We all rushed into Nil’s room, barging through the door to confront the unknown , seeing him sitting up rubbing his face. His presence felt completely different than before as the around him fluctuated and shook a bit. We looked around to confirm that it was only Nil in his room. Nil was massaging and rubbing around his eyes quite slowly, with the presence around him getting more intense with each breath he took. He stopped rubbing his face, looking towards us and my blood went cold for the briefest moment. That loathing, hateful stare was the same way the Eternal Emperor would look; I shook my head for a second, knowing that wasn’t the Nil of now. Something else about Nil was wildly off other than that expression of his.

  After a few moments, it clicked. Nil’s eyes were intense, but they were distinctly different than before as the amber was oddly intense. His also seemed to grow by an absurd amount in just a few days. Nil moved a little before it was obvious his body was not having any of it. Nil barely tilted towards us, the mix of exhaustion and hatred all over his face was brutally apparent. After Nil unsuccessfully moved a few times, he simply laid back down; his body was shaking the entire time until he laid back down on his bed. The way the seemed to kneel in front of Nil's gaze was something new that might've been a side effect of the extreme strain from the last week. Everyone relaxed after a few moments upon realizing that it was nothing.

  “We will let you two chat.” Empress Senna declared, ushering everyone out of the room.

  “About what?” Nil asked as he didn’t grasp why his mom said that. Nil clearly realized something was to be discussed by the fact everyone quickly left only us in the room.

  “Give me a second, I was not ready for this discussion at this immediate moment.” I told Nil as I walked over to his bed and sat at the top of it; I pet his head a bit while he looked at me.

  “Okay.” Nil acquiesced, adjusting so his head was in my lap which looked to be a great struggle for him.

  “Things moving forward.” I admitted as I racked my brain for how to explain it. Nil looked immensely upset as he thought about it.

  “What needed to be discussed?” Nil spat while his voice was croaking a bit. My face immediately felt crimson and my heart leapt into my mouth.

  “Uhhhhhhhh……” I tried as I was unable to make coherent words.

  “It’s fine, please just tell me the news.” Nil grumbled as he looked at me. He looked so upset at the moment, which I imagined was due to change once I figured out how to talk.

  “We… uh… are to…” I stammered. I felt an even deeper crimson as it occurred to me how vehemently I defended this.

  “We are to…?” Nil prodded, looking at me confused. His eyes narrowed as he looked intensely at me.

  “Written… um… that… we… have… from here…” I continued. Nil’s face was confused until his face slowly twisted in a mischievous smile.

  “Something with our relationship? Something different moving forward?” Nil cooed, seeming amused by how crimson I was.

  “Yes.” I confirmed. Maybe I could walk him there between squeaks and nods because Nil was quite perceptive today.

  “Grisbane finally got her wish granted and we’re engaged.” Nil joked. Well, I knew for a fact he was making a lighthearted joke to break the ice, unfortunately for him he hit the nail directly on the head.

  “Ya.” I confirmed.

  “What?” Nil checked as his smile vanished in an instant.

  “Yes.” I replied while trying not to sound like a pirate.

  “W-w-w-w-what?” Nil inquired again as his face was now crimson.

  “You were correct.” I squeaked. I needed to articulate my thoughts better, but that is all I had currently.

  “Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…” Nil croaked as his face was blood red.

  “So… we…” I tried until it felt like my heart was about to explode.

  We were both motionless for a couple of moments trying to get our composure. Nil thankfully looked quite flustered now rather than the loathsome anger he possessed when he woke up. He fidgeted trying to think of what to say while my brain decided the best course of action was to focus on how adorable Nil looked while he blushed at me. Blasted Empress Senna apparently thought I could simply handle this conversation! Leave it to me! Luna can explain and talk it over with Nil! Why? Nil fidgeted around while looking at me, his face blushing heavier and heavier. I kept trying to talk a bit more, but my heart started racing like lightning in my chest each time I tried.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “Did you want a speech?” Nil blurted out. Wow, his face was red. But, what speech is he talking about?

  “Speech?” I asked while trying to figure out what he was asking me.

  “Uhhh… normally there’s a speech.” Nil mumbled. He was clearly powering through how flustered he was feeling.

  “No there’s not.” I retorted. Why did he think there was a speech?

  “Where I’m originally from there is!” Nil snapped at me. Oh? Earth tradition.

  “What kind of speech?” I probed, trying to deflect a little.

  “Sentimental.” Nil answered. He looked away as he clearly battled how flustered he was.

  “That sounds nice.” I admitted, wondering what kind of speech Nil would give.

  “Um… uh… how did we get here?” Nil inquired. I stroked his hair a bit as I thought of how to phrase it.

  “On the bright side, Grisbane is not happy.” I informed Nil. He turned his head slowly to look at me with about as much shock as the others.

  “What? Explain?” Nil requested. I stroked his hair a little more, enjoying tracing my fingers on his horns.

  “My dad had concerns about the future and being compensated for how dangerous these events are. And we are dating, but my dad wants it in writing that I at minimum get the title of Archduchess should things not work out. That being said, I think it’ll work out.” I rambled a bit. Nil nodded along a little, still quite red.

  “Same.” Nil quipped in agreement.

  “Good.” I squeaked. We both were so crimson as we composed ourselves.

  “So… how did Grisbane get upset?” Nil asked. He shifted up into me a bit more.

  “Grisbane apparently didn’t like people agreeing with her and for some reason decided it was suddenly a bad idea.” I explained. Nil nodded along as I recalled my argument with her.

  “Really?” Nil probed, clearly skeptical that’s what happened.

  “I couldn’t explain her logic to you. I can’t shove my head up my gip that much, but that is essentially what happened.” I informed Nil. He chuckled a little at that.

  “So, is it official?” Nil clarified, his voice sounding a bit steadier. It was kind of impressive how sure of himself he sounded despite the exhaustion and weakness his voice possessed.

  “In all but paperwork.” I replied while continuing to pet his head. Nil shifted his head over so slightly side to side as he mulled something over.

  “I see why our parents want it now, but do you?” Nil checked. His eyes betrayed how much that question terrified him.

  “I did argue quite vehemently for it.” I confessed. I hoped Nil could hear the last part because my voice got so high pitched by the end.

  “That’s not yes.” Nil pointed out. He was putting on a brave face, but I imagined these moments were feeling like an eternity to him.

  “Yes, I do.” I confirmed for him. Nil let out a massive breath of relief.

  “I see.” Nil cooed with a massive smile across his dorky face.

  “So, I get a heartfelt speech?” I teased him. I instantly regretted the question as Nil’s dorky smile looked a tad villainous. My heart was already fluttering, but something told me by Nil’s smile he was going to make it his mission to make my heart burst.

  “Oh yes. Speech, ring, and a romantic gesture. I’m not sure if the dinner is technically required.” Nil explained with his head barely nodding along.

  “Fancy, I can’t wait.” I assured Nil as I was trying to find the nerve to talk more rationally.

  “The tubots will be fried to perfection this time.” Nil taunted me. Of course, Nil would try to work the tubots back in.

  “While tubots were surprisingly romantic, I am not sure this would be the appropriate occasion for them.” I informed him. Nil’s smile barely faltered.

  “If you insist.” Nil sniffled. It was entertaining seeing him try to be dramatic when he could barely move.

  “I think I will have to insist on this one.” I added on. I stroked his hair some more, enjoying his dorkiness.

  “The challenge is going to be the ring.” Nil replied as he relished in me stroking his hair.

  “What’s the ring for?” I probed. Nil looked baffled by the question.

  “What am I supposed to get you for the engagement? For a proposal? Wait, I think I've been told this before.” Nil asked. Like I thought, it was similar to the romantic speech.

  “What jewelry does your mother wear?” I inquired, seeing if Nil realized the answer. By the blushing and blank expression, he never paid attention to that.

  “A ring.” Nil tried despite the fact he knew it was wrong. His face was priceless because Nil clearly remembered being told the answer but was clearly unable to remember what it was.

  “Nope.” I teased, not saying the answer.

  “What’s the answer?” Nil requested. He was being so adorable with how he was looking at the moment.

  “A bracelet.” I informed him. Nil nodded as he clearly remembered the answer and where he learned it; he looked a bit sad as the answer clicked.

  “I will need to get a nice bracelet then.” Nil deflected. Part of me was worried it was a dangerous gamble, the rest of me knew he could make almost any of his ideas work.

  “You will. So, does the bracelet come after the sentimental speech? Where does the speech make its way into your version of a proposal?” I asked him. I was looking forward to seeing what his idea looked like.

  “It is usually romantic gesture, into the speech, ended with presentation of the ring, I guess bracelet, with the ‘will you marry me’ question. I am imagining on Tenebrae the engagement process is different, but I feel like doing my way too. I need to check what all I am required to do.” Nil explained to me.

  “Oh yes, checklists. What every being dreams of for their engagement, a highly romantic checklist complete with a clipboard.” I taunted Nil.

  “Noted.” Nil stated immediately. I was pretty sure he was teasing me, but there was a nonzero chance Nil was serious.

  “You are teasing me, right?” I checked, wanting to make sure.

  “If you want the checklist, you will get the checklist. I will make sure the clipboard has some nice gems on it, so it looks official and romantic.” Nil continued.

  “Oh yes, the most romantic clipboard on the face of Tenebrae.” I played along as I fought the urge to laugh.

  “And I will make sure to draft multiple revisions of the checklist to optimize how romantic it is.” Nil teased me. His smile was so dorky and confident at the moment.

  “That is what every relationship needs, bureaucracy to ensure the most romance is achieved.” I agreed with him.

  “I’m glad you understand. So I need tubots, a clipboard, and at least the fourth version of the checklist.” Nil listed.

  “Uh huh. You understand. I was worried you might be helpless or need some ideas.” I taunted Nil. His confidence didn’t waver whatsoever.

  “I think I have got this. Just you wait, love.” Nil assured me as he leaned into me a bit more.