NOVEL NEXT Chapter 171: Proposal
Veyra was shy.
Of course she was.
This was the first time she had ever wanted to take something truly serious with someone — very serious.
For all her life, she had been a fierce warrior of the Furious five. Men had courted her, tried to win her favor with bravado, gifts, or flowery words.
Yet none of them mattered to her well unless they were younger men but even then...
There were plenty of men in Winter.
Strong ones.
Handsome ones.
Rich ones.
But she had only ever felt this strange pull toward him.
Azel.
It had started as simple attraction — the kind a warrior feels when meeting another warrior of strength.
But somewhere along the line, it had changed. It was no longer just admiration.
She didn't know what this feeling was… she had asked one of the shipmen that came with Azel and they said it was love, so it all added up.
Yes, she had been jealous when she heard Edna was pregnant with his child.
She was only human.
But she also understood — what other choice did he have? Edna was his wife. Veyra… Veyra was only something like a close friend.
A good friend, at best.
And yet here she was, heart pounding like a girl about to confess for the first time.
"Do I look good?" she asked.
Her voice came out softer than she intended.
She smoothed her hands down her dress, this was a dress Julius had helped her pick out, one far different from her usual rough, practical warrior clothing.
She never wore things like this. But today she wanted to.
For him.
"You look civil," Azel said simply, his tone calm. "I like it."
Her heart throbbed at those words. She felt heat rise to her face, and she quickly averted her gaze.
"I wore it just for you…" she muttered, almost embarrassed by her own honesty.
Then, mustering a smile, she added, "Shall we forget about what happened before we entered the forest?"
Azel's brow arched slightly.
'Forget about the fact you stole a kiss and threatened to kidnap me?' He scoffed inwardly.
That was hard to forget.
But he could tell what she really wanted.
And truthfully, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Not only was Veyra a good person deep down, but she was also a powerful ally. He knew her strength, her loyalty.
And it was better if she became his wife than for her to be left drifting, hanging around other men.
Azel never thought he'd end up with multiple wives when he first came here, but choices had narrowed as fate bound them together.
"Did you know that Winter women are attracted to Winter men by the amount of strength they have?" she asked suddenly, her eyes flicking toward him.
Azel shook his head. "No."
Veyra took that as permission to continue.
"It's in our instincts," she explained softly. "We're naturally drawn to men who are strong. They don't necessarily have to be stronger than us… but they have to be strong."
"Is that wh—"
"At first, yes," she cut him off, nodding firmly before her shoulders slumped. "That's how it started."
Then, to Azel's surprise, she began twiddling her thumbs.
Veyra.
Twiddling her thumbs like a nervous girl.
He blinked.
He never thought he'd see the day.
"But that was why I left for a while," she continued, her voice fragile. "I don't know exactly what love is. I've fought, I've killed, I've led hunters. But love? I don't understand it. And yet… I'm envious of the relationship you and Lady Edna have."
She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with nervous weight.
"I'm not going to force you," she said finally. "It's obvious you're way out of my league. But please… consider."
Her hands balled into fists on her lap, then she forced them open again.
"Will you marry me, my prince?"
Azel blinked.
This was the first time he had seen so many things from her that he never expected.
Her voice was not commanding and she was asking.
It was seriousand nervous.
She wasn't joking.
She wasn't trying to tease him or drag him into something he didn't want.
She was truly asking.
And she had even used the word "prince." He hadn't expected her to say it.
Azel slowly sat back up, regarding her carefully.
"You can take as much time as you need to answer," she rushed on, her voice growing quicker, betraying her nerves. "I don't really mind… well, maybe I do mind, but I'm the one proposing to you, so…"
She was fumbling and she didn't know if Azel would like it.
Azel reached out.
He suddenly lifted her chin with gentle fingers, making her meet his gaze.
Her eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed scarlet, her lips parted ever so slightly in surprise.
For once, the mighty warrior looked delicate.
And she was cute.
"I'll accept," Azel said at last, his tone firm and calm. "I hope you treat me well."
Veyra's eyes widened further. She barely had time to register his words before his lips touched hers.
Her breath caught.
Her entire body froze, then melted.
Something hot ran down her spine, and her knees went weak.
This kiss — it was nothing like the one she had stolen before.
That one had been brash, forceful and desperate.
This one… this one was gentle.
Was it emotion? Was it sincerity? Whatever it was, it was sweeter.
So much sweeter.
One of his arms looped around her waist, pulling her closer.
She trembled in his hold, her warrior's strength suddenly useless against the tidal wave of feeling sweeping through her.
Her lips pressed back against his, shyly at first, then with more confidence as the warmth spread through her chest.
For a moment, nothing else existed.
And then...
"Uhmmm… Master, am I interrupting something?"
The voice cut through the quiet like a blade.
Veyra froze, her lips still hovering against his.
Azel's eyes twitched open, and he turned his head just enough to see Feng standing awkwardly in the doorway.
The young man held a tray of food, his bandaged forehead wrinkled in confusion.
His face was blank, seemingly oblivious to what he had just walked in on.
Veyra jerked back, her face burning red. Her hands flew to her lap as though she had been caught stealing.
Azel pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.
'Of course.'