"Ahahaha! Why didn't I think of it!" Upon hearing Leon's move, High Priest Enoch could not help but let out a hearty laugh releasing all the tension he was feeling towards the suspicious movement of the Main Temple.
"B-but… what if the altar did not light up on time?" Emperor Valentin asked worriedly, no one could control when will the heavens permit a marriage.
Besides, he could not afford to have Leon go missing for a long time at this crucial time. There are only less than two months for them to prepare the Empire.
"Young Valentin, the Heaven is not blind. He will not neglect your Empire nor ignore the plea of the righteous. If we run out of time, we can always use the very fact that he subjected himself to the sacrifice to light up the Altar. Even the Main Temple has no right to stop someone from doing so. Only the person who sacrificed would have the decision to continue or stop what he was doing."
High Priest Enoc stood up and put a hand on Leon's shoulders. "Young one, let us not waste time. Plead to the heavens with all you have. Do not let others take away what was gifted to you."
"Father… I entrust to you the rest. I'll be going with the High Priest." Leon bowed towards his father with a pleading expression before he exited the room with High Priest Enoch.
Emperor Valentin could only sigh and pray that their plans would work.
Up until then, he must deal with the things that would happen due to Leon's abrupt exit.
He had no choice but to delegate his assignments to Kazimir and Antoine.
The two both choked on their own drink upon hearing that their younger brother had not only become lovesick, he even went as far as to make a sacrifice to light up the Altar of Matrimony!
Eli on the other hand was kept blind to the real reason for Leon's disappearance. The only thing she knew was that Leon was suddenly sent to a top-secret mission without a definitive time of return.
She initially wanted to send him off, but because it was so sudden, she could only pray for his safety and accept the news.
While they were on the way to the Temple, High Priest Enoch could not help but comment, "I can't help but ask for an apology that you have to go through this in order for Young Eli and you to become a family…"
Leon shook his head and smiled lightly. There was a trace of tender affection in his seemingly expressionless face as he replied,
"Your Eminence, actually I have already planned to do this right after the major events in the Empire."
"Eli deserves the best and this is the best way for me to show to her and the whole world how much I want her to be my lifetime companion."
"My plan had just pushed forward, but nevertheless I would never think of sacrificing my efforts and time to light up the altar as a troublesome task."
There was a flash of approving gaze in High Priest Enoch's eyes, "If that is so, then I think it must be the heavens who was telling you that this is the path to take."
Days passed by just like that and Eli had already accepted that Leon would not be around on the day of her Mother Queen's birthday.
However, before she could even start dressing for the banquet, she received a call from Queen Tehila, asking her to come to the palace immediately.
Upon coming to Queen Tehila's palace, Eli was immediately 'kidnapped' by Queen Tehila's servants and they started to work on dressing and preparing her for the banquet.
"What is going on…" Eli could not help but ask in confusion.
However, the maids only replied, "My Lady, Her Highness, the Second Queen ordered for us to dress you for the banquet. She also told us to escort you to the Imperial Lounge while waiting for your escort to enter the banquet halls. Other than that, we do not know the details."
Eli was still confused about what was happening but she only knew one thing, Queen Tehila has something stored for her.
Although she did not show it outwardly, she started to anticipate that it was Leon who would appear out of nowhere to escort her to the banquet hall. For she had been missing him since he suddenly disappeared for the mission.
And so the desire of her heart was quickly satisfied when she saw Leon knocking at the door of the Imperial lounge, wearing a handsome prince suit that was made to match her dress.
"Leon!" She did not mind running while wearing a lavish dress with pointed heel sandals. She immediately stood up from the couch and rushed toward Leon to give her a hug. "Goodness! Where have you been? Are you alright? No injuries?"
She started to ask him a lot of questions which made Leon a little helpless.
After a while he allowed her to calm down while he briefly explained the reason why he suddenly disappeared, "Something extremely important came up and so I have to immediately do my best to fulfill it as soon as possible."
Eli still did not understand as she tried to guess what was that "extremely important thing" that Leon had to do for him to leave her and Little Han just like that. She doesn't want to acknowledge what she was feeling, however, there was a tiny bit of jealousy in her heart.
"Anyways you'll know about it later on. We are quite late so we have to hurry and enter the banquet." Leon did not miss that trace of jealousy in her eyes but he did not tease her.
Instead, he was feeling satisfied that Eli was now able to show adorable emotions such as this towards him.
"Oh yes, I bet the banquet already started! Would Her Highness not take offense to our late attendance?" Eli was reminded of the current situation by Leon's words.
"Do not worry, they will be waiting for us patiently with a smile." Leon stretched out his hands for Eli to take then they proceeded to the banquet hall.
It was as Leon said, they stepped down into the entrance, and she heard Emperor Valentin's enthusiastic voice:
"Before we officially start the banquet, let me announce another joyous event to celebrate for the night!"
"It is my pleasure and my great joy to announce to everyone in this banquet hall, that my youngest son, Leon Andrae de Seirende, Third Prince of the Empire, is now engaged to the Youngest Lady of the Farauld and Forgeworn Family, the Great Inventor, Lady Eli!"
"... what?" Eli looked at Leon in surprise as looked at Leon who was looking back at her with an assuring smile.
"It was the extremely important thing that I mentioned earlier." He took her hand and kissed it sweetly, looking in her eyes with a loving gaze.
"I will explain to you the details earlier, but to sum it up, my plans for our engagement have been moved forward. I know it may have been too sudden, but would you like to give your consent to walk down with me and accept our engagement?"
"This is too sudden…" Eli could not help but sigh helplessly, she did not really mentally prepare for this thing to happen.
However, she did not delay a second and replied, "But I will not hesitate to take your hand. Leon, from the moment I told you I love you, I meant it for my lifetime."
For Eli, there is no reason for her to decline Leon's proposal because she had long decided to take the risk and love him hard until the end of this lifetime!
Eli held his hand and gave a nod, together they finally stepped into the light and met Emperor Valentin and Queen Tehila's ecstatic gazes.
The rest of the Imperial family was also there looking at them with a genuine smile, there was also her Forgeworn and Farauld family. Even Alicia and Anderson were there to cheer her up.
However, becoming the center of the situation again, Eli could not help but feel like she was walking in clouds. She felt like she would fall down any time and so, she tightened her hold on Leon's hand until they reached their spot.
Emperor Valentin, Queen Tehila, and the rest of the Imperial Family met them first to extend their greetings and well wishes.
After that she only heard Emperor Valentin saying;
"Tomorrow, the Third Prince and Lady Eli will be having their engagement ceremony hosted by the High Priest himself. I hope that everyone will also be there to witness the betrothal of the two, to become blessed by the heavens!"
Eli's heart skipped a beat.
'To have an engagement in the Temple means…' She inwardly exclaimed and looked at Leon with a surprised look in her eyes.
Leon only smiled and gazed at her meaningfully.
Eli's entire body froze in realization…
'Oh, my heavens! He lit up the altar of matrimony!'
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