Chapter 33

This is the second post of the day.

"Edith"

While Edith was preparing Lionel's medicine, Lionel gently embraced her from behind.

"Ah, Lord Lionel...!?"

Startled by the sudden warm embrace, Edith turned around to find Lionel looking at her with a smile so beautiful it took her breath away. Edith's cheeks instantly turned bright red.

Although Edith still prepared Lionel's medicine every day, Lionel had recovered to the point where he could almost live a life as he did before. He had regained his radiant beauty and now resembled a prince who had stepped out of a storybook. His affection for Edith seemed to deepen with each passing day, and Edith herself was bewildered by the overwhelming warmth of his love.

Lionel's sapphire-like, clear blue-purple eyes, peeking through his jet-black, lustrous bangs, shifted to Edith's hands, and he smiled softly.

"Hey, Edith. I love watching you brew and mix my medicine. Your serious eyes convey your wish for my recovery. And... "

Lionel narrowed his eyes as if admiring something beautiful.

"When you make medicine, I sometimes see a faint light dancing around your hands. ...It might just be an illusion caused by the glass containers reflecting the light, but it's so beautiful and ethereal. It's as if you're casting a spell on the medicine..."

"Oh, really? ...Hehe. I hadn't noticed, but that's how it looks to you, Lord Lionel?"

"Yes. And at the same time, I feel a warm power. You might be a magical being who came to save me. ...My dearest Edith, more beloved than anyone else."

Lionel then lightly kissed Edith's hair, released his arms from around her, and smiled gently.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you while you're making my medicine. ...Would you mind giving me a little of your time? Are you almost done with this medicine?"

"Yes, just one more stir and it will be ready. ...There, that's it."

Stopping her work on the medicine, Edith looked up at Lionel, who took her left hand and touched her slender ring finger.

"I want you to accept this."

Seeing what Lionel had gently placed on her left ring finger, Edith's lilac eyes widened in surprise.

"This is...!"

On Edith's ring finger was a ring with a large, sparkling diamond set in a finely carved gold band. As Edith gazed at the beautiful diamond, which she had never seen before and which sparkled brilliantly, Lionel smiled.

"I would be happy if you like it. This has been passed down through the generations of the Granville Marquess family, and it was my mother's legacy. I had it resized to fit your finger. ...Thanks to your support, my body has recovered to the point where I can live almost like a normal person. Before, even getting into a wheelchair was a struggle, and lying down was painful. Now, I can stand and walk on my own, without a wheelchair. It's hard to believe such a miracle has happened to me."

Lionel gently stroked Edith's hair and gazed deeply into her eyes.

"The one who gave me the breath of life and restarted my time was you, Edith. ...Now that I've recovered, I finally feel ready to tell you this. Will you marry me?"

"Lord Lionel. ...Yes, I would be delighted!"

With tears welling in her eyes, Edith nodded vigorously, smiled, and threw herself into Lionel's arms. Lionel held her tightly, and Edith, feeling the warmth and strength of his embrace and the presence of the ring on her left ring finger, felt a growing sense of joy at the realization that she would marry Lionel.

Although the days she spent as Lionel's fiancée had gradually become longer, the word "marriage," which promised a lifetime together, carried a different weight.

"Thinking that I will always be by Lord Lionel's side... makes me very happy."

"Yes. From now on, I want you to be my wife and the future Marchioness of Granville, supporting this household. But even if you just stay the way you are, it would be enough for me. ...I know you've been working hard. I've heard from Arch and Craig."

Edith's cheeks flushed slightly at Lionel's words. With Lionel's health largely restored and no longer needing her constant presence, Edith had used her free time to learn the manners and knowledge required of a noblewoman from Eugenie and Arch. From table manners and curtsies to the academic subjects and foreign languages taught in schools for noble daughters, Edith had gradually begun to acquire these skills.

Lionel looked at Edith with a bright smile.

"I hear that Arch, insisting on being your teacher, initially puffed out his cheeks at Eugenie."

"Hehe, Arch is a proper little lady. Arch taught me the basics of table manners. As for the academic subjects, I learned from Eugenie. Both of them are enthusiastic and kind, making them ideal teachers for me."

Edith and Eugenie had become close friends over time. Eugenie often visited the Granville Marquess household, not just to spend time with Craig but also to be with Edith. When Edith and Eugenie chatted or studied together, Arch would sometimes appear, looking enviously at them.

"I see. ...According to Craig, Eugenie is amazed at how quickly you learn. He says you are undoubtedly a talented woman."

"No, that's because Eugenie is such a good teacher. She always helps me wholeheartedly, and I am very grateful."

"That's great, Edith. I think it's because of your character that you have gained more supporters. I'm happy about that."

Seeing Lionel's gentle smile, Edith felt pleased. She was genuinely happy that Lionel was gradually accepting Eugenie's presence and that Arch was opening up to her more. The conversations between Lionel and Craig had also increased since Edith came to the Granville Marquess household, and their expressions had become brighter.

As if sensing Edith's thoughts, Lionel smiled.

"It feels as if a warm light has shone upon the Granville Marquess household. All of this is because you came here. My gratitude to you cannot be expressed in mere words..."

Lionel released his embrace and gently lifted Edith's chin. His passionate, beautifully shining blue-purple eyes met Edith's directly.

"I love you from the bottom of my heart, Edith."

Lionel's soft lips gently touched Edith's. Edith felt her heart leap as if it would stop, and she quietly leaned into Lionel.

When Lionel finally pulled away, Edith's cheeks flushed as she clung to his chest. Lionel chuckled at her appearance.

"You are truly adorable. I promise to make you happy for the rest of my life."

Edith, her face still flushed, looked up at Lionel shyly.

"I promise to support you for the rest of my life. I love you, Lord Lionel."

Lionel embraced Edith lovingly once more.

"Let's start thinking about the date of our wedding soon. ...Just imagining you in your wedding dress makes my heart race."

"Hehe. I'm sure you will look beautiful in your tuxedo too, Lord Lionel."

The diamond on Edith's left ring finger sparkled brilliantly, as if blessing the two of them with its dazzling light.