What I was about to ask required him to not be too fed up with me, after all.
Judging from his facial expression, you could easily tell he didn't really want to talk to me, but he still replied in tone
"As I said, you can be at ease, Fray Von Garoff. There is no need for you to keep kneeling like that"
No no, don't worry about me. I'm fine where I am.
"No, Your Majesty, how could I dare to stop, when I have a request for you? It would be shameless of me."
Don't click your tongue, you know you have to do this.
"...If that's the case, then please speak"
I couldn't help but want to laugh at how he clearly wasn't thrilled about hearing me out, but he had no choice.
Gotta hand it to him, though. He's a good father. He only agreed to this because all he has to do is listen and lay his own judgment.
I get it; he wants what's best for her, and so do I.
Taking a quick glance at her, I could see a whole bunch of emotions playing out on her face.
Surprise washed over her face, the whole situation suddenly amping up, and she still had no clue what was going on.
Then there's wonder, that curiosity showing in her eyes. Everyone's buzzing with their own assumptions, and she's itching to know what kind of request I'm about to drop in such a public setting.
Mixed in there is hope. Deep down, she's got a feeling about what might be going down and is secretly rooting for it.
Yet, fear creeps in. She's been dropping hints left and right, and if I don't make a move after all this, it'd be a major letdown. Keeping up the act afterwards would be a real struggle.
I'm sorry I made you wait.
"I want the King of Midgar to schedule my marriage as soon as possible" I declared, my voice steady and unwavering.
The room fell dead silent, and every gaze shifted to the King, who looked at me with a poker face.
"Why?"
"Because I love her," I replied, my gaze never leaving Alexia's. "It might not be some fairy-tale love at first sight or anything that poetic. But when she's around, I feel content, and I want to believe in that feeling. Please, let me marry her."
My real feelings had been laid bare.
Again, not a single reaction whatsoever.
"What's my daughter's take on this?" the King asked
As I turned to look at her, I noticed tears welling up in her eyes, and before I knew it, they were streaming down her cheeks.
Without wasting a moment, I stood up from my kneeling position and moved closer to her.
No second-guessing, I gently reached out, using my thumbs to wipe away the tears streaming down her face, my hands cupping her cheeks.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked softly, my heart aching at the sight of her crying. "You don't have to give an answer right now if you're not ready."
She shook her head, sniffing as she tried to compose herself. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I...I just..."
I pulled her into a hug, feeling her tremble slightly as she buried her face in my chest.
The room was buzzing with murmurs and gasps, but I didn't care.
Was that too much for her?
"Is it still a good time for me to whisk you away to the bedroom?" I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
She smacked me.
I burst into laughter, feeling a weight lift off my chest.
"Didn't you claim you couldn't stop kneeling, as that'd be shameless of you?"
Quit with the teasing, you old geezer.
"I'm all for being shameless if it means keeping her safe," I shot back.
Also, I didn't want Alexia displaying those kinds of expressions to everyone else. Those are meant for me alone.
But, of course, I couldn't exactly tell him that.
"I see..."
Before he could say more, though, Alexia slipped out of my embrace, having gathered herself.
"Father, I agree with him. It's never been a secret that I've loved this man for the past 3 years, and we've been engaged for quite a while now. Considering all those things, I believe there's no issue for us to marry..."
She was nervous to speak up to her father.
"...my daughter has really grown up. I'll ask you one last time. Are you sure that's what you want?"
The King's voice was gentle yet firm, and I could see the love and concern in his eyes as he gazed at his daughter.
He just wanted to be sure she wasn't going along with this out of some sense of duty, not truly wanting it.
Maybe he didn't like the way she made it seem like a 'favorable deal,' like it was some business transaction. He wanted a real, heartfelt answer— that's the kind of father he is.
She turned her gaze back to me, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, and I could feel the love and certainty in her stare. After taking a deep breath, as if summoning her courage, she nodded.
"Yes, Father," she replied, her voice steady and clear.
"I'm absolutely sure. I love him with all my heart, and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else."
She took a moment to collect herself.
"I want to marry him."
The King looked at her for a long moment, and then he nodded his head in approval, a proud smile on his face.
"Very well," he said, then directed his attention to me. "Then I give you my blessing. Take good care of my daughter."
"I will," I promised, my voice steady and resolute. And I meant every word. Throughout the Second Trial and beyond, I would do everything in my power to protect and cherish her.
But right now, all I wanted was to whisk her away to somewhere private, away from prying eyes. Without a second thought, I scooped her up into my arms, holding her close against my chest in a princess carry.
She let out a small gasp of surprise, her arms instinctively wrapping around my neck as I turned to exit the hall. The crowd erupted into cheers, but I hardly noticed, my attention solely on the woman in my embrace.
---
I resisted the urge to playfully tease her about heading to the bedroom, choosing to keep it in.
Instead of trying to fluster her, I opted to be honest about my feelings.
"It's a little late to say it, but..."
I waited until I had her full attention before expressing what I wanted to say.
"I love you, Alexia Midgar."
Honestly, all this might have been unnecessary. I had already secured our marriage when I won the Bunshin Festival, and going back on that would tarnish the Kingdom's reputation, so it would be difficult for the engagement to be broken, but...
It just didn't feel authentic.
It wasn't enough to convey these feelings.
She turned her face away briefly, her cheeks tinged with a blush. "You always beat around the bush," she mumbled.
"Forgive me, please?" I playfully pleaded.
She laughed and turned her gaze back to me, her eyes shining. "Only if you do something for me."
"What's that?" I asked, curiosity sparked.
Without a word, she leaned in and pressed her lips against mine, catching me off guard.
I kissed her back, feeling a warmth spread through my chest as I tightened my hold on her.
"I love you too. But you made me feel so frustrated. You need some punishment..." she whispered against my neck, her warm breath sending shivers down my spine.
She trailed kisses along my jawline, before moving up to my cheeks, her lips soft and teasing. I felt like something was rising, and it wasn't the Shield Hero.
I wasn't about to let her take complete control. With a sly grin, I spirited her away to a private room, slamming the door shut behind us, making sure the lock was sealed by my slime jelly.
"You've poked the beast too much, my princess," I murmured, my voice dropping to a low, husky tone. "Now it's time to face the consequences..."
Her eyes widened in surprise, yet a glint of excitement and anticipation flickered, impossible to conceal.
I could see the desire burning in her gaze, and it was all the confirmation I needed.
Without another word, I closed the distance between us, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. She melted into me, her arms wrapping around my neck as I carried her to the bed.
As I laid her down, our bodies pressed close together, I knew that there was no turning back. We were about to cross a line that we could never uncross, and I couldn't wait to explore every inch of her, to make her mine in every way possible...
---
Author's Note:
I'm sorry for not posting for 2 days :O
Also, I will soon begin working on the rest of the chapter for Patrons and more.
We'll change our perspectives and start introducing the last plotline from the next chapter, for real now, lol.