An Early Engagement - Chapter 27
“Where is this? Was there a place like this near the villa?”
No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t recall anything like this. It was as if the path had appeared by magic, and Shirley gazed at it in awe.
“I’ve been planting and tending to these roses since last year.”
“Tending to them?”
“Yeah, there was some good land near the Lafez villa, so…”
“Then this place is…”
Shirley’s eyes widened as she looked around.
“You bought this place?”
“I wanted to give it to you as a gift.”
“……”
“Your birthday is coming up soon.”
“Ah.”
“And… to commemorate our wedding.”
At those words, Shirley flinched. She remembered her mother, the Duchess of Lafez, suggesting they hold the wedding this year.
“Even after we’re married, we’ll still come to this villa often, but I thought it would be nice to have another space. I was thinking of calling this place ‘Shirley’s Garden.’”
At that, Shirley’s cheeks turned the color of the roses.
“…I like it.”
She busily tried to suppress the corners of her mouth from curling up too much.
She didn’t want to show how much she loved it. Melting over a gift like this might make her seem materialistic or too easy to please.
But Damian’s gifts always managed to satisfy her.
It was as if Damian had stepped into Shirley’s mind, picked out exactly what she would love, and then stepped back out to give it to her.
Shirley stared intently at the roses. Then, she noticed that the petals were curled in a unique shape.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
“Actually, the real gift is something else.”
“What is it?”
Damian pointed toward the blooming pink roses.
“Do you know the name of that rose variety?”
“How would I know?”
“It’s called ‘Shirley.’”
“……”
“It’s the same color as you.”
Damian took a step closer. Shirley’s face turned even redder than the roses as she looked away. For some reason, her throat felt dry, and her chest tingled.
“Be careful, there are thorns.”
Before Shirley could touch the rose hedge, Damian pulled her into his arms.
The intense scent of roses filled the air, making Shirley feel dizzy for a moment.
……?
Suddenly, she felt like she had smelled that rose fragrance somewhere before. It was strangely familiar.
Before she could figure out where, Damian kissed her.
“Mmm…”
His hands, cautious but firm, wrapped around her neck and pulled her closer. His tongue gently brushed against her lips, then slipped inside.
*Peck, peck.*
The kisses were teasing, like a bird pecking at something. A little more, a little more.
The dizzying scent of roses grew stronger. Without realizing it, Shirley parted her lips and wrapped her arms around Damian’s neck, clinging to him.
She didn’t know if she was drunk on the roses or on Damian’s lips, but she wanted to savor this moment to the fullest.
“Huu…”
Her breath quickened, but as Damian pulled away, it soon calmed. Feeling a pang of regret, Shirley unconsciously licked her lips.
“……”
What was that just now?
It was different from any kiss she had shared with Damian before.
“You’re blushing, Shirley.”
At the touch of his hand caressing her cheek, Shirley quickly turned her head away.
“It’s… it’s just hot. That’s why… why did you suddenly…”
“Sorry, Shirley. You’re just too beautiful.”
“Isn’t it late? Aren’t we going to the festival?”
“Of course we are.”
Damian answered with a lazy smile. Shirley walked past him, her steps clumsy, as if she were malfunctioning.
***
The village, now alive with the festival, was as beautiful as a world from a fairy tale.
Shirley clung tightly to Damian’s hand, hiding behind him as she carefully took each step. Despite everything, she was still a well-bred young lady, and coming to a place like this was a grand adventure in itself.
It wasn’t like this was her first time in such a place, but strangely, Damian seemed relaxed and at ease.
He held Shirley’s tightly clenched hand and led her around the bustling festival streets, showing her everything.
They ate sweets covered in cream and sugar, sipped wine freshly poured from a barrel, and watched performances by a band.
“What’s going on over there?”
Curiosity sparked in Shirley as she saw a crowd gathered around something, and she tugged on Damian’s arm.
There was a stall where a glassblower was making various decorations on the spot.
On display were large and small glass ornaments, as well as necklaces and rings made by threading tiny glass decorations onto strings.
“Look at this, it’s so cute.”
What caught Shirley’s eye was a glass ring with a rabbit-shaped decoration on it.
Damian picked it up and slipped it onto the fourth finger of Shirley’s left hand. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made for her, and Shirley’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“It’s just like you, Shirley.”
Damian grinned and, without giving her a chance to protest, paid the stall owner for the ring.
Shirley looked at the ring on her finger, delighted but also a little worried, puffing out her cheeks.
“But it looks like it could break so easily…”
“Then I’ll just buy you another one.”
Damian said it as if it were no big deal.
“It reminds me of our engagement ring.”
The ring they had exchanged along with their engagement vows, which would also serve as their wedding ring in the future.
