193 Chapter 193: A small task

Hazel exclaimed in shock. 

Usui smiled bitterly as he glanced at their hands and asked, "Do you remember the time when I was poisoned when I arrived here?"

Hazel pursed her lips as her eyes flashed coldly. How could she forget that? She has yet to meet that wonderful person to repay him a hundred folds of what he had done.

Usui laughed on seeing her expression. He rubbed her head affectionately and said, "Let me deal with him."

Hazel scoffed, not giving him an answer but it was enough for Usui. He was sure she would never search for him and hoped that person would not appear in front of her. It wasn't because he felt sympathy towards him but he personally wanted to deal with that jerk.

He leaned back and said, "During that time, when I searched for the cure, there was no cure available. I had already given up on living by then and fully believed that I would die soon. When I came to terms with it that I only have a short time left, all I felt inside my heart was regret."

Hazel furrowed her brows as she listened to his words. 

"Regret of never doing something for me." He chuckled derisively, "From the moment I was aware of my position till date, the title Crown Prince had forced me to choose different paths than the ones I wished to take. It had taught me how people could be nice in the front and stab you from behind"

He sighed, "I had to be cautious and attentive when dealing with everyone around me that I grew sick of it."

"When I realized that I never lived for myself" He glanced at her and smiled, "I wanted to experience it before I died,"

Hazel pressed her lips into a thin line. For some reason, she didn't like how he mentioned death. On seeing her indignant expression, Usui pinched her cheeks and said, "That was when my Mother came up with your competition. To be honest, I wasn't very interested in it. I had already planned on rejecting everything from the beginning."

Hazel swatted his hands and pointed out, "And, that choice must have changed something within you. You wouldn't have chosen to come if your life was not on the line."

Usui shrugged diffusely agreeing with her words. It was true, he would never have gotten the time to care for a measly competition.

He looked down at his hands and said, "When I came here, I was planning on meeting with the king and rejecting the proposal. But before I could make a move, you appeared."

Hazel rolled her eyes making him grin widely. 

"That day, something sparked within me. I was intrigued by you and your team. I wanted to have a battle with your people and your father just gave it to me on the plate."

Hazel's lips twitched as she muttered, "Fighting maniac"

Then he paused, as he looked at his fingers and muttered, "But I never thought I would fall in love with that mystery"

Hazel chuckled, "When Rin said you would play an important part in my life. I was adamant about not appearing before you as Hazel and was looking for ways to cancel this competition. But you took me by surprise when you rejected me in front of the crowd."

"I was elated when I realized that Rin's prophecy wouldn't come true but my hopes crashed when I heard you say you loved Freya."

Hazel pouted her pink lips making Usui laugh.

He shook his head amusedly, "I can't believe that I would do all this for a woman. I never thought I would be like those crazy fools in love but it looks like love makes everyone crazy"

"There is a saying: For your loved one, you will climb the mountains and hills." He looked at her and said, "But for you, I had to visit the God of Death and crawl back to the human world."

Hazel scratched her chin awkwardly squinting his eyes. 

Shaking his head, he said, "But I agree, these past few weeks were the most interesting and satisfying days out of all the days I have lived."

Hazel chuckled. Usui chuckled as he kissed her forehead and stood up.

"I never thought there would be a day where I would be head over heels in love with a woman. That I would even care about another person's happiness."

Usui gripped her hand making her look at him. 

'What?'

"You have changed me, Hazel"

Hazel gulped at his intense stare. Why does it look like he's going to eat me?

"So? Do you hate it now?" Hazel asked him with furrowed brows.

Usui chuckled as he shook his head.

"The opposite. I love this change. It makes me alive. Like I could hear my heart beating almost every day" he said amazedly making Hazel blush.

Seeing her blush, Usui pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her waist, "So you need to take responsibility for this change"

Instantly Hazel looked up in shock, "What?"

Usui tapped her nose and said, "Don't worry, you don't have to do much."

Hazel squinted her eyes at him making him laugh. He raised his hand and swore, "I promise.. just a small thing"

She let out a breath as her body relaxed in his embrace. Usui shook his head at how naive she was. Did she think I will let her go after all this? 

Never... not in this lifetime or next. He would make sure to bind her with him for all lifetimes.

"So, what should I do?"

Usui smiled as he snapped his fingers. Instantly petals showered upon them making Hazel giggle. 

"Usui, what is this?"

He smiled down at her and asked in a low voice, "Do you trust me?"

Hazel nodded abruptly making his smile widen. 

"Come with me." 

He covered her eyes with his hand as he proceeded to pull her towards the meadow. Hazel held his hand with hers as she walked down the stairs blindly. 

He stopped her in the middle of the sea of flowers and uncovered her eyes. Hazel frowned when she found nothing out of ordinary. 

"Usui?"

She turned around to question him when suddenly a bunch of bright flowers greeted her vision. Hazel looked at the flowers in his hand and her eyes widened slightly before a smile crossed her face.

'Silly'

She accepted the flowers and smirked, "Is this what I am supposed to do?"

Usui let out a smile as he shook his head and said, "Not really. The next part is where you have to do something"

Saying this, Usui kneeled on the ground glancing at her. Hazel widened her eyes at him as she gasped. 

"I would like to ask you to take responsibility for my heart"

Hazel squeaked, "Responsibility?"

Usui nodded. 

She bit her lips as she said, "Isn't that something women ask their men?"

Usui raised his eyebrow and tilted his head, "Well if you want to ask me then okay" and he proceeded to get up.

"No..No"

Usui frowned, "What? you don't want to take responsibility"

Hazel shouted, "Usui!!"

"Yes, love"

Looking at the smile on his face, she so wished to wipe it clean. 

"Do you know what you are doing?"

Usui smiled softly as he held her hand tightly and said, "More than anyone"

"But-" Usui raised a finger and said, "Allow me to do this properly"

Hazel immediately shook her head making him sigh. 

"Just let me do this, Hazel" 

Hazel bit her lips as she watched Usui proceed to kneel on the ground.

Usui smiled at her and caressed her hand with his thumb, " I wanted to do it here, a place which is close to your heart. I know this place is where your brother's memories reside. And, I wanted to do this in front of your beloved brother."

He kissed her hand and said, "Freya, from the moment I met you, you have charmed me with your grace. You have captured my heart with one glance." Gripping her hand, he smiled, "You have turned my life upside down and taught me what love is. Taught me how to live my life completely."

"I promise to love you with all of my heart. In this lifetime and every following lifetime. I will always be by your side supporting you in everything you want or need to do. I promise to be there to wipe your tears away and bring a smile to your face."

Hazel's lips trembled when she heard the man she loved profess his love for her.

"And, I promise to beat the crap out of anyone who dares to make you cry."

Hazel cracked up at his words and muttered, "Silly"

"Yes... I'm silly for you. Hazel, I'm madly, crazily, truly, and completely in love with you. I can't envision my life without you anymore. I will be there with you in each step in the future."

Usui fetched the ring from the insides of his cloak and took a deep breath. He lifted his eyes to her and asked with a small smile on his face. "So, Princess Hazel... my Warrior princess Freya.. would you do me the honor of being my fully-fledged wife in the presence of your brother?"