The Luminae household was a bustling hive of activity as the evening of the engagement approached. The scent of fresh flowers filled the air, their petals carefully arranged in ornate vases lining the hallways. Snowy watched it all unfold from his room, the walls pressing in on him as his mind raced. Tonight was supposed to be the night of his engagement to Aurora—but he had no intention of going through with it.
He glanced at the ornate garments laid out for him, specially crafted for the event. The silk felt heavy in his hands, much like the weight of the responsibility he was about to dodge. How did this even happen? he thought. Aurora hadn't orchestrated this—her father, Alaric, had assumed too much. Alaric, seeing Aurora's attachment to him, had arranged the engagement without so much as asking.
How do I get out of this without offending them?
As snowy was thinking of a plan, he remembers what Aurora told him yesterday night.
---
Aurora, still blushing and flustered, seemed to take a moment to regain her composure. "I know this is sudden, Snowy. My father... he saw how we interacted, how you stepped in to save me during the fight with Raven. He thinks we're perfect for each other."
Snowy's heart sank as he tried to process the weight of her words. "But… what about Raven? I thought you were engaged to him?"
A soft chuckle escaped Aurora's lips, shaking her head. "No, dumbass. He didn't gain my father's trust. My father thought he was too reckless and unworthy. After that, he was declined."
Snowy blinked, stunned. The revelation hit him harder than he expected. It wasn't just his past that haunted him; it was the very present he found himself entangled in. He felt an overwhelming rush of emotions—relief that Raven wasn't a threat anymore, but also confusion and fear about what this engagement meant for him.
"So… your father wants us to get engaged right away?" he stammered, grappling with the absurdity of the situation.
Aurora nodded, her eyes wide and earnest. "He thinks it's the right time, and after everything… it just makes sense."
"Makes sense?" Snowy said, Aurora you do know it's forcing right?
But without letting Aurora say anything, who looked like she realised her mistake, was told that "just go back to your room Aurora, its getting pretty late.."
Aurora who looked a bit guilty nodded and left his room.
Snowy snapped back to reality as a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and Emily slipped in, her eyes darting around to ensure no one had noticed her. She had snuck into the Luminae estate under the guise of a worker, narrowly avoiding any direct confrontation with those who knew she wasn't supposed to be here. If anyone realized who she was, there would be hell to pay.
Emily smirked, her voice low and teasing. "Nice digs. Are you getting married tonight?"
Snowy shot her a glare but quickly softened. "Not marry, engagement but thanks for helping with this," he muttered.
"Anything to see you squirm," she grinned. "But seriously, we need to stick to the plan. Alaric is not the kind of guy who likes hearing 'no,' especially when he thinks he's made the perfect match."
Snowy sighed. "That's the problem. He thinks he's already done me a favor by setting all this up. Aurora doesn't even know I'm planning to stop this."
Emily placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression growing more serious. "You need to play this carefully. There's no way we can just say, 'Hey, thanks but no thanks,' and walk away from this unscathed."
He nodded, his eyes drifting toward the window where the sun was beginning to set. Tonight was going to be about more than just declining an engagement. It was about maintaining the fragile balance between him, Aurora, and her powerful family. If he messed this up, there could be consequences—both personal and political.
The night had come. The engagement ceremony was a grand affair, set in the Luminae garden under a canopy of stars. Lanterns floated in the air, casting a soft glow over the gathering of high-ranking guests and clan members. Alaric stood near the front, a proud smile on his face, with his wife Stella at his side. Aurora, draped in a beautiful gown, appeared as radiant as ever, though her expression was more nervous than joyful.
Snowy and Emily moved discreetly through the crowd. Every step they took was calculated, every interaction part of a larger plan.
"Here goes nothing," Snowy whispered to himself.
They approached Alaric and Stella. Alaric greeted Snowy with open arms, clapping him on the shoulder. "Ah, there he is, the man of the hour! You've been quiet lately, but I understand. Big nights like this can leave even the strongest men speechless."
Snowy forced a smile, his heart pounding. This was it. He had to make his move.
"Lord Alaric," Snowy began, his voice steady but respectful, "there's something we need to discuss before things proceed any further."
Alaric's brow furrowed slightly, but he kept his smile. "Discuss? Surely nothing too serious."
"It is," Snowy replied, glancing quickly at Aurora, who looked confused. "I'm deeply honored by your trust and your belief in this... arrangement. But I need to be honest—Aurora and I... we're not in that kind of relationship."
Alaric's smile faltered, his gaze hardening just slightly. "Not in that kind of relationship? I've seen how she cares for you, boy. And I've seen how you've been by her side. How can you say there's nothing between you?"
Snowy took a deep breath, his next words carefully measured. "Aurora is someone I respect deeply, but I don't want to enter something this significant under false assumptions. I've always been focused on other matters—protecting her even though i am not her guard, keeping her safe, --- but not... romantically. I believe Aurora deserves better than to be tied down by someone who isn't fully committed to that kind of future."
The silence that followed was thick with tension. Stella, standing beside Alaric, crossed her arms, her expression unreadable.
"And you think," Alaric's voice was low, "that you are not good enough for her?"
Emily, sensing the mounting pressure, stepped forward with a practiced smile. "My Lord, Snowy isn't saying that he is not good enough. He's been protecting Aurora, standing by her side through thick and thin. But if this engagement is forced on them without mutual understanding, it'll hurt both of them in the long run. Surely you don't want that for your daughter."
Stella's gaze flickered toward Emily, her eyes narrowing. "And who are you?"
"Just someone who's seen this kind of situation before," Emily replied smoothly, "and who understands that rushing into things only creates more issues down the line."
Alaric exhaled, clearly trying to rein in his frustration. "Then what do you propose, Snowy?"
Snowy didn't hesitate. "I propose that Aurora and I, just stay as friends like always, caring, protecting... The decision you guys are making can make decisions that could change both of our lives forever. If we force this now, it might only lead to regret."
Alaric's jaw clenched, but Stella stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. "He's right, Alaric. Aurora has barely spoken to us about her own thoughts on this. Perhaps we've been too eager."
Aurora, who had been silent this whole time, finally spoke up, her voice trembling slightly. "Father... I didn't want to disappoint you, but I... I'm not sure either."
Alaric stared at his daughter, his expression softening. "Aurora, I only wanted what's best for you."
"I know," she whispered. "But Snowy's right. We're not ready."
The weight of the moment hung in the air, but slowly, Alaric nodded. "Very well. I won't force this. But Snowy," his voice grew firmer again, "don't make me regret trusting you."
Snowy met his gaze. "You won't."
The night before
Snowy stood near the stone bench in the Luminae courtyard, the moonlight casting long shadows across the ground. Aurora sat there, her hands folded in her lap, the tension between them palpable. He could see the sadness in her eyes even before he spoke, but he knew it had to be done.
"Aurora," he began, taking a deep breath, "I've been thinking a lot about everything—about the engagement."
Her expression wavered, but she stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue. He could feel the weight of the next words he had to say, knowing it would hurt her but also knowing that dragging it out would be worse.
"This engagement… it wasn't something we decided together. Your father assumed we were more than we are because of how much you care about me. And I respect that. But I'm not ready for this. I don't think we should go through with it."
Aurora's lips trembled slightly, and she lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening together. "So... you don't feel the same way I do," she whispered, her voice soft with sadness but not surprise.
Snowy sighed, stepping closer. "It's not that I don't care about you, Aurora. You're someone I value deeply. But forcing this kind of relationship between us—it isn't fair to either of us. I don't want to make promises I'm not ready to keep."
Aurora took a deep breath, fighting back the sting of disappointment. "I... I know. Deep down, I knew this wasn't right. But I guess I hoped that maybe you'd... feel something more." She looked up at him, her eyes shining, not with anger, but with the painful clarity of someone who had hoped for a different outcome.
Snowy felt his chest tighten, wishing there was a way to avoid this pain. "You didn't do anything wrong," he said quietly. "I just don't think I'm ready for something like this—not with the way everything happened. I don't want either of us to be in something that doesn't feel real."
Aurora nodded slowly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I don't want to force you into something you don't want either. That would just... ruin whatever we have."
She looked up at him with a faint, sad smile. "Maybe we're just not meant to be more than friends."
Snowy knelt in front of her, his gaze meeting hers directly. "And I'd be honored to call you a friend, Aurora. I don't want to lose what we have. I think we can still mean a lot to each other—just in a different way."
Aurora took a deep, shaky breath, nodding. "I... I think I can accept that. It's not what I imagined, but... I don't want to lose you either."
There was a moment of quiet between them, a shared understanding that something had shifted, but not shattered.
Snowy hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, softer this time. "Emily and I have been talking about how we can explain this to your parents. I'll take the lead, but it would help if you were with me when we talk to Alaric and Stella. That way, they know this is a mutual decision."
Aurora looked hesitant. "What do we say to them?"
"We'll explain that we're not ready for this. That it was rushed, and we are just more better to be friends and that what's best for us. They love you, Aurora, and I think they'll respect it if we explain it together."
After a long pause, Aurora smiled—a small, bittersweet smile, but one that showed her strength. "Okay. We'll do it together. I trust you."
"And we'll have Emily there too," Snowy added with a light chuckle. "She's been sneaking around here helping me come up with a plan. She's pretty good at that, in case you didn't notice."
Aurora laughed softly, though there was still a hint of sadness behind it. "Yeah, I can imagine."
Snowy gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "We'll be okay, Aurora. And I'll always be here if you need me—as your friend."
She squeezed back, her smile growing a little more genuine. "Thank you, Snowy. That means a lot."
Later that night, the tension that had filled the Luminae estate began to lift. The guests, oblivious to the deeper conversations that had taken place, carried on with the evening as if nothing had changed.
Snowy stood on the balcony, the cool night breeze brushing against his face. Emily leaned against the railing next to him, grinning from ear to ear.
"Can't believe we pulled that off," she said, shaking her head. "You were actually convincing back there."
Snowy chuckled, the weight of the day finally slipping away. "You really saved me back there. I almost blew it."
Emily gave him a playful nudge. "Almost? You did blow it. I had to step in before Alaric turned you into an ice sculpture."
Snowy rolled his eyes, but a smile tugged at his lips. "You're the one who snuck into this place like a thief."
Emily shrugged, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Hey, I'm just that good. Besides, no one even noticed. I blended in perfectly as a worker."
"Right," Snowy said with a smirk. "You were this close to getting caught. Admit it."
She crossed her arms, feigning offense. "Never. You'll never hear me admit to anything."
They both burst into laughter, the sound echoing into the night.
For just little, snowy felt peacefull.