“Yes. That’s so like you.”

Elios bent down to match Snow’s height. His sun-like golden hair was beautiful in sunlight, but it also gave a warm feeling under the moonlight. His orange hair and eyelashes, his black eyes, his low and gentle voice, his incomparably soft actions—all of these were wonderful, but Snow would have loved Elios even without them. She just loved him.

“But El, not you.”

“Hmm?”

“If Arianne finds something precious and happy enough to leave me for, something that could let her find her own life, I would be glad. But if you had a reason to leave me, I don’t think I could bear it…”

She felt embarrassed even after saying it. Snow ducked her head completely into Elios’s cloak that was covering her and hid.

“One more time.”

Elios said.

“Could you say it just once more?”

“Um… what I want to say is.”

Elios tried to see Snow’s face hidden in the cloak. Snow gripped the cloak tightly to prevent him from opening it. It was too embarrassing to say while looking at his face.

“If Arianne… finds something precious and leaves me, that would mean finding her real life, but I want you to always hold me as your most precious thing…”

Her voice grew smaller toward the end.

“So, I, I want to be… your life…”

“Are you proposing to me right now?”

Elios asked urgently. Snow sat down right where she was, unable to hide any further under the cloak.

Elios was equally serious.

“Did I just… have my moment stolen from me?”

Elios asked, crouching down beside Snow. Snow buried her face in her arms. She had simply spoken her true feelings, but thinking about it, it really did sound like a proposal.

“No, it’s not exactly that, but it’s not not that either… I don’t know…”

Elios laughed once, then picked Snow up and set her properly on her feet. He cupped her reddened cheeks with his palms to cool them down and laughed softly again.

“Ah, what am I going to do with you?”

When Elios’s laughter went on too long, Snow frowned and made a threatening expression. But it wasn’t threatening at all, making Elios laugh even more.

“You’re already my world. Why don’t you understand that I’m the one who should be begging you?”

Elios casually uttered the words that Snow had struggled to say with all her courage. Then Elios’s shadow fell over Snow, and he turned her away from the railing and kissed her.

Snow still wasn’t used to this act, so she trembled each time as if it were her first. When she tightly gripped the edge of his cloak, Elios placed one of his hands over hers. The kiss was long and deep.

The wet lips and half-dreamy eyes were extremely beautiful and seductive. Both Elios and Snow thought so. Perhaps it felt that way because they were in the middle of a sea full of stars.

The two went to sit where Elios had been reading his book earlier. As they chatted about what they would do in the future and what kind of work they wanted to do, Elios suddenly asked:

“Snow. There’s something I’ve been curious about for a while.”

“What is it?”

“When you put me to sleep before.”

Elios’s voice was quite cautious. That incident was a painful memory for him. Thinking it must not have been a good experience for Snow either, he had debated whether to ask about it many times. Somehow, it felt okay to ask now.

“I woke up from that sleep earlier than Arianne or Ceres.”

Ah. Snow’s expression darkened. Snow knew. She had seen everything through the pond. In the snow-covered field where no one came, Elios had held Snow alone and cried out for hours. Eventually, he had collapsed from exhaustion.

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry. I put you through so much pain.”

Snow apologized sincerely.

“No, I know it was an unavoidable choice. It’s enough that you’re by my side now. I’m really fine.”

Elios said firmly.

“I’m just curious why I alone woke up early back then.”

Snow stood up and hugged Elios, who was sitting in the chair. Through the pond, she had clearly seen how much he had suffered then. He had shouted several times, asking to die in her place. Knowing those words were his sincere wish made her feel like she would be sorry for the rest of her life. It was none other than Snow who had pushed him into such a living hell.

“That was my mistake. I wavered because of your persuasion. The power is exerted by my will, and that will wavered. I tried to put you to sleep immediately because I felt my resolve would weaken if I listened to you. But the truth is, I was already wavering then.”

That was exactly it. Snow didn’t want to leave all her precious people behind and do something that might kill her, and she simply couldn’t bring herself to make Elios, who was trying to persuade her until the end, collapse by her own hand. At that time, he was like a final lifeline to her. Once he fell asleep, there would be no one left to stop Snow.

“My hesitation caused you even greater pain…”

Snow whispered painfully.

“You wavered because of me? So I didn’t sleep as long as you intended?”

Elios summarized Snow’s words. She was saying that he, Elios, had almost changed her mind when no one else could.

“Then, Snow, I almost succeeded.”

Well…

Snow made an ambiguous expression. That probably wouldn’t have been the case. In any case, there was only one way to stop the calamity. Elios couldn’t have persuaded Snow. She had simply wavered alone, making Elios suffer more.

Elios grabbed Snow’s arm. As he looked up from his seat, he could see Snow’s eyes filled with deep thought. He pulled her toward him.

“I told you. It’s all in the past now. You’ve returned, and that’s enough.”

Snow realized something. Just moments ago, she had told Elios never to leave her for the rest of his life, but shamelessly, she had the experience of leaving Elios behind despite his pleas and going very far away.

“If you really feel sorry, Snow, will you grant my request?”

Elios made a playful expression again.

“You see, I’m very greedy.”

“You, El?”

“Yes. So even though I once said I would be content just quietly following and protecting you for life, I can’t do that anymore. So…”

Elios pulled Snow close. Snow fell toward Elios. Their bodies touched. His breath brushed against her ear. Snow shivered slightly, feeling goosebumps. His soft voice echoed directly in her ear, making her feel as if it filled her completely.

“Will you marry me?”

“Huh? What?”

Snow asked back stupidly. This was truly a surprise attack.

“Answer me.”

Elios asked tensely, even though he knew Snow wouldn’t refuse.

Actually, he hadn’t planned to ask like this.

After Snow had beaten him to it earlier, he felt a sense of urgency. With the bright moon and stars everywhere, the atmosphere encouraged his urgency, and he ended up blurting it out. Since it had come to this, he decided to be boldly shameless.

Generally, a nobleman’s proposal would include an elaborate and grand stage, where the man places an expensive ring on the woman’s finger while reciting lengthy praises about her in a tedious process. But what need did Elios and Snow have to be bound by such conventions?

Even without a space illuminated by intricately crafted candelabras and candles, they had the vast, open sea and the soft moonlight shining upon them. Kneeling and kissing the back of her hand while pledging eternity would be nice too, but he preferred holding Snow tightly and whispering in her ear like this. He wanted to be as close as possible, to feel as much as possible. Because his feelings were that deep.

An expensive ring? Of course, he would have to prepare one that suited Snow perfectly. He would have to commission one as soon as they arrived.

Although Elios had liquidated most of his assets, he still had enough wealth to live abundantly for life and more. He had been royalty and had even ascended to the Emperor’s throne. He had no intention of living frugally. He planned to enjoy his money moderately without attracting too much attention, and to do some good deeds as well.

A ring. But Snow was a perfect being even without such things. Even the most expensive jeweled ring wouldn’t entice Snow. Only Elios’s sincerity mattered to her.

Still, he had wanted to talk while putting a ring on her finger. So, it was Snow’s fault for stealing Elios’s moment and bringing up the topic of living together for life first. She had made it impossible for him to hold back.

“Yes. I mean, yes. Really yes. But how, what should I do?”

Snow rambled. It was a positive answer nonetheless.

She’s beautiful. Snow was truly too beautiful. Elios’s heart was beating unbelievably fast, as if he had fallen ill. How could such a person have come to him? He couldn’t believe it.

Even setting aside the four years he had wandered after losing her, meeting Snow had been the greatest fortune for Elios, beyond that, a miracle.

He loved her so much that he not only wanted to be with her throughout his life but also wanted to die together.

He kissed her again. Snow stiffened slightly again. She still hadn’t gotten used to it, it seemed.

More. More. A little more. He felt constantly thirsty. He craved something.

Not enough. More.

Elios felt himself getting intoxicated by the atmosphere again.

His breathing became increasingly rough. Feeling that if he continued any longer, he might lose control, Elios hurriedly pulled his lips away.