"What did you just say?" Nell couldn't believe his ears, was Ember really asking him about the proposal?
"T-the marriage p-proposal," She stuttered, "is it still valid?" her face was turning red and the tears had stopped falling from her eyes, "P-please... t-tell me... if it's..."
"..." Nell couldn't find the words to respond, he was taken aback by her question, but after a while, he managed to utter a single word.
"Y-yes," He answered, and Ember's lips curved into a smile.
"R-really?" An otherworldly light began to shine from her eyes, "You mean it?"
"I-I..."
He was a bit hesitant, but he didn't want to disappoint her, so he gave her an answer.
"I... yes, I really mean it."
"Good," Ember muttered, her voice muffled by his shirt.
"Um," Nell didn't know how to react, but he knew that he had to say something.
"So, what about it?" And the only thing that came out of his mouth was that.
"Hmmm..."
Ember didn't move.
She just kept her face buried in his chest, not saying anything.
However, he could feel her heartbeat quickening, and her body becoming warmer.
"N-Nell..." She mumbled his name, and took a step back, breaking away from his embrace.
She moved both of her hands in front of her chest and then, slowly, she opened her mouth and the words that came out of it, made Nell's heart stop.
"W-will you..." Ember paused for a moment as if gathering her courage, "...take me as your bride...?"
"..."
"..."
Silence filled the air, and a few seconds later, the only sound that could be heard was the hustle and bustle of the people in the streets.
Ember's voice was soft, but the words she uttered were like a thunderbolt striking Nell.
He couldn't say anything.
He was speechless.
"Eh..."
He couldn't believe it.
The girl, who was crying and shaking in his arms, was now asking him to marry her.
He couldn't comprehend it.
Where did the timid Ember go?
"I..."
He was unable to answer her.
His brain was working, but the words just wouldn't come out.
"Um..." Ember's eyes were cast down, her cheeks were flushed, and her hands were still clasped together in front of her chest.
It was as if she was preparing for a rejection.
After all, who in their right mind would marry a blind girl, a disabled girl?
She knew that, and yet, she still mustered up the courage to ask him...
...ask him to marry her?
"P-please," She pleaded, "Say something..."
She knew Nell was going to refuse her anyway, but, she didn't want to wait anymore.
Even if she knew the answer would be a straight refusal, she still wanted to hear it from his mouth.
She didn't want to be left with any doubts and the wait was making her heart ache.
"Please..."
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"Just say that you don't want to."
She clenched bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, however, what happened was completely out of her exception.
"I..." Nell finally broke the silence, "...want to," He spoke the words without hesitation, "I will take you as my bride,"
"What?!" Ember was caught off guard.
She was certain that Nell was going to say no, but the words he uttered were not the ones she was expecting.
"Y-you, y-you..." She stuttered, and her face became a dark shade of crimson.
"I will take you as my bride," Nell repeated his words, and then, he took a step toward her.
"Ember," He grabbed her hand and took out the Darkest Night ring from his pocket, and then, he put it on her left hand.
"Eh?!" She was startled, she couldn't believe what was happening.
"This is..." She could feel a ring being placed on her finger and yet, she couldn't understand the situation.
"From this day onward, you are my bride," Nell declared, his voice unwavering, "We will spend our lives together."
"N-Nell..."
"And," He added, "I promise to protect you, to love you, and to cherish you until the end of time."
His voice was filled with conviction, and his words carried a heavy weight.
Ember was at a loss for words.
And after forcing herself very hard, "B-but, I'm blind," She was able to mumble the words, "And I'm a nobody."
"You are not a nobody," Nell cupped her cheeks and gently wiped away her tears, "Now, you are Ember Starlight, my wife, the one and only woman who has the right to rule over me."
"Eh?" Ember didn't know how to respond, his words were too good to be true, and it sounded like a dream.
However, before she could speak any further, a blue holographic screen appeared in front of her which she could see very clearly, despite being blind.
Ding!
Alongside the system's window, the sound echoed throughout her mind.
[CONGRATULATIONS! You have been chosen by the System's host to be his bride!]
The screen was shining brightly and the words were displayed in a fancy and elegant font.
But, despite its appearance, Ember couldn't read the words, because she didn't know how to read, or write.
She didn't know what it was.
She was completely oblivious to the English since she had been blind from her birth.
And, the next second, the screen disappeared and another one took its place.
[You have been granted 25% ownership of the system.]
"Huh?" Ember was confused, but then, another system screen popped up, showing her something even more incomprehensible.
Ding!
[The system has detected a hidden skill in your bloodline.
Unlocking the hidden skill by using the Host Nell's Dark Mana...]
"Wha-!" Ember gasped and the ring on her left hand started to emit a black glow, and a cloud of dark smoke started to flow from the ring.
Ding!
[You have awakened an SSS-CLASS Supremacy Monster Bloodline's Skill 'Supreme Evolution'.]