Page 267 of The White King's Favorite

“So it’s your first time here too?” she asked Ashen after a little while.

“Yes,” he nodded. “I just heard about this place so many times... especially when I was a child. I used to listen to the fishermen’s stories, but this was the one place they always talked about to woo the ladies. They said if a fisherman took a woman to this island, it was with the intent for her to become his wife.”

Cessilia’s heart skipped a beat. Was that why he had brought her here...? To reaffirm his feelings? They had spoken so many times about her becoming his Queen now, but hearing him say the word wife had a surprisingly different ring to it. She felt her cheeks get a bit warmer, and Ashen’s fingers tightened around hers. He suddenly stopped walking, and she heard him take a deep breath before he turned to face her, looking serious like never before.

“Cessilia... I know we agreed for you to become my Queen and everything, but... I also wanted to let you know, I won’t just treat you like my Queen. I want you to be my wife, my one and only wife. There won’t be any more talk about concubines, favorites, and mistresses. Never again, not in my Kingdom. I will abolish the rule about the King being allowed as many women as he wants. I don’t want you to be my favorite, I want you to be my one and only woman consort.”

This time, Cessilia was properly stunned. So this was what he had been thinking about all this time? She had come here as a candidate bride, but all that fighting between women had been a race to become the King’s Queen, while most weren’t interested in anything but the position itself... In the midst of this, Cessilia had come, with her unwavering feelings for Ashen, and claimed the King’s heart for herself anyway. He was right; she had never aimed to be the first, but the only one in his heart. She wouldn’t have tolerated any other woman in his bed, and she couldn’t be like Jisel, ready to close her eyes as long as she kept the position. Cessilia cared little about becoming Queen. What she truly wanted was to be this King’s wife... and she would have wanted Ashen, nobody but Ashen, even if he had been a fisherman, a soldier, or any common man. He was no prince when she had fallen for him, and she had never seen him any other way.

Right then and there, she could tell they were really just a man and woman, a couple like any other, on a pretty island, just the two of them. Ashen suddenly took a deep breath, and put a knee down in front of her.

“Ashen, what are you…?” she gasped.

“There’s an oath knights make to a lady or a master,” he said. “I want to make an oath to you, Cessilia… I promise, from this moment on, I will never look at another woman the way I look at you. I swear I will never make another woman more important than you are to me. I swear I will never take another woman into my bed, or to be mine. I only want you. I’ve always wanted you, just you. I’ll be the most satisfied of men if you’ll make me your man too. I would do anything, absolutely anything, to make you happy as my wife. I will never let you feel jealous again, if you’ll let me take your hand. If you’ll marry me.”

Cessilia had tears in her eyes, and that terrible urge to cry. She had always been his, but Ashen’s oath was beyond all she could have hoped for. She loved him so much at this moment, it almost hurt her poor heart. She couldn’t handle the turmoil of emotions. She was happy; undoubtedly, endlessly happy.

Before she could think of an answer, Ashen took out a little box. She had no idea he was carrying this on him, or even how he’d hidden it all this time. The box was about the size of her hand, very simple and wooden, but when he opened it, Cessilia’s jaw dropped. A marvelous piece of jewelry was beautifully displayed inside. It wasn’t a ring or a bracelet, but something combining both. She immediately recognized the peculiar and beautiful shine of nacre pearls, assembled in waves and lines, shining with the most beautiful colored shades under the sunlight.

“Ashen... that’s...”

Without saying a word, looking quite emotional himself, he helped her put it on. He first put the golden bracelet on her wrist, and pulled the complex tangle of nacre pearls to cover the back of her hand, before putting the other end of the jewelry, a golden ring, on her finger. It was a beautiful, delicate piece. Cessilia realized, through the unique shape, the nacre beads were actually sculpted and expertly interlaced to replicate the appearance of dragon scales. They undulated with every movement, and were tightly bound in little waves. The nacre pearls shone iridescent, reminiscent of the beautiful columns in the Cerulean Suite. The jewelry had been beautifully crafted, looking simple, feminine, and delicate on her hand, without being too much. The contrast of the iridescent white pearls against her bronze skin was making it all even more perfect. The gold ring and bracelet seemed to be only beautiful accessories to this uniquely crafted piece. Cessilia was genuinely speechless. This jewelry seemed to be perfect, and... made for her.

At a loss for words, she glanced at Ashen, who smiled.

“You like it?”

“I absolutely love it,” she muttered. “Ashen, it’s beautiful...”

“I heard you loved nacre the most,” he smiled, relieved, “so I asked them to focus on it more than the gold.”

“But when... Just how did you...?”

She couldn’t understand. Gold was incredibly rare and valuable in the Eastern Kingdom. One piece alone would be worth so much, and he had found enough to make both a ring and a bracelet. Not only that, but the nacre piece was clearly designed for her...

“The gold is actually... something I took with me, when I left the Empire,” he confessed. “It bothered me for a while. It was a simple gold bracelet your mother had given me. I think back then, she already knew it was worth a lot for an orphan of the Eastern Kingdom. I took it, but I could never sell it. A part of me felt like I didn’t deserve to use it. At the same time, I kept it as a memento, and just in case I would need it someday. When it became clear that you’d stay, I figured it would be a good way to give it back. So, when I heard your friend mention you loved nacre from the Cerulean Suite, I secretly asked the daughter of the Sehsan Tribe to help me with it.”

“Lady Bastat?”

He nodded.

“I asked her when we were busy with the flood, not knowing how long it would take, but to my surprise, it was finished quickly last night... I went to get it this morning, right before I joined you and Lady Kareen.”

Cessilia could barely believe her own ears. This had been in the making for so long already? She glanced at the piece of jewelry again, trying to repress her urge to cry. She absolutely loved it. It was unique, and looked both beautiful and strong, like her.

“Get up,” she muttered.

He obeyed, a bit surprised, and Cessilia immediately jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. Ashen chuckled, and hugged her back.

“I’m happy you like it.”

“Of course I like it... You had it made just for me. Thank you...”

She raised her head to kiss him, and they exchanged a long, deep kiss. Cessilia felt the salty taste of her tears in their kiss, once she couldn’t hold them back anymore. She had never realized it was possible to cry this much out of happiness. She felt like her emotions were physically overflowing, pouring everything into that kiss with Ashen. She had never felt so complete, so confident and happy. Whatever came their way, she knew she’d be able to face it with Ashen by her side. It didn’t matter how many injuries and scars the two of them carried, as long as they’d stick together. That was all she really needed.

After a little while, their lips parted, leaving Cessilia almost dizzy, her cheeks red and hot.

“So... that’s why you brought me here?” she asked, trying a bit shyly to change the topic.

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