By the time I finished reading, I could barely see through my tears. Everything in his letter lined up with things I had heard from others and seen with my own eyes, but even more than that, I just knew in my heart that it was true. I buried my face in my hands and wept as I berated myself for judging him so unfairly. I cried harder as I remembered how cruel I had been when he tried to explain everything to me. The look of heartbreak in his eyes at that time had been genuine, but I had been so blinded by my anger and prejudice that I had failed to see it.

The hurt from learning about his lies still stung, but it was drastically overshadowed by the joy in knowing that he truly did love me. My mother's words echoed in my ears. Love is when you know a person's faults, yet still want to be by their side. I knew without a doubt that I was still hopelessly in love with Soo-Won. At that moment, the gong on the clock struck and I looked up to see Kouka castle in the distance. It isn't too late, I realized with a start. Without even taking the time to grab my bags, I hiked up my skirt and began to run.

When I finally arrived at the palace gate, I was covered with sweat and completely out of breath. Thankfully, the guards recognized me and let me in without any problems. I raced through the garden, and nearly collided with Ayura and Tetora.

"Ayura! Tetora!" I panted, "Please! Where is Soo-Won?"

To my great relief, they understood the situation immediately, and pointed me in the right direction without asking any questions. I thanked them hastily over my shoulder as I continued running. When I finally spotted him, I slowed my pace. He was sitting in the pavilion alone, as still as a statue. I couldn't see his face, but his posture looked tired and defeated. My heart filled with emotion at the sight of him. Unable to control myself any longer, I ran up to him from behind and threw my arms around him. I don't know what I had been expecting, but it certainly wasn't to be flipped through the air and thrown without pretense to the ground.

"Ouch!" I cried in shock and pain as I landed with a heavy thud.

"Lily?" Soo-Won's voice betrayed his surprise.

"What was that for?" I asked in indignation, forgetting everything in my anger.

"I'm so sorry!" he said as he helped me to my feet. "I thought you were trying to strangle me, and…" His voice trailed off and he suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "Lily, what are you doing here?"

"Well…I read your letter," I began slowly, trying to figure out how to put everything I was feeling into words.

"Eh?! Already?" His jaw nearly dropped to the ground. "But I put it at the very bottom of the bag. I didn't think you would find it for at least a few years."

"You must be joking," I exclaimed incredulously. "I never would have found it! You gave me enough money to last a thousand years! My back was breaking from carrying it," I continued matter-of-factly, "so I gave it all to the village children."

"You…what?" he looked astounded.

I couldn't help giggling, as I marveled at how natural it felt to be talking with him like this. I had felt some apprehension at first, but just being near him made all my fears fade away.

When I glanced up again, his expression had grown quite serious. "So, you read the letter…?" There was hope in his eyes, but he hesitated to say more, apparently waiting for me to speak.

"Yes," I said softly, "and I came back to apologize."

His eyes held mine as he brushed my cheek lightly. "There's no need for you to apologize. I deserved everything you said and more."

I shook my head sadly. "That's not true. I judged you unfairly, and for that I am truly sorry." After a moment, I went on, "That's not all, though. I was hoping that you would allow me to stay here…," I raised my face to his and added in a near whisper, "and be your wife."

"Lily…" He looked at me searchingly. "Do you really mean it?"

I nodded—my heart too full for words. He apparently felt similarly, because he pulled me into an embrace and held me there without speaking for almost a minute.

Finally, he whispered in my ear, "Lily Aisawa, I love you."

I smiled into his chest. "I love you, too."

At last, he gently pulled away and held me at arm's length. "So, you're not angry with me anymore?"

I grinned at him impishly. "I wouldn't say that," I admitted. "In fact, right now I'm itching to slap you across the face."

I burst into laughter at the look on his face.

"But…," I continued more seriously, as I fingered my mother's necklace, "because of that, I know that my feelings for you are real. I know that I love you, because even after everything's that happened, I still want, more than anything, to be by your side."

"I see…," he smiled thoughtfully. "Well then, let's try this again, shall we?"

I watched as he kneeled and took my hands in his. "Lily?" his voice nearly caressed me in its tenderness. "Will you do me the honor of being my bride?"

I was whisked back to the first time he proposed, and I couldn't help smiling at the memory. I had been so scared and uncertain back then, but I didn't feel even a hint of hesitation now as I answered.

"Yes," I said breathlessly.

Our eyes locked, and he kissed me. I could feel his passion, yet there was no roughness in his manner. The world around me disappeared, and in that moment, it was just me and Soo-Won. I was brought back to reality when I heard him chuckle softly.

"What is it?" I asked in bewilderment.

"I was just thinking how different this is from my first proposal to you," he explained, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"I was thinking the same thing," I laughed along with him. "But you know," I smiled mischievously as I went on, "I still expect you to keep our deal."

His expression was puzzled, "Our deal…? Oh!" he exclaimed in sudden understanding, "you mean the part about having no other wives?"

I nodded, feeling suddenly apprehensive. "You won't…right?

He kissed my forehead in answer. "Of course not. You're all I need, and I never wanted a harem anyways."

I smiled with relief and hugged him tightly.

"So, wait," I said abruptly as I looked up at him, "you're not actually an idiot?"

He burst into uproarious laughter. "I don't think so," he responded jokingly, "although I must admit that I don't always make the smartest decisions when it comes to you."

The tender look in his eyes made my face flame.

"Is it really that hard to believe?" he teased.

"Oh yes," I smiled and teased him right back, "of all the revelations in your letter, the fact that you aren't a clueless oaf was by far the most shocking."

"You say that," he laughed, "but you fell in love with this clueless oaf."

I sobered at his words. "I did care about that clueless oaf," I said softly, "but I think that the one I was in love with all along was a man who I'd only seen glimpses of, yet always knew was there. A brilliant leader who loves his country and his people. I love him more than I've ever loved anyone in my life."

"Lily…," his voice was hoarse with emotion. When he spoke again, it was to murmur in my ear, "From now on, no more secrets, okay?"

"Mhm," I nodded, as my eyes welled up with tears of love and thankfulness for this wonderful man.

As we kissed once again, my mind wandered to how right my mother had been. Although I'm certain that she never imagined the emperor would be the one to break down the walls of my heart, her prediction had been accurate all the same. I had fallen in love with Soo-Won so deeply that even his faults didn't matter to me, and in doing so, I had found it at last. For the first time since my parent's death, I was truly glad to be alive.

Neither of us was in a hurry to go inside, so we sat together, my head on his shoulder and his arm around my waist, until dusk. As I watched the sun set, almost poetic in its beauty, I knew that even though the day was coming to an end, my new life with Soo-Won was just beginning.