Chapter 309: Proposal.

Chapter 309: Chapter 309: Proposal.

It’s impossible , because this is Khobi , and he’d been trying so hard , and being so careful , but Rogard can feel it in the pit of his stomach that somehow , some way, he knows .

​"Hmm? You think so?" he hums anyways, and even though his innocence is perfect picture it’s difficult to say whether or not Khobi falls for it.

Either way, he doesn’t press any further; just shrugs in a whatever you say kind of way, and tells him that he’ll see him at dinner.

​Well, shit .

​Drogger finds him in the same spot not too much later; flopped down on the mattress amid of bed of crusty, muddy flecks.

He’d heard what had happened, he tells him, and apologises for not having been there.

Rogard’s not sure what he has to apologise for, and when he tells him that it’s fine, really, he’s surprised to find that he actually means it.

And Drogger must believe him, because the smile that splits his face at Rogard’s words is proud and soft and makes Rogard’s heart sigh.

​"Oh, Khobi said you were looking for me?" he queries, before he can read too much into that, and starts a little when the bed dips as Drogger moves to sit next to him.

Bold, considering there are no doubt still soldiers lingering behind that haven’t yet headed off to dinner.

"...I think he knows," he adds in a mumble, lowering his voice. "...By the way."

​" Ah ."

​It’s not exactly the reaction Rogard was expecting. In fact, it’s barely enough to be called a reaction.

​"You don’t seem surprised," Rogard remarks with a small frown, sitting up just enough that he can get a good look at Drogger’s face.

He doesn’t look surprised, either.

​"...Ynoro figured it out, too," Drogger admits wryly, and Rogard’s jaw falls open.

​" Ynoro figured it out?" He doesn’t mean to sound so astonished; truly he doesn’t, it’s just... Ynoro ? Drogger gives him a stern look even though it’s clear he shares the sentiment, and Rogard’s brow creases as the weight of this revelation starts to set in.

Because they both know how this castle works.

If there are two people who have figured it out, then there will surely be others.

But who? And how many? And how long until so many people know that it’s impossible to call it a secret?

​"...So what do we do?" he asks quietly, because even though he doesn’t exactly mind if people know --would love it if they did, even, and they didn’t have to skulk around like they were doing something wrong --there’s no telling what his father will do when he finds out.

As much as Rogard would love to be proven wrong, he’s not under any illusion that he’s going to just shake Drogger’s hand and give him his blessing, that’s for sure.

​"Well, about that..." Drogger says, and Rogard wonders if he should be worried about the way his jaw clenches as he swallows, " –It’s actually why I...Well, I have something for you. Something to...ask you, I suppose."

​"For me?" he frowns, sitting up on the edge of the bed as Drogger pulls something from the depths of his armour and gestures for him to take it.

​It’s an envelope. The wax seal bears the royal crest.

​From the King ?

​Confused, Rogard tentatively breaks the seal.

Inside, as he’d expected, there’s a letter.

​The content however, is beyond his wildest imaginings, and Rogard’s eyes grow wider at each word and the gravity of what he’s holding slowly starts to sink in.

​"... Marriage ?" Rogard finally whispers into the silence, turning with golden eyes stunned to find Drogger staring resolutely anywhere but directly at him.

"...You want to marry me?"

​" –Someday," Drogger tells him quickly, shooting him a sidelong glance with red in his cheeks and his ears and his neck.

Rogard’s never seen him with so much red, and wonders if this is what a nervous Drogger Noog looks like.

He wets his lips, and swallows, hands curling into fists on his knees and then slowly unclenching, "...If you wanted that, that is."

​Rogard doesn’t even need to think about it.

Because even though he’s never really given much thought to who he might marry, sharing a home and a life and falling asleep in Drogger’s arms and waking to his good morning, sounds pretty good.

Everything he could ever want, even.

And gods, does he want that. He wants that very much; hadn’t even realised just how much he terribly, desperately wanted that until this very moment, when the words stating Drogger’s intentions had knocked the wind right out of him.

​Screw asking his father for his blessing; Drogger had gone straight to their goddamned King .

And for whatever reason, Gurdet had wholeheartedly granted it.

​"...You’d do this, for me?" Rogard murmurs in disbelief, staring down at the letter clasped in his hands; the one that has made him so, so, unbelievably happy.

Happier than he thought was possible.

Because he really doesn’t want them to be a secret forever.

​"Of course," Drogger states, so matter-of-fact that it makes Rogard’s chest ache , "Obviously I see a future with you, Rogard.

Or I wouldn’t be with you."

​Rogard feels his face flame .

Because that’s just not fair .

How is he not meant to fall in love with Drogger Noog when he talks like that?

​"...And you don’t have to give me an answer," Drogger assures him softly, "Not yet, at least, if you’re not ready to. I just thought you should know that I –"

​" Yes ." Rogard cuts him off before he can say another word, because he doesn’t need to hear the rest.

Drogger has just told him that he wants to marry him; that’s the only thing that matters.

​It comes out positively breathless .

​"Yes?" Drogger echoes, eyes widening and that delicious red starting to spread as he turns to look at him.

​"Yes," Rogard repeats firmly, and the smile that fans out across his face is wide and bright and real, "I’ll marry you. Someday."

He delicately folds up the letter and tucks it back into its envelope. He’s gotten the edges a little muddy, but that was unavoidable with how disgustingly muddy he is.

"...But I absolutely won’t accept being proposed to in the barracks, master. It’s so unromantic . So remember that for next time you ask, okay?"

Not to mention that his hair looks positively dreadful, and he’s covered in mud and blood and he’s just lost.

How is it even possible that he can look as gross as he currently does and Drogger still somehow wants him?

​At his emphatic declaration Drogger stares at him, incredulous. And then he leans in and kisses him.

​"...You’re impossible," is what Drogger sighs against his lips, but for some reason it feels less like a complaint and more like a confession.

​And all Rogard can think as he kisses him back is, I think I’m falling in love with you, too, Master .