Gwen stood in the middle of the hall. He looked up at Arthur who was standing on the hall's stage. His sweet smile brought peace to Gwen's chaotic mind because she was too nervous.
Gwen bowed down to the King and Queen first before greeting the guests. She looked back up the stage and saw Arthur walk down the stage to approach her. Her heart beats faster at every step Arthur took towards Gwen until he arrived right in front of her.
The host gave his microphone to Arthur so the whole audience could witness that moment. A moment of silence filled the hall for a couple of seconds. There was nothing Arthur did beside staring at how beautiful Gwen that night.
"You're so pretty today," said Arthur on the mic, breaking his silence. "You're always pretty but tonight, You're shining."
Claps filled through the air and Arthur was a bit embarrassed by it but he kept going, "You know, I've already asked you a week ago and you agreed to be on this journey with me, when We were in the cafe. But I have to ask you once again, in front of everyone, in front of the Astorian people, Will you really want to be on this long journey with me? And dedicate your life to the Astorian people for the rest of your life?"
Arthur handed the microphone to Gwen, "I will."
Cheers echoing throughout the hall and even outside the palace. Everyone cheers on how romantic the proposal was–Arthur raised the standard of men that Astorian women wanted to marry.
Arthur returned the microphone and opened the new ring box. He put another ring on top of the ring he previously put on her as a sign that they are officially together. He then pulled her into a hug followed by the crowd's cheers.
Arthur then guided Gwen to the Palace's balcony accompanied by The King and Queen to greet their people. He turned to see Gwen and she looked amazed at how the Astorian cheerfully congratulated them.
"They're welcoming you as their Princess," Arthur whispered to her.
Gwen turned and stared at him, "Really?"
"Eum, trust me," Arthur pulled her closer before landing an unexpected kiss on Gwen's lips. The crowd's cheers were getting more intense since they did not expect that they would kiss in front of everyone.
—
Meanwhile the guests inside the hall were enjoying their dinner feast while The King and Queen, also Arthur and Gwen, were away for a while to greet their people.
The footage of Arthur kissing Gwen appeared on the big screen inside the hall. Eric stopped moving to watch that moment.
"No wonder he goes down bad for her. She's that pretty. I would do the same if I were him," He chugged his champagne in while staring at the big screen. "Must be nice to marry someone you love ... .The Helvian can't relate…Aish–where's she??" His eyes scanned around the room while walking away from the screen, looking for someone.
—
Gwen sat alone in the backyard after finishing her dinner. Arthur introduced her to some of their colleagues and she introduced her mom to the king and queen. Everything was still overwhelming for her, especially everytime she looked at the double rings Arthur put on her finger–the sign of how serious he is with this relationship.
"Why are you here?" Arthur walked towards her from inside of the hall. He took off his coat and put it on Gwen when he arrived in front of her, "It's getting colder here…"
"I'm fine. It's kind of fresh here. I'm still a bit overwhelmed."
"It's too much for you, Isn't it?"
"I'm just overwhelmed. Too many feelings mixed as one. That's it."
Arthur nodded trying to understand her feelings, "Let's go for a walk," He reached out for her hands and they started walking around the backyard. "I used to come here too when I was young."
"Is that a maze?"
"Yea, The small one. Want to go there? I remember the way out, don't worry," Arthur smiled and brought Gwen inside the maze. "Max and I used to play hide and seek here when we were young. This place is secluded and the most private part of the palace. I always came here whenever I wanted to be alone.
"Woah…" Gwen is amazed by the backyard maze that she always saw in movies. Arthur followed her walking around the front part of the maze so they did not go in too deep. His eyes only pinned at her until Gwen turned around and met his eyes. "Stop looking at me like that!"
"I can't help it…." He chuckled while walking closer to her and reached her neck, "You're just too pretty tonight that's a crime," Said Arthur before kissing her deeply.
Gwen put her hands on his waist to close the gap between them in the midst of kissing. She then felt Arthur's arms on her body to hug and protect her from the cold wind.
Gwen ended it first and noticed the lipstick stains on Arthur's lips, "Oh? The lipstick stain–" She laughed of embarrassment and was about to wipe it but Arthur stopped her.
"That's fine. I love to have your mark on me," he said before pulling her closer for another deep kiss. Arthur's hands caressed her exposed back softly, sending shivers through her skin. He pulled her in for a tight hug but then Gwen pulled herself and touched his cheeks to stop him.
"Don't do it. My neck's exposed today. You can't mark me," She said while wiping the lipstick stains on his lips and they both giggled.
"I'll do that after this. I'll mark your whole body after this dinner ends."
Gwen smiled at him, "I love you," and Arthur was about to kiss her but then she realized there was something moving behind the maze, "I–I think there's–"
Right when Arthur turned around someone popped out of the maze; A young woman in a simple pretty dress–wiping the leaf on her arm, "This maze is pretty eas–" She was frozen on the spot and exchanged questionable looks with Arthur and Gwen. "W-Who–"
"I-I was just–I'm not a thief I swear! Please don't call the guards! I was just–"
"LUCIA!"
Arthur and Gwen turned around to the voice who screamed at that young woman. "Eric?"
"W-Who–"
Eric approached them and reached out for Lucia's hand, "What are you doing here??"
"I-I was just trying out the maze. I was bored–"
Eric closed his eyes in order to manage his frustration, "I apologized for the inconvenience, Prince Arthur." The girl named Lucia looked at Eric who bowed at Arthur so she awkwardly did the same thing to them.
"C-Congratulations on your engagement."
"Thank you," Arthur replied to her but Eric already asked for permission to excuse themselves and pulled Lucia away from them.
"He's a prince too?"
"Yeah, From Helvian, Our closest neighbor. We just got to know each other this afternoon. That girl might be his fiancee. They look cute together," said Arthur looking at Eric and Lucia who seemed to be bickering while heading back to the palace.
—
"Let me go!" Lucia shook her hands, trying to escape from Eric. He quitted walking and turned to look at her with a questionable gaze.
"What the fuck were you doing right there?? This isn't your house!"
"I know! I've told you I was just bored! Plus, Isn't this an open-air garden?? Everyone in the palace can come here and visit it too!"
Eric sighed in frustration, "Still, This isn't our home! You're here to accompany me for the gathering. You're here as my fiancee, Can you, at least, for once act like a princess?? what did you learn in the etiquette class??"
"Nothing. It was boring."
"I swear to God…."
"You know, You don't have to marry me–"
"And you know it so well that we can't say no to it," Eric cut her words off.
Lucia pouted sadly and accidentally looked at Arthur and Gwen who talked intimately with each other, "We could never be like them, right?" Eric glanced at her, questioning her words before following her directions. He doesn't know why he couldn't answer it.
Lucia glared at Eric in annoyance, "Forget it!" She left Eric just like that and walked back into the palace.
Eric turned to Arthur once again, "Can we be like that too?" He muttered under his breath before walking back into the palace.