Chapter 429 The Question in the Sky
The lights outside Enoch's birthday venue became hundreds of glowing balloons.
They rose above the gardens carrying flowers and ribbons, gathering into words large enough to be seen across the estate.
MARRY ME, ZARA.
The guests erupted in surprise.
Zara stared at the sky.
Her heart beat faster.
That was unusual.
She had survived battles, crossed worlds, recovered the power of the stars, and faced creatures capable of destroying cities.
None of those things had made her feel quite like this.
Enoch tilted his head. "Do you like it?"
Zara lowered her gaze to the music box.
"How much did this cost?"
Enoch was silent for a moment.
"Probably not much. Lucian is very rich."
Zara looked deeply moved.
"You don't understand. We're getting married. His money is basically my money. That means he spent my money on this."
Enoch decided not to respond.
The crowd parted.
Lucian walked toward her in a white suit.
For once, he was not wearing the cold expression of a corporate executive or the ceremonial authority of the Holy Sovereign.
He looked relaxed.
Almost nervous.
Zara immediately became suspicious.
[He must have spent an outrageous amount.]
Lucian's mouth tightened.
He could still hear her thoughts.
Neither of them knew why.
The completed power had returned to Zara, yet the connection remained.
Lucian had decided it was best not to mention that detail while proposing.
He stopped before her and lowered himself onto one knee.
The box in his hand contained a deep blue sapphire surrounded by small diamonds.
Zara's eyes widened.
The ring was enormous.
Lucian took her hand.
"I know you already agreed to marry me."
"Then why are you asking again?"
"Because the first time, I convinced you by discussing inheritance law."
"That was a strong argument."
"It wasn't a proposal."
He looked into her eyes.
Zara was not wearing sunglasses.
She had stopped using them after recovering her power, partly because she believed Lucian could no longer hear her thoughts.
He could hear every chaotic word.
[I like the ring.]
[But this really must have cost a fortune.]
[Why does he look this good in white?]
Lucian nearly smiled.
He continued, "When I lost my memories, I believed you were my enemy. Even then, I couldn't bring myself to hurt you."
Zara shifted uncomfortably.
"When I recovered them, the first thing I understood was that you had trusted me with your life."
"I was temporarily out of my mind."
"You have been temporarily out of your mind since the day we met."
"Are you proposing or insulting me?"
"Both."
The guests laughed softly, though most could not hear their quiet conversation.
Lucian's expression grew serious.
"You gave me a choice when you transferred your power. I could keep everything and let you disappear, or I could return it."
"That wasn't much of a choice."
"It was. Power has changed better people than me."
"But you gave it back."
"I didn't want a world without you in it."
Zara stopped moving.
The words were too direct.
She had always preferred arguing, joking, and blaming everything on money.
Lucian gave her nowhere to hide.
"I don't know whether you understand love the way humans do," he said. "Maybe you never will."
"That sounds rude."
"But I know you came back for me when you had every reason to let me die."
Zara looked down at him.
She remembered the coldness of his body in her arms.
She remembered giving him everything without knowing whether he would return it.
She remembered falling, and the feeling of his hand closing around hers.
Her voice was quieter when she answered.
"I didn't want you to die."
Lucian smiled.
"That's enough."
He raised the ring.
"Zara, will you marry me on Earth? Legally this time, with an actual marriage license, so you can stop worrying about whether you'll inherit my property?"
She answered immediately.
"Yes."
Laughter spread through the crowd.
Lucian slid the ring onto her finger.
Zara admired it under the lights.
"It really is beautiful."
"Can I kiss you?"
"No."
Lucian's smile froze.
Zara continued examining the ring. "We're in public."
"We're getting married."
"That doesn't mean people need to watch."
Lucian rose to his feet.
"You accepted the ring."
"Yes."
"And the proposal."
"Yes."
"But not a kiss."
"Correct."
Lucian looked at Enoch.
Enoch looked away, pretending not to be involved.
Then Zara caught Lucian's sleeve.
She pulled him closer and kissed his cheek.
It was brief and awkward.
The entire crowd cheered anyway.
Lucian turned toward her.
Zara's face remained calm, but her thoughts had become a complete mess.
[Why is everyone shouting?]
[That was just a cheek.]
[His face is warm.]
[Did I do that wrong?]
Lucian decided to show mercy.
He did not tell her what he heard.
Later that night, they stood alone beneath the remaining lights.
Zara asked, "Did you really mean what you said about not wanting a world without me?"
"Yes."
"Even though I tried to inherit your money before killing you?"
"That remains a serious character flaw."
"I saved you afterward."
"You also asked me to sign the papers before saving me."
"Details."
Lucian took her hand.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Are you marrying me only for the inheritance?"
Zara considered the question.
"No."
He waited.
She added, "The inheritance is still important."
"Of course."
"But it isn't the only reason."
Lucian looked satisfied.
For Zara, that admission was nearly a declaration of eternal love.