"I like roses, and daisies, but most importantly my favorite flower has got to be water lilies…"
"When I get married I want an intimate ceremony, in a small Chapel decorated in delicate flowers… It'll be just me and my husband to be, maybe a couple of close friends… And after I want a grand celebration…"
"I'm glad we found each other… I don't know what I'd do without you as a friend…"
"I enjoy painting in my spare time. It's one of my favorite hobbies but I also love music and dancing… It's always fun to dance with someone else don't you think…"
"One day we should run away together, we'll see the world and all it has to offer…"
"Spending time with you is my favorite part of the day…"
"I hope one day you'll show me your face… I would love to get to meet the real Cade…"
Evangeline's words echoed in the young Grand Duke's ears as he sat on his platinum throne holding a velvet red box in his hands.
The Grand Duke was extremely toned and muscular and 6'9 in height. His medium length bluish black hair was styled in a clean comb over. His icy blue eyes were intense and captivating. The lower half of his face was covered in a black metal mask that had a golden swirl design and hid his scars. He wore a black shirt, black pants, black shoes, and a gray suit coat.
He opened the box taking out the oval cut opal engagement ring that had three smaller diamonds around the top and bottom of the stone.
He held the engagement ring up to the light that beamed through the tall arched windows behind him. Watching as the ring sparkled in the sunlight.
"When I get engaged I want my ring to be simple yet symmetrical. Definitely an opal and smaller diamonds around the top and bottom… Yes… That would be my dream ring…"
Her words echoed in his mind as he stared at the ring.
"Just how you wanted it," He whispered.
"Cade, I have to confess something to you… I know I've never seen you but I've… I've fallen for you… I love you… And I hope you love me too…"
He sighed lightly, reminiscing on her confession to him.
'You've shown me how you felt, now it's my turn and I hope you will be mine…' He thought as he placed the ring back into the ring box.
"Your Grace…"
He looked up seeing a man in his early 20s who was dressed in a white puffed sleeve shirt, dark red button up vest, dark red pants, and black shoes, bowing to him.
The man was similar in height as the duke but not as muscular. He had orangish brown curly quiff styled hair and wore circular glasses that had a thin silver frame.
His upbeat personality cut through the Duke's gloomy demeanor giving them a contrasting friendship.
"What do you want, Lord Declan," The Duke grumbled.
"I came to inform you that everything is ready for Miss Evangeline, Your Grace," He disclosed.
The Duke stood to his feet, letting out an unsteady breath.
"Cade, I know it's silly… I've never seen your face yet I've fallen for you and I hope you feel the same about me… I want to be yours and only yours and I hope you'd be mine…"
Her words played in the Duke's mind as he stared at the ring box, gripping it in his hand.
"Follow me to the forest glade… If Miss Evangeline says yes, I want no time wasted on putting in the dowry," The Duke commanded.
"Yes, Your Grace," Declan responded, following him out of the room.
The Duke left the room, his mind filled with flashbacks of Evangeline.
'Evangeline I have loved you at first sight, and over the years my love for you has grown more and more… From your smile, to your laughter… You've been through every up and down in my life… You've seen me lose Marlo, you've been there through my worst moments… Everything about you has taken my heart… If you accept my proposal you will see what I've been hiding all along… You will know me as my true self, who I've always been… Not as Cade the Forest Prince but as Silas The Grand Duke of Parola (puh-AR-oh-la).'
Many miles away, deep in the forest Evangeline walked.
She held the skirt of her tattered gray dress up slightly above the ground as she raised her hand up to the sun, allowing a small bird to land on her fingers.
She smiled, a light contagious laugh fell from her mouth, as the bird flew from her fingers.
Each step she took was delicate and full of life, her bright demeanor attracted the world around her.
'It's been a while since I've heard from Cade… I never got an answer to my confession… I hope I get to hear from him today, just once… Even if he doesn't love me back I still want to hear from him…'
She made her way to her favorite forest glade, seeing her empty easel and her chair that sat before it.
"Cade," She called out, receiving no response, "Must not be here again. I wish he would come back to see me… I miss him."
She let out a light sigh, making her way over to the easel.
'I wish he would talk to me again… Maybe I was too strong with my confession… Maybe he doesn't feel the same way. After all, we've never even seen each other face to face… I don't even know his name. How could he ever love me?'
She stopped in front of her easel and looked down at her chair, seeing the small red velvet box.
She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat as she opened it, seeing her dream engagement right.
She took out the engagement ring as she dropped the box on the ground.
"It's my dream ring," She uttered, looking around her.
"Cade," She called out, "Cade, are you there?"
Silas leaned against a large tree, staying hidden as he watched Evangeline in silence.
"She's looking for you, Your Grace," Declan whispered, keeping out of sight.
"I know," Silas muttered.
"Well aren't you going to say something to her," Declan quietly questioned, "I mean usually when you give a girl an engagement ring you say something to her."
He glared at Declan, his sharpened gaze giving Declan goosebumps.
"Forgive me, Your Grace," Declan gulped, bowing to him.
"Cade,"
Evangeline calls interrupted their conversation, captivating Silas' attention.
"Cade, please say something… Anything," She pleaded, "I want to hear from you."
Silas sighed, mustering up all the courage he had to speak.
"Miss Evangeline… I… I love you. For the seven years I've known you, I have loved you. I know for you, I've stayed hidden in the shadows, you don't know my name, and you've never seen my face but I… I don't want to stay hidden from you anymore longer… I want to be yours and only yours and I hope you'll say yes and be mine, I say all of this to ask you if you'll say yes and become my wife…" He proposed.
The forest glade grew quiet, only the sounds of a gentle breeze played through the air.
'She isn't saying anything… Have I come on too strong? Have I ruined everything… Maybe I shouldn't have asked for her hand… I should've…"
"Yes Cade, yes, I'll marry you," She whooped, putting the ring on her finger as she jumped up and down.
"You will," He gasped, his eyes widening.
"Of course I will," She beamed, "I will love you for the rest of my life."
He looked back at Declan, his heart feeling heavy.
"Prepare the dowry and give it to Sir Dutton Rowe at once… I want Miss Evangeline with me as soon as possible," He muttered.
"Right away Your Grace," Declan said, bowing to him, and left doing as commanded.
"Oh Cade, we'll have to plan everything, every detail, and that'll mean I will finally get to meet you face to face," She sang.
He looked back at her, touching his mask, as he felt his stomach sink.
'We're going to come face to face… She'll see who I am for the first time…'
"Cade, when can I see you…" She inquired, breaking his train of thought.
"Soon," He uttered, "I must take leave now."
"So soon, but we just got engaged," She whinged.
"Yes, I'm sorry Miss Evangeline, but there are some loose ends that I need to take care of but I promise I will come for you soon," He stated.
"There's no need for formalities now. We are to be wed, to you I'm Evangeline," She chirped, "I'll be waiting for you…"
She twirled around, radiating with excitement, and left the forest glade, heading back to her home.