Nikias looked across the crowd, immediately spotting Cyprian, watching with his arms crossed and the tiniest hint of a smile on his lips. He wouldn’t get away with this.
But right before Nikias could pull his hand back and put a stop to this charade, a hand grasped his. He looked down to see Aimilia clutching his hand and looking up at him.
“I have no right to ask it of you, but I must. Even though you deserve much better than me, and I can never hope to live up to Faustina, I would be honored if you would even consider me still.” Aimilia’s grip on his hand tightened and she stared straight into his soul. And Nikias was certain her next three words were the only authentic words in this whole speech. “Please, marry me.”
He wanted nothing more.
But she didn’t.
“What changed your mind?” Nikias tightened his grip on her hand.
Aimilia stared at him, eyes wide, and he could see her mind racing to come up with some kind of an answer. She glanced behind him, just for a fraction of a second, but then she met his gaze again. “The challenge… I was so blind. I couldn’t see you clearly with the pain in my arm and the rush of it all. You were there. You’ve always been there. I didn’t… I didn’t deserve your offer, but you gave it anyway. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I do now. Nikias, I’m certainly not worthy, but if you will have me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to be.”
Nikias opened his mouth.
No.
Not like this.
Something was wrong.
“N—”
But then a clap echoed, drowning him out. “How wonderful this has all finally worked itself out.” His mother stepped out from around him, nudging him. “Son, say it again.”
Aimilia’s hands around his began shaking. He looked down at her, and she mouthed, ‘say yes.’
His refusal was still on his lips until he saw the light reflect on the water in her eyes.
He’d never seen her quite like this.
Nikias looked back out at the crowd. “My apologies. I was simply taken aback, but if you didn’t hear me, I said yes.” He pulled on Aimilia’s hands, reaching down with his other hand to grab her arms and help pull her back to her feet. He didn’t release her as he said, “Of course I will marry you, Commander Aimilia.”
The crowd erupted into applause, and Nikias pulled Aimilia closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and turning his head in so between her cheek and his hair falling in his face no one could see his lips move as he hissed, “What do you think you’re doing?”
Aimilia put on a smile faker than any illusion Nikias had ever cast. She barely moved her lips as she turned to face him. “I could ask you the same thing.”
Nikias tightened his grip on her and her hands curled into him, her weight shifting. He needed to speak to her away from all these eyes and ears. So Nikias turned back out and gave the Runai a cool but satisfied smile as he began accepting congratulations, Aimilia holding onto him, her voice just as fake as it had been moments before.
Nikias barely registered the commanders and lieutenants and other noteworthy Runai rambling on about how wonderfulthis all was. Nikias kept his eyes darting about, waiting for the right moment.
Finally when his mother and Cyprian slunk off to their own corner, Nikias pulled Aimilia away from some classmate of hers and ushered her toward the peristyle. She gasped, stumbling as she said, “Nikias?—”
“We need to talk,” Nikias muttered, his voice low and gravelly.
“I can’t—” Aimilia huffed, putting more of her weight on him. “My legshurt.”
Nikias turned and within seconds he had her in his arms, sweeping her up and continuing down the hallway. Her cheeks turned a vivid red, but she didn’t push him away.
It wasn’t long before Nikias reached the next courtyard with the fountain. The same spot he’d found Aimilia in after his first failed proposal.
“Nikias…” Aimilia whispered, but he ignored her, simply carrying her over to the fountain and setting her down on the edge.
Aimilia immediately doubled over and began rubbing her legs. He stepped back and crossed his arms.
“Alright, tell me right now what is going on.”
Aimilia’s head snapped up. “Are you really going to act like you don’t know?”
