Lily's Point of View

I have finally calmed down a bit and can finally think somewhat clearly. The only problem is... it took two days. Two days. Why did it take so long? You might ask, and the reason is quite simple. There has been no time for me to be alone long enough to actually calm down!

I barely got twenty minutes after my tactical retreat before we were called to breakfast and I had to face both of them. Of course Lady Tepet kept giving me exited glances while hinting towards Lionel. Probably waiting for me to tell him. Meanwhile Lionel kept watching me squirm like a hawk with a ferret in its grasp. All while smiling softly. I got quite dizzy from the attention and could barely eat. Then immediately afterwards Magdalin approached me, asking directly what happened between Lionel and I.

I hesitantly told her I drank some alcohol with him, and her reply was 'and then?'. Her interrogation was tough to get through. Of course I tried to misdirect her a bit, but she locked right back onto why I haven't been able to look Lionel in the eyes and why my body keeps giving this annoying, obvious reaction. Now, it's not that I am trying to keep all of this secret... I would if I could, of course, but I just want to talk about these embarrassing things in front of others. Even Magdalin.

In the end I was narrowly saved from her interrogation by the message that we were ready to depart for the capital.

That was roughly two days ago.

Magdalin is not happy. Emily is busy with her study, but reassured Magdalin just once that we didn't do anything we weren't supposed to. Emilia's maid is... well... well mannered and is just being quiet.

However, Lionel, the culprit of my current emotional conflict also comes by to talk routinely throughout the day and every time he does Magdalin stares at him suspiciously like he's a wild dog that can't necessarily be trusted.

"Lily... are you angry with me?"

Now... due to me being flustered and unable to face him due to various circumstances, mainly that I have asked his mother for his hand, breaking etiquette and embarrassing myself, I have had a... hard time talking with him and meeting his eyes... because I have to tell him about this partly failed attempt.

When I think of that, and his words that I should ask him for a proper confession, I realize that I got far too hasty in dealing with this, which only makes the situation more embarrassing.

"Lily..."

I glance to him, and for a moment meet with Lionel's worried gaze as he almost leans into the carriage window from his horse. An irrational feeling of excitement and anxiousness spreads through me, causing me to look away. My heart has been going at it wildly every time he comes by, to be honest my own emotions are exhausting me, which is the biggest thing that has allowed me to calm down.

"I am not angry," I correct him.

"Then why are you being like this?" he says rather suspiciously and even glances to Magdalin whose reactions towards him have been a large part in making him more nervous.

Because i have to tell you about my conversation with your mother!

"I don't want to tell you here like this," I reply to postpone the talk, ignoring the looks from Magdalin and the otherwise quiet maid who are both staring holes in me with their curious gazes. The worst part is Emilia that's staring at me disapprovingly with a 'just tell him' sort of look...

But who would ever confess something like this in front of others?!

Grab.

I stare down to my wrist that has Lionel's hand around it.

Wha-

Before I can put words to my confusion the bully actually starts pulling me, and keeps pulling me until I'm out of my seat and partly out the window as well before he puts his other arm around my waist and pulls me up on his lap...

I stare at the carriage window I just got pulled through, and the surprised but curious gazes coming from in there, and then the curious glances from the knight escort around us.

No... please...

Why?!

Lionel puts his arms around me to grab the reins of the horse properly again, trapping me in his arms while I'm sitting in front of him in the most girly helpless way to ride a horse.

"There. Now, what is it?"

You want me to say it here?! HERE?! NO! I don't want to!

He watches me.

"See, you're blushing all over and almost teary eyed. Now spill it."

Whose fault is that?! Do you have any idea how close we're sitting?! We are touching so many places and I can feel your breath and by the gods we are so close I swear I can almost hear your heart beat!... in FRONT of OTHERS!

"Not while people are looking," I excuse myself again.

"Now let me-"

He actually interrupts me.

"Hey, guys, look away," he ordered his knights that all turn their face away or ride to the other side of the carriage...

...

NO!

I look to the carriage, but I see Emilia covering Magdalin's eyes with one hand, or well... arm, the maid covering both her own and Emilia's eyes... and Emilia giving me a thumbs up with her other hand...

Treason! I'm certain this is in some way treason!

"Now-" This time I interrupt him.

"I don't-" He interrupts me in return.

"No more excuses, Lily."

I finally glance up to meet his emerald colored eyes. He's staring at me so intensely, but why is he doing this? Even if I've been lightly avoiding looking at him, isn't this a bit too forward?!

Ah... wait... did I teach him to do this since he always get more out of being direct?

"Li-"

"I get it! Just give me a moment!"

Ah, by the gods. I got completely caught this time, didn't I?

They're all buzzing with curiosity, awaiting my answer. Even if I try to dodge the matter, I doubt I'll be able to hide it for the two weeks it takes to get to the capital, and the longer it takes the more curiosity will spread among everyone else. I didn't want to let anyone else know of my failure, but if I don't have a choice then there's only one way to go, isn't there?

Full speed ahead.

I take a deep breath and try to calm my nerves. Even if my skin betrays me, hopefully my flossy nerves will make it through this.

Now, how is this supposed to go again. When you 'ask someone to marry you'? The stories at tea parties never really go that far. They always end their stories with that same phrase, asking someone to marry you.

Ah, but I guess there was that one book.

"Then, Lionel Tepet," I start out by using his full name as I cup his cheek the way he did mine yesterday. My hand is shaking lightly as I press it against his warm skin.

"Will you be with me to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part?"

Lionel expression goes blank for a moment, but I can see the red begin to color his skin and see how his eyes begin to shine. Then a pure hearted excitement takes over as he lights up like the sunrise, all along with an expression of happiness I don't think I've ever seen, causing my already overworked heart to skip another beat. I feel the hands that should be on the reins wrap around my body as he finally speaks up.

"I will be with you, to love and to cherish, forever, that is my solemn vow," he replies in a deep soft voice that makes any resistance slip out of me.

I'm pulled in closer, and in that moment on a clear autumn day he pressed out lips together in the first kiss I'd ever had.

When our lips part his cheeks are flushed as red as mine, and he really barely pulls away and keeps holding me close.

"Are you okay with this? Shouldn't you gave gotten the confession from me first? in addition, shouldn't I be the one asking you?" he teases lightly, but I can see bits of hesitance.

I gently cover my mouth with my hand while looking away again... w-w-where did that kiss come from?! N-not that it's bad, and no one were looking, but why?! I scramble to get my mind back on the many questions he's asking me, but that only makes it worse as he reminds me of how I messed up.

"...When I find someone I want to spend my life with, then why should I hesitate in making them mine?.. and..."

I lean in, this time covering my head in his chest so he can't see my expression anymore.

"...I didn't know that you were supposed to do it, so I already asked your mother for your hand in marriage."

My voice is trembling with embarrassment.

"So she wrote down a marriage request in a letter after tricking me into doing a proper proposal, and then calling me cute multiple times while writing the proposal afterwards."

I feel one of his hands brushing through my hair gently.

"So that's what it is. You really are such an assertive person... but that's one of the things that make you amazing," he says softly.

"Lily, can I have that letter? I want to express my feelings to your father and brother properly before they get it."

I look up at him again and find those soft caring eyes looking back at me.

"...Okay."

"Also... can I kiss you again?"

I feel another rush of embarrassment coming over me.

"No... please give my heart a little break. I've been all messed up since that night, I really, really can't handle anymore," I plead weakly... only making him blush harder before leaning down to kiss my cheek.

"...you're not the only one. Seeing you so embarrassed and so visibly return part of my feelings, but at the same time run away the way you do has been driving me crazy," he whispers against my ear. Tormenting my overworked heart with words so sweet that I feel faint.

In the end he did let me back to the carriage, but what was left of me after all of that was but an outer shell. I'm certain that my soul had temporarily departed.

And the rest is history, as one might say... except for the incident that happened when we returned to the capital, which would turn Magdalin's life upside down.