging apologetic feelings, finally brightened up when the food arrived. Meriel, with lingering regret in a corner of her heart, was especially attentive to Hersion today. Her body and heart reacted that way naturally, even without intention.

Meriel cut a piece of steak and offered it to Hersion. Since the food she ordered was a different type from Hersion’s, she meant for him to try it.

“It’s delicious.”

Hersion smiled as he immediately accepted the food Meriel offered. Seeing him bloom with a bright smile, Meriel also found more energy.

Hersion also cut a large piece of his ordered steak and gave it to Meriel.

“Oh! It’s too big…”

Though she said this, when Hersion put the food into her mouth, Meriel had no choice but to accept it. Though it was such a large piece it filled her mouth, the tenderly melting meat pleasantly satisfied her hunger.

After swallowing the steak, Meriel gave a thumbs up.

“It’s really delicious, isn’t it?”

Should she have ordered the same thing? 

Meriel resolved to order the same food as Hersion next time. Though it might seem trivial, even doing such things exactly like Hersion would make her incredibly happy.

A sip of red wine smoothly moistened Meriel’s throat. Setting down her glass, Meriel exchanged conversation with Hersion while leisurely eating.

Before long, the meal ended and dessert arrived. Meriel kept bringing the sweet chocolate cake to her mouth. It felt like it had been so long since she’d eaten cake that melted this tenderly.

Watching Meriel contentedly eat cake, Hersion found her so lovable he couldn’t take his eyes off her for a while. Then he carefully recalled what he needed to tell her. Perhaps because this was the part she was most concerned about, he was more cautious than ever.

When Meriel finished even her coffee, Hersion quietly spoke.

“Actually, we couldn’t reach Sir James for quite some time.”

“What? What do you mean? Not being able to reach him—does that mean Sir James went into hiding or something?”

“Well, it’s somewhat of a long story…”

Hersion told Meriel everything that had been exchanged between himself and Adrian during that time. Meriel, who had known nothing about such events, nodded repeatedly and couldn’t hide her surprised expression.

“Sir James recently sent a letter to my father.”

“Really? That late? So what did he say? He didn’t suddenly suggest setting a date for a formal meeting, did he?”

As excitement rose, Meriel hastily speculated and impatiently urged an answer. Hersion closed his eyes and shook his head slightly.

“Not at all. The reason contact was cut off was because they unilaterally went into hiding.”

“Why?”

That makes no sense.

Meriel was dumbfounded. Sir James must have had unavoidable circumstances.

“Apparently Miss Nancy recently met a gentleman at a social gathering who she found very appealing. She insisted she didn’t want to meet any other man unless it was him, so the marriage proposal became completely void.”

“Really?”

“Yes, my father was worried about not being able to contact Sir James, but this was what happened.”

“Going into hiding over something like that…”

“Sir James must have been quite troubled because of his daughter.”

Meriel couldn’t continue speaking for a while. She only kept pursing her lips. She couldn’t have predicted such a thing would happen at all. 

Though she didn’t know the detailed situation, how much must Nancy have fallen for someone at first sight to go into hiding? Were her emotions as heightened as when she herself fell for Hersion?

After being lost in thought for a moment, Meriel finally spoke with a pleased expression.

“Life really is unpredictable.”

Meriel laughed weakly at words she found relatable even as she spoke them. Hersion maintained his smile while arranging Meriel’s hair and quietly added.

“My father said Miss Nancy prefers men with a small build rather than a large frame like mine. Then she apparently met her ideal person at a social gathering and fell for him at first sight.”

“Then anyway…”

Meriel debated whether to say this. Who was the one who just rambled about life being unpredictable, yet contradictorily dared to predict the future?

But Hersion was curious what Meriel would say.

“Please speak.”

Oh, whatever!

Meriel finally spoke the words she’d kept in her heart.

“This might be a cautious thing to say, but if you and she had met, I think you both would have parted ways quickly.”

Meriel, feeling awkward, glanced at Hersion to gauge his reaction.

“That seems likely,” Hersion admitted. Since he already had a woman he loved, meeting Nancy wouldn’t have changed anything. He would have asked for her understanding.

Even if, by some chance, she had developed feelings for him, he would have turned her down, enduring whatever complaints Adrian might have had as a result.

But Nancy also said her ideal man was small-built, not large-framed. So she certainly would have rejected him with high probability.

As the entire situation became clear, Hersion nodded slightly.

“I just said life is unpredictable, but isn’t it somewhat contradictory to predict what would have happened if you and Miss Nancy had met?”

“Not at all, Miss.”

This lady is sexually open, yet… she seemed pure in this regard. Thinking this, Hersion felt a desire to do something for Meriel. He suddenly stood up, approached Meriel, and kissed her cheek.

“Didn’t you base your statement on the reason the marriage proposal I received was canceled? It’s not a baseless prediction, so you don’t need to take everything to heart.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Only then did Meriel’s embarrassment disappear. Unable to hold back, Meriel lightly kissed Hersion’s cheek.

“Really, you only say things I want to hear. So, about that.”

“Please speak.”

“How about we start calling each other by our names now?”

“That sounds good.”

Actually, Hersion had also been hoping to call each other by their names. He’d been thinking of carefully mentioning it when leaving after the meal, but Meriel beat him to it.

He still had a long way to go, Hersion thought, resolving that this time he would definitely take the lead with Meriel as he called her name.

“Meriel.”

“Hersion.”

Though awkward since it was their first time, the two tried calling each other’s names in low voices. Calling each other by names instead of titles made them feel somehow closer. The pleasant sound of their names settling warmly by their ears. Being called by the person

 they loved made their hearts flutter even more.

Soon their lips naturally overlapped.

The sweet kiss was about to heat up intensely, swept up in the excited atmosphere, when the kiss ended.

“Oh right, Hersion. By the way, weren’t you really nervous even before coming here? If you left the bouquet behind, you must have been incredibly nervous.”

“Did you notice?”

He’d planned to do this just before leaving the restaurant, but when Meriel asked this, Hersion resolved to explain now and convey his feelings immediately.

“I’ll tell you the reason it was justified.”

Meriel looked at Hersion with a bewildered expression, seemingly dazed. Hersion knelt down.

Hersion arranged Meriel’s outfit with affectionate hands. Her collar was also folded, perhaps because she too had been very anxious all this time because of him. Or maybe the collar became that way because of the sweet kiss moment just before.

‘That would actually be fortunate.’

Thinking this, Hersion looked at Meriel’s face with a smile more loving than ever, then took something out of his jacket. Then he brought back that problematic bouquet from beside him and presented them together.

“Meriel, please accept my proposal. I’ve been very nervous about this since before leaving home.”

“What?”

Tears instantly welled up in Meriel’s eyes. She never dreamed Hersion had planned something like this when he asked to meet.

After remaining silent for a while, moved, Meriel accepted the bouquet and ring Hersion was holding, then grumbled playfully, feeling unnecessarily shy.

“What’s this? Are you really trying to move me this much?”

Meriel chuckled and kissed the top of Hersion’s bowed head. Though she was smiling, the tears she’d just shed escaped her eyes and thoroughly wet Hersion’s hair. When her traces were conveyed, Hersion also felt deeply moved.

“Yes. Hersion.”

When Meriel accepted, Hersion finally raised his head. Meriel slowly stood up. Hersion also stood and faced Meriel.

The gazes yearning for each other showed how much they wanted the other without needing to speak. And how much they loved each other too.

“I’m truly relieved everything was resolved smoothly, Hersion.”

“I agree, Meriel.”

“Really… because of this bouquet, misunderstandings arose both when I first met Hersion and today. It’s a love-hate bouquet, isn’t it?”

Meriel laughed cheerfully. Hersion gazed intently at Meriel smiling lovingly before him, then warmly embraced her.

“I love you, Meriel.”

“I love you too, Hersion.”

Their lips overlapped again. A more intense kiss than before heated the atmosphere even more. Saliva thickly intertwined and sweet tastes bloomed continuously.

Meanwhile, outside, snow had piled up even more heavily. Looking at the scenery of the whole world dyed white, Meriel and Hersion shared their love.

Only just before darkness fell did Meriel and Hersion leave the restaurant. Perhaps because it was winter, the day was short and outside was already growing dark.

Meriel walked side by side with him, pressed close to Hersion.

“I won’t let you go, Hersion.”

Hersion immediately understood what those words meant. He could catch on to this much now.

“I won’t let you go either, Meriel.”

Meriel smiled brightly. Moving even closer to Hersion’s side, she stood on tiptoe and whispered in his ear.

“Then how about we look around the square and then get lodging here later? What do you think?”

Hersion found himself chuckling at the very Meriel-like proposal and briefly kissed her cheek. He’d been planning to do that anyway.

“That sounds good.”

When Hersion quickly accepted, Meriel became even more excited and firmly linked her arm through his.

“Let’s go over there. The clowns seem to be doing some kind of performance. It looks really fun.”

Pointing at where an audience had gathered, Meriel led Hersion. Though Hersion found watching Meriel far better than the performance, he headed there led by her affectionate hand. 

Watching anything together with one’s lover was always interesting, after all.

Starting with watching the street performance, the two looked around Serutich Square here and there until the sun set. Even while roaming the streets, smiles never left Meriel and Hersion’s faces.

In the dark night, at the fountain in front of the square, Meriel and Hersion faced each other and pledged eternal love with a deep kiss.