Chapter 263: Chapter 263. Epilogue, Part XII
Translator: Khan
Editor Group: Liber Reverie
“Welcome back. Lady Piast.”
As she entered the capital, dozens of knights politely greeted Aria. They were dressed in a white uniform that they wore only during official ceremonies, even though they were Royal Knights. It seemed that they had been waiting for a long time, and there were also many spectators wandering around pretending not to be.
“The walls must have been the beginning…!”
In addition, as if the tulips surrounding the walls were only the beginning, tulips were everywhere in contact with the eyes, except for pathways and roads for carriages.
While Aria was unable to speak in alarm on the path of the tulips, knights surrounded Aria’s carriage as if they were escorting her.
“His Highness is waiting.”
A knight’s voice was heard through the open window, only then did Aria came to her senses and nodded. Then the knights and carriage began to move slowly to their destination.
“Didn’t you say he returned last night? How on earth did he prepare all this in one night…?”
The entire capital, as well as the walls, was so splendid that it was almost impossible to decorate it within a night. It took at least a week to gather a lot of people’s help.
“I’m sure His Highness has prepared it a long time ago! Just in time for your return!” Annie answered as if it was natural. It had been Aria’s idea to return home on her birthday, and it was a natural and right guess.
‘Wasn’t it Asher who had promised to use all the empire to propose splendidly?’ It was not the whole empire, but he was keeping the promise he had made to Aria using the whole capital.
“Oh, my God… Then is it that flower? The flower our lady has received before.”
“Aha! The flower that won’t wither!”
“How romantic he is…”
“That’s right. I hope Baron Burboom will see and learn.”
While Jessie and Annie were beside her and admired each other, Aria was moved by the flowered path Asher had made and said nothing.
The scene that she had criticized him just last night was nowhere to be seen. She realized that he had gone back to check and prepare for this, and she couldn’t have any more of that feeling.
The carriage passed the entrance to the capital and over the square to the Imperial Castle. She couldn’t take her eyes off because there were beautiful places in every corner of her eye. Moreover, no one cared about the flowers, as Annie said as if they had been decorated for a long time ago.
Instead, Aria’s carriage, escorted by the Royal Knights, drew more attention. Every passerby stared at Aria’s carriage with a face full of joy. Some expected that at last there arrived something to come.
“Oh, my God, how beautiful she is…!”
“She is such a sweet, clever woman, and His Highness is proposing something great like this, right?”
“Yes. She’s not the usual noble lady. She’s a lady who can be called the power of the empire!”
“His Highness has cleaned up the deep-rooted evil forces, and he even got the wise and beautiful Crown Princess, so the empire must be safe now.”
They praised Aria and rejoiced with one heart. There was hope that the empire would be a little better. They also expected that Aria, born of humble origin and reached the top of her career, would do something for them.
The knights and carriage marched slowly through the capital as if to show Aria the sincerity of Asher. All the people of the empire stopped what they were doing and followed them behind.
They followed, imagining what the Crown Prince, who was waiting for Aria, would look like because he was the first to hold such a grand and spectacular event.
As she arrived at the Imperial Castle, there were more people waiting than the spectators Aria had brought. Rather than following the horse-drawn carriage, they seemed to be planning to take a good seat in the Imperial Castle and watch the Crown Prince’s proposal.
Although so many people gathered, the door, which had always been tightly closed, was wide open, and the knights, who controlled and confirmed the visitor with their stern faces, bowed deeply without asking anything, welcoming Aria’s arrival.
“Welcome back, Lady Piast.”
“Please go in.”
With that permission, the carriage entered the castle without delay. There was no interruption or trace of anyone on the way of the carriage as if emptying all of the huge gardens of the castle for today. Even the birds, who were always singing at the top of their voices, quietly watched this scene.
The place where the carriage stopped after a long journey was in front of a huge fountain located in the middle of the garden. There was Asher waiting for her, dressed in colorful clothes that she had never seen before as if he had been tailored for today.
“We’re here.” A knight, who was escorting the carriage, opened the door, and Aria, with her cheeks blushing, carefully got out of the carriage. Her heart was pounding as she stepped forward.
During that time, dozens of knights guarding the carriage lined up beside either side of the road and raised a sword marked by splendid workmanship. It was a beautiful scene that could only be seen at the royal official ceremony.
Of course, that was not the only thing. As soon as Aria was about to step toward Asher on the other side, he suddenly lowered his position and fell on one knee. Jessie and Annie went out of the carriage. They covered their mouths and twisted their whole body as if they wanted to scream.
The same was true of the onlookers who were watching. They wanted to scream and respond to the Crown Prince’s romantic appearance right away, but they tried hard not to break the mood and shook their fists.
“If you cross this road, you will never return again.” When Aria, who had paused for a moment in surprise, tried to walk again, Asher, who broke the stillness, opened his mouth quietly and slowly. It was a warning and a piece of advice, and lastly, a declaration. It also meant that she should think carefully because he was giving her a last chance.
Nevertheless, he had no doubt that Aria would come to him without delay. It seemed that if she changed her mind after all and tried to leave him, he would mention the past and hold her. It was a way to blame her on why she would abandon him after she had made a promise.
When Aria noticed this, a deep smile came to her face.
‘You can’t go back,’ that was what she wanted to say. There was no regret or hesitation in her steps. It was totally different from the appearance she had when she got off the wagon.
It seemed as if it was Asher to wait for the proposal, and Aria was going for it. As a result, Asher smiled a little, saying, “It is really like her, let alone displeased.”
“Are you sure you will not regret this?” Then Aria, who arrived in front of Asher, reached out her hand and asked. She asked as if she would give Asher a last chance. And he took her hand and kissed her on the back of her hand.
He answered without hesitation, “That’s a question I don’t even have to think about.”
“You have to keep it. If Mr. Asher would betray me, I would be willing to turn back the hourglass.” She didn’t know if it would be possible, but she was willing to do so, even if she had to break the hourglass and bring it back to the distant past.
Because of Aria’s frightful threat, he replied as if he also could not be defeated, “Please do so. No, I hope you will. I’ll follow you no matter how much you try to get away with the hourglass. Unlike Lady Aria, I can use my powers over and over again. No matter how much time you turn back, you will never get away.”
Aria smiled contentedly at the reply, which was dotted with that terrible obsession. ‘What a better future could be, not being able to escape from Asher!’
When she looked as if he needed no more words, he took out the ring he had prepared and said to Aria, “Will you marry me, if you don’t mind?”
The ring with the mysterious and beautiful jewelry that she had never seen anywhere was shining in blue. It was like the eyes of Asher, proposing. As she had wished, he had really prepared a ring that resembled his eyes.
Those watching the two from afar swallowed their saliva, at the moment they had expected. Aria closed her eyes for a moment and took a breath, receiving the gaze of those who hid in the Imperial Castle and watched it.