Chapter 42: Absolutely Perfect
’I must confess, this tea ti seed to stretch on endlessly, like no other in my entire life. I am so exhausted.’
The gathering, though Angelica appeared to be the sole one reveling in it, required Rosalie to overco her discomfort and imrse herself in the mont. It was only proper to do so, given the Princess’s trendous effort in organizing such a delightful afternoon treat for them all.
Thankfully, for both Damien and Rosalie, Princess Angelica eventually retreated to the Palace for so much-needed rest. As a consequence, the responsibility of escorting her fell to the Crown Prince, effectively concluding their tea ti.
As the Imperial siblings disappeared behind the tall wall of flower bushes, the duke cleared his throat and turned around to face his fiancee.
"Lady Rosalie, would you care to take a leisurely stroll through the garden with
before we return to the carriage?"
Despite the innocent simplicity of the question, Lady Ashter could not help but discern a slight hint of nervousness in Damien’s voice, accompanied by his rather fidgety behavior. Nevertheless, she chose to dismiss it, attributing it to the lingering restlessness from the uncomfortable tension they had experienced just minutes ago.
"Sure, Your Grace, a stroll around the garden sounds like a delightful idea."
As they walked through the enchanting garden together, Rosalie hoped that the serene ambiance would dispel the heavy awkwardness pressing upon her chest. However, Damien’s silent reticence, coupled with his sowhat serious and even slightly angry expression, gave her pause, causing her to second-guess her decision.
’He seems rather troubled today. Restless and anxious, constantly adjusting his jacket. Could he be unwell?’
At last, after grappling with her internal dilemma, Rosalie released an exasperated sigh and voiced her growing concern,
"Pardon , Your Grace, but I cannot help but notice sothing amiss. Is everything alright?"
As if it were a decree rather than a re inquiry, Damien abruptly halted, standing right before the young lady, his deep golden eyes unwaveringly fixed upon hers. Despite his apparent desire to speak, his hesitation only served to intensify Rosalie’s concern.
Finally, he drew a deep breath and posed his question in a tone tinged with hope,
"Lady Rosalie... Do you truly recall seeing
in the Temple garden for the first ti eleven years ago?"
Taken aback that he still retained such a mory, Rosalie arched her eyebrows and slowly nodded, her plump, reddish lips forming an awkward smile. In truth, she had rely offered that response for the sake of convenience, drawing from what she vaguely recollected from a book. She had never anticipated that Damien would cling to that offhand remark.
The duke continued to scrutinize the young woman, searching for a glimr of recognition in her captivating, expressive eyes, yet all he encountered was a familiar air of vacant unease.
’I suppose I was mistaken. She likely said that to dissuade the Prince and not because she could truly recall such an insignificant event.’
However, despite his awareness that delving into this mory might serve no purpose, Damien found himself compelled to share it. He gently pressed his right hand to the pocket of his uniform jacket and released a long, contemplative sigh.
"Lady Rosalie... Permit
to share a personal recollection with you."
Once more, Lady Ashter nodded in acknowledgnt.
"Eleven years ago, it marked the advent of the Temple’s initial experint with the new treatnt thod on . Alongside enduring the excruciating nullification from the Holy Power, I was subjected to an indescribable sense of humiliation, akin to torture.
Upon experiencing it for the first ti, I could not bear the ordeal, and I ran away in tears, driven by agony and despair. I ran with reckless abandon, heedless of my surroundings, until I stumbled over a decaying tree and collapsed. Overwheld with emotions, I found myself crying inconsolably, tornted by the anguish and helplessness I had endured. And then..."
Damien paused once more, taking a deep breath before resuming his tale,
"Erging from behind a flowering bush, a young girl appeared, holding a radiant crown woven from yellow dandelions in one hand, and a single red rose in the other. With her large gray eyes, she gazed at
with genuine concern for my well-being, asking if I was alright.
Initially, I confess, fear gripped . The sight of another person, no matter how small, standing before
was deeply unsettling. However, that little girl exhibited no fear in my presence. On the contrary, she extended her tiny hand toward , offering assistance. When I confided in her that I felt overwheld and wanted to escape like a coward, instead of judging or reprimanding
as others might have done, she simply bestowed upon
a warm smile and reassured
that it was alright to feel weary and fearful."
Rosalie experienced a familiar pang that pierced her chest. It resembled the sensation she felt when recounting her own past, an odd nostalgia that twisted within her, tying knots in her emotions.
Curiously, she had no recollection of this mory. It had never been ntioned in the novel. So, why did an inexplicable sadness wash over her?
The duke gracefully shifted his golden eyes to the rose bush on his right, gently plucking a small pink flower and adorning Rosalie’s ear with it, accompanied by a subtle smile.
"When it was ti for the girl to depart, she paused and placed the red rose flower between my palms, gracing
with the warst smile I had ever witnessed. I watched her disappear into the depths of the garden, yet even after her departure, the image of her radiant brown hair and the captivating smile remained vividly etched in my mind, defying the relentless passage of ti."
Concluding his narrative, Damien retrieved a small red velvet box from his pocket and, after a few brief seconds of hesitation, presented it to Lady Ashter. He continued with grace,
"Though I declined the Emperor’s offer to host an engagent banquet for us, and while our agreent may hold a re sense of mutual convenience, I still believe that certain formalities should be observed. While we have officially declared our engagent, Lady Rosalie, there remains nothing tangible to signify your presence beside ..."
He delicately unveiled the box, revealing a slender white gold engagent ring adorned with a heart-shaped pink diamond at its center. The gem exuded a radiant brilliance, casting a srizing array of colors and reflections when touched by the light.
Encountering such resplendent beauty for the first ti, Rosalie found herself rendered speechless, her eyes glistening with tears of awe.
"Pink seed a fitting hue to complent your exquisite na. Do you find it to your liking, Lady Rosalie? If not, please do not hesitate to express your wishes. I can make alterations swiftly –"
"No."
Lady Ashter gently tapped her fingertips at the corners of her eyes in an attempt to dispel the tears, then lifted her head to et Damien’s gaze, a smile of undeniable joy and emotion gracing her features.
"No, Your Grace. Please do not change it. It is absolutely perfect."
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