(This Chapter is for Eve_Wamala_1162. Thank you for the power stones and constant support.)

Something bloomed inside Aselia at those words and spread to her entire being like beautiful vines of vibrant flowers, for she glowed like one. Those were just words but to her, they meant the world. She had never believed someone would ever want to build a house for her let alone turn it into a home.

She jerked her head to him but no sound escaped her for a long time. The tumultuous emotions had settled in her eyes and transformed into that salty water and dampened them. Then they trickled down and disappeared into her mask.

Perplexity birthed in Xiran’s greyish orbs at her reaction and he cursed himself for throwing something like that on her so suddenly. He gently tugged her near him and wiped her eyes with his thumbs. His heart ached to see her cry.

"Please! Don’t cry. You don’t have to accept it. I know it’s all so impulsive on my part and you must be hating the idea because you want to be free and not bound..." Aselia placed her index finger on his lips to stop him from rambling and whispered while staring into his shimmering eyes:

"I would love to make a home with you one day, these are happy tears. I never thought anyone would want to do that with me," Xiran’s heart felt so much joy at her words that he thought it would explode with happiness. His eyes had softened with the love and affection he held for her. He cupped her beautiful face and murmured only for her:

"Oh! My love, I can’t tell you how happy you have made me feel, and why wouldn’t I? You will be the only one that I will do this with because you are my precious Leia."

"I am...Thank you...for such a thoughtful gift..." her voice trailed off as words got choked due to overwhelming emotions and his loving gestures. She embraced him, the rhythms of their hearts matched and he held her close to him for a long time.

They finally separated and he began to show her around and told her why he had chosen this place.

"It’s close to the sea which you love. Then the weather is phenomenal and it snows in the mountains, but spring lasts for a long time here. It’s the safest place I could find in our world and the most beautiful as well."

"I love it, Xiran. It’s taken my breath away and I can’t wait for the day when we will come and live here," she entwined her arm with his and he affectionately nodded at her before saying:

"We will design the house together, you will tell me what you need where, and how many rooms you need, and I will make sure to have it built accordingly."

Aselia couldn’t help but gush at his words, he not only wanted to build a home he wanted to build it according to her wishes. It will be her home, a place for her to return to. She gazed all around herself and took a deep breath, taking in that salty air. This was indeed serene and she could sit in one corner and paint it.

"I would very much like that. We will have a separate gym/training area and a painting studio for sure," she pointed to the place where she wanted them.

"And the painting studio will have glass walls so I can see outside and paint to my heart’s content," Aselia further explained with her eyes full of excitement.

"Of course, that’s a must," Xiran had a permanent smile etched on his face and his all attentiveness was on her as she kept on telling him where she would like everything to be. Then he leaned forward and whispered into her ear, in that extremely sexy voice of his:

"And where would our bedroom be? Where I would devour you daily?" Aselia’s face flustered instantly and she quickly averted her gaze and responded:

"Ahmm!" making him laugh out loud at her reaction.

He wanted to ask her about the rooms of the kids they will have but knew that would be a sour topic for her and he didn’t want to spoil her mood, so he didn’t dwell on it. Hoping one day she would herself want to have kids with him, whom she would grow to love and cherish.

Seeing him lost in his train of thought, she tugged his arm and lead him to the centre of the ground where the grass was still green. Sitting down she pointed him to do the same and once he did she laid down in his lap making his smile even broader behind the mask.

"Let’s stay here like this for a while, away from all the burdens of the world, away from all the evil, away from the mess that is our life," she said to him.

"Exactly the reason I brought you here, away from the mayhem of our world," his hand rested on her forehead as he stared at the beautiful sea ahead while her eyes were glued on him, drinking in his ethereal beauty amid a meadow.

Both of them then watched the setting sun as it slid down and disappeared behind a snow-capped mountain, blazing its tip with hues of orange and pink. Aselia watched in awe while Xiran revelled in the beauty of his surroundings with a lazy posture.

He finally bent down and kissed her forehead before uttering:

"I hate to say it because I want to stay here forever with you, just like this. But we have to head back now my love."

Aselia reluctantly nodded with a heavy heart, the sadness descended on her turquoise orbs, sensing her dampened spirit Xiran spoke again: 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"I promise I will bring you back here very soon," he stood up with her in his arms and carried her to the car. Soon they sped off toward their plane and boarding it headed back to Tremais.