Chapter 16.1 – Proposal

At last, the perfect summer arrived. The blazing sun warmed the land. Even when night came and the moon ruled the sky, the emptiness lingered.

How long had it been since Liat left the Empire with Liliana? How many times had the moon waxed and waned? The time dragged on, enough to make counting painful. Passing the seasons alone, he dwelled on the meaninglessness of time, making the world seem gray.

“Will you dance with me?”

“Sure. I might be clumsy, though…”

Couples danced, embracing, heedless of the heat.

“There you go again.”

Ronas, displeased with Alvin, sat across from him.

“Sitting in a corner glaring at people, it’s no wonder they talk.”

He came to share a drink but showed no respect. Alvin, not wanting to see his face, closed his eyes.

“You treat the Emperor differently. If you’re so worried, why not go see her yourself?”

Of course he’d thought about it. Even during work, he’d considered crossing the border a hundred times.

He feared that the perfect, beautiful Liat would sigh at his own wretchedness, so he abandoned the idea.

‘Lady Goat is leaving with you?’

‘Yes. It’d be a waste not to use her talent.’

‘…Even sharing a room?’

‘I get lonely easily. Delin can’t come, so having a familiar face will help.’

‘…Oh.’

‘What did you say?’

‘I don’t like it!’

He remembered Liat’s stunned face when he’d vented his frustration.

His condition worsened daily. Everyone around her seemed an enemy, and he grew jealous. His fellow knights joked he had separation anxiety, but it felt true.

Just imagining Liat giggling with new friends set his heart ablaze with jealousy.

“…Your Majesty, you must be quite free.”

He tried to mock Ronas, but Ronas was unfazed.

“I exist to care for the unfortunate, after all.”

Ronas sipped Alvin’s drink and shrugged.

“The guest of honor looks so gloomy at the banquet, how can I ignore it?”

Alvin sat at the front, invited by the Emperor to a banquet welcoming the delegation from the neighboring kingdom.

Normally, he’d have ignored the invitation, but news that Liat’s academy would attend made him rush to claim a seat.

Liat, as expected, was nowhere to be seen.

Was she staying at the academy because she’d found someone she liked? Just the thought made his chest ache and his face twist. His expression, mirroring his twisted feelings, was so intimidating it dampened the banquet’s atmosphere.

“Looking so grim, maybe she’s wary of coming back.”

“…Watch your mouth.”

“She’s been gone so long, even I’m worried.”

Liat and Liliana were flourishing at the academy, gaining fame as if they’d grown wings. Some rejoiced at the Empire’s rising prestige, while others worried the two talents might take root there and never return.

Liat, who’d promised to visit soon, hadn’t contacted him since her last letter a month ago.

“Seeing your face, I guess you didn’t even get a letter.”

“I didn’t know you were so interested in our affairs.”

His words brought back memories of the day they’d danced at the ball, their hair flying like a painting.

Recalling losing his first dance with Liat, anger simmered.

“If you’re still after Liat…”

Ronas clicked his tongue at Alvin’s murderous glare. If the Imperial Guard were nearby, they’d have arrested this would-be usurper.

Given the circumstances, it was tough. Alvin was one of those at the center of the Empire-shaking incident, skilled and devoted to waiting for one woman, with plenty of supporters.

Ronas drank, musing on unrelated thoughts.

“I’m not as persistent as you.”

“…”

Alvin’s stubborn silence showed further reaction was pointless.

“I’ll be off, so why not look around? There seem to be plenty of women hoping for your attention.”

The Emperor was finally leaving. Alvin, maintaining composure, rose politely.

Just as Ronas said, he felt eyes on him. Though his features were generally stern, Alvin was handsome. Ladies fanned themselves and smiled seductively, giggling when he met their eyes.

The cheerful laughter reminded him of his indifferent lover, making his mood sink.

“I’m not interested.”

“Really?”

A familiar sweet voice rang beside him. Alvin, recognizing it, turned quickly, heart pounding.

“Have a good time.”

Whether Ronas left or not didn’t matter. Alvin pinched his own cheek to check if this miracle before him was real.

The miracle gently removed his hand and stroked his reddened skin, smiling.

“Are you really not going to dance, Sir Knight?”

“Ah, ah…”

The delicate pink of a flower bud tickled his gaze. He needed to confirm if this was a vision conjured by longing.

“Liat…”

Alvin spread his arms wide, hugging the vision tightly so it wouldn’t vanish.

Just then, the music changed. The lively tempo played for the banquet shifted to a song perfect for lovers reunited and dancing.

“I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”

Alvin couldn’t speak. Tears welled up, and he buried his face in Liat’s shoulder, barely holding back sobs. Liat, embracing her still-crybaby childhood friend, wrapped her arms around his waist and danced gently.

As the area soaked by tears grew, Liat worried about the caressing that would follow, feeling breathless.

She’d promised to come early, but learning was endless, and after years at the mansion, her pent-up longing for freedom had delayed her return.

Of course, none of that mattered more than Alvin. He was always her top priority. She insisted on studying abroad for her own reasons.

Learning at the academy became her strength. Now she’d grown from someone to be protected to someone who could protect, just like in childhood. She could proudly stand before Alvin and shield him.

“Want to see this?”

Alvin, face streaked with tears and snot, refused to show it, but Liat didn’t care.

She kissed his ear until he looked up, then teased him about how she liked his tearful eyes. Swayed by her sweet words, Alvin finally looked up as she began to chant.

When Liat closed her eyes, golden light blossomed in the air. The glowing magic circled Alvin’s body and wrapped around his finger.

When the radiance faded, he found something cool on his left ring finger—a ring set with a jewel reminiscent of her eyes.

“This is…”

“What does an engagement mean between us? Marry me, Alvin.”

It was a proposal as unique as she was.

“…Yes.”

It was the happiest day of his life. The gray world was painted in dazzling colors by her return.

“Now you can’t cheat. I’ve got the strength to roast any rival.”

“Same for you. If you cheat, I’ll hang their head on the city wall.”

Now they had a reason to bind each other, and threatened bloody consequences for cheating. They continued their banter with delight, even if it wasn’t the proper language for a proposal—because it made them happy.

It was a proposal long awaited.

“Oh! Take this too.”

When Liat closed her eyes again, a warm breeze carried the scent of flowers.

“I’ll make you happy.”

She meant to give him all she hadn’t before. Liat handed Alvin the bouquet of roses she’d prepared.

“I love you, Alvin.”

The wind, carrying the scent of flowers and summer, gently tickled their noses. Even the air that once felt unpleasant and lukewarm now seemed lovely with Liat by Alvin’s side.

There was a time when Alvin didn’t understand the abstract concept of love.

As a child, Alvin had always been picky, finding it bothersome and tiresome to have to adapt every time the seasons changed.

Suddenly, a conversation from his childhood flashed through his mind.

It was before the incident with Karden, when he and Liat sat idly on the garden lawn, discussing the seasons. He remembered, of course, that he was always frowning with complaints.

Of all times, the day before Liat was supposed to visit, Alvin lost a bottom tooth. Worried that Liat might be disappointed by his awkward appearance, he couldn’t sleep, and his mood was already at rock bottom.

Of course, Liat didn’t even notice his missing tooth, but Alvin tried to keep his mouth as small as possible during their conversation, afraid she’d see his bare gums.

‘What’s good about summer? It’s just hot. I really hate summer.’

‘Really? I like it. The world’s so bright. And speak properly, Alvin. You hate winter too.’

‘Winter’s cold, so I don’t like it. But more than that, today, my appearance…’

‘I like winter too. Playing outside and coming back home shivering feels nice and cozy, doesn’t it?’

‘Liat, is there anything you dislike? I don’t think so.’

Liat’s illogical feelings didn’t affect him at all. At the time, he even snorted and ended up getting his hair pulled.

Under her grip, he quickly became a mess. More than the pain from his scalp being yanked, his heart ached strangely. Even with a missing tooth and messy hair, Liat didn’t seem to care about his appearance, and he realized she wasn’t interested in how he looked. He went back to his room, buried his face in a pillow, and cried until his nose ran.

He wished she’d care about him more than about the seasons. Instead, he ended up venting his frustration in a strange way.

But the more time Alvin spent with Liat, even the dazzling summer sunlight felt like a halo shining on her, and the chill of winter became something to be thankful for, as it gave him an excuse to huddle close to her.

In this way, Liat’s presence gave the seasons positive meaning.

‘I’ve liked her for so long.’

Just one person’s presence made each season arrive in a different way. He realized that anew.

After the trial with Karden, Alvin’s attitude changed markedly, and he thought the first page of his love story began then.

He hadn’t realized it had started so long ago. Now that he was aware, it felt like a heavy love.

“Alvin, I said I love you. Are you listening?”

It didn’t matter. However his love looked or whatever color it took, Liat would always call it beautiful. His love, with its long history like an ancient tome, was finally rewarded.

“I love you, too. I really do.”

Alvin smiled brightly. His usually stern lips curved into a clear line, and glances that had been sneaking looks at him now landed more directly.

Liat pulled him into her shoulder, cleverly hiding Alvin’s face.

“Show that expression only in front of me. Okay?”

“Okay.”

Together for life.

The childhood friends who held hands finally became family.

A pleasant wind swirled around them. The story to follow would be filled only with happiness.