Chapter 16 - Whispers of Tomorrow
The morning after the spire's restoration, Oakhaven looked entirely different. The morning fog seemed crisper, the sunlight brighter, and the palace staff moved with an uncharacteristic spring in their step.
Lucy sat at her desk in the Royal Archives, sorting through the newly recovered documents of Queen Eleanor. The heavy, oppressive silence of the old days was gone, replaced by the gentle scratching of her quill and the occasional, cheerful clatter of teacups from the adjacent parlor.
The door opened without a nervous knock, and Prince William walked in, dressed casually without his heavy royal mantle, holding two cups of steaming spiced tea.
"Thought you might need a break from the past, Madam Archivist," William said with a friendly grin, setting a cup down on her cluttered desk.
Lucy looked up, rubbing her tired eyes and smiling gratefully. "Thank you, Your Majesty. If I read one more legal complaint about medieval pig taxes, my brain is going to turn into porridge."
William laughed, pulling up a chair and sitting opposite her. "Well, you won't have to worry about pig taxes today. The council meeting ended early because everyone is too busy preparing for the autumn festival. And... there is a matter of royal business we need to discuss."
Lucy raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms playfully. "Royal business? On a festival day? Is the castle complaining about the dance floor again?"
"No," William said, his tone suddenly turning soft, serious, and deeply sincere. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, elegantly carved wooden box—not the ominous metal ones of the past, but something entirely pure and simple.
He opened it to reveal a delicate silver ring inlaid with a single, clear sapphire, designed with subtle carvings of ivy leaves and castle stones.
Lucy’s breath caught in her throat. She stared at the ring, then up at William’s face, her heart suddenly hammering against her ribs with a completely different kind of rhythm than the vault magic had ever caused.
"Lucy," William began, his voice steady and full of quiet emotion. "When I met you, you were a scullery girl hiding in the shadows, listening to things no one else dared to hear. You saved my life. You saved my crown. More importantly, you saved my soul."
May you like
He slid the small box closer across the desk.
"I don't want a queen who rules out of duty or political contract," William continued, looking straight into her eyes. "I want a partner who knows every secret this castle holds, who understands my heart, and who will stand beside me as we build a real future. Will you marry me, Lucy?"
