"Why didn't you write to me saying that that you were going to visit?" 

Adèle and Bash were now both in her bedchambers, passing the time, exchanging questions with answers. Bash sat on her bed, as Adèle stood before him. He looked at her and smiled, only to respond with, "I simply didn't have the time."

"Has the plague died down yet?"

"Thankfully, yes, but it is best you wait a few days before returning to France. Although the deaths caused by the plague is quite large. French court has been mourning," he replied. "Did you receive the letter that Francis sent you?"

"Yes, I did. I thought that Mary would have written a thank you letter, as Francis is too busy with his duties."

"They actually have an equal amount of duties. Francis just likes to take advantage of them and use them as excuses when he feels he is too lazy to do something," He and Adèle both quietly chuckled at his response. When their laughter died down, they simply smiled at each other, waiting for either one of them to say something.

"I wanted to tell you something," said Bash.

"What is it?"

"Kenna.. she allowed us to marry." As he said this, Adèle looked stunned.

"Has she really? And are you sure about this?"

"Yes," he uttered.

Adèle remained eerily silent, as her mind processed what he had just said to her not a minute ago. Her eyes travelled to the crumpled bedsheets, as she took her time to think. Bash rose from her bed, and stood next to her. He looked down and took her hand, letting her fingers to intertwine with his. They were now inches apart as they stood next to each other. His forehead rested on her's, and now they were so close to one another that they could hear each exhale of breath that they took. 

"Adèle, I have to say.. I'm tired of this," murmured Bash, as his fingertips traced her skin.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm tired of not knowing what I am to you," He spoke with a melancholic tone, still unable to keep his hands of her. "At one moment you show that you in love with me, and you become willing to let me love you as well, but then you tell me to marry off someone else and that we should part ways. I need you to make it clear, for me, what I am to you. It is your choice, as you stated in your letter.. I just need to know, Adèle," he muttered, closing his eyes. 

"If Kenna has allowed us, then I am sure that means we can be together," Adèle reassured him. 

"But you're not telling me what I need you to tell me. I ask you again, to make the decision if you want us together or not. That is all I ask of you,"

She breathed a heavy sigh. The answer that was to escape her mouth will determine the state of their relationship, which was something that unnerved both Bash and Adèle. Taking a few moments to think of her answer first,  Bash wished he could read her mind, for if he was able to do so, he did not have to wait for her answer.

"I will give you everything," Bash uttered, as his eyes locked with hers. "I offer you the world, and more, my lionheart."

"I don't want everything," she replied calmly. "I don't want anything more."

"Then I will give you all the happiness that you so greatly deserve, Adèle."

Lightly touching his hand, Adèle's eyes looked up at him. She read and obsered the expression on his face. A variety of emotions were written on his face, from deep curiosity, a ever-lasting ardor, to growing impatience.  She opened her mouth to speak. "Although time may offer us obstacles that we are obliged to overcome, I will always be utterly, completely, madly in love with you, and that is something you should not doubt.. If I had known that I was going to be in love with the king's half-brother, I would have not believed it, but yet here I am, standing before you."

"Do you wish for us to be married for life?" Bash said, aching for Adèle's response, and for Adèle as well.

His gaze remain focused on her, and her only, as well as his thoughts. 

"Of course, I do, you bastard."