“Marry me?” Erich asked, losing his sanity in the depths of her big green eyes. “I mean, no. Forget I said anything.” He dropped his hand from her face and glanced toward the ground. “I forget you probably hate me. And for good reason, since I’ve been an absolute terror to you and I’m rather a dunce and I clearly don’t deserve you and you could probably never love me after everything I’ve put you through.”
“I don’t.”
Erich’s shoulders dropped. “Yeah, that makes sense. Well, at least come back to Iseldis with me and we’ll get you and your sister to safety. Or, wherever you want to go.”
“I don’t hate you.”
Erich lifted his eyes to her face.
“I did hate you. And you were awful.” She squeezed his hand, closing the small distance between them. “But that was before I knew you. Now, I think I rather love you.” She leaned forward, bringing her face directly below his.
“You... you love me? Are you sure?” That was surely not possible, but his heart leapt at the thought.
She nodded, smiling as though she were sharing a secret jest with him.
“But why?” He still couldn’t believe it. “I’ve been awful to you!”
Aizel shrugged. “Even in the very beginning, your words might have been cruel, but your actions were not. When something wasn’t right, you never rested until you’d learned more about it. I like that. I’ve never seen that in someone before and you manage to combine it with being the most fun and colorful person I’ve ever met. I love you now. I don’t care if you change—please keep changing—as long as you don’t stop trying to learn. That’s all I ask.”
“You’re serious?” Erich took in her whole face.
It was completely serious.
“You deserve so much better than me,” Erich whispered, afraid to lose what she was offering him.
“Do you love me?”
“So much,” Erich replied. “You are so brave and good and selfless. You showed me the world in a whole new way and I will be forever thankful for that. You taught me things about myself that I didn’t even know, and I am forever changed because of it. I owe you so much. You deserve so much and I want to give you a better world. One that sees you the way I do.”
“I don’t need you to give it to me,” she replied. “But I would love to build that world with you, side by side.”
“Together?”
“Forever,” she whispered.
Dropping his head, Erich pressed his lips against hers. He poured himself into the kiss, silently pledging his life to keep her safe and happy.
She threw her arms around his neck, twisting her body to fall perfectly into his lap.
“Oh!” Robin’s voice called out from close by. “Pardon us for interrupting.”
With a final taste of her lips, Erich turned his head to greet the small party entering the clearing.
“Robin!” Aizel jumped up. “You’re safe.” She threw herself into the other woman’s arms.
It wasn’t until then that Erich realized Aizel was wearing a woodsman’s trousers. He smiled. They suited her. Or rather, she suited them. She was perfect in anything.
“Robin, this is Erich,” Aizel introduced them. “He’s a prince and my future husband.” As she was speaking, she moved her hands to include her younger sister in the conversation.
Celesta clapped her hands at the announcement.
“Congratulations!” Robin stepped forward past Aizel and held out her hand to Erich.
Erich shook her hand, smiling awkwardly. “Hello, Robin.”
“It seems we have some catching up to do, little brother,” she whispered with a wink. Then, louder so everyone could hear, “When is this grand wedding to take place?”
“If we had a monk or minister, here and now!” Erich said, making a jest but wishing it were true.
