14 Four Years After (2)

There was a mini feast to celebrate my birthday today. All of my friends and the employees and servants of the estate were happily chatting, dancing, signing and being merry.

I was also happy with the small festivities that Smith had organized. If there is one thing that I love being a De Falco it is not looking down on servants and employees hired by my father.

My father had always been a kind and wise head of the family. He had always been wise and just with our employees and servants. And those that do not have magical abilities, the slaves as they called it are well taken care of in our family.

As a statesman, my father had always fought for the welfare of the slaves in the Draconian Empire. One of the best places for a slave to be are the Duchy of Heathfield and the Draconian Empire. The main continent had always harbored slaves and taken care of them properly.

But there would always be those that do not adhere with the laws. As slaves are seen as livestocks, even commoners has ill favor towards them. It is something I have seen many times. Commoners turn them away, their matters maltreat them. At least it is something I have not seen while living here in the duchy. There are those that I see with a mark of a slave, but at least they are living as any human being should here in Heathfield.

I was looking at the sky from the balcony. The moon was half up and the stars were seen twinkling brightly. If there is something I love in this world then that is seeing such clear skies. You can see the stars so brightly here. Of course the constellations here are different from my original world, but still they are beautiful nonetheless.

"Would you like to take a walk with me?" Vladford said.

"Sure." I replied instantly.

Vladford took my hand and escorted me towards the back garden of the estate. The garden still had its roses blooming in this late seasons.

"Not long the flowers will start to wither." I said looking at the roses in full bloom.

"Yes, that is sad to know." Vladford replied.

"But that is life, right?" I said. "Winter will come and they will wither away. But soon spring will appear and tiny buds will replace the ones that withered. That the cycle of life for a flower. Not to mention, we have a very capable gardener." I said with a smile.

I cannot but help see Vladford having such a serious look. It was as if there is something he wants to tell me.

"Vlad…" I called out. "Is there something you wish to tell me?" I asked.

Vladford was instantly woken up from his thoughts.

"Oh… well yes." Vladford replied. "Actually, it is something that is inevitable."

"What is it?" I asked.

"As you know, my right of passage has come." Vladford said. "I am now twenty years old, and as the heir the guardianship of the mana crystal of fire I am expected to undergo the ritual to take over."

What Vladford was telling me was the ritual the heir to the duchy of Heathfield will undertake. All of the guardians of the mana crystals of fire are to undergo the final ritual of fire to take title of guardian from the former guardian.

"Isn't it too early?" I asked. "Your father the duke is still healthy and strong. Why would he pass down the guardianship so early?" I asked.

"It has always been a custom to pass the guardianship when the next heir passes the age of twenty." Vladford replied. "My father will still govern as the duke. I will only take the role of guardianship from him. It is also to help him lift a huge burden. I am confident that I can do it."

"I am sure you will." I replied. "You have always been diligent in your training. I am a witness to that."

As an heir to the duchy, I have seen how hardworking Vladford had been these past four years. Being an heir is no joke and it is definitely not a walk in the park. I have high hopes regards on Vladford's will to be a good heir.

"Well then…" Vladford said. "… I have a favor to ask."

"Hmm…" I looked at him curiously. "What is it?" I asked.

"I know that you have yet to hold your coming of age ceremony, but now that you have turned sixteen I wanted to ask…" Vladford's face was getting redder by the second. "… well what I want to ask is… is if it is okay that we hold our wedding next year after the new year's celebration."

I was in denial at first. I was not sure if I am hearing what I am hearing correctly.

"O-Our wedding???" I repeated. "After new year's…?" I was still at a loss.

"Yes…" Vladford nodded. "I would like you to be my official wife before I take the final ritual of the flames."

That was when everything synced in. Vladford was asking to marry me before he undergoes the ritual of the flames.

In this world it was okay to marry after the lady had her coming of age ceremony. For the commoners that is the age of sixteen.

"A-Are you asking me now to get married?" I asked in surprise.

"Y-Yes…" Vladford replied. "I cannot think of anyone other than you by my side, Rose. You are the one I want when I undergo the final ritual of the flame."

Vladford's request was not uncommon. As I have heard, his father the previous guardian was also already married when he had undergone the final ritual of the flame. Only those that are family members can attend the final ritual, and if I am not mistaken that is where the start of the game begins.

It was the catastrophe of the final ritual of the flame where the male protagonist's life will take a turn for the worse.

"Yes." I replied in a heartbeat when I remembered the game. I would like to be there when the catastrophe happens. "I will marry you."

"Really?!" Vladford was evidently happy. I was surprised by his reaction. "I am so happy… so happy that you agreed."

Vladford then hugged me tightly. His happiness was so infectious that I forgot about the game as it is.

"You have made me the most happiest man, Rose." Vladford said. I was mesmerized with his blue eyes shining in the night. "My Rose… I love you."

Vladford's confession took me by surprise. We have been engaged with each other these past four years. We have played, laughed, and done many things as friends. He had always put me first in many ways and has taken care of me, but I never thought that the male protagonist will fall in love with me.

'I might have fallen in love with him, but I never imagined him… to me.' I thought.

'But this was even before the game has begun. Cann I not be even greedy for this?' I thought to myself. 'Can I not yearn for his love, even for a short while?'

Vladford's eyes stayed glued to mine. His hand cupped my cheeks gently.

"I love you, Rose." Vladford said once again. "Tell me, that you also love me." His words was more of a plea.

"I-I love you too…" I replied. "I love you too, Vlad." It was an honest confession.

I cannot deny my feeling any longer, especially of Vladford is also feeling the same way.

Vladford smiled sweetly at me. Our faces inched closely until we can feel each other's warm breath. And then I felt it, his soft warm lips on mine.

At first it was a gentle kiss and then we parted. But then when our eyes met once again, it was like there was a magnet between us. Our lips met once more and into a more intense kiss.

My body felt warm even with the cold breeze blowing. I felt like my legs would give way with the intensity of the kiss, but Vladford's arms wrapped around my waist and had supported me in place.

The kiss felt like an eternity, and even with an eternity it felt like we do not want to let go. But at last, Vladford inched away from me feeling out of breath.

"Let us stop here shall we." Vladford said while pressing his lips on my forehead. "I feel like of we continue, I cannot hold myself back before our wedding day."

Vladford held me in his arms and it can tell what he was talking about. It made me feel shy even though I was an old woman deep inside.

"I am afraid I would eat you up here and now, Rose." Vladford said. "You are so cute." He smiled at me.

"Are you teasing me now, Vladford Heathfield?" I asked.

"Haha, if it is teasing you are asking…" Vladford replied. "Then you are the one teasing me, my lady."

Out lips were to touch once more but the voice of our friends calling to us prevented us from doing so.

"Vlad!" Hilna called from a distance. "Rose!"

"Vlad?" Jacob called too. "Lady Rose!"

"I think they are missing us." I said with a smile.

"They can really dampen the mood." Vladford said.

I walked towards where the two are but I felt a pull from behind. Vladford locked me in his arms and gave me a deep sweet kiss. It lasted about a minute or so.

"One for the road." Vladford said with a playful smile after our kissed parted.

I did not realize that Vladford had a naughty side to him all this time.