Chapter 14: The First Ring

We ended up buying the ring even tho Mother already acquired a pair of it for our nuptials. I bought the ring for him as an advance wedding gift from me but, he hesitated first. Instead, he bought a ring too that matches my gift. So now, we both have our couple rings.

King Levin took me home and, he immediately bid goodbye because he had to do something for his duty. I went straight to my chamber and jumped horizontally on the bed.

I opened my hand and stare at the ring, already worn on my finger.

Just now, I thought of my treatment of him was getting better, unlike the day when we first met, I was rude to him.

That day, I also thought I was too young to marry, and it was made even more difficult by the fact that I would marry a King. When it comes to arranged marriages, the prince and princess can usually marry. After Mother said that he wanted to marry me, I also knew in myself that I still had time to think if I would agree or not. But King Levin volunteered to come here, and on the first day, he demonstrated his trust in us, regardless of what had happened between our nations previously.

There is no need to dither for.

"It looks like you have an engagement ring now, Your Highness." I bit my lip to prevent showing the tremble of joy.

"Having romantical excitement?" she said.

"Eliz, stop teasing me." she giggles.

"You don't seem to think of Prince Ephraim anymore." I looked at Eliz and, suddenly, I thought of Prince Ephraim and started to wonder because I have forgotten him and how I felt about him.

"I think you just felt crush on him, Your Highness."

"I think so?" I shrugged.

"It's good to see you and King Levin getting along already even though you only known each other for just two days." she said then, sat down to fold my clothes.

"For me, that's a good start for the unity of Starnstadt and Mondreich. Well, he is kind and a well-mannered King. He's not an abusive type of leader to his power. I can do this with him." I smiled.

"That's a fighting spirit." Mother suddenly spoke from the door.

"Oh, Good Morning, Mother."

"Good Morning, Your Majesty." Eliz stood up and dropped a curtsy.

"How's your day with him? Did you enjoy?" she came in and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Of course, Mother. It looks like King Levin is the one who accompanied me." we laughed.

"As far as I can see, Levin isn't a shy type person. He can actually live independentl-" Mother abruptly stopped in the middle of her speech.

"Mother?" her head was bowed down, seemed to be stunned.

"Mother, what's wrong?"

"Oh my goodness!" she quickly took my hand with her eyes widened.

"Is this an engagement ring?!" I nod as I shyly smiled.

"King Levin has one too."

"Really?! That was so sweet!" Mother cheered as I heard Eliz gasped.

"Your Highness!"

"Hm?"

"Didn't King Levin already gave you an engagement ring on the first day he came here?" I stared at Eliz and so did she with our eyes prudently open as Mother shifted her head between the two of us.

"What do you mean?" Mother asked. Eliz and I immediately stood up and looked for the ring around here in my chamber.

"Where is the ring!" I shouted while throwing my things.

"Y-your Highness, the vase! The ring was on the bouquet of flowers! I recalled that I put the flowers in the vase!"

"Then where is the vase?!"

"You mean this?" We both look at Mother who was pointing at the vase on the bedside table. We quickly approached it and searched in every petal.

"Noooo! It's not here!" I exclaimed.

"You're mistaken, Your Highness. I can see something is shining at the bottom!" she said and removed all the flowers from the vase.

She took the vase to the lavatory as I followed her and splashed the water inside of it on the floor.

A shiny object rolls over the floor and without further ado, it stopped on the tip of my shoe.

I picked it up and hugs it to my chest, feeling relieved.

"I thought I've lost it!" I said.

"Oh, is that the ring he gave to you after you ran from him?" Mother asked. I felt guilty for what I have done for running away from him on the day he proposed to me.

"Yes, Mother." she removed the ring from my finger then lifts it with the first ring.

"Isn't it a bit weird having two engagement rings?" she said while carefully observing and comparing the rings.

"Perhaps, His Majesty may have forgotten about the first ring." Eliz said.

"Do you think so?" I asked.

"How can he easily forgot about this? He's too young to be absent-minded." Mother said as she gave back the rings.

"Mother, he is a king. Of course there are things he would forgot due to his busy schedules for his duties." I defended.

"Hmm... if that's what you think. Okay then, I shall go back to my office. I have some tasks to do now." she kisses my forehead as she exited my chamber.

"Oh my, where did I put my fan?" I heard her say when she left.

"Says the one who is also an absent-minded." Eliz and I laughed.

"Oceana Fleur Saoirse Hansen, I heard that!" she suddenly voiced out.

"Apologies, Mother!" we quietly giggled.

I sat on my dressing table as I opened my jewelry box. I put the two rings inside without closing it, thinking about what should I wear between these two today.

Maybe both?

Or maybe...

"Should I tell him first?" I asked Eliz without looking at her.

"I think it is the best, Your Highness."

I know that King Levin gave these rings to me by his own purpose but, I just don't want to appreciate him by luxury.

I once again grab the rings and put them on my palm, eyes still glued to them.

A sudden echo of a voice in my mind lingers of his words earlier.

"A ring will not satisfy me to make you mine. But this." I whispered to myself.

I hug the rings with my eyes closed.

An image of him appeared, smiling brightly at me.