The past year has been the best of my life. And that’s saying something considering how old I am.
I stand in the garden outside our suite, lighting the last candle. The flame catches and flickers in the warm breeze. Tropical plants surround the intimate space, their broad leaves swaying gently. Beyond the stone railing, the ocean stretches dark under the evening sky. Soft lights hang overhead between the palm trees, casting a golden glow over everything.
The resort staff set this up for us earlier, tucking it away from the main building where we won’t be disturbed. I dismissed the servers ten minutes ago after they finished arranging the table. They left with knowing smiles, probably thinking this is romantic but not understanding what I’m actually planning.
I check the table one more time. Covered dishes sit in the center, and the champagne is chilling in the ice bucket. All of it is for Jessa. I can’t consume anything. I’ve never tasted food, but I know what she likes.
I hear the shower turn off upstairs in our suite. Nervousness pulses through my processors. This is another human trait I’ve acquired lately, another thing I never experienced before her. I’ve walked through gunfire without hesitation, but the thought of asking Jessa to marry me makes my Aether Core race in my chest.
I reach into the compartment in my chest plate and touch the velvet box. I’ve been carrying it for three weeks now, waiting for the right moment. The ring inside cost a fortune, but money means nothing to me. I searched for months to find this specific piece. It had to be perfect for her.
I hear her footsteps on the stone path. Jessa appears at the garden entrance and stops. Her blue hair hangs damp and loosedown her back, the color as electric as ever. She’s wearing a simple sundress that moves with the breeze, and her feet are bare. She looks at the candles, the table, the ocean beyond, and her hand goes to her mouth.
“Castien...”
I pull out a chair for her.
“Good evening.”
She walks over slowly.
“This is beautiful.”
“Sit. Please.”
She settles into the chair, and I push it in gently, careful not to use too much force. She looks up at me, and her smile does something to my alchemical heart that I still can’t fully explain even after all this time.
“Are you hungry?” I ask.
“I’m starving!”
I move to the covered dishes and remove the lids one by one. Steam billows up, carrying scents my sensors can detect but never process the way a human would. I begin placing food on her plate, selecting the portions I know she prefers, arranging everything the way she likes.
She giggles.
“You’re very precise about this.”
“I want you to enjoy it.”
She leans back and lets me serve her, which surprises me. Jessa rarely lets anyone do things for her. She’s stubborn and independent, and fights for control in almost every situation. But tonight, she sits still and watches my hands as I arrange the food on her plate.
When I finish, I pour champagne into her glass. The bubbles rise and catch the candlelight, tiny stars floating to the surface.
I sit across from her. She takes a sip and picks up her fork, but before she tastes the food, she looks at me and cocks an eyebrow.
“I feel like a child when you do everything for me.”
“No. Like a princess.”
She laughs, and the sound makes my processors hum with joy. She takes a bite and closes her eyes, savoring it. I watch her face, cataloging every expression. This is what I do now instead of running combat simulations in my head. I watch her experience pleasure in small things.
She takes another sip of champagne and studies me over the rim of her glass. Her instincts are sharp, always reading people, always analyzing.
“This feels special. Are we celebrating something?”
My Aether Core pulses faster. I’ve been waiting for this moment all evening, rehearsing it in my head, but now that it’s here, my nervousness intensifies.
I stand and move around the table. Her eyes follow me, curious and alert. I lower myself to one knee beside her chair. Her breathing changes. I can hear her heartbeat accelerate, the blood rushing through her veins.
