CHAPTER 53
A Proposal Is the Answer After All
Ehilie’s potions quickly spread by word of mouth.
“Miss Ehilie, do you have that headache medicine you sold last time? I’ve suffered from headaches for 20 years, but after taking that potion, it disappeared like magic.”
“I slept deeply for the first time in a while thanks to that ‘Sleepy Time’ potion. Give me another one.”
“Miss, not that kind of stamina—when will the fatigue recovery potion be available again?”
Whenever Ehilie appeared, people would gather in droves to buy potions.
Now she had reached the point where she couldn’t sell anything simply because there was no stock left.
Today as well, Ehilie sold potions with Rek and walked around the market as usual.
“Oh my, young bride, you came at the perfect time. Take this and eat it, apples are in season these days.”
The fruit shop lady suddenly pushed a bag of apples into Ehilie’s hands.
‘Ah… is there someone behind me?’
Ehilie stepped aside and looked back.
But there was no one behind her except Rek.
“Oh my, what are you doing? Hurry and take it!”
The lady grabbed Ehilie’s hand and forced the bag into it.
“…You were giving this to me?”
“Of course! Who else would I be talking to if not you, young bride?”
Ehilie was flustered.
Young bride?!
“W-wait a moment. Ma’am, we’re not in that kind of relationship yet…”
Afraid of strange rumors spreading, Ehilie hurriedly waved her hands as she explained.
The lady widened her eyes in surprise, then covered her mouth and exclaimed.
“Oh my, you two aren’t married? Goodness, I’m sorry. You looked so lovey-dovey that I thought you had just set up a household together.”
How on earth did this misunderstanding happen?
Ehilie reflected on her past actions.
“Ehilie, please give it to me.”
“It’s okay. I can carry it myself.”
On the way back home after shopping.
Rek offered to carry the bags for her.
“I’m asking because I want to carry them. I noticed recently that my arms lack muscle, so I was thinking of exercising. I want to always appear reliable to you, Ehilie.”
“You’re already reliable, Rek, even without exercising.”
“I’m glad you see me that way. Still, I’d like to carry the bags.”
“…Then shall we carry them together?”
“Yes, that would be nice.”
In the end, they returned home carrying the bags together.
‘That doesn’t really count as an affectionate act… so that’s fine.’
What else did they do?
“Rek, try this.”
They were eating sausages as a snack while walking.
“My hands are full right now, would you feed me, Ehilie?”
“O-okay.”
Since both of Rek’s hands were full, she fed him the sausage.
“How is it? It’s good, right?”
“Yes, it tastes even better because you fed me.”
Rek had said something a bit embarrassing.
But since it wasn’t the first time, Ehilie didn’t think much of it back then.
‘Anyway… aside from that one time, we didn’t really do anything that could be called affectionate… probably.’
As Ehilie pondered seriously, the lady narrowed her eyes and asked.
“So, miss, when are you getting married?”
“Pardon? Ah… marriage, well…”
“What? You haven’t even started preparing yet? My, how long have you been dating?”
She had never written anything like that.
Just as Ehilie stammered awkwardly.
A calm voice came from behind.
“It has been 37 days, 11 hours, and 22 minutes.”
“Rek, you’ve been counting that?”
“Of course. It was a monumental moment when you accepted my confession. How could I not remember it properly?”
The lady beside them repeatedly gasped.
“Did the young man confess first?”
The fish shop owner, who had appeared without anyone noticing, asked from behind her shoulder.
“Oh my, you startled me! When did you get here?”
“Ah, it was quiet, so I came over. So? Did the young man confess first?”
“Yes, that’s right. I confessed first.”
“Wow, you’ve got a good eye! It’s rare to find such a gentle and lovely young lady like her.”
“Yes, indeed.”
“And you’re quite decent yourself. You two match well! So when are you getting married? It’s best to do it quickly, or you might miss the chance.”
“I think so too.”
‘Why is Rek answering that so seriously?!’
Ehilie wanted to escape this embarrassing situation.
But when she looked back, the villagers had already gathered.
Those who met her eyes pretended not to know anything.
“Oh my, the fruit looks especially good today. Give me an apple.”
“Cough. There are quite a lot of people today. I’ll take an apple too, no rush.”
‘Excuse me… are you all really here to buy apples?’
As Ehilie looked around helplessly.
“My wife seems tired, so we will take our leave.”
Rek dropped a bombshell into the already chaotic market.
“Rek! W-what are you saying?!”
“Ah, I’m sorry. Ehilie, I was thinking seriously about marriage, so I misspoke.”
“You call that a mistake…”
Clap! Clap!
Before she could scold him, the fish shop owner clapped loudly.
“Alright, everyone disperse! Let’s make way for the future bride!”
The crowd parted, making a path.
As they walked through, Ehilie couldn’t lift her head out of embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Rek walked confidently as if he were used to such situations.
***
“Phew…”
Finally reaching a quiet street, Ehilie let out a deep sigh.
“Are you alright?”
Normally, she would have said she was fine.
But instead, she glared at Rek, who seemed to be enjoying the situation.
“Rek, how could you say things like that without discussing it with me? People will misunderstand.”
Rek tilted his head innocently.
“Which part are you referring to?”
“Well…”
She started speaking but had nothing to say.
Technically, Rek hadn’t declared they would marry immediately.
He had only agreed with the fish shop owner.
Though calling her his ‘wife’ was a major slip… probably.
‘A man that innocent wouldn’t do that on purpose.’
Ehilie calmed herself and spoke again.
“I’m sorry. I think I got a bit overwhelmed by everyone’s attention.”
“No, it’s alright. More importantly, Ehilie…”
Rek took a breath and looked her in the eyes.
“Do you not want to marry me?”
“What?”
Ehilie felt as if her breath stopped.
When others mentioned marriage earlier, she had only felt flustered.
But hearing it directly from Rek made her heart race.
She had never seriously thought about marriage before.
Just something that would happen someday.
Still…
“…I don’t dislike it.”
There was no way she would dislike it.
A man who loved her so deeply and was so kind and admirable—who would refuse such a proposal?
“B-but we haven’t been dating that long, and I haven’t even received a proper proposal yet…”
Her words came out jumbled as she struggled to organize her thoughts.
“A-anyway, it’s definitely not that I dislike it!”
Rek smiled slightly.
“That’s a relief.”
***
At that moment, Redemberg was certain.
‘As expected, a proposal is the answer.’
In truth, he had still doubted Herond’s advice quite a bit.
Although Herond was a capable subordinate, he didn’t seem particularly skilled in matters of romance.
But after the commotion and Ehilie’s response, he was convinced.
‘I need to prepare a proposal immediately.’
Herond’s advice echoed in his mind.
“You should express Your Highness’s feelings in a grand and splendid way in front of as many people as possible!”
If he gathered those people from earlier, he could manage the crowd.
Especially the fruit shop lady and the fish shop owner—they should be placed where they could see best.
‘With witnesses, the atmosphere will naturally improve.’
Next…
“For example, setting off fireworks in the middle of the square!”
That part was already solved.
Redemberg recalled a recent conversation with Ehilie.
“Oh right, Rek, there’s going to be a festival soon! There will be various events and fireworks at night. Shall we go together?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
“Then let’s invite Herond and Lucy too.”
“…Why should we invite them?”
“If you stay cooped up in the mansion all the time, it gets stifling. Sometimes you need a change of pace.”
A festival.
The perfect place for a public proposal.
‘All that’s left is an orchestra and a path of flowers.’
“Rek, what are you thinking about so seriously?”
He couldn’t say that he was thinking about proposing to her.
So Redemberg simply smiled.
