The Extra's Rise-Chapter 771: Six Engagements (1)

The sacred grove of the Windward family was one of the most beautiful and restricted locations in the entire Northern continent—a place where ancient magic had preserved the natural wonder of the aurora borealis in permanent, ethereal display above a pristine winter landscape that seemed untouched by time itself. Getting access to this hallowed ground had required calling in a significant favor with Lucifer, but seeing Rachel’s expression as we walked through the snow-covered path toward the grove’s heart made every moment of diplomatic negotiation worthwhile.

"Arthur," Rachel breathed, her deep blue eyes wide with wonder as she took in the dancing lights overhead, "this is absolutely magical. I’ve heard about this place since childhood, but I never dreamed I would actually see it."

The aurora cast shifting patterns of green, blue, and silver across the snow-covered clearing, creating an atmosphere that seemed designed by nature itself for momentous occasions. Huge trees formed a natural cathedral around us, their snow-laden branches reaching toward the celestial display like arms raised in eternal celebration.

"I wanted to share something special with you," I replied, watching how the ethereal light played across her golden hair and made her eyes sparkle with reflected starlight. "Somewhere that could match the beauty and grace you bring to everything in my life."

Rachel’s cheeks flushed with the kind of deep pleasure that always made my heart race when I managed to surprise her with genuine romantic gestures. Despite all the time we had spent together, despite the depth of our relationship, she still reacted to expressions of affection with the enthusiasm of someone discovering love for the first time.

We walked deeper into the grove, following a path that wound between crystal formations that had been shaped by centuries of magical influence. The aurora overhead seemed to respond to our presence, the lights growing more vivid and dancing in patterns that created an ever-changing tapestry of celestial beauty.

"How did you manage to arrange this?" Rachel asked, turning to face me with obvious curiosity. "The Windward family guards access to this place more carefully than their royal treasury."

"I may have mentioned to Lucifer that I needed somewhere appropriately magnificent for a very important conversation with a very important person," I replied with carefully controlled casualness. "He seemed to understand the significance."

The truth was that convincing Lucifer to grant access had required explaining the general nature of my intentions without revealing the specific details. But the Northern prince had proven remarkably accommodating once he understood that this was about proposing to someone I genuinely cared about rather than simply showing off for political advantage.

"A very important conversation?" Rachel repeated, her voice carrying a note of breathless anticipation that suggested she was beginning to suspect this evening might involve more than a romantic date.

We reached the center of the grove, where a natural clearing provided an unobstructed view of the aurora display overhead. The ancient magic that preserved this place had created a pocket of perfect climate, warm enough to be comfortable despite the Northern winter while maintaining the pristine beauty of the snow-covered landscape.

"Rachel," I said, turning to face her fully as the dancing lights overhead seemed to intensify in response to the moment’s significance, "over the past few years, you’ve become far more than I ever expected when we first met."

Her breath caught as she recognized the seriousness in my tone, her deep blue eyes reflecting both the aurora’s glow and something that looked remarkably like hope mixed with almost desperate longing.

"You’ve shown me what it means to truly care about other people’s welfare," I continued, taking her hands in mine and feeling how they trembled slightly with emotion. "Your dedication to healing, to helping those who can’t help themselves, to making the world better through compassion and skill—it’s inspired me to become a better person."

"Arthur," Rachel whispered, her voice carrying the kind of raw emotion that she rarely allowed herself to express so openly.

"You’ve stood by me through every challenge, supported every decision, trusted me even when my choices seemed impossible to understand," I said, studying her face and seeing the tears beginning to gather in her eyes. "You’ve been my partner, my confidant, and my closest friend."

I released her hands and reached into my coat pocket, withdrawing the ring case that had been crafted by the finest artisans in the Empire according to specifications I had spent weeks perfecting. The case itself was made from rare Northern crystal that seemed to capture and hold aurora light within its crystalline structure.

"Rachel Creighton," I said, dropping to one knee on the snow-covered ground as the aurora overhead burst into the most magnificent display I had ever witnessed, "would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

The case opened to reveal a ring that represented months of careful design and magical craftsmanship. The band was forged from pure aetherite that had been infused with Northern magical traditions, creating a foundation that would enhance Rachel’s natural healing abilities while providing protection against harmful magical influences. Set into the band were three perfectly matched Northern sapphires, each one cut to reflect the deep blue of her eyes and arranged in a pattern that symbolized the eternal cycle of healing, growth, and renewal.

But it was the magical properties embedded within the aetherite that made this ring truly special. The ancient enchantments woven into its structure would allow Rachel to channel her healing magic with unprecedented precision and power, while also creating a bond between us that would allow me to sense if she was ever in danger or distress.

Rachel’s reaction was immediate and overwhelming. Her hands flew to cover her mouth as tears began streaming down her cheeks, her entire body trembling with emotion that seemed too intense to contain.

"Yes," she breathed, the word barely audible through her tears. "Yes, yes, of course yes!"

I slipped the ring onto her finger, watching as the aetherite immediately began to resonate with her natural magical energy, creating a soft glow that seemed to pulse in harmony with her heartbeat. The sapphires caught the aurora light and reflected it back in patterns that made her hand appear to be holding captured starlight.

"Arthur," Rachel said, her voice breaking with the intensity of her emotions, "I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long, but I never dared hope it would actually happen. I love you so much it sometimes frightens me with how completely you’ve become part of who I am."

She threw her arms around me with such enthusiasm that we both nearly lost our balance, her lips finding mine in a kiss that carried years of accumulated affection and longing. The aurora overhead seemed to explode in response to our emotions, painting the entire grove in shifting patterns of celestial light that made the moment feel like something from a fairy tale.

"I love you too," I murmured against her lips, meaning every word with a depth that still sometimes surprised me. "More than I ever thought possible. You’ve changed my life in ways I’m still discovering."

"I was so afraid you might never propose," Rachel confessed as we held each other in the center of the magical grove, the aurora continuing its ethereal dance overhead. "I knew you cared about me, but with everything else in your life, all your responsibilities and other relationships... I worried that marriage might be too much to hope for."

The vulnerability in her admission made my chest tighten with protective tenderness. Rachel’s devotion to me had always been absolute and unwavering, but I was beginning to understand how much uncertainty she had been carrying about the security of our future together.

"Rachel," I said firmly, cupping her face in my hands so she had to meet my eyes, "you never have to doubt your place in my life again. This ring represents a promise that you’ll always be one of the most important people in my world, regardless of what complications or challenges we might face."

"I know there will be adjustments," she said with the kind of practical wisdom that balanced her emotional intensity, "sharing you with five other remarkable women won’t always be easy. But Arthur, I’d rather have part of your heart than all of anyone else’s. You’re worth any compromise."

The absolute conviction in her voice reminded me why I had fallen for her in the first place. Rachel’s capacity for love was both generous and fierce, encompassing not just her feelings for me but genuine care for the other women in my life who she recognized as deserving of happiness.

"The others are going to be so excited," she continued with obvious joy, her tears now mixed with laughter. "We’ve all been hoping this day would come, but none of us wanted to pressure you about timing."

As we stood together in the sacred grove, surrounded by the eternal beauty of the Northern aurora, I felt the profound satisfaction that came from making someone I genuinely cared about happier than I had ever seen her. Rachel’s joy was infectious and absolute, transforming an already magical evening into something that would remain perfect in my memory for the rest of my life.

The first proposal was complete, and it had exceeded even my highest expectations for how meaningful this moment could be.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr(e)𝒆novelkiss