“Lilianna… when you told me the truth, you gave me something I did not expect.”
She tilted her head. “And what was that?”
“Hope. And the very foolish belief that I might deserve you.”
She stepped closer. “Marcus, that is not foolish at all.”
“Well,” he said, voice dropping into something wickedly playful, “you would know. You are the authority on my better qualities.”
“Better?” Her eyes sparkled. “Are there many?”
“Thousands.”
She made a sound halfway between a laugh and a scoff. “Name three.”
His grin flashed, rare, boyish, devastating.
“One, I am extremely patient.”
“Questionable,” she countered.
“Two, I am handsome when I’m brooding.”
She lifted one brow. “Also questionable.”
“And three…” His hand slid to her waist, just enough pressure to make her breath catch. “I am an exceptional judge of women.”
“Oh?”
“Mmm.” His voice dropped like velvet. “I’ve chosen one who challenges me at every turn.”
“That is not a choice,” she said lightly. “That is punishment.”
“Then let me be punished for the rest of my life.”
The teasing fell away, leaving something sharper and true.
Marcus took both her hands, holding them between his, not tightly, but with reverence.
“Lilianna Ottilie von Morgenwald,” he murmured, “I love you. I love your courage. Your stubbornness. The way you meet shadows with music. The way you stitched yourself back together with nothing but will.”
Her throat tightened.
“And I would be honored,” he continued, voice thickening, “if you would consider staying at Wolfton. Permanently.”
Her eyes softened, though her wit remained intact.
“Are you asking me to be your governess forever?”
He huffed out a surprised laugh. “No. I’m asking you to be my wife.”
The world narrowed to the two of them, sunlight, breath, heartbeat.
Lilianna exhaled slowly, grounding herself.
“You should know,” she whispered, stepping into him, “that I am not always easy to live with.”
“Good,” he murmured. “Neither am I.”