"I might get tortured later, but... will give me the honor of being your husband?"
Cosette's mind went blank the moment Maxen took out the small box, making her heart thump loudly in her ears. Everything he said after that sounded distant because all she could hear was her own heartbeat. But when that last question rolled out of his mouth, it brought her back from her trance.
Her eyes shook, gulping down the tension in her throat. Staring back at Maxen, an inexplicable amount of emotions swelled in her chest. It reminded her of something in her previous life.
These emotions in her heart were just as intense as those emotions in her previous life. The only difference was that Cosette felt like she was on cloud nine and not crumbling down. Thinking about it, a thick layer of tears coated her eyes.
"Huh?" Maxen panicked as soon as tears rolled down her cheek.
"What did you say?" he froze when her shaking voice caressed his ears.
"What?"
"Say it again," she requested, smiling through her tears. "I was so shocked that I was in a daze, so I didn't hear you clearly."
Cosette bit her lower lip to stop it from quivering. "Can you ask me again?"
Maxen assessed her face before his shoulders relaxed. He smiled, eyes full of affection with warmth embracing him.
"Cosette Blac, people might say it is too early for us to enter this phase. They might say we will meet a lot of people in the future, and we might end up regretting making this big step so early," he remarked under his breath. "But I know, deep in my heart, I will never love someone as much as I loved you. They might be right, though, but one thing is for sure, I will never regret you."
"That is why I am asking you, Cosette Blac." He cleared his throat as he repeated, "Will you marry me?"
Cosette pressed her lips into a thin line to stop herself from squealing. All she could do was rocked her head and force out a faint, "yes," without bawling her eyes.
"Yes, Maxen," she answered louder when she managed to contain her emotions. "I will marry you, Maxen Cloven. Any where, any time, and any day."
The side of Maxen's lips stretched from ear to ear, but his eyes also shone tears of joy. He nodded at her, standing up while taking out the ring from the box. Standing before her, he chuckled when Cosette offered her hand to him.
"I hope it fits," she humored, only to make him snap his eyes at her.
"It will," he answered with certainty. "Thanks to you who always sneaks in my room, I got the size of your ring."
Surprise appeared on her face before she broke out in laughter while he put the ring on her. As far as she could remember, it had been a while since she stopped sneaking inside his bedroom. After all, Maxen was getting too excited about a simple touch that she had to save "him" from her.
Meanwhile, the guests who watched this unfold were rendered speechless. The guests were a mix of family friends, business associates and affiliates, and Cosette's friends from school. Although in the life of the socialites, engagements and arranged marriages at an early age were common, this still surprised them. After all, Maxen and Cosette weren't tying the knot to strengthen family ties or connections.
It was all nothing but love.
Others were surprised because, for them, it was, indeed, too early. Maxen and Cosette just graduated from high school. It looked like a rash decision.
It was nothing but silence even when Maxen was already putting on the ring. But when finished, a clap resounded in the hall. Everyone instinctively searched the source of the continuous loud clap, only to see Luke clapping.
Luke was smiling from ear to ear, nodding at Cosette and Maxen as the two looked at him. Remo then followed, clapping his hand before Sarah, Amie, and Fay followed. The girls were even squealing, cheering the two congratulations. With their lead, the rest of the guests followed until the entire hall exploded with applause.
Cosette smiled from ear to ear, facing Maxen squarely. As she did, she instinctively glimpsed in her father and grandfather's direction. She flinched slightly, seeing the invisible fire enveloping the two while her grandmother sighed in distress.
"Maxen, should we elope?" she suggested, setting her eyes back on Maxen. "I think... they will literally set you on fire."
"I know. That's why I am keeping my eyes on you." He chuckled. "I understand where they were coming from. After all, you were their princess. They would give the world to you if you asked them to. I'm not on the same level yet, so I can't promise you the world for now."
"The least I can do is face their wrath," he added, taking her hand. His thumb caressed the ring that suit her perfectly. "If hurting me will quench their anger, then I'd take it. I know they still care for me and gave me everything they could, so asking your hand is a little ambitious and greedy. But I don't care. I'll prove to them that I, Maxen Cloven, can love you just as deeply and intensely as them. That I am also capable of protecting you and making you happy."
"So, don't worry about us." His smile stretched from ear to ear until his eyes were squinting. "I'll win their approval. Just give me time."
Cosette's eyes softened while listening to his remarks. She raised a hand, cupping his face, brushing his cheek with her thumb.
"You don't need to do anything to make me happy," she said quietly, smiling. "You... your existence and love already make me happy, Maxen. You have no idea how happy I am right now I feel like I can die."
The two of them smiled at each other before Cosette stood on her toes, tilting her head, and pressing her lips against his. Maxen's eyes dilated in surprise, knowing everyone was looking. However, the surprise was short-lived as he smiled against her lips.
Not caring who was looking, Maxen wrapped his arms around her waist and cupped her face. He deepened the kiss, trying to ignore the glaring daggers coming from Conrad and Marcel's direction.
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