Sorry for the super late update! I've been busy planning my wedding for next year... I'm really sorry.

Anyway, this is the last chapter! Yay!

I might have rushed this so there might be some mistakes here and there, but I'll look through it when I have the time.

Enjoy!

The ball was fun and the people enjoyed themselves. Mai was tired from dancing almost every man in the ball room so she decided to take a break in the balcony. The night was nice, cool breeze and starry sky. She was about to go back in, but a movement caught her attention. There was a shadow by the apple tree nearby and she wanted to know who's in her mother's garden. She went to the garden, unaware that Gene saw her from the inside. She went to the apple tree but nobody was there. "I swear I saw someone…" she muttered. She was about to turn back but then she saw it again. The person was about to climb over the wall and out but she tackled him or her. "What do you think you're doing?" she asked when she was on top of the person.

"I thought you'd be more graceful and elegant now that you're a princess," the person muttered.

Mai knew that voice, although it's been months since the last time she heard she knew who's the owner. Slowly, she stood up letting the person stand up as well. He had his back turned to her but through the dim light she knew that dark hair neat hair. "N-Naru?" she asked. The man turned and she almost tackled him back to the ground in happiness, but she was overwhelmed with anger. "What are you doing here?" she asked sternly, raising an eyebrow at him. "I came here because I was invited." Mai blinked, thinking what she should answer him. "Well, I'm un-inviting you. You can leave now," she replied.

Naru looked at her, eye to eye, and saw the hurt she's been trying to hide for months. "That's how you greet an old friend?" he asked. Mai narrowed her eyes at him before stomping on his right foot. "Friends don't leave each other for no reason, therefore we are not friends." She turned and started to walk away but a pair of strong arms found their way around her waist. She felt him behind her, she can feel his breath on the back oh her neck. "N-Naru, w-what are yo-"

"I'm sorry I left you… I thought that I'd hurt you more if I stayed," he confessed.

Mai felt something wet on her neck and that was when she realized that he was crying. The last time she saw him cry was when she was on her death bed. "I'm really sorry…" Mai sighed and turned to face him. She wiped his tears away, or what was left of it before smiling at him. "I've forgiven you already, idiot," she told him. Naru looked at her, he was surprised, but just a little bit that Mai forgave him. He knew she was not the type of girl who holds grudges, she forgives and forgets. "Thank you," he said then hugged her tight, as if she'll disappear any second. When they pulled apart, he looked deeply in her brown eyes, Mai looking back, before he leaned down… She was about to meet him half way, but someone interrupted them.

"Ehem, Yasuhara's looking for Mai." Both of them turned and saw Gene leaning on a tree with a smirk on his face. "Nice to see you here, Noll, I thought you were not planning on going?" he asked. Naru didn't bother answering him because he saw Yasu looking for them.

"Come on, he's looking for you," Naru said and took Mai's hand in his as they walk back inside.

Naru was overwhelmed with the number of people present, but he did not expect for girls to surround him and drool over him. He felt uncomfortable around them, the moment Mai left with Yasuhara to attend on something, he felt lost. He gave the girls fake smiles before walking towards his family, who are smirking at him.

"Where did Mai go?" he asked them.

"This is her 18th birthday, Noll, there are suitors in the room that would love to have her hand in marriage. Yasu planned to have those men meet her-" Luella was cut off by Madoka, who was smirking at Noll.

"The plan is to have the men ask her hand in marriage, see if she likes anyone. If she does, then they might get married in the next few months…"

Naru shot his brother a look, trying to see if any of them were lying. Unfortunately, they weren't.

"Little brother, there's only one way from stopping Mai marrying the wrong man" he informed him.

"And what is that?" Naru asked.

"Simple, ask her yourself"

"Me? What could possibly have gone into your head to think that she'll say 'yes' to me?"

"You're smart, but only book smart. The question is, are you going to say 'I do' when she said 'yes'?

Naru gave him a confusing look, but decided to just watch.

Mai sat in a fancy chair in the middle of the room, in front of her was a line of men ready to propose. She felt uncomfortable at the idea of men proposing at her, she's only going to say the magic word to one man and that one man is standing in a corner with his family. Naru watched as men move away after being rejected, that was until a man with a light brown hair came into view. He noticed how Mai's eyes widened in delight, as if she's happy to see him.

"Who's that?" Naru asked Gene.

"That's Takumi from the Asagi family. He was here during the renovation and they got pretty close" Gene told him. "They were so close that he spent a few nights here last month, he was also here last week teaching her how to side saddle on the horse" he added with a smile when he saw his brother's face darkened. Without warning, he pushed through the crown and knelt in front of Mai, not caring about Takumi, who was behind him.

"N-Naru… What are you-?"

"What do you think?"

"B-but…"

"Do you think I'll just let any man take you away? Now, I'm going to ask your hand in marriage. If you don't say it, then you're dead meat to me."

Mai giggle a bit then smiled at him. She called Yasuhara and whispered something into his ear.

"The princess has spoken, she made a decision to give her hand to Oliver, son of Lord Martin Davis" Yasuhara announced.

Naru was shocked when he heard the announcement, he didn't any words to say.

"Cat go your tongue, Naru?" Mai asked before taking his hand and leading him to the balcony.

"Why me, Mai?" he asked when they were alone.

"You know, you're only book smart" Mai told him, gazing at the garden.

"Gene told me that earlier"

"You know almost everything, but you don't know a person's feelings" Mai continued, not looking at him.

"I don't? Care to explain."

Mai faced him, sighed, and said, "For the past months or year, for all those times we've been together, how can you not know my feelings for you? I've figured that I'm just a girl to you earlier that time, but your actions says the opposite. Gene, your brother, I knew that I'm just a little sister to him even before he told me. And you…"

"What about me?"

"I know, well knew, that you have at least some sort of feelings for me. You try to hide it, but it's obvious"

'What is that feeling that you speak of?"

"Naru, do you… do you love me?" she asked, looking straight in his eyes.

"Do you love me, Mai?" was his answer.

"I asked you first, jerk" she said, poking him.

"Does this answer your question?" before Mai could ask, the next thing she knew was being pulled so close to him and feeling his lips on her. When the situation finally registered in her mind, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. When they pulled apart, Mai smiled at him and so did he.

"So, what's next?" she asked.

"The wedding" he answered.

The two walked back inside, hand in hand, finally confessing their love for each other. After facing so many hardships, the two lovebirds can finally have their happily ever after.

Cheesy ending? I think so too. Well, thank you for waiting for this last chapter and thank you for all your comments and suggestions and questions. Just thank you a lot.

Comments? Reviews? Suggestions? Corrections?

THANK YOU!

I'll be updating the other story in a couple of weeks or so! Look out for that!