The time that followed was a whirlwind of changes. Lucy formally renounced her title, the carnival was canceled, and the high-ranking government officials, intercepted at the border on the day of the supposed ascension, were notified of their crimes and sentenced to prison for fleeing. New presidential elections were organized. Lucan ran, and with not a single case of corruption in his history, he won quickly. For the first time, hope had a serious, young face.
Lucan wasted no time. He did everything: he recovered most of the mines, oil, and nuclear plants, whose money had been diverted to illegal businesses. He backed the currency and improved the economy with rare materials. He imposed new laws in the Constitution and deepened those that were not well defined, imposing more severe penalties. Every crime had consequences. Precedents had to be set so that the tragedy the country had experienced would not happen again. He increased funding for social programs, and for the first time, there were government-provided scholarships for students, along with a massive increase in employment. Corruption cases were almost eradicated because every order had to pass through a group of extremely qualified people who did not reach those positions through influence, but only through their achievements. It was the country Lucan had always promised.
As for us, we were enjoying our last days. They were strangely peaceful. After so much time with the anguish of all the bad things happening in the world, the silence felt almost overwhelming. We were all in the living room: Nadia, Axel, Lilian, Celia, and I, playing the console when Axel interrupted the game.
-How long until they get here?" Axel asked.
-I have a feeling they're on a date, so I think they'll be a while," Celia replied.
At those words, a small shiver ran down Axel's spine. He immediately put down the console and went to Auren's room to check a drawer. He had never paid it the necessary attention before, but in that drawer was a small box. Although it could be anything, only one valid option wandered in Axel's mind: Auren was going to propose marriage to Lilian. Returning at full speed, Axel spoke to Celia and Nadia.
-Girls! I think, I just think, that Auren is going to propose marriage to Lilian on that date you're talking about.
-How do you know that information? -Celia asked.
-Just yesterday, there was a small box in Auren's drawer. I might be crazy, but I'm going to go check," Axel said.
-So much interest in an event that only happens once, Celia said. "It might just be for the anecdote you want to tell.
Axel instantly nodded, and Nadia silently affirmed. They took the car and headed to the meeting point of the date.
After a while, at a shopping center, three people were hiding behind walls, stores, or any furniture that gave no clues to their location. In the sight of the three, Auren was seen, horribly dressed. He was wearing casual and simple clothes, as if he were in his own house.
"This idiot is going to confess, and he shows up this ridiculous..." Axel whispered, horrified. "No. For the sake of his sanity and mine, I have to save this situation."
Axel made himself visible to Auren without explanation, speaking to him in an aggressive tone and throwing questions at him about his clothes, without letting him answer. He took him to the tailor shop, showing a card given by Lucan, skipping all the formalities. Axel grabbed the first outfit and ordered Auren to put it on. At an absurd speed, he tore off all the tags it had, paying quickly.
About to leave, Axel asked him seriously: "Do you have any money?"
In a millisecond, Auren's face tensed. A sweat ran down his spine. Not even his body wanted to answer that question. Sighing, as if he knew the answer beforehand, Axel said:
-I knew it! You owe me,- he said, handing him a wad of bills.
With an astonished look, Auren didn't know how to respond to that moment.
"Don't thank me, think of it as a payment to be your wedding best man, let's say... Idiot, you're six minutes late!"
Hearing those words, Auren quickly headed to the date's meeting point, leaving Axel stranded. Worry wandered in his thoughts. Things are still as they started. My hopes will be as empty as his wallet. Ugh, Auren, please don't screw up. He thought to himself, standing in the tailor shop. Axel (I still haven't paid for the suit)...
In the end, Lilian arrived twenty minutes late because she was getting ready with the girls. As for me, I now had a debt for giving all my money to Auren. That's what I get for being a good person.
The targets met and entered a luxurious restaurant with a great view of the city. It's still too early for him to confess. I think Auren would be the type of person to leave something so important for the end. Even so, these guys are smart, but I think I overestimated them too much. Auren has a loose tie, and Lilian ordered eggs with ham in the evening, and besides, she eats that all week. What is she thinking? At least Auren ordered something decent. It would be the last straw if he ordered a sandwich. And now that I see it, Celia and Nadia are watching Auren and Lilian just like me. I wonder if we're too obvious from their perspective.
Apparently, at the end of dinner, the bill is going to be paid by... Lilian! No, wait. Not even half. No, it can't be! That payment surely has ulterior motives. She must have thought Auren didn't bring money. If she knew him so well, there might be a possibility, but Auren asked if he could pay, and she refused. No way. She's up to something. This is not good at all. I hope it's nothing major...
Passing through the same entrance, they left. Before leaving my hiding place, the girls got ahead of me. I think they are doing the same thing as me, but with Lilian. I just hope they don't lose control.
Okay, it seems the targets are going to the movies. I won't be able to enter the theater, being too obvious, so I guess Auren will have to face this part alone. Sorry, Auren, just remember not to screw up.
As I was thinking that, my eyes suddenly widened. They were some girls who used to be in high school. I'm sure Auren attracted them at some point, although I doubt he knew it. Shit, ignore them, ignore them, ignore them... No, damn it. The fucking Auren greeted them first. It seems they talk quite comfortably. Lilian's face is getting annoyed. Even though the conversation is over, I'm sure Lilian will be bothered by those girls. If I remember correctly, she knew those girls liked Auren.
The pout began.
-Lilian, are you okay? Why are you angry?-Auren asked.
-Do you even know why I'm angry?- Lilian replied.
Shit, don't ask her that. Auren, right now you don't have the brain to answer such a direct question. I'm sure only two answers will cross your mind, and both are wrong.
-Are you mad because I spoke to those girls over there? Sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I thought it would be impolite. I don't want to make you feel bad, you know I only have eyes for you,- Auren said.
Okay, what a seductive line! I didn't think it was possible for someone of your caliber to utter something like that without feeling ashamed. And apparently, it worked. They went straight into the movie theater. Coming out very late, I wonder what happened. They went from reconciling to treating each other with love, like that day we played the box prank.
Apparently, the date was going to end at a fountain with a viewpoint. They called me, and I'm sure they called Nadia and Celia, to go pick them up. In the time they were waiting, I just watched, since I couldn't even bring the car because it was so far away. They started talking about beauty, more specifically about art, a trivial conversation where the only thing I could think was: Please, don't drag it out, and give her the ring.
And just as I was thinking, Auren leaned down, took out the box, opened it, revealing a ring, and asked her:
-Lilian, will you marry me?
To which, subsequently, the girl nodded with tears, hugging him. In the end, they waited a little longer than they should have for the girls to arrive by car, and upon arriving at the house, they announced their marriage and the wedding.
I think that during this period, time passed so quickly and, at the same time, very painfully.