"That is the most handsome thing I've seen you wear," Rhae whistled from behind as Kaisan slid on the white noble military jacket with gold accents, brass buttons, and a gold aiguillette hung over his right shoulder and attached to his higher-mid buttons. His sleek black dress pants had a white and gold stripe that ran down on the outer seam. A red ribbon wrapped around his waist, tied neatly to his left side. Rhae wondered if he was sending his lover off to his military appointment. 

Rhae wore a three-piece, cream twill, narrow-lapel morning suit with a twill teal vest and a matching teal tie. Rhae placed his teal handkerchief in his breast pocket and attached his family gold pocket watch and chain. The top was engraved with his family crest, a detailed marlet with a diamond checkered background. And finally, he pocketed his family ring in its case. 

When they got to the highlight of the banquet, he would propose to Kaisan with his family ring. It should be enough to get across to the observing nobles that it wasn't a short love affair or as a paramour. He was ready to throw half his family assets if need be if it'd be convincing as dowry. He knew that Kaisan was closely related to the Rishar ducal family - who wouldn't recognize that famous peony-pink hair that passed down to even distant relatives. 

The family was so renowned for its beauty that kings over the generations always chased it if a daughter was born. The current head of the ducal family is an elderly man with many children and grandchildren who loves his family very much and remains politically neutral. The only thing that worried Rhae was Kaisan's comments about an arranged political marriage to some foreign royal's harem. 

The Duke of Rishar would never allow the sale of any of this family—they are all pretty free-range. But whoever Kaisan's father was seemed to be trash enough or powerful enough to get around that - or Kaisan was just too distant of a family member who the Duke wouldn't notice. Rhae clenched the ring box tightly in his pocket before releasing it to fix his tie.

"It's not like you to space out," Kaisan commented, walking over to assist with the tie. "Hmm, let's go with an Eldredge knot since today is a special occasion."

Kaisan rewrapped the tie around Rhae's neck, overlapping it several times to create a knot resembling layered scales. He smiled proudly at his work before dusting off invisible particles from Rhae's shoulders and double-checking the positioning of the breast pocket handkerchief. After finishing, he took a few steps back and nodded in satisfaction.

"My groom is so perfect. I wish to both show him off and hide him away from unwelcomed viewers," Kaisan clicked his tongue. Rhae chuckled, walking forward until he stood before Kai again, reaching out to adjust his parted bangs.

"Will you lock me away in some tower in the fairy realms so no one can see me?"

"I have your meals planned out," Kaisan played along with a smile.

"To keep me healthy, I need lots of daily activity."

"I'll open the window for you," Kaisan shrugged. Rhae cupped his cheek.

"I need more strenuous activities if I'm restrained to a bedroom," he leaned in and whispered through the strands of pink hair around his lover's ear. He chuckled as they turned a dark shade of red.

"Always so vulgar, even on a day like this," Kaisan waved him off, clicking his tongue as he spun away from Rhae and walked towards a wood box his servant had brought. 

"You can't change an already changed man," Rhae smiled sweetly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Kaisan threw over his shoulder without looking back.

"I already became a changed man when I met you. I became emotional, obsessive, jealous, proud, and loving - and you want me to change back into the cold, heartless man I was before I met you? I could never."

"I know I've said it before, but I really can't tell if that counts as a silver tongue or you just blinded me," Kaisan smiled, taking an item out of the wooden box. Rhae watched from behind.

"So what has my little goblin been hiding over there to himself?" he asked jokingly.

"It's a family heirloom," Kaisan turned and smiled shyly. "It was a gift my mother originally received from her father and tried to give my father, but he hated it and gave it back to her. I wanted to give it to someone who would appreciate them and, at the very least, deserve them."

Kaisan stepped forward and clipped a gold tie-clip with a kunzite gemstone in a teardrop as the eyepiece of the marlet engraved on it - confirming Rhea's earlier suspicions. The other was a man's gold wedding ring with two intertwining bands that weaved together like two people's lives. The centerpiece was a matching kunzite gemstone. An engraving on the inside of the ring read, 'I hold your faith, and you hold mine.' Kaisan gently took Rhae's left hand and slid the ring onto his ring finger. 

"This was the longest week of my life," Kaisan awkwardly joked. "I mean, yes, we're rushing this. But life is short, and options are limited when choosing to marry out of love or arrangement. But since you chased me so hard, and I'm pretty forgiving, I guess I'll take responsibility."

Rhae stared at his hand as his eyes widened, absolutely floored. He was so focused on the perfect proposal in front of everyone that he let Kaisan beat him to it - showing him that from the start, it was always about just the two of them. 

"Kaisan…" was all Rhae could say, at a loss for words. "I never expected you to take my breath away with such sweet words."

"That just sounds like you never expected me to say anything flattering, romantic, or anything noteworthy…" Kaisan rebutted. 

"It's just because you're so lovely," Rhae replied, trying to suppress a smirk. Kaisan rolled his eyes with an exaggerated sigh.

"You just admitted only my looks matter," Kaisan sighed, playing along. "I'd like to remind you that I have yet to accept your proposal."

"You won't say no in front of everyone, will you?" Rhae faked a hurt tone, feigning a pain in his chest as he leaned forward.

"We're running late," Kaisan turned away, hiding his smirk from the dark-haired man who chased behind him. 

They entered the grand ballroom with Kaisan's hand resting on Rhae's inner elbow in the typical escorting manner. The room had changed quite a bit from the masquerade a few nights back - which, at the time, had sheer and silk draped everywhere to add to the mystique. 

Now, it was wide and clean of obstructions, showing off the architecture, beautiful detailing, marble statues, gold engravings, and chandeliers. It was a breathtaking sight, with a shallow grand staircase at the center rear that led to the long table arranged for the imperial family members before splitting off in both directions against the back wall. 

The grand ball will begin with mingling and dancing. Then, there will be an intermission during which a quartet band will perform a short ballet show in the gardens. Once that is completed, everyone will return inside for dinner, followed by a speech from the imperial family about this year's festivities. 

Rhae last attended the founding festival when he was eighteen, shortly after receiving his title. He hadn't returned to the capital since due to the power struggle with the vassals, territorial disputes, and the civil war that took place on the borders. He took a long look around the room before looking down at Kaisan to his right.

Though he couldn't meet Kaisan earlier, he was glad he didn't put it off for another year. Following such an enchanting, spirited creature through the maze was - to him, the best decision of this life. Rhae glanced down at the ring Kaisan had gifted him, and he couldn't suppress the stupidly large grin that broke out on his face. 

"Try to act a bit more normal, please," Kaisan whispered, chastising him. Rhae covered his mouth with his gloved hand and massaged the muscles around his mouth in an attempt to work his face into a more normal expression. Kaisan snorted in response. 

"Look who is acting out now," Rhae whispered, winking. Kaisan slid his hand down the forearm he was holding and into Rhae's hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed his knuckles.

"Try not to pull any fancy dancing moves this time," Kaisan replied, tilting his head to the dance floor. Rhae gave his signature charming smile and led the way.

FOOTNOTES:

Aiguillette: the braided cords hung on or over the shoulders on military uniforms to distinguish special or more senior rankings such as Generals or Chiefs, honorary royal members who’ve served etc. Marlet: an English mythical bird without feet that never roots from the moment of its drop-birth until it dies. It is based on the Common Swift bird, which rarely lands outside breeding season and sleeps while airborne.Eldredge Knot: It is an overlapped knot on the tie that creates a tapered fishtail effect.