twenty five ༉‧₊˚.

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WAKING UP IN someone else's bed was a first for me, especially with the lack of clothing that was under the sheets. I looked to my left to find that Elias was not there to my displeasure. The bed was colder than it was last night, a lot colder than what it needed to be.

I sat up in the bed and saw Elias come out of the adjacent bathroom with only a towel on. His hair was still wet, but his natural waves were starting to dry up. His body, however, was something to stare at for hours. Abs, there were eight of them. I'm pretty sure his pecs were bigger than mine. Images of my hands all of his body flashed through my mind, causing my face to heat up.

He walked over towards me with that charming smile of his. "Morning, my princess," Elias said as he lightly kissed the top of my forehead. "How'd you sleep?"

"You lied to me. You said we were only sleeping," I teased while thinking about the 'fun' Elias and I had. Elias had to be perfect in every single way. How a man could be such a selfless lover. "Can I just stay here all day?"

Elias laughed, lying on the bed in front of me. "As much as I want to, it would be a waste of a surprise I have planned."

"Surprise?"

"Breakfast in the gardens. Now hurry and get ready," he said before disappearing into his walk-in wardrobe.

It was a beautiful day to spend outside. Winter had few sunny and bearable days like this. Elias walked me into the gardens where there was a blanket in the centre with a picnic basket and purple tulips sitting in a vase. I never knew Elias had it in him to be this romantic.

We walked to the checked picnic rug as he presented me with the flowers. He looked awfully nervous in doing so.

"You told Peter that my favourite flowers were purple tulips, didn't you," I asked, admiring the deep lush hues in the petals.

"You deserved to be treated like a princess," he said, looking into my eyes. He grabbed both of my hands, softly caressing my hand with his thumbs as he would do. "Our entire relationship has been based on the fact we were destined to marry when we were six. What I didn't know was that I was going to fall incredibly in love with you."

He bent down on one knee, "You deserve the world and a proper proposal." He pulled out a small box, opening to a beautiful ring attached to a necklace. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Only you."

I hadn't realised that a waterfall was coming out of my eyes. I stared down at the man that was willing to spend the rest of his life with me. I leaned down to place my lips on his. He stood back up and lifted me off my feet.

The feeling of cloud nine was unbelievable, like a euphoria of sorts. Being held so tightly like a secure package, feeling safe in the arms of Elias.

We finally let off each other and enjoyed the picnic Elias had organised.

Eating has gotten better now. I get the occasional migraines from not taking the pills anymore but without the feeling of my mother constantly condescending me, I started feeling happier about myself.

Elias fed me a strawberry. I giggled thinking back to how he fed me while I was in the hospital. "Our wedding is soon," I stated. "I listened to your mum. I'm getting a dress designed by her wedding dress designer. How is she by the way?"

Elias went silent for a moment, "She might pass any day at this point."

"Sorry for asking," I said, holding his hand. I too didn't want to think of the inevitable fate of losing a mother figure that was Elias' mother. She was a mum to all of us.

Alice had arrived at the palace after spending the previous day in Beijing with her father and his new girlfriend. I hugged her, wanting to tell her the details of all that happened in her absence.

"Nice place you got, Elias," she complimented before he took her bags and disappeared to put them into her room.

"Come, Mina and I were just hanging out in the entertainment room watching 'Bridgerton'," I told her as we walked towards the room where Mina was laying casually on the lounge chair.

We all made ourselves comfortable as we were half paying attention while trying to catch up with each other's lives.

"What number girlfriend/potential stepmother is this?"

"Twenty-fourth, I feel a twenty-fifth coming along soon," Alice said, stuffing a mouthful of popcorn in her mouth. "Anyways, I heard Mary is finally getting laid!"

"I definitely heard. I regret choosing a room so close to Elias," Mina said laughing at my embarrassment. "Do you love him?"

I was flustered knowing that they definitely knew what Elias had done the night of the auction. "I don't know, I can't seem to put it into words," I said as I thought about the way Elias had made me feel. Nothing like I had read in the books that told the love stories of people falling in love. It was different and unique. Something only I could experience.

"Oh, how we could all be in loving relationships," Alice sarcastically said.

Mina chuckled anxiously, "Well, I may have gotten back with my ex."

"Mina!"

"Which one?" I asked. Mina's plethora of men who have been by her side and broke her heart was a long, long list.

"Morgan," she uttered almost shamefully.

"As long as you're happy," I reassured Mina who grinned back. I didn't know a whole lot about Mina and Morgan's relationship but it shouldn't concern me.

I caught a glimpse of Alice who looked slightly uncomfortable in the chair she was sitting on. I thought back to the moment Elias and I had walked in on her and Morgan talking. You had to be an idiot if you didn't think something was going on with my friends.

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