Chapter 227: v2- - 46: the emperor’s decision V

The aide disappeared around the corner.

For a moment, Marian simply stood there, still holding Adrian’s hand.

The reality of what had just happened was only beginning to settle.

The court would know.

The capital would know by morning.

She was going to marry the Emperor.

Marian looked at him, almost dazed.

"So we’re going back?"

Adrian’s mouth curved.

"Not to the ballroom."

She blinked.

"No?"

His gaze lingered on her.

"I’ve been away from you for eight days."

He paused.

"In fact, more than that."

Marian’s cheeks warmed immediately.

She knew exactly what he meant.

"Adrian..."

There was quiet amusement in his eyes.

Before she could say anything else, he bent and swept her into his arms.

Marian gave a startled gasp.

"Adrian!"

He carried her down the passage as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking you home."

She glanced toward the servants farther down the corridor.

"Put me down."

"No."

"People can see you."

"Let them."

Marian couldn’t help laughing.

"You’re impossible."

"So I’ve been told."

She shook her head, but the protest had already lost its strength.

After eight days of deliberately keeping her distance from him, being carried away in his arms felt almost absurdly sweet.

She slipped one arm around his neck.

Adrian looked down at her.

"You were going to dance with another man."

Marian’s eyes widened.

"I was dancing."

"I noticed."

She bit back a smile.

"You stopped the music."

"I did."

"You frightened everyone."

"I wasn’t concerned about everyone."

That made her blush again.

Adrian carried her the rest of the way to the waiting imperial carriage.

The coachman immediately stepped down and opened the door.

Only then did Adrian lower her carefully inside.

He didn’t release her immediately.

For a moment, his hands remained around her.

Their eyes met.

"Home," he said quietly.

Marian smiled.

"Home."

Adrian climbed into the carriage beside her.

The door closed, and the carriage began to move through the darkened capital.

--

For a while, Marian simply sat beside him, their hands intertwined.

She couldn’t stop smiling.

Every few moments, she found herself looking at him again, as though she still needed to make certain that what had happened was real.

Eventually, she turned toward him.

"When did you decide?"

Adrian glanced at her.

"Decide what?"

Marian’s cheeks warmed.

"You know."

"I don’t."

She gave him an incredulous look.

"Adrian."

He waited.

"To marry me."

A faint amusement appeared in his eyes.

"I don’t know exactly when."

"That isn’t an answer."

"The decision was made some time ago."

Marian studied his face.

"Then what made you decide?"

Adrian was quiet for a moment.

"Perhaps when I realized you could walk away from my life again."

The words carried a weight that made her expression soften.

Marian lowered her gaze.

"I won’t."

"I know."

She looked at him again.

There was no accusation in his voice.

Only certainty.

She squeezed his hand.

For a little while, neither of them spoke.

The carriage rolled onward, the quiet rhythm of the wheels filling the space between them.

Then Marian’s curiosity returned.

"Then why me?"

Adrian raised a brow.

"Why you?"

"You’re the Emperor."

She hesitated.

"You have so many choices."

He said nothing.

Marian looked toward the window.

"I thought you preferred Lady Rosemont."

Adrian turned his gaze fully toward her.

"Do you honestly think so?"

"Perhaps."

There was just enough pout in her voice to betray her jealousy.

The corner of his mouth lifted.

He didn’t answer.

Marian waited.

He continued looking at her.

She narrowed her eyes.

"Fine. Next question."

"You have more?"

"Several."

"I see."

She tried to look serious.

"What did you see in me?"

"What do you think?"

"I don’t know."

She considered it.

"Perhaps you only wanted me because of my appearance."

His eyes moved over her face.

Marian’s confidence faltered slightly.

"Or perhaps..."

She hesitated, then gave him a small, challenging look.

"You only wanted me for my body."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

"Well, that certainly helped."

"Adrian!"

She lightly tapped his arm.

His smile deepened.

"You’re terrible."

"And yet you’re marrying me."

Marian tried not to smile.

She failed.

The amusement between them gradually faded into something softer.

She looked down at their joined hands.

Then back at him.

There was one question she had been circling around all evening.

"Do you love me?"

Adrian looked at her.

This time, there was no teasing in his expression.

"Yes."

Marian’s cheeks warmed.

She looked away.

"Okay."

The answer seemed to settle somewhere deep inside her.

For a while, she was quiet.

The carriage continued onward.

Outside, the lights of the capital gradually gave way to the familiar lamps surrounding the Imperial Palace.

Marian looked at Adrian again.

"Do you really love me?"

His gaze settled on her.

"Why?"

She hesitated.

"I just..."

Her fingers tightened around his.

"I want to hear it again."

"You’ve heard it."

"You don’t say it often enough."

Adrian was quiet.

Marian gave him a small, almost embarrassed smile.

"I just want some reassurance."

Something softened in his eyes.

He lifted their joined hands and brushed his thumb over her knuckles.

"You have it."

She looked at him.

"Still not enough?"

Marian shook her head.

"No."

Adrian studied her for a moment.

Then his gaze dropped briefly to her lips.

"Then let me show you."

He leaned toward her and kissed her.

The kiss was slow and warm, lingering just long enough for Marian to forget the question she had been about to ask.

When he pulled away, she looked at him, her cheeks flushed.

Before she could say anything, the carriage slowed.

They had arrived.

Adrian gave her one last look before the carriage came to a complete stop.

The door opened.

He stepped down first and turned back toward her, offering his hand.

Marian placed hers in it.

She expected him to help her down.

Instead, the moment she stepped forward, Adrian scooped her into his arms again.

"Adrian!"

He held her securely against his chest.

Marian glanced toward the waiting servants, her face immediately turning crimson.

"Put me down."

"No."

"You’re embarrassing me."

"I know."

She stared at him.

He looked entirely unbothered.

"You said you wanted reassurance."

Marian’s eyes widened.

"Adrian..."

The faintest smile touched his mouth.

"I intend to give it to you."

Marian could only hide her face against his shoulder, her heart racing.

Adrian, on the other hand, confidently carried her as he walked into the palace toward his private chambers.

--

Tbc

AN: ok you know where this will lead to. But i guess i should just get the plot moving... or should we have smut hahahaa