Despite the expectant smile and calm demeanor, Leon's heart was actually beating fast in intense nervousness.
He was afraid that Eli would not like the idea of his surprise and would take it in the wrong way. He was also nervous because Eli might again feel weirded out by his advances.
Nevertheless he came prepared as much as he could.
Earlier this morning, while he and Queen Tehila were waiting for his Father Emperor, he asked his mom how to make a bouquet of flowers for Eli.
The two personally picked the flower ensemble in the garden.
Pure white oriental lilies and hydrangea were accented by crimson red carnations, symbolizing deep affection and love that is pure yet intense. Queen Tehila also handpicked some aralia leaves to further make the bouquet look natural and attractive.
He also asked his mother how he would approach her at this moment. It must not be calculated but it also not be that weak. He has to stay calm and true to his feelings.
With all this in mind and with him repeatedly asking Olivier if he was dressed fine and good, Leon bravely stood at the entrance while waiting for Eli's arrival.
Every second felt like years. His mind wanted to shout for Eli to arrive already, yet his heart would say no, thinking he is not ready yet.
He realized that even though he had already made something that was more intimate than this with Eli's body.. He couldn't help but look at her as another person.
Many times, he would struggle, especially whenever Eli would avoid his advances, that maybe Eli didn't like the fact that he had already slept with Elise before.
Thinking about it, he felt small.
He felt like he did not deserve Eli and had forsaken Elise. But, everytime he would interact with Eli, his heart would shout for yearning.
This yearning was much more stronger than his hesitations.
But still, that ghost in his mind would always linger, everytime he was alone and idly thinking.
The only thing that could be considered as his salvation, was to hear from Eli that..
She didn't mind.
That's all. She didn't mind...
Meanwhile, Eli was still in shock about what she saw.
It must be because of the dim golden yellow lights that made the simple cottage more romantic.
Or it must be Leon's manly outfit too.
It must be because he was holding a flower bouquet.
Or it must be because of his sweet sinful smile.
Eli's heart kept pounding louder and louder. With the wits she had, she was kind of expecting a form of surprise but not at this scale.
It was beyond her expectations!
As she stood blankly at the magical scene, Azayn's cheering voice kept repeating on her mind,
"Eli! I'm telling you, if you do not marry the Prince in this life, you will definitely regret it!"
"...his ways right now could be compared to the manliness of my sweet husband Koethlar!"
"You won't lose out if you marry that ice cube prince! He's rather not bad.."
"Do not let this big fish go!"
'This must be the thing she was pertaining to that made her react like this.' Eli thought in her mind.
However, she couldn't ignore the fact that he made this because he knew her so well. He knew that she was hesitant to leave because she holds the cottage dear.
How is that really not romantic?!
She had to admit to herself.
"Surprise…" Leon's magnetic voice woke her up from her inner struggle. Once again she was back in reality and had to face the urgent matter at hand.
Directly staring at Leon's smiling face, she couldn't help choke up in tears, thinking that he did it all for her.
How could she not be moved!
This guy had almost made himself broke, just to increase his time to visit her and attend to her needs. He spent all the mana stones he had on his treasury to fuel the teleportation arrays and go to her.
This guy had been patient in pursuing her, even during the time that she had cruelly rejected his aggressive advances. Instead of being discouraged, he listened to her requests.
This guy, although he was a prince who could order her around, respected her opinion and wishes, even threaded the hard route of courtship for a chance to marry her.
This guy, although a dignified member of the Imperial Family, slept on the floor, acted like her personal cleaner and nurse during the days she was weak.
This guy, although noble and strong, used his arms to clumsily clean Little Han and carry him gently, without being impatient at all.
How could she not be moved!
"I-i hope you don't mind.." Seeing Eli's eyes reddening in tears, Leon's nerve rose up and immediately tried to console Eli in a flustered manner.
"No.. I like it.. I like it so much that I want to cry.." Eli sniffed while looking up in the sky to try to stop her tears from falling. Her hands were occupied with Little Han so she couldn't hide her teary face.
"Thank you Leon.." She said with a slightly quivering voice.
"There there…" Leon slowly patted Eli's shaking shoulders with a helpless smile. He had wanted to see Eli moved, but he didn't like to see her cry.
"You hold this bouquet, I'll hold Little Han.."
He said in a voice as sweet as a honey nectar.
Olivier couldn't help but hold his breath. That was the prince, talking in a gentle manner. He still couldn't be used to seeing him like this.
He had always seen the Prince cold and fierce, bathing in blood in the battlefield. But now, where could he be? Is he hiding in his pocket? or in his boots?
The onlookers couldn't help but be moved by the sweet scene. They were basically the old couples, Grandma Brygid and Grandpa Andi, Grandma Myrna and Grandpa Ben.
"Let's go, they have been waiting for a while." Leon smiled and led Eli to the gazebo, where everyone was waiting.
The two, while walking, seemed like a newly wedded couple out for their honeymoon. The scene was even sweeter because of Little Han, who was carried not by his Mommy but his Prince Daddy.
"You two look good! I wonder, when do you like to commit yourselves to marriage~~~" Granma Myrna couldn't help but tease the youngsters, who had now been blushing and acting shy with each other.
"Sister Myrna, look at them, they looked so much like me and Andi when we were newlyweds!"
Grandma Brygid had her cheeks puffed up with a teasing smile as she looked at Eli and Leon meaningfully.
"Aiyoo, do not tease the youngsters too much.. Or else, we would soon have to welcome another great grandson or daughter!" Grandpa Ben joined the fun.
"Oh!! A great granddaughter would be nice!" Grandpa Andi, looked at Leon with expectant eyes and mouthed,
"Keep working hard! Be fast!"
Hearing this, Eli and Leon, who were already hot in shame, could only smile awkwardly due to intense embarrassment.
Why are they already talking about marriage and child number two?
After having their fill in teasing the two, everyone settled down and sat at the table to share a warm and happy dinner.
Having already monopolized and interviewed Eli earlier, it was now Leon's turn to be on the hot seat with the two grandmas.
"Eherm, Third Prince, what do you like most about our young Eli?"
"When do you plan on properly proposing to her?"
"You're not going to ditch her for a concubine are you?"
"How many children do you want to have with her?"
Eli, although still embarrassed with the situation, couldn't help but be entertained with Leon's flustered expression.
It was seldom to see this cold expressionless prince to have a trace of panic in his face.
The two didn't know how they survived with all the teasing and matchmaking of the elders.
Soon, they all retired to their respective rooms while Leon and Eli worked together to clean up the place along with Olivier, Baobao and Wisey.
It was already a normal thing for the both of them, especially to Leon. This simple living with Eli and Little Han was more than he could wish for. He didn't mind doing these menial things for them at all.
Finally retiring to bed, Leon set his makeshift bed on the floor with great familiarity.
Eli couldn't help but frown because of the conscience tugging her heart strings.
Noticing her reaction, Leon paused and asked in worry, "What's wrong?"
"I feel like I have been mistreating you all this while." Eli said straightforwardly with obvious guilt in her face.
"You've only been so good to me yet I couldn't do something for you in return.." She continued.
"Look, I couldn't even offer you a good place to sleep.." She guiltily looked at Leon who was kneeling on the floor from smoothing the cushioned blankets.
"You know very well that I am not doing this to wait for your compensation.." Leon softly replied as he tenderly looked at Eli and Little Han.
"But even if you gave your heart to me right now, I know that I won't sleep on that bed for a little while~"
Leon squinted his eyes with a foxy look as if teasing Eli. It must be because of the atmosphere this evening, but Leon suddenly had the courage to say this things.
"Ahh!!! Did you learn it from the elders? Now you know how to tease me!" Eli was so embarrassed that she took Little Han's spare swaddle blanket and threw it at Leon's seductively beautiful face.
"Hahaha.. I just don't want to see you that guilty and gloomy.." Leon chuckled without a care, looking at the blushing Eli in front of him.
"But really, did you truly like my present?" He asked once more with uncertainty.
"Uhn.. I could even admit that I am quite moved." Eli answered straightforwardly seeing Leon's lack of sense of security.
She added softly, "I didn't know you could be romantic."
His eyes then changed into a glowing, sincere and tender look, "Then, I'll keep working hard..."
