The Crown's Obsession

If Raphael had not said earlier that there was nothing to worry about, Beth would have been extremely anxious about what he wanted to speak about.

"Elizabeth," he used her full name, and Beth wondered if this was something serious.

"Why are you calling me Elizabeth? Beth is fine," said Beth, and she heard Raphael chuckle.

"Okay. Let's retry it. Beth," he said with a pause and a smile on his lips, "Since the last four years, I have made many wonderful memories of my life with you. And I treasure each and every one of them very dear to me. I have known your good, your bad and the ugly side."

"Thank you," murmured Beth.

She felt him turn facing her, picking her hand up, which was resting on her l.a.p. "I have seen you change, making an effort that has stolen my already captured heart," Raphael's words were the same as the breeze that surrounded them, gentle and soothing. "It isn't easy for a mortal to steal an angel or an archangel's heart. But now that you have mine and I have yours, I have been wondering how to fulfill the promise that I have wished to make to you."

Saying this, Raphael pushed something on her ring finger. When she looked down, her eyes fell on a plain-looking silver ring. She didn't know what to say for a moment because she was stunned by the unexpected action.

"T-this ring, you-" Beth tried to form a sentence, but she felt lost.

"We haven't been able to wed each other, but recently when I was walking in the market, I heard these two young children. They spoke about promise rings," said Raphael before he continued, "I promise to stay by your side, Beth. To love and cherish you until the end."

Beth's eyes were quick to water, and she felt her heart flutter at his words and gestures.

"But I don't have one for you," replied Beth. It wasn't like she hadn't thought about the rings, but they were not going to get married, and Heaven's wrath was the last thing she wanted.

"You don't have to worry about that. It seems like it has become a habit of buying everything in pairs. If I bring one for me-" he said, his hand slipping into his pocket and pulling it out, "-I bring one for you."

He handed her the ring so that she could help him wear it. Beth didn't take much time in pushing the ring on Raphael's finger. Before he could say something, she was quick to place her fingers on his lips. She was yet to speak about her promise to him. She would not get to make a vow, which was why she didn't want to lose the opportunity to make a promise.

"Archangel Raphael," addressed Beth.

"I understand now," he murmured.

Beth's green eyes stared into his golden eyes, which had brown flecks in them, "You are not just anyone that I have loved. Given I fell for many men, but how I feel with you is something I will never have with anyone else. Having you next to me is like a non-exhausting lantern next to me during my dark times in the past. The faith you have put in me, in helping me and seeing the better from the worse. Thank you for believing in me and changing things, where I can now not have to cower. I promise to love you, Raphael. And feed you good food."

Raphael grinned at Beth's words. Leaning forward, he kissed her before pulling away and said, "I cannot wait for that."

They spent some more time in the garden by themselves while Beth couldn't help but look down at her ring. She felt a giddy smile appear on her lips. Humming softly while sitting next to Raphael and talking to him.

"Look at you two love birds sitting here on the bench by yourselves," came the voice of Gabriel, and Beth was quick to turn around to meet his eyes. Next to him stood Michael, who had a serious-looking expression on his face.

Beth stood up, bowing her head in greeting, "Welcome to Morven's fourth birthday."

"Thank you, Ms. Elizabeth. Seems like something exciting happened," commented Gabriel, noticing how radiant the young woman looked right now.

Beth waved her hand, a blush quick to appear on her face. "We were just sitting and talking."

A crackling sound was heard next to her, and Vladimir appeared to stand next to her now. "That only makes one more suspicious when you say that, wolf girl," he commented. "I don't remember inviting you to my great grandson's birthday," he narrowed his eyes, looking at Michael.

"You didn't. It was Madeline, who invited me here," Michael responded coolly without bothering the words that came from the Devil. "It wasn't like I was eager to stand in the same room as you."

"As if I am looking forward to it," Vladimir retorted.

"Isn't this wonderful to have everyone gathered here," Gabriel clapped both his hands with a smile on his face. "

Michale asked, "Where is the little boy? It has been a while since I last saw him."

Vladimir's eyes narrowed at Michael, suspicious if the archangels were here to inspect his adorable great-grandson.

"Odiii!" a boy's voice was heard from near the maze, and soon little prince Morven appeared with Odin following him.

"Master Morven, wait, don't go there-Oh, Master is here!" Odin's face brightened up by seeing Vladimir standing along with the other people.

"He's growing up fast," said Gabriel, looking at the boy who had features similar to his father. "Vampire childrens often grow faster than human ones. What a cute one."

Beth walked forward to pick her nephew in her arms so that she could hold him. Though Morven looked like Calhoun, he had acquired Madeline's character with a quiet nature, and he was still learning things around him. But then only time would say.

"We should get back inside, I am sure others are waiting for us," proposed Raphael, and everyone stepped back inside the castle.

**

Please read this:

I request everyone to switch your votes to the book 'The Fourth Mistress' (TFM) from today onwards. The book is going to have around 60-80 chapters (current plan).

New book: Letters to Romeo. The book doesn't have voting option enabled to it yet.

With TCO's end around the corner, when a book is marked complete, it disappears from the ranking list. By providing your votes to the other ongoing books, it helps in providing exposure for new readers to find the book.

Also, I have tried to remove the privilege for the new month, so everyone should be able to access the next released chapters in the normal way.