UNDER HIS RULES

Beatrice treaded carefully, her hand tightly held by Sam’s. Occasionally, Sam helped her navigate the slippery stone steps. The rain from last night had made the path to the top of the hill much steeper than usual.

Beatrice wanted to ask where exactly they were heading, but Sam didn’t want to speak too much. However, Beatrice was amazed and felt a sense of tranquility that she had never experienced before in this place she had visited so many times.

The hilly area covered in lush vegetation and pine trees created a completely different atmosphere along the path that Beatrice was traversing. There was still a slight mist obstructing their way.

“We’ll arrive at the end there,” Sam said, pointing to a spot that suddenly filled him with longing. The image of where he was once a happy five-year-old child, receiving love and affection, remained vivid in his memory.

The gentle laughter of his mother and the towering figure of his strict father spun in his head. If he hadn’t tightly held Beatrice’s hand, he might have already shed tears along the way to his parents’ grave.

Sam… despite his cold, unapproachable appearance and his rough and rigid nature, he had once been a child who received an outpouring of love. It was the circumstances that shaped him into what he was now. He had exerted all his abilities and powers to find out if his parents’ accident was staged.

Unfortunately, he had to come to terms with the truth. There was no intentionality involved. It was a pure accident that left Sam feeling alone in this world. Even cursing God was futile, as it couldn’t bring his parents back.

Their steps halted at a place surrounded by large pillars on all four sides. A golden dome and well-maintained plants adorned the pillars. A large tombstone bore a name unfamiliar to Beatrice. However, after a momentary glance at Sam, she realized that this was no ordinary grave.

“Hi, Mom,” Sam smiled faintly, gently touching the tombstone that had his mother’s picture attached. “Hans has taken good care of Mama, right? The white roses are a bit messy from last night’s rain.”

Beatrice chose to keep her distance. The authoritative and intimidating figure she had known suddenly disappeared, replaced by a vulnerable man who had lost his parents. Beatrice couldn’t help but gaze at Sam’s broad back from her standing position.

“Sorry for not visiting for so long. Twin Dragons kept me busy. Papa, whenever I leave something for me to take care of, I don’t do it halfway,” Sam said with a soft chuckle. His laughter carried millions of meanings, as his eyes suddenly felt hot. He let out a soft sigh. “But I won’t disappoint you, Mama and Papa. I’m sure both of you are watching over me from Heaven.” Once again, Sam smiled faintly. He stared at his parents’ tombstone for a while until he noticed something. “Beatrice?”

“I’m here, Sam,” Beatrice smiled faintly.

A sigh of relief escaped Sam. “I was afraid you’d distance yourself.”

Beatrice laughed, comfortably leaning on Sam’s arm, which she couldn’t ignore. Before Beatrice could ask, Sam spoke first. “Mom, Dad, I’ve brought someone close to me. Her name is… Leora Eddith Seraphine Quassano.”

Beatrice swallowed. Although facing a stone with his parents’ names engraved on it, it truly felt like two people whom Sam respected and loved were looking at her. One gave a faint smile, while the other scrutinized and assessed her through his gaze.

“I think Mama had met Leora when she was young. Maybe I’ve also met her at the gatherings that Papa often attended.”

Those words made Beatrice turn and look at Sam in astonishment. “Really?”

“Maybe,” Sam replied with a shrug. “I don’t remember because it’s been a long time.”

“Should I ask Grandfather about it?”

“Don’t!” Sam was surprised by Beatrice’s words just now. It might sound ordinary, but Sam didn’t want his childhood memories to be replayed like a thousand broken tapes. No, the reasons were not that simple. The memories of his childhood were still vividly familiar to him and not just ordinary memories.

However,

“Why?” Beatrice asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

“No need for too many questions,” Sam said, looking back at his parents’ tombstone. “I came here to introduce Leora and ask for your blessing.”

Beatrice blinked twice. Her eyes turned back to Sam, who was still speaking earnestly.

“I want to marry Leora, Mom, Dad. In front of you, this invitation is not just a joke or a business arrangement. If this girl was not Leora but just Beatrice Catalina, it wouldn’t matter to me. All I want is this girl.”

Beatrice’s mouth hung wide open before she quickly closed it. Her heart was turned upside down this morning. The words Sam had just said were recorded separately in her memory. And now, his words.

“I love her, Mom, Dad. Give us your blessing.” Sam held Beatrice’s hand much tighter than usual. “Will you marry me, Leora?”

Tears welled up in Beatrice’s eyes, and in an instant, they fell freely. “Yes!” Without hesitation, Beatrice answered and hugged Sam tightly. She heard a stifled grunt from Sam due to his sudden movement.

“You might fall, you know.”

Ah! Why did Sam make her so happy? Even his tone of voice was no longer the same. It was much softer and filled with care. Beatrice was truly moved and didn’t want to easily let go of her embrace this time.

“Don’t you want to see the ring I brought?”

Beatrice released her hug momentarily. Her eyes focused on Sam, who smiled faintly, but that smile truly made Beatrice not want Sam to stop the way he was pulling at the corners of his lips.

Sam’s face, which was sculpted with firm yet handsome features, showed the perfection bestowed upon him by God. Even though there were a few scars visible around his face, they didn’t detract from, but rather added to the impression Sam possessed.

“Sam … did you prepare all of this?”

“Of course,” Sam laughed. He gently tousled Beatrice’s beautifully disheveled hair. “I was supposed to propose to you in a beautiful, luxurious, unforgettable, and ro-”

“This is more than enough. I truly didn’t expect that…” Beatrice wiped her still wet cheeks. Especially when Sam pulled out a black velvet box containing a sparkling deep blue gemstone ring from his pocket. Beatrice kept alternating her gaze between Sam and the ring that the man had just taken out.

“What if?” Sam asked, looking puzzled. “Why?” Sam had never been familiar with the word patience, especially when it came to Beatrice and anything related to his personal matters.

“If you love me, Sam,” Beatrice continued softly. She sobbed quietly because she still couldn’t believe everything that was happening right now. As a result, Beatrice chose to lower her head while trying to hold back the tears of her overwhelming joy.

“Don’t you feel it?” Sam laughed. He lifted Beatrice’s chin so they could look into each other’s eyes again. “Is there something lacking?”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“It’s not that,” Beatrice interjected quickly. “I’m afraid to hope, but the reality is that you’re with someone else.”

“So you doubt me.” Sam closed the distance between them. “That’s understandable because I haven’t given you much clarity.” He then took Beatrice’s right hand, which was covered in a long cardigan. He did it intentionally because Sam knew they were in a cold environment, and who knows, insects might make Beatrice uncomfortable.

He gently kissed the back of her hand, which he knew was as soft as silk. Then he placed the ring he had brought on her ring finger. “Beautiful.” Sam kissed it again, full of emotion.

“The ring or the one wearing it?” Beatrice asked, smiling and slightly hoarse from holding back her sobs.

“This ring belongs to Mama, to you.”

Beatrice’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “Why didn’t you say so?”

“Do I have to say it?”

“Ugh!”

Sam laughed at Beatrice’s sudden slight hysteria. He gently caressed the ring now adorning her finger and admired it with awe.

“Do you want to go home or go up again?”

“What’s up there?” Beatrice asked innocently, tilting her head slightly as Sam stood in front of her, fixing her unruly hair due to the wind blowing around them.

“The peak of pleasure.”

“Samuel!”

Sam burst into laughter. “I’m serious. Do you want to go or not?”