Reformed rakes often make the best husbands.
The wedding proposal went as one would expect of Harrison, awfully dramatic, awfully romantic. After all, Harrison was a Romeo at heart, or perhaps more like Harrison was a Harrison. See, after revealing the secret of his ‘daughter’ though not biologically his but moreso spiritually his, Harrison had taken liberty to introduce Azucena to his orphanage. He had brought Vera along with them, for of course, it would be his greatest pleasure for his daughter and the woman he planned to wed himself to, to get along and as sneakingly as a mouse, they had made their way to the orphanage.
He remembered telling Vera, about his plans for them to go see the orphanage again, and the soft smile on her face and the way her eyes gleamed. She was getting better, thankfully, he did not know what he would do if she did not get better,and she was smiling more the way a child her age ought to be. And though, Harrison could tell from the way she glanced at Azucena, she had taken a liking to her, he could also tell she missed that one Ellis, though Harrison frowned…he did not know how to break the news to her, that that one Ellis did not remember her at all, for she had perhaps lost her marbles.
“You will love the children,” Harrison had said to Azucena as they walked to the orphanage, Vera in front of them,jumping and hopping, due to her familiarity with this lands. “Don’t jump too much Vera,” he said, concern for her health evident in her face.
“But I’m fine,” She giggled, “And I have never felt so fine before,” She was so lovely in her light blue dress, twirling around as if she had just gotten gold. Harrison knew, it was happiness, happiness to finally being reunited with the other orphans she had befriended and been raised alongside by, and he was happy too, to see his ‘little pots of oats’ as he called them, and happy for Vera, but he did wish she would take more care of her health. She was not fully healed yet, and the nurse he had assigned to her, had said she needed more rest and with a stern voice, he had stopped walking and said again, “Vera, stop.” This time she listened, and pouted. Azucena- had frowned a bit, “Don’t be too harsh, she’s just being a child.” Harrison turned to Azucena with a softened gaze, though his jaw remained tense. “I’m not being harsh,” he replied gently, his tone dipped in concern. “It’s just… she’s still fragile, no matter how much better she feels.” He turned his eyes to Vera, who had momentarily stopped twirling but now shuffled her feet in that guilty way children do when they know they’ve done something wrong but don’t want to admit it.
Azucena glanced between them, her brow knitting, but she let the moment pass, choosing instead to reach for Harrison’s hand, a quiet gesture of support. [color=#ead1dc[ “Alright,” [/color] she murmured, squeezing lightly. “But let her have some joy today. Look at her, Harrison. That’s what she needs more than anything right now.”
He exhaled, his shoulders dropping a fraction as he relented. “And again like a book written in fine ink, you’re as beautiful and wise as ever.” He grinned, “How is it that you always know the words to say to be right, mi tesero? I’m starting to wonder if you’re perhaps a goddesses and not a human.”
Azucena grinned, raising a teasing brow. “Who knows?”
Vera, sensing the shift in tension, took advantage of the moment and clasped her hands together, a twinkle returning to her eyes. “Does that mean I can twirl again?”
Harrison groaned softly, but the corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk. “Fine, twirl all you want. But if you feel dizzy or tired—”
“I’ll stop, I promise!” Vera chirped, already spinning again in a flurry of blue fabric and laughter. Harrison shook his head, helpless against her charm, while Azucena chuckled beside him.
When they reached the orphanage gates, Vera dashed ahead, leaving Harrison and Azucena behind as she pushed them open and raced inside. “I’m back!” her voice rang out, light and clear like a bell.
nside, the other children turned toward her, faces lighting up with recognition and excitement. “Vera!” they cried, rushing toward her in a joyous swarm. For a moment, the world seemed to pause, the air thick with pure, unbridled happiness as the children reunited, their laughter and squeals echoing in the courtyard.
Harrison watched the scene unfold, his heart swelling. Azucena stood quietly beside him, her gaze taking in the lively chaos with a small smile. “They’re beautiful,” she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of awe.
“They are,” Harrison agreed, his voice thick with pride. “They’ve been through so much, but they still find ways to smile. They remind me of Vera. Resilient.”
Azucena turned to him then, her expression thoughtful. “And you,” she added. “You’ve given them a home. You’ve made sure they can smile again.”
Harrison looked down, uncharacteristically shy under her praise. “I didn’t do much,” he muttered. “They’ve made their own joy. I just… provided the space.”
And for a moment, they had simple talked. Not with their voice, oh no no! No words could be heard from their lips, but their eyes, they exchanged words, as the children played and screamed and when the children saw them, simply looking, they had stopped their playing but Harrison had not seen that, because ea small grin had passed his face as he parted his lips to speak. “Azucena,” He began, taking her hand softly, and placing a kiss on her backhand as the children cooed. “I know, our first engagement did not go all so well, and I’m sorry for the hurt that it had caused you and my great ignorance. I do not try to be a man of ignorance, but sometimes It cannot be helped, but I truly would be extremely ignorant if I let you go again. You, who is is the light I never recognized I needed, the warmth I didn’t know I craved, the poet whose verses I was too blind to understand.” Harrison’s voice wavered, heavy with the weight of his confession. His thumb grazed over Azucena’s knuckles as he knelt before her, the moment so still that even the wind seemed to pause in reverence.
Azucena’s dark eyes widened, a storm of emotions brewing within them. She opened her mouth to speak, but he continued, his words spilling out as if he feared he might lose them—or her—forever.
“I judged you unfairly before, Azucena,” His tone breaking with regret, “I was too unfair, and I don’t think there shall ever be a man as unfair as me, for comparing you to someone else throughout our engagement, and trying to find my former love in you, when you’re so much more.I saw your silence as dullness, your shyness as weakness. But it wasn’t that at all. It was bravery—bravery to carry the weight of your thoughts, to create beauty in the quiet corners of the world where no one else thought to look. I see that now. I see you now”
Azucena’s breath hitched, her free hand trembling at her side. “Harrison…” she whispered, her voice cracking like fragile glass. But he pressed on, his eyes never leaving hers.
He had went on his knees, still gripping unto her hands, kissing her palms, kissing the back of it, and cupping her face as he saw her, truly saw and oh, did he like the sight that he saw. For she was so beautiful, so lovely, and she defeated him not in strength or words but by her beauty that was like that of a swan–majestic, bold and lovely. “I’ve lived with the guilt of letting you go, Azucena” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I thought I was freeing you, but the truth is, I was running. Running from the kind of love I didn’t understand, the kind that doesn’t shout or demand but waits, steady and patient, until it’s seen. And now, I see it. I see you.”
“Azucena,” he said, his voice steady now, though his hands trembled. “Will you give me another chance? Will you let me love you the way you deserve to be loved? Will you be my wife—not out of obligation, not out of my foolish pride—but because I finally understand that my life is brighter, fuller, and infinitely better with you in it?”
The world seemed to hold its breath as Azucena stared at him, tears spilling down her cheeks. Slowly, she knelt before him, their eyes level now. She cupped his face with both hands, her touch feather-light but grounding.
[color=#“Yes,” she had breathed out, her voice a whisper but carrying the strength of a thousand truths,
Her words shattered something inside him, only to rebuild it stronger. Harrison
“Yes,” she said finally, a radiant smile breaking through her tears. “Yes, Harrison. I will marry you.”
The children erupted into cheers, their little voices carrying the joy that seemed to swell and burst around them. Harrison slipped the ring onto her finger, his hands steady now, and pulled her into his arms, holding her as if he might never let go again.
When Harrison does things, even marriage it seems, he never does it without a little scandal. For, his wedding, a wedding that the queen was attending, her eyes glued to them like a predator glued to their prey, he had decided, that it was the day to reveal Vera to the public. She wore a flower dress, fit for a lady, and fit for the flower girl and hair was made into little curls. When, he had told his mother his plans of having Vera be his little flower girl, she had reacted the same way she did when Harrison told her about vera and his orphanage… she fainted and then woke up and denied him, and yet Harrison and Azucena still went ahead and did it. He just hoped, Vera does not see the Ellis person too early and run into their arms, now that! He couldnt help but to smirk, would be a scandal. He currently stood at the altar, waiting for his future wife to walk towards him, standing tall and proud in his tailored suit. And then, there, standing so lovely, so eye-catching in her simple and yet majestic wedding dress was his future wife. She approached him, hand in hand with her father and Harrison stared at her, as if he had never started at a person before, and a small graced his lips as his eyes watered a bit. This was it, this was his decision, and was it not the best decision a man has ever made? To be wedded to such a beautiful woman. As she stepped towards him, her eyes lowered, he whispered to her, “You look astonishing, tears flooded my eyes simple from your beauty.”
Finished finally, I missed writing Harrison’s corny ass
@raviola - Harrison
@benitz786 - Aurelia mentioned indirectly