“Je, Jade. That’s……”

“Last time, I was in such a hurry that I couldn’t prepare anything. This time, I wanted to say it properly with everything ready.”

Jade touched my left hand and spoke in a low voice.

“I wanted to do it earlier, but it took a bit longer to make this ring.”

So, the reason he postponed the proposal all this time was because of this diamond ring?

‘Without knowing that… I’ve been anxiously wondering why Jade wasn’t proposing.’

Even at a glance, the quality of the diamond ring was top-notch. Its brilliantly sparkling light was as beautiful as if it had absorbed the sunlight.

It was both amusing that I had worried needlessly and touching that he wanted to do it properly.

“Today is Blanche’s birthday.”

“…Yes.”

“I wasn’t there when Blanche was born, or for her birthdays before. That’s why I wanted to say it today. From now on, I’ll always be by your side.”

Knowing Jade’s usual personality, I was even more moved. He usually couldn’t say such embarrassing things.

I really wished Jade had been there the day Blanche was born.

Every day when the child babbled, took her first steps, and ran to hug me, I thought how nice it would be if he were beside me too.

I had imagined him celebrating Blanche’s birthday together.

I had thought it would remain just an imagination, a dream that would never be realized, but now his promise to always be by my side felt reassuring.

Before I knew it, tears had welled up, blurring my vision, and Jade wiped them away, clearing my sight.

“Why are you crying?”

“I’m not crying. Something just got in my eye……”

My voice barely came out, choked with emotion.

“I didn’t know then. In my own way, I thought I had chosen my words carefully when I asked you to marry me, so I couldn’t understand why you refused.”

“……Jade.”

“But now I know. How you perceived my words. How much it hurt you when I said I wanted to marry you for Blanche’s sake.”

I barely held back, biting my lip to keep from crying unsightly.

‘You said it was a lie. That you made up the excuse about Blanche because you were afraid I’d refuse.’

We really misunderstood each other a lot. I was disappointed, thinking Jade had proposed just to avoid trouble and inconvenience, without even loving me.

“It’s not because I have to, not for anyone else. I just want to marry you.”

“……Yes.”

“I know your feelings aren’t the same as mine.”

……Wait, what does that mean?

Does he think that I don’t love him when he says our feelings aren’t the same?

“Larien. To me, you’re the person who lifted me up when I fell, in place of my parents, and showed me that it’s okay to live on steadfastly. You also gave birth to the child I must protect for life.”

I barely managed to gather my scattered thoughts, confused.

Then Jade carefully slipped the diamond ring onto the ring finger of my left hand.

“Will you… marry me?”

By not refusing and wearing the diamond ring, I had already given my consent.

Nevertheless, he waited for me to answer aloud.

‘I want to let you know that I love you too.’

As I was at a loss for how to clear up his misunderstanding, Blanche came running from afar.

“Riiiiiiirin!”

Ririn and Baroness Lehr appeared at the entrance of the garden. Blanche and Ririn hugged each other tightly, not letting go.

“Baroness Lehr. You’ve come.”

“……Ah. Thank you for inviting us, Diane. Um, Blanche. Happy birthday.”

Baroness Lehr was still pale, watching me nervously.

I took Baroness Lehr’s hand and smiled.

“I’m the one who should be grateful you came. Blanche is so happy to see Ririn after so long. She was so excited last night she couldn’t sleep, knowing she’d see Ririn.”

“Ah, yes, Ririn was… the same.”

“When the children are so happy, we should meet more often too.”

I deliberately didn’t mention anything about the past. Baroness Lehr’s expression brightened at the suggestion to meet again, and she nodded.

“Ah, I’m late with my greetings. It’s an honor to meet you, Marquis Rowe. Ririn, you should greet the Marquis too.”

“Hello, Marquis Rowe!”

Baroness Lehr bowed her head to Jade, who was beside me.

Jade’s face was stiff, as if he thought he had been interrupted, and I lightly pinched his waist.

Whispering with my lips that we’d talk again later.

“It’s nice to meet you. Baroness Lehr, Young Lady Lehr.”

Only then did Jade return Baroness Lehr’s greeting, lifting the corners of his mouth.

It was awkward as anyone could see it was a forced expression, but just then Blanche pointed to the pony.

“Ririn, I got a pony as a gift and I want to introduce you to it!”

“That’s so cool! Who gave it to you?”

Ririn asked excitedly while petting the pony.

“Um… well, ah. The Marquis here gave it to me!”

Blanche called Jade ‘the Marquis’, looking cautious at Ririn’s question.

‘……If I marry Jade, it wouldn’t be strange for Blanche to call him dad.’

My heart ached at the sight of her hesitating for a moment, about to call him ‘dad’.

“The Marquis really cares for Blanche. Ah, look. Countess Terua and Viscount Casen have arrived too.”

Baroness Lehr informed us, looking at the two carriages that had stopped in front of the main gate.

“Ah, you’re right. Shall we go inside?”

But Jade, who didn’t go in with us, headed towards the stable, leading the pony.

I kept looking back, still concerned about his retreating figure.

I exchanged greetings with Countess Terua and Viscount Casen and took a seat. Everyone was tense at the news that Serendio was coming.

However, even after a long time, Serendio didn’t arrive. I was worried that something might have happened, but with other children present, we couldn’t wait any longer, so we brought out the cake.

The children were delighted to see the three-tiered macaron cake, and Blanche in particular looked ready to devour it immediately, so I barely managed to stop her.

“Blanche, make a wish!”

Ririn stopped Blanche as she was about to blow out the candles.

“Oh right, I almost forgot to make a wish.”

Blanche put her hands together cutely and closed her eyes tightly.

“I wonder what she’s wishing for.”

“With such earnestness, even Stella wouldn’t be able to resist granting it.”

Everyone laughed, finding it adorable as Blanche made her wish for quite a long time.

After that, we shared the cake, and Blanche took the children outside again, saying she wanted to show them the pony once more.

“Blanche has become much more lively since we last saw her. I was really worried after that day……”

Countess Terua smiled, saying Blanche’s personality had changed a lot.

‘She still has nightmares sometimes at night, and cries if I’m not there when she wakes up, but……’

Still, it’s something that she’s not completely trapped in that day anymore.

“Wait a moment. Diane. That on your left hand……”

At that moment, Viscount Casen suddenly grabbed my hand and widened his eyes.

“Oh my, you’re right. Isn’t that a ring from the line that’s only been revealed but not yet released by Oscalts? How did you get it?”

Countess Terua also stared at the diamond ring in amazement.

‘I knew it looked expensive at a glance, but… just how much did he spend?’

I trembled at Viscount Casen’s murmur that it could buy several townhouses in the capital.

“Diane, are you getting married? With whom?”

“When did you get the proposal? I’m so envious… I received the one my mother-in-law used to wear.”

Everyone’s eyes filled with expectation, and they giggled like young girls.

‘They’re not people I should carelessly tell….’

After a moment of hesitation, I opened my mouth.

“Marquis Rowe……”

“Oh my!”

Viscount Casen blushed and moved closer to me.

“Then you’re becoming the lady of the Rowe house? Diane, let’s become closer friends. Please take good care of our Diel.”

“No, Diane. How about Ashert? Not because he’s my son, but Ashert−”

Not to be outdone, Countess Terua also drew close.

“My, how sad for those without sons.”

Thanks to Baroness Lehr pretending to cry, we all burst into laughter.

After the birthday party ended, I was gently patting Blanche’s stomach as she slept soundly.

Tap tap.

‘Is it Jade?’

Hearing a sound from the balcony, I went out to find that it was indeed Jade.

“Jade, have you been drinking?”

A sweet scent wafted from him, as if he had been drinking.

“A little.”

Jade shook his head, as if to say not much.

‘I should give the answer I couldn’t earlier.’

I took a deep breath and pressed my hand against my trembling heart.

“Jade, we might not be able to hold the ceremony right away because of the Emperor, but… let’s get married. We could even just make a small vow between ourselves, you know.”

“……Larien? Really?”

Jade blinked his eyes and asked several times.

“And who said they weren’t the same?”

I wrapped my hands around his neck, stood on my tiptoes, and whispered.

“I love you too.”

We had been longing for each other yet also resenting, and had been lukewarm for so long due to misunderstandings.

Nevertheless, after going through the process of missing each other several times, we were finally able to reveal the feelings we had hidden.