Duke Wriothesley AU

part 3

"It is... alright." Wriothesley's voice is slightly softer now as he tries to reassure her. He still holds her chin in his hands, forcing their eyes to meet.

"It is fine... to cry in front of me." He pauses for a short while. "In fact, I am glad you are expressing your emotions in front of me. Perhaps it is a bit selfish of me... but it is more comforting for me to see you shed tears than for me to see you holding them in."

"I am really sorry" she cries,can't hold her tears any longer.

"Shh... it's alright..." Wriothesley cups her face as he lets his fingers gently stroke her cheek and her hair.

"You don't have to be... so apologetic. You are a human just like me. Showing your emotions... especially in front of me... is normal. Even if it is tears. I actually..."

Wriothesley then pauses, seemingly trying not to sound too intimate.

"I actually like the fact that I can see your emotions clearly."

she hug him.
Wriothesley is caught by complete surprise. His arms immediately wrap themselves around her, not letting go of her even as he feels her head resting on his chest.

It seems that he has been so accustomed to formal interactions with people... that he never expected her to actually embrace him.

"You... you really are a hopeless romantic, you know that?" Wriothesley says softly as he gently runs his fingers through her messy hair.
She continue cries in his embrace.
Wriothesley cannot help but be charmed by her. So he continues to embrace her, continuing to stroke her hair as he lets her cry in his chest.

Then, without warning, he speaks again.

"Don't misunderstand, though," he says, sounding calmer, yet more serious than before.

"Despite my words, I have not given up on trying to woo you into becoming my wife. I... have not given up at all..."

"You shouldn't give up"

She sobbing,hug him tighter. She don't know why she's acting like this? What's wrong with her? But deep inside her heart,she really want him to make her his wife. But again,her fear is the one and only problem in her heart.

Wriothesley continues to hold her close to him, letting her lay her head on his chest.

"I won't... I can't let you go." he says firmly, speaking with conviction.

He then pauses again, now seeming to ponder about something.

"But... can I ask you... something else?" he said, now being a bit more serious in his tone.

"yes—"

“...Do you... actually want to marry me? Truly? Deep in your heart, you do... correct?" It seems that he's looking for complete assurance, complete certainty.  
“Because if you... if you do…” he pauses for a moment.  
“…Then tell me,” he says softly.

"no.. no.. not yet your Grace,not yet" she shake her head,
"I fear and doubt myself,i'm afraid that i can't love you as much you love me—im afraid if i only make you suffer" she cries,try to keep her heart strong.

“I see…” Wriothesley then says, seeming to understand, even if it still hurts him to hear it. “Then… do you think that you… may love me one day? That one day… you’ll be able to love me unconditionally?”

"I can only hope,Your Grace. I can only hope"

Wriothesley’s expression softens once more, and he gently wipes her tears with his hands.

“Hope is… a good thing to have,” he says earnestly. “So, as long as there is hope, then I will wait. I… I will wait.”

He then pauses once again, now seeming to think deeply about his next words.

“But… what makes you doubt yourself?” he asks quietly, seeming genuinely curious.

"i'm not good enough,i—don't know"

“You… are being too rough on yourself.” Wriothesley says again, speaking in a gentle tone.

“It does not matter if you are ‘good enough’ or not. You are… well... good enough for me.“ Wriothesley then looks her in the eye.

“And… isn't it me who should be the one deciding whether you are a ‘good person’ for me or not? And... well... I have decided that you are... more than good enough.”

"Please... you do not need to self-doubt..." Wriothesley says softly, wiping her tears once more.

"And... you do not need to be afraid of hurting me; I am an adult who... can take care of his own feelings. And... I really do think... that I can bear any of your faults... and forgive it..."

He then pauses, seeming to think deeply about something.

"Just... promise me one thing, okay?"

"yes,what is it Your Grace?" She ask while still crying

"Promise me... to not hide anything from me. Everything... whether it is your feelings, your desires, or anything else. I might... I might get jealous. I might hurt more than I want. But... promise me that you will always tell me. And I promise to you..."

Wriothesley pauses abruptly, stopping halfway.

"That, no matter what you say..."

He gulps and continues again.

"I will never judge you for it..."

She kneel down to him,feeling really guilty about everything she just made.

Wriothesley cannot help but freeze upon seeing her kneel down before him. It’s as though he was so lost in his words that he had failed to notice it until now. Yet… to her guilt, he remains gentle as ever.

"No... no..." Wriothesley shakes his head, looking down at her as she looks up at him.

"Do not be afraid... or ashamed... to share... your thoughts with me. You are... more than enough..." he says, his tone more quiet and gentle than ever.