"I will never grow tired of hearing it, no matter how often you say it. You can express your love as often as you like because I adore you just as much, my Princess," Orion responded, his arms encircling the Princess of the Garden's waist firmly.
The Princess of the Garden gazed at him, "Are you absolutely certain? Because I feel like shouting it from the top of my lungs here. I may not care about others' opinions, but I wouldn't want to embarrass you," she teased.
"My beloved wishes to proclaim her love to me before the most influential figures in the Pixie kingdom," Orion mused, pretending to consider the situation before grinning at her. "Well, I see no reason why not. But I'll be joining in, so I hope you're not the one feeling embarrassed."
The Princess of the Garden chuckled softly. "Very well, let's see who blushes first," she replied, breaking free from Orion's embrace and letting out a passionate shout, "I LOVE YOU, ORION!!"
The instruments abruptly ceased their melody. The pixies, suspended mid-dance, cast their gaze downward in bewilderment.
A hush fell over the expansive hall as all activity froze, and every eye turned towards them.
Unperturbed by the scrutiny, the Princess of the Garden drew in a deep breath and proclaimed at the top of her lungs again, "I LOVE YOU, ORION!!"
Orion smiled, observing the intense joy radiating from the Princess of the Garden's face. He felt his heartbeat rapidly. The corner of his eyes grew wet as memories flooded back. He remembered the first time he had seen such intense joy on her face—when she confirmed and accepted that she was carrying their baby.
The last time he had seen it was when they had to accept the heartbreaking reality that their child would never come due to complications they still didn't understand.
Despite this loss, he had promised to give her a name when she delivered, a promise he intended to keep. So, even if he couldn't admit it, sometimes, it felt as though nothing had changed since the first time they met.
A tear slid down Orion's left cheek as he tried to compose himself. He breathed deeply, screaming loudly, "I LOVE YOU, PRINCESS OF THE GARDEN!!"
He had taken it upon himself to love and care for his woman in every way, physically and emotionally, and she was no exception.
"I LOVE YOU, ORION!!"
"I LOVE YOU, PRINCESS OF THE GARDEN!!"
Amid the crowd of onlookers, High Queen Rowena observed the unfolding scene with a firm nod. "I might not know what kind of existence the Princess of the Garden is, or how she became 'The Princess of the Garden' in the first place, but I can definitely say with certainty that that woman is definitely in love," she remarked, briefly glancing at her husband.
"Nonetheless, I wonder why you've never professed your love to me in such a way before," she added.
Hearing his wife's words, High King Eldric's brows twitched. Wasn't the Princess of the Garden the one who had first professed her love loudly before Orion? So, wasn't he the one who was supposed to complain about her not proclaiming her love for him loudly?
Nevertheless, he understood that complaining was pointless and took a deep breath before screaming, "I LOVE YOU, HIGH QUEEN ROWENA!!" His voice resonated across the room, overlapping with Orion and the Princess of the Garden's own.
Everyone redirected their focus to High King Eldric, not expecting him to make such a bold profession of love.
High Queen Rowena shyly looked at her husband before she cleared her throat and screamed, "I LOVE YOU, HIGH KING ELDRIC!!" Her voice resonated like her husband's, attracting everyone's attention.
Just then, another voice echoed across the vast hall.
"I LOVE YOU, ALAIA!!" Guildmaster Alaric screamed loudly.
"I LOVE YOU, ALARIC," his wife, Alaia's screaming voice soon followed.
As Orion and the Princess of the Garden continuously professed their love for each other loudly, with the royal family and the Guildmaster of the Garden's Guild joining in, everyone slowly began to join in, screaming out at the top of their lungs as they professed their love loudly to their partners.
Meanwhile, others without partners professed their love to their creator, the god Aerendir, for the return of the Divine artefacts to the Pixie kingdom.
"I LOVE YOU, PRINCESS OF THE GARDEN!!" Orion screamed for the umpteenth time, his heart racing as he tried to regain his composure and calm it down.
The Princess of the Garden called out, "Orion?"
Orion refocused his eyes on her. Though he wasn't crying, he knew his built-up emotions were visible to anyone looking at him.
"Why are you crying? Aren't I the one supposed to be crying because you have given me such a wonderful moment?" The Princess of the Garden said, stretching her right hand to cup Orion's cheek.
"You know, I sometimes think about what would have happened if you had never paid attention to me when you first entered the mountains. I don't think there is anyone stupid or brave enough to have approached me the way you did. My life has changed drastically since I met you, so please stop overthinking how to solve my problems and just enjoy the moment with me," she added, smiling brightly with tears pouring down her cheeks.
The Princess of the Garden leaned in and kissed Orion briefly on his lips before she pulled back and laid her head on his shoulders. "Orion, can you repeat it one last time?" she whispered, her breath brushing against his ears.
"I LOVE YOU, PRINCESS OF THE GARDEN!!" Orion screamed, his arms tightening around the Princess of the Garden's waist.
He didn't know when it happened, but his eyes had broken through the dam holding them back. Quickly regaining his composure, Orion responded, "I can't stop trying to solve your problems because they are mine also. I do everything to ensure you are without burdens, so never repeat those words again."
The Princess of the Garden remained silent, feeling the wetness on her neck. She further tightened her arms around Orion's waist.