As I pondered the matter, the sound of creaking wood echoed again, indicating that another person was entering the room. Considering that only Emi had not yet arrived, it was probably her approaching. I looked toward the door and confirmed that it was indeed Emi, walking toward us.
However, something on Emi's ring finger caught my attention. There was the ring we had bought together. As soon as I realized this, I tried to act as naturally as possible while trying to understand what kind of situation we were in. Although there was no punishment for wearing matching rings, it would still be embarrassing to mention it.
As Emi sat at the table with the help of a maid, she politely greeted everyone before her gaze turned to me. Discreetly, I showed my ring to Emi, trying to make her aware that I was wearing mine too. However, although she noticed the ring, Emi seemed more curious about why I was hiding it than the fact that I was wearing it. This made me wonder if I was the only one feeling embarrassed about this situation or if it was just my mistaken perception.
"Oh my, Emi, what a beautiful ring"
The queen was the first to notice Emi's ring, her graceful voice echoing in the room. She looked at Emi with a lovely smile on her face. This gesture did not go unnoticed by the others present, who immediately directed their gazes to Emi, particularly to the shining ring on her finger.
"I thought you didn't like accessories. Whenever we tried to buy something for you, you always made some excuse not to accept"
Commented the king, surprised, as he observed Emi with a raised eyebrow, showing genuine curiosity. Upon hearing her father's words, Emi discreetly glanced at me and displayed an adorable smile before responding.
"These are special"
Emi replied in a soft tone, with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes. Upon hearing this response, everyone looked at her with tenderness. However, little could she imagine that everything would crumble so suddenly. Who could have known that, in the end, I would be betrayed by my own sister.
"Brother... don't you have a ring like this?"
Anna asked with genuine curiosity in her eyes, her words devoid of any malice. Unfortunately, I was not the only one who heard that question. In the blink of an eye, all eyes turned to me. Although I tried to maintain a normal appearance, inside, I felt a mixture of emotions that almost made me cry. Well, now that we have come to this point, I see no reason to hide it anymore. Besides, Emi also seems not to mind.
"Well, yes... I bought two sets for this, after all"
I replied while looking at Anna with a gentle smile on my face.
(Do not worry, little sister. Your brother will always love you, even if you betray me.)
As soon as my words were heard, everyone in the room smiled and started asking various questions. I responded practically, trying to convey that it was obvious that this could happen. Although I was a little nervous internally, I felt a true happiness that everything had been resolved in the best possible way.
At the dinner, we shared the experiences of our day, including funny and comedic moments. Aria, in particular, made a hilarious confession that elicited laughter from everyone and brought a relaxed atmosphere. After sharing our stories with each other, we all dispersed to different areas of the mansion.
Emi and I decided to go to the back of the house, where there was a nice spot to sit and spend time together. We walked there, enjoying the gentle breeze and the tranquility of the surroundings.
As we walked, our hands remained intertwined. At some point, this gesture between the two of us ceased to be awkward and became something natural. Whenever our hands touched, I felt special, my heart beating fast as if it wanted to jump out of my chest.
I would become concerned if my hands were sweating or not, which was funny because I suddenly started worrying about things that I wouldn't normally care about. I wondered if Emi felt the same way as I did. At least, I hoped so.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at the place we had been longing for. It was a peaceful spot, perfect for relaxation, overlooking a small lake that reflected the moon's glow. As we approached, Emi and I went up to the stone fences and leaned against them, gazing at the soft shimmer of the lake before us.
"You know... looking at the lake is reminding me of the time you took me on a date... our first date"
Emi shared, while our eyes remained fixed on the serenity of the lake. A silly smile illuminated Emi's face upon hearing my words. I felt a genuine joy realizing that I had been able to create a special memory in her mind. This realization made me reflect on the value of the moments we shared, as they were capable of bringing a genuine smile to Emi's face.
"I'm glad to hear that"
I replied sincerely, feeling a wave of happiness seeing Emi's smile. I placed my hand over hers, and Emi promptly interlaced our fingers once again. As she turned to me with a discreet smile, I became curious about what might be going through her mind. Emi was special to me, and in that moment, looking at her, I felt a deep connection and a sense that we were sharing a special moment together.
Emi's golden eyes shone brightly, in perfect harmony with the moon in the sky. Her eyes seemed to hold a mysterious and captivating sparkle, and involuntarily, that sparkle began to draw me in. Slowly, our bodies drew closer and closer, moved by an irresistible magnetic force. In no time, our faces were so close that we could feel each other's breath.
"Thank you, Ren, for showing me this piece of happiness"
Emi whispered softly before our lips met in a tender kiss. As my eyes closed slowly, I could savor more intensely the sweetness emanating from Emi's lips, the taste of love enveloping us in that unique and passionate moment.