Lady to Queen

The answer came swiftly. Happiness instantly washed over him. A smile that he wouldn’t have been able to hide bloomed across Rothesay’s face as Petronilla quickly walked over to him and accepted the bouquet of roses. She took the ring from the top of the bouquet and slipped it onto her left ring finger with a joyful expression, before hugging him with her free arm. Petronilla’s voice was laced with sheer happiness as it rang through Rothesay’s ears.

”There will never be something as important and blessed in my life as meeting someone like you.”

Oh, God. This was truly the happiest moment of Rothesay’s life. His eyes stung with unshed tears.

”Thank you for saying that to a man like me, Nil,” he said in a rough voice.

”You don’t have to be so humble and modest. Because you’re the greatest man in this Empire, no, in this world. I love you, Ro. Thank you so much for proposing.”

Petronilla confessed these words with tears streaming down her face. Rothesay returned her love with a face mixed with smiles and tears.

”Thank you for accepting, and I love you more, Nil,” Rothesay confessed ardently as he looked at her with a gentle expression. He never wanted to lose something like this. Seeing the love in his eyes, Petornilla, of course, was beyond happy, and she giggled before leaning in first and kissing Rothesay.

And of course, Rothesay didn’t avoid it. He readily accepted and returned the kiss.

The sound of bells and the flapping of pigeons rang through his ears. In this moment, he believed that no one else in the world was any happier than him.

The news of Rothesay’s successful proposal spread across the entire kingdom through the grapevine, along with the fact that they would spend their married lives at the Grochester estate.

One sunny day, Petronilla and Rothesay were spending time together at the Bradington estate’s terrace, when Petronilla turned to Rothesay with a question. ”When we get married, your parents will lose their only son. Are you really fine with that?”

However, Rothesay replied effortlessly. ”They are the ones who told me to live outside when they heard the proposal was a success. Their honeymoon phase is still going strong, to the point that if they were just a few years younger, I might have gotten a little sibling.”

”Goodness.” Petronilla giggled. The Bradingtons’ marital life has long since been notorious throughout the kingdom. ”But still… is it really alright?” she asked again.

”I’m fine with it. Are you not, Nil?”

”It doesn’t matter to me either way. Soon, your parents will become mine as well.”

”I’m the same way. That’s why…”

Rothesay leaned down towards Petronilla, planting a chaste kiss on her forehead with a smile. Petronilla closed her eyes with a small hum as Rothesay slowly pulled away.

He was happy.

”Enough with that. Why don’t we just think about our wedding tomorrow.”

After Petronilla accepted Rothesay’s proposal, they decided to get married three months later. Though the people around them said that it was much too early, it didn’t matter to Rothesay and Petronilla. They wanted to get married as soon as possible and start living and loving under the same roof.

”Ro, Nil. I’m sorry for interrupting you.”

It was then that a tender voice called out to them. It was Countess Bradington, the woman who would become Petronilla’s mother-in-law starting from tomorrow. With a benevolent smile, she walked towards the couple.

”Wilter’s come to visit, Ro.”

Wilter, that guy. He’s seriously got awful timing… Scrunching his face up, Rothesay looked at Petronilla. It was clear that he didn’t want to leave.

Petronilla gave him a smile. ”Hurry and go, Ro.”

”Are you leaving, Nil?”

”No. I’m not going anywhere,” Petronilla said, still beaming. ”I will always be by your side.”

*

”You have awful timing.”

Those words came tumbling out of Rothesay as soon as he stepped into the living room, and Wilter bristled.

”Cheeky bastard, you’re really going to treat your best man like that?!”

”But still, you should have some sense! I was having a wonderful time up until now,” Rothesay complained.

”Traitor. So once you’re married, you’re never going to meet up with me again?”

”Are you jealous? Gross.”

”Whatever. I quit. I might as well find my own significant other.”

”Please do. And stop bothering me,” Rothesay said teasingly before getting down to business.

”So. Why are you here?”

”Ah, I have something to give you.”

Having said that, Wilter took something out and handed it to Rothesay, and Rothesay accepted it with a suspicious expression.