As Verishka and Vladislaus were leaving the manor for a short walk outside, the count asked, laughing,
"Are you always so coy when you meet men, or do you enjoy making me feel stupid?"
"My intention was not to make you feel stupid my lord. How could I expect you to know what I look like when I myself did not know it was you?" she asked.
"Either way," he said, "here we are now, about to be married,"
"Yes, and if it is not too bold to ask, what have your feelings been on this matter?" she asked.
"Obviously it is the will of our parents. I am not sure if you knew this but, this was planned before you were born, and I do intend to go through with it," he said.
"The two of them stepped outside and walked several feet away from the manor. The sun was covered by clouds, but some rays still managed to escape.
"I probably would have rather known you better, for longer I mean, but who am I to question the wish of our elders. You seem to be a good man, kind, respectful,"
"Go on," Vladislaus said, waving his hand.
"Anyway, I just wish I had known you for longer," she said, looking out over the hill tops to the mountains. Letting the wind blow her hair into her face as it willed.
"I wish I could have met you say, 18 years ago, but I feel the best thing to do now is, get better acquainted. Now as I think we shall definitely be spending more time together in the future," he said. They smiled and blushed as they realized they had never let go of each other's arm.
"Tell me count, do you have countless stories to tell me from your travels abroad, or are none worth telling?" she asked.
"None really worth telling," he said.
"All right then, tell me this, why was I the one you asked, not some other woman who was closer to you?" she asked, softly.
"I was drawn to you, you're noticeably more beautiful than the other women," he said sincerely.
Verishka smiled. She could think of at least three ways she could have rapped that statement around her finger and turned it into an insult. But she liked this man and she knew that is was meant as a compliment, so she let it be.
"My turn to ask a question," he said.
"Yes..."
"Do you think we can be happy together, or will we be pulling our hairs outs when this is over?" he asked.
"Happy. Definitely happy," she said, nodding up and down.
"How do you know this?" he asked, confused.
"We are already enjoying each other's company, are we not?" she asked.
"You are extremely intelligent. I like that, but it is difficult to find in a woman," he said, smiling at her.
"Thank you, and if I may, you seem much more intelligent than those men who only talk of glory in battle," she spoke.
"Yes, my men too often become blinded by a few mere triumphs. That combined with too much drinking makes the kind of man I strive not to be," he said.
"When we are married, will you be gone as often as you are now?" she asked.
"You are very forward in your questions," he said, slightly nervous.
"Then can you answer it, or not?" she asked.
"No, I won't. The Order has agreed to allow me to retire after my wedding," he said.
Verishka managed to sneak a grin for a moment. The thought of spending her days with him sounded much more appealing to her than dark, and lonely days in an empty manor.
"This pleases you?" Vladislaus asked.
"Yes, greatly," she replied.
The wind began to blow again, causing the grass to sway slightly and their hair to dance wildly around their faces. Verishka rapped her arms around herself, and shivered a little.
"Here," said Vladislaus, taking off the velvet blue cape he wore and rapping it around her.
"Thank you," she whispered as his head brushed past her. They then came face to face, their eyes gazing deep into each other's soul. Verishka then felt his hand on her back, gently pulling her towards him. He lightly kissed her brow, before she brought her head up, bringing the gesture to her lips, where she wanted it. While this was going on, she rapped her arms around his neck, and as they pulled away, they smiled at each other. Both feeling their hearts racing, pressed against the other's chest.
"Perhaps we should go back inside?" Vladislaus proposed.
"Yes, you're right," Verishka said.
As the two of them walked back, Vladislaus giving her his arm, Verishka laid her head gently on his shoulder.
"What do you think your father will say?" Verishka asked.
"He'll say, 'Vladislaus you old tiger, never seen her before in your life, but you pick her out just like that, that's my boy,' and yours?" he asked.
"He'll say... 'I told you so,'"