Proposal.

There was a long silence. Chen felt the person in his arms became stiff.

"Dear?" Chen timidly asked as he pulled her out of his embrace.

Lily had a blank expression as she slowly moved her hand off to take the object hanging from her hair. She stared at it for a long time before processing.

It was a huge rose. Dyed with the deepest color of red.

"Lily?" Chen asked again. "Li—"

In the next second, multiple fists started to pound his chest. It didn't hurt, but he could feel its force.

"I'm going to kill you! I'm going to break up with you!" Lilys tears streamed down.

Those words scared Chen to death as he held her firmly.

"What are you saying?!?!" Chen's voice turned ice-cold as he gripped her back into his arms. "This is not something to joke about!"

"You're the one who was joking!" Lily held onto his clothes. Tears continued to stream. "I thought you were really ending things with me, I-I didn't know what to do!"

Chen's expression and tone were severe leading her in a state of confusion and panic.

Feeling her trembling in his arms, Chen started to feel bad. He wanted some impact on his confession that he didn't realize this outcome. He gripped her entire being firmly and put his head in the nook of her shoulders.

"Don't cry, don't cry. I'm sorry, I won't joke like that again," Chen assured her softly. "But the 'I love you' part was not a joke."

Only hearing silence besides sniffling, Chen took his chance and declared abruptly, "Let's get married."

Lily pushed herself out of his embrace. Her tears instantly stopped. "What?"

Chen looked into her eyes that were clear, bright with tear stains on her cheeks. He proceeded to wipe them dry and gave her a warm smile. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Lily frowned.

Although they feel mutual, marriage is a different topic. Love isn't enough. Aren't they too fast?

"Marriage is a serious issue, and I expect no third parties in the future. W-What if your feelings change?" Her tone was resolute, yet it felt like it was about to waver any second.

Everything was new to Lily. Love specifically was a mystery and now that it has come for her, it was always a constant worry.

"I swear to you; it won't. We can have a contract with my mana on the line. If I ever so break what I swore to you, it'll end me." Chen voiced deeply.

He thought about this for a while now, when she left him to go back. It's hard to admit it, but he was scared. If there's nothing to bind her and if she disappears again, he felt like he'll go crazy.

Years of longing and waiting was good enough. Besides, where else is he going to find a lovely person such as her ever in this lifetime? She did a lot for him and though she didn't need to know all the specifics, it was only right that she deserved the best.

"You don't have to do that," Lily murmured. "If you die, I won't be able to forgive myself."

"I won't because I won't break my promise to you." He gave her a light peck on the lips. "Then, will you?"

Hearing his resolution, Lily gave him a little nod,

As soon as Chen heard her reply, he instantly scooped her off her feet and swung her around a couple of times.

Then he grabbed the red rose from her hand, spreading the petals out, and there lied a small silver ring inside. A straightforward design overall, but upon inspection, the carving of the inside was laced with lilies and their names.

Lily's eyes quickly widened. "...Since when did you--!"

Chen kissed her forehead and put the ring on her finger. "A while now and now it's where it's supposed to be."

"..Are you sure you're okay with me?" Lily asked timidly. "I have nothing to give, I'm a crybaby, possessive, jealous, And because of you, I feel like I've become more stupid."

"Didn't I tell you?" Chen pulled her back into a hug. "I would be a fool to let go of you. Having you next to me is enough. You have given me everything."

Lily wrapped her arms around his waist and hid within his embrace. "...You're quite a clingy person too."

Chen chuckled, "Get used to it from now on, my dear wife."

"My dear 'future' husband, we are yet to be wedded. Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?"

"It will only be a matter of time left, my wife. You accepted my proposal already. There are no take-backs." Chen buried his face deeper into her hair on the top of her head and enveloped himself in her scent.

"But it wasn't a good one anyway!" Chen heard her protest.

"But you accepted it nonetheless! Here, I also bought some snacks earlier, let's quickly have it before it's soiled." He tried to pacify her.

Despite saying that, Lily was happy.

The proposal or the steps of getting there didn't matter. He was sincere and was willing to give his life for her and that was enough for Lily to be over the moon. From now on she wanted to be a better person and happy with him.

After their back and forth worth of flirting. The two embraced each other a little more by the coast and watched the sunset.

Afraid it would get cold soon, Chen dragged Lily home despite her protesting and whining.

That night, they laid in bed clinging to each other. Lily suddenly thought of something and lifted her head to see his sharp side profile.

"Say, we've been sharing the same bed for quite a while now..."

"..un?" Chen was already at the half-asleep mark.

"But...I am amazed you haven't become an animal yet. Are my charms not enticing enough?" Lily curiously jabbed.

Chen's eyes slowly lifted open and dangerously gazed at her. "Do you really want to ask that?" He warned her.

She sensed the peril in his words and quickly buried her face into his arms again. "No."

Chen chuckled before hugging her tightly and lowered to kiss the crown of her head. "It's been tough, but I won't do anything until our wedding night. How you feel and your well being is most important to me after all."

Lily replied with her arms gripping around his waist. "Mhm."

"Don't worry about senseless things right now and just rest and heal well." He patted her arm. "Good Night."

Once again with his routine, Chen would watch Lily fall asleep and made sure she was comfortable. He kissed her forehead where her petal marks were peaking through her hair then pulled up the blanket up to her neck.

With his eyes drooping heavy, he drifted to dreamland. All the worry and loneliness washed away instantly with his special one in safely his arms.