Chapter 133 Chapter 132
Amaris.
As the golden hues of the setting sun painted the sky, Ethan and I strolled through the tranquil gardens of the palace, hand in hand.
Ethan's busy schedule had momentarily given way to the call of a splendid evening, and we found solace in a leisurely walk, away from the weighty responsibilities that had gripped us in recently.
Ethan turned to look at me, a questioning look in his face. "Amaris," he began, casting a warm gaze upon me, "what are your plans now that the kingdom has been reclaimed by the Alpha King?"
I paused, contemplating his question. The truth was, in the wake of recent events, I hadn't given much thought to my own path. "I don't really know," I admitted, a candid admission of uncertainty. "I've been by Evelyn's side all this time, and things seem to be going well for her."
Ethan's expression softened, his eyes reflecting understanding. "If you have no plans, would you consider coming to my Dukedom?" he proposed, his voice carrying a sincerity that resonated through my being. " It's high time you returned, my people can't wait to meet you."
His offer hung in the air, and I found myself caught between the familiarity of the kingdom I had known and the allure of a new chapter in Ethan's Dukedom. Before I could fully process the weight of his words, Ethan surprised me in the most unexpected way.
With a graceful movement, he lowered himself to one knee, his eyes locked onto mine with unwavering determination and admiration. The world seemed to stand still, leaving only the echo of my own heartbeat as he produced a glistening ring, a symbol of a future yet to unfold.
"Amaris," he spoke, his words a melody in the quiet garden, "will you be my wife? I know, I should have done this earlier so I apologize for skipping it for the most part. You are my mate and you deserved to be proposed to in the most outstanding way." He stretched the rings towards me and I watched as it glistened in the setting sun. "So, here is me asking you. Would you marry me?"
Surprise painted my features as I registered the magnitude of his question. Shock mingled with joy in a tumultuous dance within me, and for a moment, words escaped me. But as I met his earnest gaze, the warmth of his love enveloped me, and tears welled in my eyes.
"Yes," I whispered, my voice a tender affirmation. "Yes, Ethan, I will be your wife."
The tender smile that graced his face mirrored the joy swelling within my heart. With a delicate touch, he slipped the ring onto my finger, a promise sealed with the brilliance of the setting sun. Rising to his feet, his lips met mine in a cascade of kisses, each one a celebration of a future intertwined. I grinned against his lips, wrapping my hands around his neck.
"Thank you so much for this." I whispered, placing another kiss on his lips as he twirled me around, my hair scattering in the wind and brushing against my face.
"No, I should be thanking you. Thank you for giving me a second chance and being by my side all through this time." He said, pressing another beautiful kiss on my lips, my heart swelled with so much joy it felt like it would burst from it.
"We'll just thank each other then." I muttered, peppering more kisses on his face and getting them all returned, my heart filled with nothing but joy. He shared details of the upcoming wedding, a momentous occasion that awaited us in his Dukedom. A blend of gratitude and excitement filled me, grateful for the love that had unexpectedly found its way into my life. As the garden embraced us in its tranquil cocoon, I realized that all of my dreams were indeed coming true.
Finally, he had to go back to his duties with a promise to keep discussing things with me till it was time to go. I bade him goodbye before skipping into the palace, my heart light with happiness. On my way to my room, I spotted Evelyn approaching, also with a huge smile on her face. Needing to tell someone about the good news, I hurried towards to her, breaking into a grin as I enveloped her into a hug. She seemed surprised at first but reciprocated like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"You look so happy today. What happened?" Evelyn asked as we pulled away from the hug, regarding me with star-filled eyes. I chuckled gripping her bands in excitement before showing her the ring that had already been placed on it. Evelyn saw it and her eyes widened in shock. The sight only made me laugh out loud, tears stinging my eyes but I quickly cleaned it off, bursting with joy.
"No way! Duke Ethan has proposed?!" Evelyn shrieked, holding up the finger. I nodded, my hair flying around from excitement.
"Yes! He just proposed to me. I'll be following him to Dukedom soon" I revealed and Evelyn gasped.
"Ahhh!! I'm so happy for you!" Evelyn cried as she enveloped me in another hug. "This is wonderful news!" Evelyn exclaimed and I grinned, cleaning off the tears in my eyes.
"I couldn't believe it, but I was so happy as well. I still can't believe it's true."
"Well, I can believe it. It's been long overdue. Well, I also have some news to tell you as well, it's why I was looking for you in the first place."
"Oh, what is it?" I asked, interested.
She grinned again, her starry look appearing in her eyes. "The Alpha king has promised to announce me as his Luna Queen soon." She whispered to me, excitement filling her voice. I stared at her for a while, completely dumbstruck.
"Really?" I repeated again, glancing at her. She just grinned, her cheeks flushed with excitement.
"Yes, really. I also couldn't believe it when I heard it but it seems so true!"
"Oh, I'm so happy for you!" I screamed, engulfing her in a hug. "I'm really happy for you!"
"To think we promised not to go back to this men." I muttered and we broke into laughter, our high voices resounding in the hall before hugging each other again out of happiness.
"But I'm also going to miss you when you leave." Evelyn said as we pulled away from the hug. I gazed at her, a thought striking me. "Thank you for making my period in the castle bearable. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't know how I would have survive living here as a slave."
"Thank you too for also being a dear friend to me as well. Don't worry, I'll always come to visit you whenever I get the chance to, you won't miss me too much." I told her before hugging her again.
I looked up at the heavens, thanking the moon goddess for bringing someone like Evelyn my way and letting me have such a splendid moment with her. It's something I wouldn't trade for the world.