CH 224

But strangely, my heart was beating fast. It could be because of the sound of the fireworks exploding, but more than that, it seemed that I was very close to Jake. The hands that were holding each other kept bothering me.

Then suddenly I looked around and saw a scene where some lovers were kissing.

‘By the way, in the Empire, there is a myth that lovers who kiss while watching fireworks at a flower festival will get married.’

Everyone seems to believe the myth.

‘But Jake and I aren’t dating yet.’

Somehow I felt regretful, but I thought it was just an illusion.

That was then.

Jake softly called my name.

“…… Emir.”

“Yes?”

I was startled for some reason, so I almost jumped up.

Then Jake asked.

“Why are you so surprised, Mir? I was going to say the fireworks just ended. Where do you want to go now?”

“Ah…….”

I stood blankly, feeling a bit embarrassed, and answered.

“Now that I have seen the fireworks, I think I’ve had enough and go back to the mansion.”

* * *

In front of the Marquisate, I got off the carriage and tried to see Jake off.

“Wait, let’s go together.”

But Jake, who I thought would return to the Duke’s residence, followed me down.

“What? Are you not going back?”

“…… I have something to say. That’s very important. Could you give me a little more time?”

Jake said with a little hesitation.

I nodded. Somehow, I had a hunch of what he was going to tell me.

I reached out to Jake and asked back.

“Then, shall we go for a walk in the greenhouse garden together?”

“…… Sure.”

I could feel Jake holding my hand nervous.

It was like that until he went into the greenhouse where there was no one on, and I turned on the magic stone.

Jake paused for a moment at seeing the greenhouse’s landscape in full view and then murmured as he looked around the garden.

“This place……  is still the same.”

“Yes. Duke Theion decorated this place similar to the greenhouse in the Duke’s residence. Nothing has changed since then.”

I said. Then Jake smiled faintly.

“Nothing has changed, it’s true.”

After that, we walked around the garden silently for a while.

There was a subtle tension in the silence. I pondered what Jake said in my mind.

‘Nothing has changed…….’

But it was just about the garden. Jake and I were already quite different.

‘To be precise, I would have changed.’

The hand I used to hold casually, now I had to hold it with tension in my heart.

In the past, it was okay to have a staring contest with him. But now I avoid looking at him without even knowing why.

At first, I was embarrassed not knowing why I was doing this, but now I know.

‘I guess I don’t think of Jake..… like a friend anymore.’

Then we stopped when the center of the garden was revealed in front of us.

To be precise, Jake stopped first.

“Emir, I said I had something to tell you.”

“Yes, tell me.”

I readily answered.

Then Jake pulled out a letter scrool.

It looked similar to the one I saw this morning.

Seeing that it appeared out of empty air, he must have used magic.

“What’s this? A courtship letter?”

I asked knowingly. Then Jake nodded.

“You are right. To propose to you I couldn’t put this off any longer.”

“…… !”

His attitude was without hesitation despite him delaying this the whole time.

Of course, I thought that one day Jake might propose to me, but…….

I didn’t expect he would do this to me face to face. For a moment, my heart was pounding faster than when I saw the fireworks display. I asked carefully.

“…… Can I ask why you are proposing?”

“You were always by my side. I want to become closer and be with you. Together forever.”

Hearing Jake’s answer, I smiled.

“I see.”

Somehow I thought it would be Jake’s answer. Of course, I was thinking the same thing. I thought I was really lucky.

He continued.

“Rather than sending a marriage proposal to the family, I wanted to tell you this directly.”

Jake looked at me with deep eyes and said so.

I nodded.

“Good.”

“…… Will you accept it?”

My quick reply surprised Jake slightly. He didn’t seem to expect me to accept it.

“But, to be married. First of all, we have to get engaged.”

“Yes, let’s get engaged first.”

Jake nodded his head as he finished speaking.

But my words are not over yet.

“And before that we.”

“…… ?”

“…… How about dating first?”

In fact, if I had to do something with Jake, I wanted to have an engagement rather than marriage, and to date rather than engage.

“…… !”

Hearing what I said, Jake paused for a moment, and then smiled brightly as if it was the answer he really wanted.

“Let’s doo whatever you want. Because what you want to do is the same as what I want to do.”

As Jake said so, he grabbed my two hands.

Then he mumbled a promise.

“Your lover, your fiance, your husband. I’ll do it all. Mir, as long as you are with me.”

“Yes. I’ll promise.”

I nodded and smiled.

Seeing my smile, Jake was also smiling with a very overwhelmed expression.

It was the beginning of another new relationship between the two of us that started as friends.