Proposal

With a tender and gentle movement, Bai Ling reached out, his fingers softly cradling Olivia's delicate face, as if holding something infinitely precious. The room, though silent, seemed to pulse with unspoken words and emotions, creating an ambiance of anticipation.

"I don't fully comprehend the whims of fate, Olivia," Bai Ling confessed with a sincerity that mirrored in his dark, captivating eyes, "All I discern with unerring clarity is the longing in my heart. I desire you, not just for a fleeting moment, but for a lifetime. Would you consider becoming my woman…my wife?"

Olivia blinked, her heart pounding furiously, echoing the suddenness and gravity of his words. An unexpected warmth crept onto her cheeks, painting them with hues of surprise and confusion, "Bai Ling... Are you certain of your words? A proposal is not something to be taken lightly or spoken in haste."

His laughter, light and infectious, rippled through the room, easing the tension like a gentle breeze through willow leaves, "My Olivia, never have my thoughts been so crystal clear. From the moment we parted, the idea has been etched in my mind, persistent and unyielding."

"But my parents..." Olivia hesitated, her voice a soft murmur laden with uncertainty. "Especially my mother. They are overprotective, and they might not easily accept this. They don't know you and my mother is always wary of strangers."

Bai Ling's eyes twinkled with understanding, and perhaps, a shadow of amusement. "Every parent wishes for their child's happiness. But you don't have to worry about their approval. I have talked with the empress and she knows me for quite some time and will vouch for me to your parents and even bless our marriage."

"The empress has already agreed?" Olivia's brows raised but then she felt it made sense. Her parents had told her the empress was coming here to talk about her marriage.

Did this mean that Bai Ling had changed the empress' mind later or was she already planning to wed Bai Ling to her? Were they destined to be together before they even met?

"However, before approaching them, I wished to know your heart. Do you, Olivia, accept my proposal?" Bai Ling asked, distracting Olivia from her thoughts.

As Olivia drew breath to respond, Bai Ling, sensing her hesitation, interjected with a playful and confident grin. "You know, even if your lips utter a 'no', I would still whisk you away with me."

Olivia couldn't help but conceal a burgeoning smile behind a delicate hand, her cheeks glowing with a soft, enchanting blush. It was a proposal woven from the threads of dreams, and she felt like a maiden lost in a fairytale.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, she allowed her gaze to lock with his, a sparkling image of emotions reflected in their eyes. "There's no need for whisking away, Bai Ling," she murmured tenderly, her voice a gentle melody in the quiet room. "I will gladly be your wife. I couldn't possibly dream of a better turn of events."

As she spoke, a cascade of thoughts flowed through Olivia's mind, each word lifting a weight off her heart. The future, once a canvas of uncertainty and apprehension, now seemed painted with vibrant strokes of joy and contentment. No more did she have to worry about the man her parents might choose for her, or the life she'd lead, shackled to unknown expectations and commitments.

She sensed deep within, with a certainty as clear as the dawn, that life with Bai Ling would be a picture of happiness and love. There was a comfort in his presence, a promise of everlasting support and understanding that eased her spirit. With him, each day would be an adventure, each moment a treasure.

"Then it's settled. Tomorrow the empress will announce it," Bai Ling whispered, the joy in his eyes mirroring the elation swelling within Olivia's chest. 

******

In the grand, ornate hall filled with anticipation, Nadia and Yiman were seated with bated breath, the air heavy with expectancy. Above on a platform, the majestic figure of Empress Xinmei loomed, radiating an aura of unassailable authority, with Bai Ling seated opposite the royal couple, and Olivia nestled to the left of her mother.

Olivia wanted to steal glances at Bai Ling but she resisted the urge to not make her mother suspicious. She wanted her mother to hear it from the empress herself, though the excitement and nervousness she was feeling at this moment was new to her.

Amidst the hushed whispers and the subtle rustle of silk, Yiman leaned over to Nadia, his voice a soft whisper feathering through the tense atmosphere. "Mother intends to announce the suitor chosen for Olivia today."

Nadia offered a smile in response, her eyes a shimmering pool of emotions. But behind the graceful curve of her lips, her mind was a whirling dervish of thoughts. She couldn't help but muse over the sudden warmth in Yiman's voice when referring to the empress, a hint of endearment coloring his tone. Could it be that the chasm between mother and son had begun to narrow? Did they sort things out?

For a moment, she clenched her hands, wondering why they get to have it so easy. 

Without preamble, Xinmei's voice, cool and resolute, sliced through the silence like a finely honed blade. "I do not fancy dalliance nor the indulgence in pointless formalities. Let's cut to the chase." Her gaze, imperious and unyielding, swept over the assembled gathering. "I hereby announce the forthcoming union between Lord Bai Ling and Princess Olivia."

Nadia's eyes widened, the words landing like a thunderclap in the quietude of the hall.