Page 128 of Heart Events with the Forbidden Farmer Next Door
“With this cup,” Lazul begins, and my bride echoes the words.
“I present a vow to you.”
Lazul’s voice fades until all I can hear is Citrus—my Citrus—promising to loveme.
“A vow to be yours, as you are mine. A vow to honor and preserve our friendship. A vow to keep emotions that would fuel resentment far from my mind.” She trembles when an icy breeze coasts across her neck, and my heart can barely handle how she steps nearer to me for protection. “I shall spend my life blessing you and appreciating the gifts you bestow, that when time hasrun short and we return to the dust of this world, our love may become the magic of the future generations.” She lifts the gold to my lips. “Will you drink of this fate, and accept me as I seek to accept you?”
My hand closes over hers, and I smile. “Yes, dear.” I tilt the sweet liquid back while Citrus blushes. Once I’ve had my sip, she draws the cup to her own lips and turns the rim so they frame the place mine grazed.
Eyes lowered, she says, “I will protect you. With you…” Her eyes close, and a tear cuts a trail through the golden sparkle painting her face. “…I am never alone.”
She drinks, and my heart swells.
As the ceremony concludes with Yami and Tsuki bringing our circlets, Lazul announces us as husband and wife. Before I can kiss my bride, however, she grips my shoulders, pulls herself up to my ear, and whispers, “And with me, you’re never alone, either. I love you so much, Samson.”
My heart thuds, and I can’t gather my thoughts before candied lips meet mine and saccharine nectar flows against my tongue. Heat flushes through my body as cheers fill the burgeoning night. They lift me higher than the Sky Dungeon, and it doesn’t even piss me off that Lazul clapping a hand to my back and saying, “Congratulations,” is what breaks our first kiss as husband and wife.
Possibly because before I can glare at him, Citrus has thrown her arms around me, squeezing me tighter than I have ever been held.
It wipes ages of pain out of my bloodstream.
As I gather her up in my arms, I know.
Just as I was made for her, she was sent to me.
And that’s the greatest gift I could have ever been blessed with.
