GTMDWH | Chapter 84

~Chapter 84~

Johann had been super busy the last few days.

He had to deal with the assassination guild that sent a killer after Leah, and he’d also gone to the ducal estate for some official business.

He sat in a chair in his study and opened a small velvet box he’d brought back from the estate.

Inside was a ring—beautifully crafted and set with a sparkling diamond.

It was the engagement ring passed down through generations in the Blumhardt family.

Isabella, his mother, had told him:

“If you’re going to get engaged, you might as well do it properly and bring the family ring from the estate.”

His mother had received that same ring when she got engaged to his father.

Johann placed the heavy, elegant ring in his palm.

“…Hmm.”

What should I say when I propose?

He ran his fingers through his hair and walked to the window.

At this time of day, the two people he loved most were usually in the garden.

Just as he thought, Leah and Raphaella were there, playing in one corner.

I don’t want to say I’m proposing just to protect you from the empress.

He didn’t want to make Leah feel scared.

But being honest about his feelings wasn’t exactly easy either.

I want to approach Leah slowly, while helping her let go of any lingering resentment.
Maybe I’ll use Raphaella as an excuse.

“…Hmm.”

He sighed lightly, arms crossed.

It was hard to ask anyone for advice on how to propose.

Samuel might know everything about kids, but when it comes to relationships?

He probably knew even less than Johann.

Maybe I should’ve made some real friends when I had the chance.

But from childhood, people only approached him hoping to benefit from his family.

So in the end, he had to figure it out on his own.

“Samuel, after lunch, asks Leah to come to the glass greenhouse.”

He took a deep breath.

“Yes, sir.”

Samuel gave a quick glance at the ring in Johann’s hand before leaving.

—

Later…

“Lady Leah, His Grace asked if you could come to the glass greenhouse after lunch.”

“Just me?”

Leah’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes, just you,” Samuel replied with a knowing smile.

“…Okay.” Leah nodded, still puzzled.

What could this be about? Why just me?

If Raphaella were with her, she wouldn’t be so conscious of him.

Unconsciously, she touched her lips, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Is he going to bring up the fireworks again?

Probably not.

Maybe it’s about Raphaella?

But if it was, he could’ve just called her to his study or the parlor.

…Could it be about what Raphaella said yesterday?

He said he wanted to live with me too…
But why say that in the greenhouse?

“…Ugh, I don’t know.”

She shook her head and muttered.

There was no point guessing—she wouldn’t know anything until she went.

For now, she should focus on having lunch with Raphaella.

—

Meanwhile, Johann finished his lunch and changed into one of his cleanest and most formal outfits.

With Samuel’s help, he made sure every detail was perfect.

He looked into the mirror.

“…Hmm.”

His neatly slicked-back hair bothered him.

Using his fingers, he gently tousled it, letting some strands fall naturally.

The softer look helped ease his normally sharp features.

“Much better.”

He remembered how Leah reacted when he wore his hair down at the cabin.

She seemed to like this look better.

Maybe it would help him when he talked about the engagement.

“Samuel, what do you think?”

“Your Grace, even as a fellow man, I’d say you’re looking very handsome.”

“Don’t care about men. As long as Leah thinks I look okay, that’s enough.”

Johann raised an eyebrow and walked toward the door.

“Still, I don’t think Lady Leah can resist falling for you now.”

“…It’s just flattery, but not the worst thing to hear.”

He didn’t expect Leah to suddenly fall for him.

He just hoped she’d feel a little less resentment when she saw the effort he put in.

“Your Grace, how are you planning to bring up the engagement?” Samuel asked as he opened the door.

“…I think if I confess my feelings now, she’ll just feel pressured. So I’ll ask if she’d be willing to get engaged for Raphaella’s sake.”

He stepped outside.

“No need to follow. I’ll go alone.”

“Yes, sir.”

Johann walked down the central staircase.

As he got closer to the greenhouse, his heart started racing.

He placed a hand over his chest.

His palms were sweaty, and he felt both excited and nervous.

I’ve felt this before… When was it?

He stopped walking for a moment.

“…Ugh.”

Like always, when memories returned, a sharp headache hit him.

He pressed his hand to the wall, the other to his temple.

At age 20—his proposal at the cabin—memories of it surged like crashing waves.

—

“You’re going to propose?”

Alma looked at him in shock.

“Yeah. So I need your help.”

“How are you planning to do it?” Raoul asked.

“Well, uh…”

Looking back now, it felt a bit childish.

But back then, he thought it would make Leah the happiest.

Three days after explaining the plan to Alma and Raoul, the proposal day came.

Following his instructions, Alma and Raoul brought Leah to their house in the morning.

Meanwhile, he worked hard on preparing a flower path for her.

Everything was ready.

When he gave the signal, Alma brought Leah outside.

From Leah’s house, she could see Alma’s yard.

So he could watch her from a distance.

“Huh? Alma, your front yard has a flower path!”

Seeing the flower path he made, Leah gasped in awe.

“Leah, that path’s for you. Go on—walk down it.”

Alma gave her a gentle push.

“For me?”

Leah looked confused but stepped onto the path.

The closer she got, the faster his heart raced.

His mouth was dry, and his sweaty hands clutched a bouquet tightly.

“Hardt! So this is where you were all morning!”

Leah looked surprised when she spotted him at the cabin.

Thump thump thump.

His heartbeat quickened.

“You made this flower path?”

“Yeah. I made it for you.”

He walked up to her nervously, holding out a bouquet of white lilies—her favorite.

He had learned how to make it from a local lady in the village.

“For me? …Thank you.”

Leah’s eyes went wide like a startled bunny as she took the flowers.

Her cheeks turned a soft pink.

“…Leah.”

He called her name, steadying his voice.

“Yeah?”

She hugged the flowers and looked at him.

“I love you. So much.”

His cheeks were red as he spoke.

“I want to spend my whole life with you.”

He got down on one knee and held out a wooden ring he made himself (with Raoul’s help).

His hands were full of little cuts.

“Leah, will you marry me?”

His voice trembled.

“…What?”

Leah gasped and covered her mouth.

Tears welled up in her wide eyes.

“I don’t have much, but I promise I’ll make you the happiest person in the world.”

Hart waited for her answer.

“…Hardt, I want to be with you forever too!”

Leah smiled with tearful eyes.

He slipped the wooden ring onto her left ring finger.

It fit perfectly.

Beaming, Hardt picked her up and spun her around.

“Kyaa!”

Leah squealed in surprise, both of them laughing.

Not just Alma and Raoul—villagers who heard the news came to celebrate too.

—

“…”

An overwhelming memory at the worst possible time.

Johann covered his mouth with his hand and leaned against the wall.

His red eyes were heavy with sorrow.

So that’s how I proposed to her…
He had promised to stay with her forever… and then left her behind.

He bit his lip so hard it bled.

He collapsed, shaking silently as tears ran down his face.

His trembling hand barely covered his tear-streaked expression.

I ruined her happiness.

He regretted not figuring out why he had wandered the Loremm Mountains before returning to the duchy.

If he had, she wouldn’t have had to learn about her missing husband through a newspaper.

…I can’t face Leah like this.

He had to pull himself together.

She was probably waiting for him now.

With a long, deep breath, he tried to suppress the guilt and grief choking him.

Then, stumbling, he pushed himself to his feet.

He went into an empty room, washed his face, straightened his clothes, and finally headed to the greenhouse.

Hoping—praying—that he wouldn’t fall apart in front of Leah.