I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Side Story 25

Enoch looked at me with a stunned expression, unable to speak. He seemed conflicted, running his hands over his face in silence.

I waited patiently for his response but couldn’t resist asking, “Are you rejecting me?”

He hurriedly denied my somewhat disheartened question. “Of course not…!”

He paused, once again swallowing his words with a sigh, then covered his face with one hand, making an excuse.

“I wanted to propose first.”

“Then you should have.”

“I have no argument against that.”

“What’s your answer?”

“Obviously.”

He lifted me up suddenly. Startled, I wrapped my legs around his waist and instinctively put my hands on his shoulders, looking down at him.

“I have no reason to refuse.”

“Then…”

“I’ll make you happy, so will you marry me, Margaret?”

“What? That’s exactly what I said…”

“Don’t like it?”

“I have no reason to refuse.”

We both burst into laughter at my reply. I leaned down and kissed him first.

The kiss gradually deepened, reaching a level that couldn’t simply be described as a sweet gesture.

Boom, pop!

Fireworks exploded above us just then.

He slipped a ring onto my finger. It was a diamond ring. Watching the ring sparkle beautifully from every angle, I asked him, “Is Prince Arthdal’s pinky finger okay?”

“Tell me if you’d prefer the gift of a finger over a ring,” Enoch replied so seriously that it caught me off guard.

“That was a joke.”

“I was joking too.”

“Seemed like you meant it.”

“I’d rather talk about our future than Arthdal. Our future together.”

“Our future?”

“I’d like to have the ceremony right after the coronation. And have children a bit later.”

“Why? It’s better to have an heir sooner…”

“I want to enjoy our honeymoon. Our courtship was brief. I want to savor the love you mentioned.” Enoch gently pulled me closer by the chin and kissed me with a grin.

My heart fluttered with excitement. Just saying the words “courtship” and “honeymoon” made it pound.

A smile lingered on his lips.

Though not a loud laugh, his expression was so beautiful I wanted to remember it forever, capturing his smile silently with my eyes.

In his gaze, I saw a love so intense and complete.

“I hope you’re happy, as long as you’re by my side,” he said softly, kissing my cheek tenderly. The feel of his lips on my skin melted not just my cheek but my heart as well.

“Feeling happiness alone isn’t fair. I want you to experience the overwhelming emotions I feel.”

So, what he meant was that Enoch was happy. I was surprised that he could utter such a sweet and exhilarating sentence.

I was so taken aback that I just stared at him, unable to reply.

After pausing for a moment, he looked up at me.

“I love you, Margaret.”

A slow smile spread across his lips, and I smiled back, unable to stop my lips from curving upwards.

He kissed my cheek.

“I love you.”

Then kissed my forehead and the bridge of my nose. Resting his forehead against mine, he whispered once more,

“I love you.”

He spoke as if unable to contain his emotions, pouring out every loving feeling he held for me.

His love, vast and overwhelming, settled within me.

I was happy. So much so that I wished this moment could last forever.

“I love you too.”

The summer heat, the warm breeze, the uncomfortable humidity—all were bearable with Enoch by my side.

His breath touched my lips.

I gripped his collar tightly.

Enoch’s large hand traced my bare shoulder before entwining his fingers in my hair.

I held him tighter with my arms and legs.

Our mingling breaths grew deeper.

I held my breath.

The heat made me feel lightheaded.

The cicadas sang loudly throughout the garden.

Sweat, whose origin was unknown, dripped onto the ground.

Haah. In the sweltering weather, our prolonged breaths seemed to quench my thirst.

I no longer disliked the heat of summer.

Yes, I no longer dislike summer.

On this hot midsummer night, I proposed to the man I love, and he proposed to me.

***

[Focus on the New Woman, Margaret Rose Floné!]

[The Heroine Who Successfully Completed the Ignition Ceremony Despite Sabotage!]

[The Woman Proposed to by the Crown Prince Before His Coronation!]

The newspapers were filled with stories about me. It was so embarrassing that I could barely stand it. Since Enoch began pushing for the wedding immediately after our proposal, more articles about us flooded the media. As a result, I couldn’t take a single step outside the Floné mansion.

[The dismantled ladder on the tower—signs of an assassination attempt?! The perpetrator: a former wizard of the Magic Tower.]

Naturally, there were countless articles about the wizard who had broken the ladder. The reaction was overwhelming, with some even calling for a public execution. Enoch had no intention of making it public, but he promised the man would receive a fitting punishment.

‘I don’t feel sorry for him. I almost died.’

I dismissed any sympathy for the wizard.

More than anything, I had other pressing issues to deal with. Arthdal had to leave for his coronation, which was to be held before Enoch’s. Ruzef, Yuanna, and I saw him off from the mansion.

“It’s a shame I won’t be here to see the wedding. How about coming to Hestia for your honeymoon?” Arthdal suggested before his departure.

“I’ll consider it. I’m very sorry to miss your coronation,” I replied.

Enoch and I were the only ones unable to attend Arthdal’s coronation. Ruzef, Yuanna, and Diego would attend and then return to Langridge for Enoch’s coronation.

“It’s not too late, Lady. The position of Hestia’s Queen is still open,” Arthdal teased.

“Just go. Stop coveting our Meg,” Yuanna cut him off coldly, folding her arms as she shot him a disapproving look.

“Even if you protest, it’s not like that position will go to you, Saintess. Lady Floné only has eyes for Enoch,” Arthdal replied, looking at Yuanna with folded arms.

“What nonsense. Anna is my friend.”

“You heard that, right? I can stay by Meg’s side as her friend forever—even closer than a husband,” Yuanna said, sticking out her tongue as she hugged me tightly.

“A lot of talk from someone about to go on a long journey,” Arthdal replied.

“Even after I return, I’ll always be Meg’s friend. I was the first, after all.”

“Yes, Anna, you’re my first and only friend,” I agreed, causing Yuanna to squeal with delight. Arthdal shook his head, watching the two of us.

“Come to think of it, besides the Crown Prince and me, none of us have any friends,” Arthdal mused.

The fact that none of us had friends was less surprising than the idea that Arthdal and Enoch did.

“You have friends?” I asked incredulously.

“Enoch and I academy classmates. Hahaha!” Arthdal laughed.

I had heard they were rivals throughout their academy days. Isn’t that more like enemies than friends?

Suddenly, I was very curious about Enoch’s academy life. It would have been nice to attend school with him.

“Stop the nonsense and just go,” Yuanna urged.

“I’ve been greatly indebted to all of you. Now, with our social statuses, it won’t be easy to meet often, but you’ll always be in my heart.”

A moment of solemnity passed. Arthdal raised his voice to lighten the mood. “Didn’t I sound incredibly cool just now? Hahaha!”

He laughed and waved his hand in a final farewell. “I’m really leaving now! I’ll miss you!”

He shouted and waved even as he boarded the carriage. He was talkative to the end.

But because of that, I felt I would miss him even more.

As he said, it wouldn’t be easy to see each other often now, given our social positions. But just as Arthdal said, we’d always be together in our hearts. The time we spent together on the island would never be forgotten.

Ruzef, Yuanna, and I stood watching the carriage disappear around the corner for a long time.

***

Yuanna sat humming a tune on the terrace of a guest room in the Floné mansion. Below, on the lower terrace, Margaret was spending a pleasant time with her family. The Floné family members were presenting gifts to Margaret, which seemed to be engagement presents requested by Enoch. Yuanna leaned on the railing, absently watching Margaret’s happy face. Seeing her happy made Yuanna feel happy too.

“Aren’t you going to tell me?” came Ruzef’s voice from behind her. Yuanna lifted her head and turned around.

“Tell you what?” she asked.

“What price you had to pay,” he replied.

“Oh…” Yuanna responded with an awkward smile. “It wouldn’t be fun if I told you in advance.”

“It won’t be fun even if you tell me later,” Ruzef pointed out calmly without changing his expression. Despite that, Yuanna had no intention of revealing the price she had paid just yet.

“Just pretend you don’t know,” she requested.

Ruzef gazed at her thoughtfully before saying, “Then be happy.”

“What?” Yuanna blinked.

“Whatever price you have to pay, I hope at least that you’ll be happy.”

Hearing that, Yuanna beamed brightly.

“I’m already happy. Truly. But since it’s the wise words of His Holiness the Pope, I’ll try to be even happier,” she replied cheerfully.

Yuanna seldom let things become heavy or serious, which worried Ruzef more, but she genuinely seemed happy.

“There haven’t been many times in my life as peaceful and leisurely as this. Just thinking that I can relax more and enjoy life makes me feel like I’m about to die of happiness,” she continued.

Then she started talking about how she might receive more support from the papal treasury for her adventures.

“Have you forgotten that I am the Pope?” Ruzef interjected.

“You’re not the one giving out the support funds; it’s the relevant department that approves it,” Yuanna countered.

“Ultimately, I’m the one who approves it,” he pointed out.

“That makes things even easier! I want to travel the world!” Yuanna exclaimed with excitement.

Seeing Yuanna’s elated face, Ruzef rubbed his forehead. He felt foolish for worrying.