Happily Ever After

Chapter 16

(Y/N) POV

I did my best to hold back my tears as I waved 'goodbye' to the love of my life. Sure, it was just temporary, two years to be exact, but every passing second apart from him felt like an eternity.

"I love you, (Y/N)! Goodbye, my love! I shall see you soon! Please do wait for my return!" Alois shouted as he stood on the deck of the ship headed to Paris.

A sad smile decorated my face. "I shall! I love you so much! Don't forget our promise! Have a safe journey!"

The ship sailed away, far, far away. I stood at the docks with my parents and the Trancy family as we watched Alois' departure. I tightly held onto my birthday gift from none other than Alois himself, while I recalled our memories together.

~•~

Earlier...

"I love you so much with all my heart and soul. I'm sorry, (Y/N), but you have to let go of me... at least for now."

My heart shattered into a million pieces upon hearing his words. Just when we were finally together. Just when I thought we were to have our happily ever after. Why? Just why?

"Why do you mean I have to let you go?" I asked.

"I must sail to France in three days time. Father and Mother wanted me to finish my studies in Paris. Also, they wanted me to supervise and deal with the business affairs of the Trancy household there. My parents wanted to see if I am fit to take over the family business before handing it over to me in due time." He gingerly stroked my hair as he spoke.

"Oh, I see."

"Are you mad?"

"No, not really." I looked up to him. "Especially now that I fully understand the circumstances. Thank you for explaining the whole situation."

"But...?"

"But I'm sad that you have to leave right away just three days after we learned about our true feelings for each other. I only wish to spend more time with the one I love." I nuzzled into his neck.

"I know, I was quite disappointed too. I ought to spend two years without my angel, and I have to leave you here with those pesky suitors who desire to take you away from me."

"Don't worry, no one will take me away. My heart has always belonged to you since the beginning." I planted a kiss on his neck.

"Ah, you're making my heart melt! Don't- don't do that! I'm the one who's supposed to make you blush, not the other way around!" Alois tried to hide his red, tomato face.

"But you look adorable when you're flustered." I looked up and started playing with his hair.

"Stop~! You're making it worse." I just couldn't help but tease him more. "Oh I just remembered something important! Can you please get off me for a while, (Y/N)?"

I got off Alois's lap, and we both sat down properly. I saw Alois pull out a small velvet box with a tiny silver bow on top from one of his pockets.

He got down on one knee and opened the box. 'Oh my goodness is he proposing to me?' I was expecting a ring, but instead I saw a silver necklace with a heart locket. "Milady, I present to you your birthday present."

"I love it! Thank you so much, Alois. I will treasure this until the day I die."

"I'm glad you liked it. I was planning to give you a ring. However, I thought that it was too early to ask for your hand in marriage and... I wasn't sure whether you liked me or not."

"I suppose so. After all, we're only sixteen years old. We are just mere teenagers."

"Would you like to take a better look at it?" Alois asked.

"Yes, please." Alois sat back down on the couch and handed me the necklace. I opened the heart-shaped locket and saw a photo of me and Alois at the beach.

"Do you remember that day on the sea side when we made a deal?"

"Yes, I do. We both agreed to help each other be the best we can be."

"I almost confessed to you that day. I was thinking out loud, not realising I was about to convey my feelings for you. Fortunately, you cut me off with a question before I could finish my sentence."

"So I was the one you liked?"

"Indeed."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier?! Oh my, if I only I had known!"

"Well can you blame me? I was afraid of ruining our friendship. What if you didn't like me?"

"Understandable. I also didn't want to ruin our friendship. So, I kept my feelings all to myself," I admitted. "Oh! Is that the same locket around your neck?" I asked.

"Oh, right! I bought us matching lockets, see? They both match... just like us." Alois showed me his necklace. Both necklaces were indeed identical to each other, and the pictures inside them match too.

"Could you help me put my necklace on, please?"

"Sure." I turned around with my back facing Alois. He took the necklace from my hand and put it on me.

"Thank you."

"(Y/N)..." Alois held my hand.

"Yes?"

"No matter where we go, no matter where we are, whether we are together or a thousand miles apart, these lockets will keep us near each other's hearts, no matter how near, no matter how far."

"No matter how near, no matter how far." I repeated his words.

"And when I come back after two years, I promise to sweep you off your feet and get down on one knee. You shall be my fiancée, and I shall be yours. Then, we can get married when we are both ready."

"Alright. I, (Y/N) (Y/L/N), promise to stay faithful and patiently wait for my beloved's return."

"And I, Alois Trancy, promise to stay faithful and ask for my beloved's hand in marriage on the day we are to be reunited."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

~•~

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