The Astoria healing gardens in the early morning light were exactly as beautiful as I remembered from our first walk together—carefully cultivated medicinal plants arranged in patterns that created both aesthetic beauty and practical accessibility for someone dedicated to the healing arts. As I made final preparations for what would be the most delicate proposal of the entire series, I found myself reflecting on how much this relationship had evolved from its strategic origins.
"She deserves to be treated with the same respect and ceremony as the others," I murmured to myself as I checked the garden's peaceful atmosphere one final time. "Regardless of how our relationship began, she's agreed to become my wife, and that deserves to be honored properly."
