C198
I continued saying what I wanted to say.
"In comparison to you, I might be far behind, but as you can see, I'm healthy! I will never die like that!"
Terence's eyes widened at those words.
"Honestly, I don't know why you avoid me on purpose. Maybe it's a form of overprotection."
I held his hand tightly with my right hand.
"But I promise. I will never again choose to die alone, leaving you behind."
"Ethel…"
"So don't run away from me. Don't avoid me on purpose like you did today. If you avoid me, I'll do whatever it takes to follow you to the ends of hell…"
I took a brief pause and then finished speaking.
"I assure you."
I hope Terence no longer feels anxious.
That was the truth I wanted to convey.
I hugged Terence.
"Really? I will never let you go. If Terence lets go of me first, I'll run and follow him. That's why I decided to increase my physical strength from today onwards."
"...”
Terence silently put his arm around my back.
"As expected, you noticed."
His voice, heard in my ear, trembled slightly.
"Because of what happened back then…"
"It's okay if you don't say anything. It was painful for Terence and for me."
"Painful. Yes."
He agreed as if he had finally realized it.
"A painful wound. I said I was protecting you, but I guess it was just a scar from the past. A wound that needs to be healed."
This person, who was so worried about me, didn't even seem to be aware of their own wounds.
"I've also been watching Terence. At least half the attention you give me."
"I lack confidence, but I'll try."
"I can't help it. I'll take care of Terence until he's old enough to take care of himself."
"It's an honor."
We stayed embraced for a while.
Like confirming each other's existence, like confirming the fact that we're both alive and beside each other.
Then, suddenly, a shiver ran down my spine.
"Now that I think about it, I must smell of sweat…"
Today, I sweated all day intending to show Terence how healthy I am.
I can barely do push-ups and squats, so why did I practice for so long?
Actually, I wanted to show something more interesting, like cutting a scarecrow with a real sword, but I had to give in because I encountered practical problems.
"Let me go…"
I tried to escape from Terence's arms, but failed completely.
"Just a little longer."
This was because Terence spoke calmly and didn't release his arms around me.
"I actually sweated a lot…"
"It's okay. I wouldn't dare dislike your body odor in any way."
"It's not okay for me!"
"It was Ethel who said she would never let me go."
"This is an exception, an exception!"
I wriggled in Terence's arms for a moment and then managed to pull away.
Terence said bluntly, smoothing my hair, which was tied up in a high ponytail so as not to interfere with my movements.
"Liar."
"Pervert."
After blaming each other once, we sighed and burst out laughing.
As expected, every day with him was pleasant.
"Anyway, don't avoid me from now on. If a problem arises, let's find a solution through dialogue."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Today you even made Jack lie and went somewhere."
"Oh, about that."
Terence's voice lowered as if he were telling a secret.
"Actually, I didn't hide my destination to avoid you."
"Then?"
"I received a call saying it was already done, but it was hard for me to sit still and wait. So I went and picked it up myself."
He smiled mysteriously and pulled a small velvet box out of his coat pocket.
"I wanted to surprise you, so I told Jack to keep quiet, but I didn't know there would be a misunderstanding."
For some reason, I felt choked up.
"That's… What is it?"
I had a feeling, but it was hard to be sure because there was no evidence to back it up.
"Ethel."
Terence opened the box and showed me the contents.
"Please marry me."
The brilliant appearance of the diamond caught my eye.
Just as I expected, what he handed me was a ring. A really beautiful ring.
"I will always let you walk on a path of flowers. Even if I have to put thousands of flowers under your feet."
Terence got down on one knee.
"So…"
I realized from the slightly stiff corners of his mouth that Terence was currently tense.
"Promise me you'll stay with me for the rest of your life, Ethel."
I helped Terence up without even having time to wipe away the tears that were flowing.
"I don't need flowers. If only you were by my side, that would be a flowery path."
Then, she hung onto his neck and kissed him.
Terence responded to the kiss by holding my waist tightly, while taking the ring with his other hand and placing it on the ring finger of my left hand.
Indeed, Terence Belver Asteroth was someone who made me cry, even though a moment ago I was laughing.
Afterwards, naturally, I ended up staying in the palace where Terence lived.
He said he didn't want anyone to see me cry and took me to his palace.
I've been to Terence's palace several times, but this was the first time I slept here.
He didn't give me a separate room, as if it were obvious, and I willingly entered his bedroom.
"If you're tired, you can sleep first."
Upon hearing that, Terence made a sarcastic comment and followed me into the bathroom.
For your information, I was able to take a refreshing bath first because he yielded.
After drying my hair, I snuggled into Terence's usual bed.
For some reason, my heart hasn't calmed down since earlier.
Is it because of Terence's body odor filling this room, or is it because he just proposed to me? Or is it because in the future…?
Feeling embarrassed once again, I suppressed my emotions by punching the pillow.
"Let's calm down, calm down."
Yes, I calmed myself down as I looked at the ring.
I opened the ring box again placed on the bedside table.
Looking again, it was a beautiful, pure white diamond and quite large in size.
I didn't bother to ask, but it didn't seem like something even Prince Terence would have easily obtained.
Moreover, this was no ordinary ring.
"Kais, with his cooperation, I created it as an artifact. It has a magic of protection and blessing, so it will help you to be happy."
I waved my hand with the ring on the left ring finger.
Happiness washed over me like a wave.
"We already love each other so much, so I didn't think it would make much of a difference if we got married…"
When I received a marriage proposal from him, a feeling that was difficult to express in words blossomed in my heart.
I just received a marriage proposal and was given a ring, but if I'm like this now, how happy will I be when I have a real wedding?
I closed my eyes with that question in mind.
Imagining my wedding and his.
"Ethel."
But it seems I fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes and heard the sound of a sweet voice tickling my eardrums, Terence was just around the corner.
"…Terence?"
When I absentmindedly muttered his name in sleep, he sat on the bed, pushed my hair behind my ear, and said.
"Would you like to go back to sleep? You must be tired because you moved your body a lot today."
"Umm, no."
Even as tears welled up in my eyes, I grabbed Terence's wrist to prevent him from leaving.
"I'll sleep a little later."
Then, I felt the color of Terence's red eyes looking at me darken.
"Are you sure you don't mind?"
"Why? Are you avoiding me again?"
Gradually, the feeling of sleep began to escape.
"Tell me honestly. Why have you been avoiding me for so long? Is it because you're overprotective of me?"
He hesitated for a moment and then whispered.
"I lacked confidence. Once I enter, I'm sure I won't be able to pull out halfway. I didn't want to make things difficult for you."
I replied, stroking his cheek.
"And what if it's a little difficult? It's okay. Even if you don't pull out."
As soon as I finished speaking, Terence buried his face in my neck.
Finally, a feeling of dizziness overcame me.
Morning is still far away.
...
The next day, I lifted my heavy eyelids and felt the sunlight pouring in.
When I looked out the window, the sun was already high in the sky. How long did I sleep?
"Are you awake?"
I thought I was alone, but when I turned my head to the side, I saw Terence looking at me with a bright smile.
"Did you sleep well last night?"
I paused for a moment and answered his question with a very hoarse voice.
"Did I sleep well…?"
"Did you?"
"Oh, I don't know."
I covered my face with the blanket to avoid his gaze.
I had no strength in my whole body.
On top of that, my arms were shaking just from pulling up the blanket.
"Pervert."
Feeling aggrieved, I repeated the criticism I had made of Terence the night before.
Terence responded, holding me in his arms with the blanket.
"It was Ethel who told me not to stop on the way."
The most frustrating thing was that there was nothing to refute because it was true.
"No, but not to that extent."
I snorted and closed my mouth. I didn't have the strength to say more.
In any case, one thing was clear: Terence Belver Asteroth was a pervert.
How could I have accepted a marriage proposal from a pervert?
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