Azazel’s knuckles gently rapped the window-pane outside Lady Calimei’s room.

The scarlet-haired noblewoman looked up from her book and saw the angel hanging there, one arm holding the ledge above her window. One hand lowered itself to the belt of her silk robe, ensuring that it was secured. She closed the book and set it on her dresser beside the lit candle, then stood, crossed the room, and opened the window for him.

Once Azazel was inside, Calimei closed the window behind him. “Y-y-you know, m-most people use the d-d-door.”

Azazel rubbed the back of his head. “Most people can’t fly. It’d be silly for me to float down to the keep’s front door and walk up the flights of stairs to go to your door when I can just fly down to your window.”

Calimei shrugged and forced a smile, though there was a hint of guilt in it.

Azazel returned the guilty smile. “Sorry about this. I know it’s not proper for me to enter your room so late at night, especially without Zale here, but I had to speak with you.”

A fire crackled underneath Calimei’s hearth. The light caused shadows to dance about the room, and cast an orange hue over everything it illuminated.

By the look on Calimei’s face, Azazel could tell she was bracing herself for whatever criticisms or accusations he might be about to throw at her. With her head sunken down toward her shoulders, she appeared as if she were bracing herself for a hit. Only occasionally did her eyes meet his, and each time she immediately looked away, her breathing heavier.

“I’m not angry at you,” Azazel said.

Calimei’s face brightened, and she brought her eyes up to meet his and held them there. “...J-just disap-p-p-pointed?”

“I’m not disappointed either.” Azazel gave her the gentlest smile he could. “You did what you thought was right. In your position… well, I might have done the same.”

She paused for a moment, staring up at him with wide eyes, before finally saying, “Thank you.”

“What you did… it was to protect the people. Our people.” Azazel felt his cheeks burn red, and he averted his eyes to the fireplace. “It’s admirable, really.” He brought his eyes back to hers. “Frankly, now that I understand why you did it, I love you all the more.”

Calimei caught her breath, then stumbled into his embrace. His strong arms held her tight, and he gently rocked her, with one hand resting in her soft, red hair. She nuzzled into his chest, her nose brushing the coarse material of his sack-cloth tunic against his skin.

He waited several moments before reaching down, taking her chin between his index finger and thumb, and tilting her head so she looked up at him. He stared at her mouth, bit his lower lip, then closed his eyes and leaned in. She closed the distance between them, meeting his lips with her own in a gentle kiss.

Though it only lasted a moment before Azazel pulled back from her. He held her out at arm’s length and stared into her wine-colored eyes. “I asked you to marry me once, and you refused. You told me to propose better next time.”

Calimei opened her mouth to speak, but grunted in frustration as the words failed to escape the back of her throat.

“It’s ok,” he said with a smile. “I know what you want to say. If I proposed again now you’d accept, yes?”

Calimei nodded her head vigorously.

Azazel chuckled. “Well, let’s hold off on that just a little longer.”

Calimei gave a disappointed grunt.

Azazel took a step back, toward the window. “I’m going to prove myself first. I realize now that you didn’t tell me about Godsmouth because you had reason not to trust me.”

“You d-don’t n-n-need to p-prove…”

“Don’t need to prove myself?” Azazel finished.

“Y-yes.”

“I disagree,” said Azazel. “I want to be beyond all doubts. I want to do enough so that you’ll always trust and believe in me. You deserve someone who’s done everything he can to earn the right to be with you.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Though, truthfully, no man can ever do enough to earn the joy being with you brings.”

Calimei nuzzled her cheek into Azazel’s palm and stammered for a while, trying to form the words on her heart. He waited patiently for her to form the words, but after a long while, she gave up, kissed the inside of his hand, and merely said, “Thank you.”

Azazel gave her a nod, then opened the window again and slipped out.