I slowly bent on one knee before her and said in a low, soft tone,
"I never saw you as a second choice, Ume.
Yes, I did open up to you because Nymeria left, but it isn't because I'm using you to fill her place. Her sudden disappearance made me realise that I shouldn't hold myself back from how I truly feel, or it might get too late."
I gently held both her hands, still kneeling as I spoke further,
"Every moment I shared with Ume is solely intended to be shared with Ume."
I moved one hand into my pocket, took out a ring embedded with a blue gem in the shape of a cute fox, and declared,
"I wanted to give it to you at a proper place after leaving the mines, but since the things went this way, I don't think I should delay it any further.
Ume Kitsune, "
I put the ring on her finger and continued,
"This is the first time I carved a ring, so it might look a little clumsy, but may you content yourself with it for now. I will provide you a better one later."
