The Extra's Rise-Chapter 775: Six Engagements (5)

The penthouse garden had always been Reika’s favorite place in our home—a private sanctuary high above the city, surrounded by the violet flowers that matched both her hair and eyes so perfectly. As I made final preparations for what would be the most emotionally significant proposal of the entire series, I found myself reflecting on how natural this setting felt for such an important moment.

"She deserves to have this happen where it all began," I murmured to myself as I checked the garden’s arrangement one final time, ensuring that every detail honored the depth of devotion she had shown me from the very beginning. freёnovelkiss-com

The evening was perfect—warm enough to be comfortable in the garden’s open air, with a gentle breeze that carried the scent of violet blossoms throughout the space. I had spent hours ensuring that every detail was exactly right, because this proposal needed to honor not just our relationship, but the unwavering loyalty that Reika had demonstrated from our very first interaction. Stella was also with my parents for now.

"Arthur?" came her soft voice from the garden entrance, carrying that note of curious anticipation that always made my heart race. "You said you wanted to spend the evening here together?"

I turned to see her silhouetted against the penthouse’s elegant interior lighting, wearing a simple but beautiful dress in deep violet that seemed designed to complement both the garden’s flowers and her own remarkable coloring. Her violet hair caught the evening light in ways that made it appear almost luminescent, while her flower-like eyes held the kind of wondering curiosity that made my chest tighten with protective tenderness.

"I did," I confirmed, moving toward her with the kind of easy familiarity that came from years of shared intimacy. "This place has always been special to us. I thought it was time to add another important memory to its history."

Reika’s expression grew more curious as she stepped into the garden proper, her eyes taking in the careful arrangements I had made—additional violet flowers positioned to create natural pathways, soft lighting that enhanced rather than overwhelmed the space’s natural beauty, and the small table set with her favorite evening refreshments.

"You’ve gone to a lot of trouble," she observed with obvious pleasure, moving deeper into the garden with the graceful confidence that characterized her behavior in spaces where she felt completely secure. "This looks like you’re planning something special."

"Very special," I agreed, watching how the garden’s violet blooms seemed to respond to her presence with subtle shifts in their magical emanations. "Reika, do you remember the first time you told me how you felt about me?"

Her cheeks flushed with the kind of deep rose color that always made my heart race, her violet eyes growing brighter as she recalled that pivotal moment in our relationship. "Right here," she said softly, gesturing toward the section of the garden where she had first confessed her feelings with trembling courage. "I was so nervous I could barely speak, but I knew I had to tell you the truth about how completely you had captured my heart."

"And do you remember what I told you in response?" I asked, moving closer to her among the violet flowers that seemed to bloom more vibrantly in her presence.

"You said that my honesty was one of the most beautiful gifts anyone had ever given you," Reika replied, her voice carrying the kind of warm emotion that suggested she treasured that memory as much as I did. "You said that my willingness to be vulnerable showed a kind of courage that impressed you more than any display of power or skill."

"I meant every word," I said with conviction that made her eyes shine with unshed tears. "Your courage, your honesty, your absolute devotion—they’ve been the foundation that made everything else in my life possible."

’Five down, one to go,’ Luna’s voice echoed in my mind with obvious satisfaction. ’Though I have to say, saving the most emotionally devoted for second-to-last shows excellent understanding of dramatic pacing.’

"Reika," I continued, taking her hands in mine and feeling how they trembled slightly with emotion, "over the years since that first confession, you’ve shown me what unconditional love actually means. Not just in words, but in actions. In how you’ve supported every decision, trusted every choice, stood by me through every challenge."

Her violet eyes grew wider as she recognized the direction this conversation was taking, her entire body beginning to tremble with the kind of overwhelming emotion that she had never learned to control around me.

"You’ve been my anchor," I said, studying her face as tears began to gather in those extraordinary eyes. "The one person I could always count on to understand not just what I was trying to achieve, but why it mattered to me. You’ve never asked me to change or compromise or be anything other than exactly who I am."

I released her hands and reached into my coat pocket, withdrawing the ring case that had been crafted with more personal attention and detailed customization than any of the others. This case was carved from violet crystal that seemed to pulse with the same gentle light that characterized Reika’s magical aura, creating a container that was beautiful enough to be treasured in its own right.

"You’ve given me the gift of being completely accepted," I continued, watching how her tears began to spill down her cheeks as understanding dawned. "The freedom to be vulnerable without fear, to share my thoughts and feelings and dreams without worrying about judgment or rejection."

The case opened to reveal a ring that represented not just weeks of design work, but years of understanding what would be most meaningful to someone whose entire world revolved around our relationship. The band was forged from pure aetherite that had been shaped and colored to match her violet hair perfectly, creating a foundation that would enhance her natural magical abilities while symbolizing the perfect harmony between us.

But it was the ring’s centerpiece that made it truly special for Reika specifically. Instead of a traditional gemstone, the aetherite had been crafted into the shape of her signature flower—the rare violet blossom that bloomed only in the most carefully tended magical gardens. Every petal was carved with such precision that the flower appeared to be alive, seeming to move and sway in response to magical energy.

The magical properties embedded within the design would allow Reika to channel her natural abilities with unprecedented effectiveness, while also creating a bond between us that would enable perfect emotional synchronization—the ultimate expression of the devotion she had always shown me.

"Reika," I said, dropping to one knee in the center of the garden where she had first confessed her love, surrounded by the violet flowers that had witnessed the beginning of our relationship, "would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Her reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Her hands flew to cover her mouth as tears began streaming down her cheeks in earnest, her entire body shaking with emotion that seemed too intense to contain within such a delicate frame.

"Yes," she sobbed, the word barely audible through her tears. "Yes, yes, of course yes! Arthur, I’ve dreamed of this moment every day since I first told you I loved you!"

I slipped the ring onto her finger, watching as the violet aetherite immediately began to resonate with her natural magical energy in ways that made the flower-shaped centerpiece appear to bloom with actual life. The effect was so realistic that several of the garden’s actual violet flowers began responding to the ring’s emanations, creating a cascade of blooming that transformed the entire space into something approaching pure magic.

"Arthur," Reika whispered, staring at the ring through her tears, "it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. How did you know to make it look exactly like my favorite flower?"

"Because I’ve been paying attention to everything that makes you happy," I replied, pulling her into my arms as she continued to shake with overwhelming emotion. "Because every detail of who you are matters to me."

She buried her face against my chest, her words muffled but still clearly audible as she spoke through her tears. "I love you so much it frightens me sometimes. You’re everything I ever dreamed of finding in another person, and I still can’t believe you chose me."

"Reika," I said firmly, tilting her chin up so she had to meet my eyes, "you were never a choice I had to make. You were a gift I was lucky enough to receive. Your love, your devotion, your absolute faith in me—they’ve made me a better person than I ever thought I could be."

"I would do anything for you," she said with the kind of absolute conviction that characterized everything about our relationship. "Follow you anywhere, support any decision, stand by you through any challenge. You’re not just the man I love—you’re the center of my entire world."

The intensity of her devotion was both humbling and deeply moving. Reika’s love wasn’t just emotional—it was existential, encompassing not just her feelings but her fundamental sense of purpose and identity.

"And I promise you," I replied with matching conviction, "that I will never take that devotion for granted. Your love is the most precious thing in my life, and I will spend every day trying to be worthy of it."

As we held each other in the garden where our relationship had first become real, surrounded by violet flowers that seemed to celebrate our engagement with their ethereal blooming, I felt the profound satisfaction that came from honoring someone whose love had been absolute and unwavering from the very beginning.

"Arthur," Reika said softly, her voice still thick with happy tears, "when do we tell everyone? I want the whole world to know that I’m going to be your wife."

"Soon," I promised, kissing the top of her head as she nestled against my chest. "Very soon, everyone will know exactly how lucky I am to have you in my life."

The fifth proposal was complete, and it had honored the depth of devotion that had made our relationship a foundation for everything else I had built. Only one more remained.

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