Arnold desired very little from Rishe. After all, they'd had a contest where she'd promised to do anything he wanted if he won. He had won, and all he wanted was to buy her a ring. Rishe wanted to wear that ring. And she wanted Arnold to see her wearing it.
"I want to put it on right now."
Arnold was way too good at making Rishe act selfishly. She took a deep breath, building courage.
"Please, Your Highness."
Arnold sighed and looked down. He picked up the box and stood, walking around the desk. But when he reached Rishe, he took her wrist and led her over to the couch, directing her to sit.
Rishe sat and blinked up at him, lashes fluttering.
Arnold knelt before her, taking her left hand into his large one. Just that contact made her cheeks flare with heat. And to make matters worse, Arnold brought her hand up to his lips, his eyes cast down, and kissed the base of her ring finger.
"Rishe."
Arnold called her name with his lips still touching her.
"Mmh…"
Rishe's free hand flew up to cover her mouth. Arnold raised his head, but then he intertwined his fingers with hers.
Wh-what is this?!
Her head spun. Rishe was realizing for the first time now that she didn't just like Arnold's eye color. She was also very fond of the shape of his hands and fingers. But this was no time for such thoughts.
Arnold was absolutely toying with her, but the look on his face was as cool as ever. He managed to seem sincere as he asked, voice slightly husky, "Is it all right if I touch you?"
It's a little late, isn't it?!
It was like he was only asking to hear her answer.
"Y- yes…" She nodded as best as she could.
Arnold's eyes narrowed in satisfaction. He opened the ring box with one hand, keeping his other hand on Rishe's. His big hands were dexterous, and he was easily able to get the ring out one-handed.
Meanwhile, Rishe was reaching her limit.
What was that kiss?
She had heard that kneeling and kissing the back of a woman's hand was the marriage proposal custom among the nobility in Galkhein, but when Arnold had proposed to her, he'd only knelt and taken her hand. Maybe this was a do-over of that night.
Is it because I told him I respected marriage traditions?
If that was the case, then his earlier question essentially amounted to a second proposal.
Ack, why is my face so hot?!
Rishe knew she was overthinking this, but she squeezed her eyes shut nonetheless. Arnold's fingers were on her wrist now, perhaps to make it easier for him to put the ring on her. The moment they touched her, Rishe's heart pounded even harder, obliterating her composure.
Our hands are just touching!
This was nothing more intimate than a simple handshake, yet the contact almost made Rishe panic.
I shouldn't have told him not to lay a finger on me when all this started.
Rishe regretted it so much it made her want to cry. She had never imagined simply taking back that request would be so mortifying.
While she was trembling, her lips pressed shut, Arnold gave her an exasperated look and said, "Hey, don't hold your breath."
"I-I'm not." That was a lie, she was holding her breath. Rishe didn't like keeping things from him, but the truth was too painful. "It's just that I can't really remember how breathing works…"
"Heh."
He laughed!
How dare he, after making her so flustered. This wasn't the first time it had happened, but she didn't have the energy to complain.
Rishe flinched as the cold ring touched her finger, contrasting with the heat of her body, embarrassing her further. She wondered if Arnold remembered the temperature her hand normally was.
Please don't notice that it's hotter than usual!
Arnold slid the ring on, his touch almost reverent. It felt like it took forever, maybe because Rishe had her eyes closed, but eventually the ring settled right in the spot where Arnold had kissed her.
"Pwah…" Rishe exhaled the breath she'd been holding, her eyes still closed.
"Did you remember how to breathe?"
"S-somehow…"
"Seems you've forgotten how to open your eyes now." Arnold said, amused.
That made opening her eyes even harder. Her heart rang like an alarm bell in her chest, and she had no idea what to do with her face. She hung her head to hide it instead and felt Arnold's hands reaching out to her.