Ch. 5: A Sudden Proposal
After Azalee had complained of being hungry and we had returned to our seats…-.
(We really are incredibly conspicuous here…)
On top of that, Calim was standing behind Azalee as he ate spicey foods, waving a giant fan and creating a breeze.
Although I could say I had become accustomed to this, I was still in shock.
I closed my eyes, hoping to calm down…
Azalee: “By the way OO, let’s get married.”
OO: “…eh!?”
Azalee: “Let’s hold the ceremony… hm, next month. The stars should be especially beautiful that time of year.”
OO: “Eh? Ah, what…!?”
Azalee: “I know we only just met, but you can tell a lot about a person from their hands and their appearance. I’ve taken a liking to you.”
Calim: “Prince Azalee, you cannot just decide something like that for yourself. You must ask first.”
Azalee: “Hm? Ask?”
Calim: “Yes. The two’s feelings may not always be the same, so first it is necessary to affirm those feelings.”
Azalee: “I see, I had no idea! Eeh…. What color dress would you like?”
Calim: “That is not what I meant, Prince Azalee.”
Azalee: “What? Then what did you mean?”
Calim: “As I said, just a moment ago…”
OO: “U-um, what are you…”
I sat there in confusion as Calim and Azalee continued their back and forth…-.
Stuck in the middle of the two, I sighed.
Ch. 6: Enthralled by His Eyes
I could see the stars shining in the sky through the window…-.
(I was just proposed to, wasn’t I?)
Paying me no mind, Azalee was saying something about the design of the dress.
(…I thought Azalee was a great person, but… I have to tell him that we can’t just suddenly get married.)
OO: “Azalee, um… about your proposal… I think it’s just too sudden and…-.”
Azalee: “It’s alright.”
Azalee gripped my hand tightly.
Azalee: “You may be nervous about suddenly becoming royalty, but don’t worry. My kingdom is a good one.”
(…ah, that’s right. Now that I think about it, I never said who I actually was…)
Azalee was giving me a full-faced smile as I was carefully thinking about what to say next.
Azalee: “This party was held just so that the two of us could meet…”
Azalee clearly took my silence as a sign of agreement, then kissed the back of my hand.
OO: “…! U-um…”
Azalee: “Now, that’s decided, so let’s go! Ah, no, wait, you’ll get the tiara, so we’ll go after that.”
OO: “N-no, it’s not that, but…!”
Azalee: “Ah, what an auspicious day! Let’s make the day we met a holiday in our kingdom!”
Calim: “Congratulations Prince Azalee.”
Calim, who I had considered my last stronghold, had started crying.
(What should I do? With that, there’s no one who can stop this…)
OO: “…wait…”
Azalee looked up, still smiling, and moved closer.
OO: “Uh, um… Azalee?”
I slowly stepped backwards but found myself backed against a wall.
OO: “Azalee. Uh, please, wait…”
Azalee: “I won’t.”
Azalee pulled himself in close and placed both hands on the wall.
His eyes were looking at only me, and even in this situation, my heart was pounding.
Azalee: “Because I’ve decided… that you’re mine, OO.”
His long fingers lifted my chin and his lips moved closer.
OO: “Nn…”
Our lips touched gently, then pulled apart for a moment before my breath was stolen again.
(I have to say something, but…)
His fingers on my chin moved to behind my neck and he brought me further into his embrace.
Then…
Azalee: “Now, let’s go.”
He whispered into my ear.
His hair smelled of the wind… and I didn’t know why that was what crossed my mind.
END
Secret Story: Stolen Heart
A meeting of fate had occurred on the night I suddenly decided to attend a party…-.
It was as if my heart had been visited by spring.
(I’ll need to prepare the best and most brilliant dress… and the wedding ceremony will be next month. I’ll have to hurry with the preparations…)
Calim and I were talking of the coming wedding between OO and I.
Then…
OO: “Azalee, um…”
OO shyly tried to speak up.
(Hm? I wonder if she wants to say she’d prefer a simpler dress?)
I turned to her to ask her opinion on the matter.
But…
OO: “About your proposal… I think it’s just too sudden and…-.”
(What? It couldn’t be… that she’s hesitating over the proposal?)
She was looking at me apologetically.
(…ah, that’s it! I understand now. Of all people, I did not show enough consideration for this.)
Azalee: “It’s alright.”
I took her hand in an attempt to comfort her.
Azalee: “You may be nervous about suddenly becoming royalty, but don’t worry. My kingdom is a good one.”
I instinctively held her hand a little tighter.
(It seems she’s so happy that she’s at a loss for words. She really is quite beautiful…)
As I watched her, head down and unable to speak, I thanked Fate for this meeting.
Azalee: “This party was held just so that the two of us could meet…”
(I’m sure the people back home will be overjoyed to meet you too.)
I was overflowing with happiness.
(… it looks as if we share the same feelings.)
I took her hand, still silent, and kissed the back of her hand.
OO: “…! U-um…”
(This hand, those clear eyes, and those shining pink lips, all of it is mine. I don’t think it’s possible to be happier than right now…)
I was once more intoxicated with the feeling of overflowing joy.
(… I can’t go on like this.)
Azalee: “Now, that’s decided, so let’s go! Ah, no, wait, you’ll get the tiara, so we’ll go after that.”
(Even the beauty of a tiara made in Corona could not compare to you… let’s bring something with us to commemorate this day.)
OO: “N-no, it’s not that, but…!”
(I really want to take her with me! I must find the most beautiful jewels!)
Azalee: “Ah, what an auspicious day! Let’s make the day we met a holiday in our kingdom!”
Calim: “Congratulations Prince Azalee.”
I could see tears on Calim’s face.
(I’ve caused Calim to worry quite a bit. But it’s alright now. I will definitely attain happiness. Definitely, because I have at last met with my destiny…)
I turned to OO and slowly approached her.
OO: “Uh, um… Azalee?”
For some reason, she took a step back.
(I see… she must not be familiar with these kinds of things. It’s alright, you can leave everything to me…)
I closed the distance between us, one step at a time.
Then, when her back was to a wall…
OO: “Azalee. Uh, please, wait…”
Azalee: “I won’t.”
I pulled in close and placed both hands on the wall.
Azalee: “Because I’ve decided.”
(There is no reason. My heart, my body, all of me… yearns for you.)
Azalee: “… that you’re mine, OO.”
I gently lifted her chin and kissed her with overflowing emotion.
In that instant…
(She’s… sweet. It’s the first time I’ve felt this.)
I pulled back slightly, intoxicated by the sweetness still clinging to my lips…
But I once more snatched her breath away.
(I know this happiness now… I could never live without you anymore.)
My fingers on her chin moved to behind her neck and I brought her into my embrace.
(So, I will take responsibility for you, now and forever… for the entirety of my life, I promise.)
Azalee: “Now, let’s go.”
I whispered softly into her ear, and her body shivered sweetly.
In this way, I thought of the future we would share as we were wrapped in the light…
And the pale blue moon shone down over us as my beloved and I headed towards Salusha.
END