“What?”
“My proposal,” he said, almost pouting. “I haven’t heard your answer.”
“...Do you really need to hear it?” she smiled.
“Yes,” he said. “I want to engrave this moment in my mind and remind you of the decision you once made, after some passionate love-making with your future husband.”
Cessilia chuckled, and leaned over to kiss his lips, amused.
“Alright... It’s a yes, my King. I will marry you.”
The smile on Ashen’s lips immediately brightened. Cessilia smiled back, and caressed his torso some more with her fingertips.
“...You do know you should probably meet my parents again before that happens, right?” she pointed out.
Ashen’s smile melted.
“Come on,” Cessilia said. “It will be alright... I won’t ask for a big ceremony, I just want my family to be there.”
“As if they’d let you have anything less than a big ceremony,” he chuckled. “I can already hear your grandmother and aunts protesting. Oh no, my Queen, we will have a nice ceremony, I promise. Maybe not right away, but... in due time, we will have a beautiful wedding.”
“Alright, then,” she smiled.
Chapter 33
For a while, neither of them added anything, simply staring at the sea and its waves. Because they had walked closer and closer to the Fish Market, not only were the familiar smells getting to them, but the voices and sounds as well. Cessilia could hear Nana’s uncles and aunts starting their work day as usual, perhaps working even harder to help the Kingdom after this complicated battle. The smell of delicious beignet dough soon came to their noses, and she heard her grandmother take a deep breath.
“Ah... this is what an old woman like me needs,” she said. “New delicacies, fresh air, and some place to have new fun.”
“So you really plan on staying?” Cessilia couldn’t help but ask.
“Of course. I have a feeling my first great-grandbabies will be born in this Eastern Kingdom, do you think I would possibly miss that?!”
Cessilia blushed. Children... She hadn’t even dared think about it recently. To think her grandmother already expected some... unless she meant that it would take a while for Kassian to find his partner? But there was Darsan too, and his relationship with Nana would probably keep progressing smoothly. Cessilia didn’t know what to add after that, so she said nothing. But to her surprise, her grandmother chuckled.
“There you go again, my Cessilia. Too serious... You really are your parents’ child. Don’t worry. I still plan to live on for a few more years, you have plenty of time. Moreover, this place really does need some work...”
She stared down at a portion of the street they stood in, where the locals had gathered the pieces of debris that nothing could be done with. Some children were clearly given the task to sort it out as they were busy organizing it into piles of wood, metal, or stones with little brooms, an older boy in charge. The sight gave Cessilia an idea.
“You should become one of the counselors,” she said.
“Me?” her grandmother exclaimed. “Why would I? This old lady is long retired from politics!”
“Ashen could use someone like you,” Cessilia insisted. “Grandmother, you know politics and men better than anyone! It’s going to take a while before we get a new council going and finish digging out all of the traitors. You’re unbiased as a non-citizen of the Kingdom, and you’re the wisest, most clear-sighted person I know.”
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere, Cessilia. Like I said, I just want a palace and fresh morning cocktails every day until the end of my life. Actually, a view of the sea would be nice, as well.”
“You’re not just going to stay here doing nothing while Ashen and I struggle,” Cessilia smiled. “I know you too well, Grandmother. You just don’t know how to sit back when our family is in trouble...”
“This old lady already outlived two Emperors, Cessilia. I do not want to have to take care of that brat of a king too!”
“Think about it. Please. It’s not like you’ll be busy until your palace is done... in many, many months.”
Her grandmother rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, directing her stare toward the Fish Market rather than facing her stubborn granddaughter. Cessilia didn’t insist, but she was confident she’d get her grandmother to change her mind. Now that this tiny seed was planted in her mind, Lady Kareen would most likely keep an eye on the politics of this Kingdom, and she would definitely come out of her palace to help if they ever needed it. Perhaps she wouldn’t become a counselor, but Cessilia had learned to aim high if she wanted to hit anything at all...
“Who are you calling a brat of a king, Lady Kareen?”
Behind them, Ashen appeared, sighing. Cessilia had temporarily forgotten about his new haircut, so she got to discover it a second time, with much pleasure when she turned around. She couldn’t help herself and walked up to him, a big smile on her face. Ashen smiled back, grabbing her hands. Beside them, Lady Kareen clicked her tongue loudly, a habit when she was annoyed, one she had passed on to most of her children and grandchildren.
“Who else?” she shrugged. “You’re too green to call yourself a man just yet.”
“I’m up for a challenge,” Ashen retorted. “Moreover, I heard the War God himself gets called a brat...”
Cessilia bit her lower lip to keep herself from laughing. Indeed, her grandmother wasn’t gentle with the men she cared about... She never had been. Ashen then turned his eyes to Cessi. He looked a bit calmer, more serene than before.
“Sorry,” he said. “Our talk took a bit... longer than expected.”
“Did you manage to tell him everything you wanted to say?”
“I hope so... I probably still won’t become the Cheshi’s favorite King, but that can’t be helped. I don’t think I’ll ever really trust them either. They never really forgave my mother, and neither did she. So, I think we might have to leave it at that for a while. I’ve already learned to ignore them, anyway. And since they are quite obsessed with my future Queen...”
“Speaking of,” said Kareen, “you–”
“Grandmother,” Cessilia suddenly interrupted her. “...Not now, please.”
Kareen raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t mad at her granddaughter for cutting her off, but surprised. Cessilia had always been, by far, the most shy and obedient of her grandchildren, so this was highly unusual for her. After a few seconds, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
