Ch#293
Fragment of the Broken Glass Slipper Side Story 4 Episode 7
I could offer no reply to his words, as if my throat were blocked. I could barely breathe. My chest swelled so full I could hardly bear it. My eyes were already burning hot.
Michael Aires smiled tenderly at me and pulled a small box from his embrace, opening it. Inside was a ring.
"I earnestly hope, Cisse, that you will make me a Bischwaltz. Please graciously accept my wish, filled with love for you. Even if it means you devour my soul, I will gladly embrace it. Once more, I am yours."
I extended my hand. It already bore the second ring he had given me, but neither he nor I minded. With calm composure, he removed the second ring and slipped on the one he had brought. By then, hot tears were streaming down my cheeks.
"You didn't even know my name moments ago. And now a ring... How could I not extend my hand?"
I tried to speak to him as I had back then. I needed such a joke to keep from bursting into loud sobs.
But my voice, even to my own ears, was a mess. The thick, moist sound was clumsy, like that of a child just learning to speak.
"You said you are mine, did you not?"
"Yes."
"Noble knight of the empire, as before, you demand a firm answer from me once again. Yes, you were right. I have given you my answer, and the ring now on my finger proves it. Mel, you have always respected my will. Thus, I respect you in turn."
"Cisse, because it is you."
"Honored knight, is it rude to ask you to reveal your honest feelings a bit more here?"
Michael Aires—no, Michael Bischwaltz—laughed brightly at my words and shook his head. Then he reached out to cup my cheek.
"I love you, Cisse."
"Yes."
His face drew near. Our breaths now mingled.
"Marry me."
"Yes, gladly."
The me of before had tried not to give Michael Aires any room for hope. I knew how terrifying false hope could be.
And he, despite my nearly rude behavior, never lost his gentlemanly respect.
Thus, I thought our connection had ended there.
Had I known this scene would be reenacted so perfectly after all these years, I would have spoken a bit less coldly back then.
"Cisse."
"Yes."
"Cisse."
"Yes."
At his repeated calling of my name, I finally burst into loud sobs. Why appear so suddenly and make me cry like this? His actions were both endearing and exasperating.
"Tell me again. That you are mine."
"Mel, you are mine."
Then he lightly kissed my lips. Sobbing, I kept saying it. Mel, you are mine. I possess you. And you possess me as well.
Mel's lips now trailed not just my lips but my cheeks, eyes, and forehead. In a sweet whisper, he soothed my heaving sobs.
"Hush, don't cry so much."
"But the tears won't stop. I don't know what to do."
Then he rose and pulled me into his embrace. Wrapped in his warm, solid arms, my sobs grew even louder. I felt like a child.
My crying only subsided after a long while. Mel patted my back soothingly all the while. It was an embarrassing moment.
"So the finale I spoke of back then has come like this."
"Yes. But Mel, how did you think of proposing here of all places?"
At my question, Mel smiled meaningfully. As if I still didn't get it, he lightly pressed his forehead to mine.
"Surely not, Mel..."
"Luse and Duchess Debenzel helped greatly."
"Why go to such..."
"I wanted an unforgettable, special proposal. And to relive from that day when I fell for you just how much I love you."
His answer left me speechless. To ease my tension through Luse, and ally with Duchess Debenzel to perfectly recreate that day's memories—all for today's proposal. So that was the answer to my lingering questions.
How had they fooled me so completely?
I marveled at his meticulous plan.
Luse and Duchess Debenzel's enthusiastic cooperation was astonishing too.
Especially Duchess Debenzel, who had offered her circle and home—what gratitude could suffice?
"There are so many people I must thank. I don't know how to express it."
As fresh tears made me sniffle, Sir Aires replied in a joking tone.
"I think I should be the one giving thanks. Had you refused, all this would have been for naught, no?"
"Then I should have said it like back then. 'Please give me a chance to protect your honor as a knight.' And then, 'I hope no one sees the disappointment on your face'?"
At my words, he laughed loudly and whispered,
"Good heavens, when I heard that, I truly thought I was falling into despair. It felt like the sky was crumbling. Now it's just a fond memory, though."
"Honestly, I thought you'd give up on me after that. But you didn't."
"Because I fell in love. I couldn't have anyone but you. You captured me perfectly."
"Perfectly?"
"Yes, utterly. Irrevocably, completely so."
The old me would have hidden my tear-swollen face, but having accepted the proposal, a strange courage welled up. After all, what more was there to hesitate over?
Thus, I reached out and pulled his face to mine. And I kissed his lips.
To the astonished Mel, I gave a shy smile and said,
"Mine, my love, my knight. You're caught now. Perfectly ensnared by a woman like me. By a fearsome witch."
Mel gazed at me in rapture and kissed me back. This time, it was a lewd tangle of tongues. The deep skinship that entwined our souls made my entire body tremble. The sweet, intense sensation softly melted me.
He let out a small growl, like a rasp in his throat.
"A beautiful and alluring witch like you is always welcome."
And he kissed me passionately again—until a knock sounded, as if the impatient Duchess Debenzel were urging us.
Thus, we became perfectly each other's.
The next day, I boarded the carriage leaving Duchess Debenzel's mansion amid the warm farewells of the performers (the ladies) who had given their all for this proposal. The duchess winked at my thanks and playfully threatened,
"I'll get it back tenfold later."
She added that acting without giving it away had been quite difficult. Feigning no fear, I replied, "I'm prepared." At my answer, the duchess laughed heartily and whispered to expect a generous wedding gift.
Thus, I returned home, clutching Mel's hand tightly.
***
The news that Michael Aires had proposed to me and I had accepted swept through the Capital before afternoon. Naturally, congratulatory letters poured into the mansion.
But nowhere among them was a letter from the Emperor.
I stowed away the glass slippers he had sent deep in the warehouse. They might remain buried in dust until my death. Yet I felt no fear at all.
Now was the time to welcome a new person.
Fragment of the Broken Glass Slipper
Novel by Yeolmae
Author: Yeolmae
Publisher: Kwon Tae-wan, Woo Cheon-je
eBook Publication Date: 2024-05-07
Production: CL Production
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