Rose looked at herself in the mirror and then focused on the figure standing behind her in admiration. His eyes were close to tears for at least the third time that day.
The princess frowned. "Are you sure you don't mind me wearing my mother's dress?"
It was a question she had asked many times, and the words were borne more of nervousness than actual concern.
"This dress was never meant for Alexis. It was always meant for you. The fact your mother was able to touch it is a blessing from the Maker himself." Rhodri wiped the droplet of water from his eyes.
The dress had been altered to Rose's taste, but the white bodice with gold embroidery and the long, flowing skirt had remained mostly intact when it was all said and done.
Silver had given the news about Alexis to the king and princess upon his return from Lakyle. While Rose had been astonished, Rhodri had been relieved.
"So I hadn't imagined it!" Rhodri gave an elated clap of his hands. While he was sad to hear of Alexis's passing, the knowledge that he had been able to foster her only child filled him with deep and abiding joy.
Looking at the princess now, even a year after hearing the news, Rhodri could not believe how blessed he had been. How blessed his Nephew would be from now on.
"Ethyn is a good man," Rhodri said as much to himself as Rose.
"I know." She smiled at him.
The king pulled a wisp of hair from the Princess's face. "My nephew loves you as much as his own life. Maybe more. Not as much as I do, of course," Rhodri chuckled, "but he has the rest of his life to pass me up."
"He could never replace you in my heart," Rose assured her father.
"New love doesn't replace old. The heart merely grows to accommodate it." Rhodri nodded. His own experience had shown this to be true.
Rose remembered the night Ethyn had proposed. Her heart had certainly grown that night.
While the princess had been waiting for Ethyn to ask the question, she had in her head exactly how it would go.
It seemed that fate had another idea...
—————
One evening after a quiet dinner together with the king, Ethyn and Rose elected to take a romantic walk in the princess's garden.
"My mother loved these flowers." Stopping by the white blooms, Rose pulled one and handed it to the man beside her. He sniffed it before tucking it behind the Princess's ear. "His Majesty says you look a lot like her. I can see why two men loved her enough to want to marry her."
Rose shook her head, ignoring the obvious compliment. "When I finally realized who my brother was, I had a vision of my parents and Sean at our home. It was lovely. My mother was stunning."
"I can imagine," the young man winked.
"I wish I had more memories of my parents," Rose admitted. "It just shows that we should never waste the time we have."
"I agree. It is why I steal every moment I can with you. That time can never be wasted." Ethyn kissed the top of her head, but when his eyes met her, their lips magnetically drew to one another.
The passionate moment lengthened until both finally came up for air. The couple's hearts each beat out of their chests.
"Marry me," Ethyn said breathlessly.
"What?" The princess leaned her head against the wall against which she had found herself pressed.
"Marry me," the prince repeated with conviction. His eyes locked with hers.
While he hadn't meant for the words to come out, they tasted sweeter than honey when they rolled off his tongue.
Rose studied him. "Now?"
"Now. In an hour. Any time you like, as long as you say yes." Ethyn paled. "Oh! I don't have the ring with me!"
"But you do have one?" The princess raised her eyebrows in question.
"Yes! And it is second only in beauty to you! I had such big plans. The whole world was going to witness how much I love you." The knight stepped back as he spread his arms wide.
"How were you going to do that exactly?" The princess looked at him from below her eyelashes, causing him to lose his breath all over again.
Under such scrutiny, he could not lie. Ethyn sighed. "I already asked your brother and father for permission. As for my plan, I was going to invite all the court to an afternoon tea in your honor. I had actors hired and at the end of the show, you were to be brought on stage for the final act. Then I would appear, and profess my intention before everyone." The knight's countenance fell.
"And what is your intention?" Rose persisted, giving the man the courage to continue.
"My intention? To marry you…I am pretty sure I said that" he added with a wry grin.
"If that is your intention, please carry on," Rose blushed, "Do all the flowery things. I know public displays are traditional. But first… I want to finish this here. I like this better." Rose tilted up her head and kissed the man deeply, sending his head swimming. "This proposal—it can be our secret."
Ethyn had noticed that Caitlyn had excused herself when they came to the garden. Except for the guards keeping watch on the wall, they were alone. The young man ran his finger along Rose's chin, causing her lips to part at the fiery sensation on her skin that his touch had caused.
He smiled at her reaction.
"A secret proposal? I like it. Does that mean you are saying yes?" Ethyn's green eyes shone like the stars overhead.
"You haven't actually asked me anything yet," the princess reminded him gently.
"Oh!" Ethyn placed his face in his palm. Getting down on one knee, he took Rose's hand and kissed each finger lightly. "My most darling Rose. I fell for you the first time I saw you, and I have been in freefall ever since.
"I know I do not always make the best impression, but I do want to impress upon you my most ardent love and desire. For you, I mean. I love you and desire…you."
At the man's last word, Rose flushed. However, she did not stop him or look away. If anything, her eyes begged him to say more.
"I love you. Being apart from you is pulling the sun from my sky—everything seems dimmer. I desire to do everything in my power to have you shine brightly." Ethyn winced, "Of course, the metaphor doesn't fully work. I want you in my arms, not unattainable overhead."
"It was a nice metaphor." Rose squeezed his hand.
"Metaphor or no, there is one thing I know. I, Ethyn, Prince of Birle, want to spend the rest of my days with you, Rose, Princess of my heart. Will you marry me?" The green-eyed man bowed his head over her hand.
A silence stretched between them.
"What? Was the last part too sappy?" He looked up to see the tears streaming down the princess's face.
"Yes," Rose said softly. Her smile beamed.
"To marrying me or to it being sappy?" Ethyn needed clarification.
"Both," the woman laughed as she nodded.
Ethyn leapt to his feet and kissed the princess. He felt his heart might burst. The only things keeping him from going everywhere at once were Rose's arms wrapped around his chest.
He pulled back before snipping two small white buds. Intertwining them, he placed the little ring on Rose's finger.
"As a placeholder," he winked.
Fresh tears flowed down the Princess's face. "It's perfect. All of it." She looked down at the ring. "I love it. And I love you."
"Sappiness and all?" Ethyn wiggled his eyebrows.
"Are you kidding? That's part of your charm!" Rose covered her mouth to hide her grin.
Ethyn looked at the ring on her finger and his smile broadened. "Oh? Then allow me to be even more charming just now."
With that, the Heir of Birle spent the rest of the night charming his lady love as stars streaked overhead.
Rose had been right. It was perfect.