"-Kieran…what's that?" Mal asked raising the fallen objet between her fingers in front of the face of the smirking prince.
"-have you never seen a ring before?
-what are you trying to do exactly?
-well…my intentions are good this time…" he stopped to take the ring from her hand, cleaned it a little bit before kneeling on one knee, holding the shining jewelry to finish:
"-I want to propose to my lovely stubborn and courageous huntress who would kill me any moment but I don't mind. So…do you accept being my fiancée and soon my wife Mal?" Mal covered her mouth as if she was about to cry, looked down before raising her head up, pushing her hair back with a poker face on and her arm crossed before she exclaimed:
"-really, proposing…I expected better than that from you Kieran." The white-haired boy was dumbfounded with her reaction, he blinked twice unable to utter a word but she added with her legs crossed, leaning with one of her arms on the bunch and talking with the other.
"-you thought I would get emotional and cry or ran away…because I wasn't waiting for such a romantic gesture from the charming prince…eww…cringe.
-you really lack something called SENTIMENNTS…oh my god." He sat back then added fed up:"-at least appreciate what I have done for you.
-you mean wasting the whole day to propose at the end so that you can call me your fiancée.
-yes and no…actually I thought about it when I bought the ring but that's not the real reason.
-what's the reason then?
-honestly, when you told me about your family accident and how I triggered your trauma that night when I killed Rosaline…but you made me feel good about myself when I told you about mine…I thought why not act nice once in awhile…I didn't knew how…because I am not that kind of person who can make something thoughtful…or show that I care about someone…so when you told me that night in the library that you don't have a ring to prove that you are my fiancée…this idea hit me.
-proposing to me.
-well no, it wasn't my idea and I didn't imagine myself kneeling to propose for a girl that would reject me at the end and make a fool out of me.
-I am not a romantic person…bad luck.
-you made flower crowns for you and your mom to play the queen and her princess but it didn't go well…so I decided to change that memory…at least help a bit…create a happy one…but this time you will play the queen and I will play your king…that's why I waste my day Mal…I wasted for you.
-you know how to make someone feel bad about themselves…how can I believe you? …how can I know if you are saying the truth?
-I swear on my mom's grave it was for good intentions and I was saying the truth." Mal stared at his eyes for a while, she knew he was saying the truth and she regretted what she had done.
She glanced at her lap playing with the flowers between her fingers to mutter lately:
"-I don't know what to say except I am sorry…you don't have to…even though…it won't change the past that…
-don't make the past your future and move on. Live for now, you wanted to know how does it feel to be a princess…I am offering you to be the queen…The decision is yours.
-how can I, make it up to you?"He smiled sweetly and asked for her hand, she put hers; on his palm then he put the ring on her finger genteelly before he kissed it, looked at her smirking:
"-don't take it off and we are good.
-but I don't…
-you hate diamonds and gold I know…it's rose gold with grey spinel and white sapphire from the sides…extra glory. So you have no excuses not to wear it.
-don't you think you are a little bit over with the stalking thing?
-It doesn't matter now, the important question is…Do you like it or not?
-you want my honest opinion.
-yes please but if you are going to just say good or not bad…don't tell me then beca…
-it's really beautiful and unique and I really love it.
-what?" Kieran shouted on top of his lunge whereas Malin bursts in laughter and the boy's mouth was left open.
"-you should close your mouth before a mosquito gets inside.
-I don't care…are you serious?
-on my mom's grave I am saying the truth." She mimicked him and he hit her arm playfully feeling soothed and delighted finally.
"-I love it thank you.
-you are too polite this period…are you alright?
-you should take benefit from the opportunity… I am not always nice with people." They both laughed until Mal stood up and Kieran stood next to her and asked:
"-What's wrong?
-you proposed, I showed you how to make a flower crown, we created a pretty memory and now…I have to leave because my dinner is waiting for me…goodnight fiancé." She waved her hand passing by him but he rolled his eyes before pulling her. She almost fell but he caught her and asked with a raspy voice:
"-did I give you the permission to leave princess?
-no." she answered unruffled, raising her shoulder up and down.
-then why you didn't wait for my order?
-since when do I…follow your orders or even listen to what you are telling me?" she chuckled then pushed herself from his hold, stand properly crossing her arms showing him her dominant unbroken strong side to finish:
"-not because you are my fiancé…you think you can control my life or involve yourself in my life more than you are." Kieran's smirk widened then commented:
"-that's my queen…I feel lucky to have you.
-you don't have me.
-maybe not yet darling." He winked but she just rolled her eyes:
"-won't you give up?
-I would give up on the whole world but not on you love…you are lucky because I am a man with a word, and let's not waste time because food can't wait.
-hold on, you prepared dinner too…" Kieran nodded hesitantly and Mal's face brightened with happiness then commented:"- I guess it's not that bad being the queen." Kieran laughed from his heart but soon he smiled faded. Mal didn't notice because he was pulling her and she was carrying her dress with the other hand with his back facing her.
He was telling himself, is what he is feeling was right or just another delusion…another lie he will tell himself to feel better…when can he know the truth…