The silence at the table was almost tangible, each second stretching longer than the last. Isabella knelt there, ring in hand, her gaze unwavering as it rested on Emma. Her lips curved in a small, vulnerable smile, the kind that held a universe of emotion. Across from them, Emma sat frozen, hands folded neatly in her lap, eyes wide as if trying to grasp the sudden reality of the moment.
Eira could hardly breathe. She sat tense, fingers tightly intertwined with Fleur's beneath the table, her pulse hammering in her chest. She had seen her aunt command rooms full of powerful wizards, negotiate with Ministers, and stand unshaken against Maximilian Voclain himself—but never like this. Never so openly, so vulnerably, offering all of herself in one moment.
Finally, Emma broke the silence, her voice soft but edged with uncertainty.
"Isabella… are you sure?" she asked, words trembling just slightly. "Are you certain you want this? To… be with me?"
Isabella's gaze softened, but her smile did not falter. She shook her head, speaking firmly but tenderly.
"Yes. I'm certain. I have waited far too long, Emma. Far too long for someone who could see me as I truly am. I am not offering this lightly. I am offering my heart. And it is yours."
Emma's brows knitted together, her hands pressing to her lips. "But… don't you want to spend more time with me? To truly know each other before taking this step?"
Isabella's laugh was soft, warm, carrying a note of certainty that made the room feel lighter, even in the tension of the moment.
"No, Emma. I don't want to waste another moment. Time is a luxury I no longer have, I am getting older, I want to spend the rest of my life with you and share every moment of it with you ,I am tired of being lonely and not loved, and love… true love… does not wait. I have found my person, and it is you."
Eira's eyes widened. She could see the tremble in Emma's hands, the quiver of her lips, the way her breath hitched. Isabella reached a hand toward her, trembling slightly, and whispered, "I love you. And I will not let fear keep me from telling you this. Will you let me spend my life with you?"
For a heartbeat, there was nothing but the crackle of the wind outside the window, the muted clink of cutlery on fine dining table, and the unsteady intake of breath from everyone around the table.
Then Emma's chair scraped back against the floor, startling Eira. Slowly and carefully, she lowered herself to kneel before Isabella.
"Isabella…" she whispered, her voice barely audible, yet full of awe and tenderness. "Do you truly mean this? You want me… not for convenience, not for appearances, but… for me?"
"For you," Isabella confirmed, her own voice breaking slightly. "Only you. No one else. Not politics, not names, not obligations. You. Only you."
Emma's lips trembled, and then slowly, courageously, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against Isabella's. The kiss was gentle at first, a soft brush of warmth and reassurance, but then deepened, carrying her unspoken longing and quiet devotion.
Eira gasped audibly, clutching Fleur's hand so tightly she feared she might hurt her. Fleur's own eyes were wide, her lips parted in awe, but she stayed quiet, sensing the sacredness of the moment.
When they finally pulled apart, Emma rested her forehead against Isabella's. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I want this. I want you. I love you, Isabella Voclain."
Isabella's own tears glimmered in the candlelight as she laughed softly through her emotions. "Bloom… That sounds… perfect," she murmured. "Perfect because it's yours."
Emma blinked, taken aback. "Wait… what?"
Isabella straightened slightly, still kneeling, her eyes bright and unyielding. "From this moment on, I am abandoning the Voclain name. It no longer defines me. From now on, I am Isabella Bloom. Your name is my name, Emma, because you mean more to me than anything my own name has ever given."
Eira's laughter bubbled out, breaking the intensity of the moment. "Oh! Auntie… so you've married into the Bloom family, huh? Isabella Bloom. I love it!" She leaned back, hand pressed to her chest dramatically. "All this time, the powerful, unstoppable Isabella Voclain is now officially… a Bloom. I can't believe it."
Fleur giggled beside her. "It suits you, Auntie. Honestly, it's sweet, and somehow… perfect."
Isabella laughed softly, shaking her head, though tears continued to run down her cheeks. "I suppose I am now entirely yours, Emma. In name and in heart."
Emma smiled, a blush coloring her face. "And I could not be happier about it." She reached for Isabella's hand, placing it over her heart, feeling the rapid beat beneath. "To think I almost hesitated…"
Isabella squeezed her hand. "No hesitations allowed. Life is too short for 'almosts' and 'maybes.' I want every moment I have left to be with you, Emma. I've waited my whole life for someone who could feel like home. And now I've found you."
Eira clapped her hands together, grinning. "Oh, this is too good. I should've expected you to get dramatic, Auntie, but even so… this beats any story I've ever heard."
Fleur leaned over, whispering conspiratorially, "And we get to witness all of it. The kiss, the acceptance, the emotions… it's magical."
Emma chuckled nervously, pressing her forehead once more to Isabella's. "You've made me very, very happy."
"And you too made me the happiest woman today," Isabella replied, smiling through her own tears. "More than I could have imagined."
The laughter and chatter around the table began to bloom naturally, as Eira and Fleur added their congratulations.
"I'm so happy for you both!" Fleur exclaimed. "Really, truly happy. I've never seen such an amazing proposal of marriage… radiant."
"I knew something was going on," Eira teased, rolling her eyes playfully. "But wow… to just show up with a ring? Classic Auntie."
Isabella laughed again, leaning into Emma. "You're right. I should have warned you, Eira. I should have told you so you could prepare a speech, maybe some confetti."
"You could've!" Eira said, grinning. "I could've had banners, music, a proper announcement. But no… you wanted to do this quietly. I respect that… sort of."
Emma reached over and squeezed Isabella's hand. "Quiet, yes. But meaningful. That's what mattered to me. That's what matters."
Isabella nodded. "And that's why I wanted this to be a family moment. Not a grand public display. Just us. You, me, and the people I hold most dear—Eira and Fleur. Because you two are my family too. You are my home."
Eira blinked, touched despite herself. "Aw, Auntie… don't go getting all sentimental on us. I might start crying too."
Fleur laughed softly, reaching for Isabella's other hand. "We are family. And family should celebrate love quietly or loudly—just as long as we celebrate it together."
Emma and Isabella smiled at one another, their fingers intertwined. Then Isabella held out the ring again, letting Emma take it, sliding it onto her finger with a gentle click.
Eira clapped once more. "There! Officially engaged. Finally. Took long enough, Auntie."
Fleur raised her glass of sparkling juice. "To Isabella and Emma Bloom—may your life together be full of happiness, laughter, and love."
The adults lifted their champagne glasses, clinking gently with one another.
"To love, and to family," Isabella said softly.
"To joy, and to new beginnings," Emma added.
Eira and Fleur echoed in their own glasses, smiling wide. "To happiness!"
The warmth of the moment filled the room, a soft glow surrounding them as the family settled back into the table. Conversation flowed easily after that, laughter mixing with gentle teasing.
Eira leaned back in her chair, glancing at Fleur. "You know… this has to be the sweetest dinner I've ever attended. And I didn't even have to do any of the cooking!"
Fleur laughed, squeezing Eira's hand. "It's a good thing we got to witness this moment. It's rare to see adults so openly happy."
Isabella reached for Emma again, holding her hand firmly. "I want this to be a life we share completely. Not hidden, not whispered, but lived openly—even if it's just us for now. And I want you to know… you've made my life better than I ever could have imagined."
Emma leaned in, pressing her lips softly against Isabella's temple. "And you too love, you too," she whispered. "We will be together Forever."