The Falcon couple stepped away, making their way toward the table where her parents stood.
Just as Ceres was still trying to process everything, the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed through the venue.
Her attention snapped toward the source.
Walking down the illuminated path... Caspian and Zeus.
Caspian was grinning, his usual smug confidence evident, though there was a knowing glint in his eyes as he turned slightly to his best friend.
Zeus, on the other hand...
He looked nervous.
For someone who always carried himself with composure and unwavering dominance, seeing him visibly uneasy was almost amusing.
He kept adjusting his flawless black suit, tugging at his silver tie as if it were suddenly suffocating him.
And then...
Their eyes met.
The second Zeus locked eyes with Ceres, his hands stilled.
Everything else faded into the background.
Then, before she knew it, they were standing in front of each other.
Caspian was the first to break the moment. "Ceres, you look absolutely stunning," he greeted, his smirk widening. "No wonder a certain someone is completely whipped."
Ceres let out a soft laugh, shaking her head.
Then, with a knowing expression, Caspian reached into his pocket and pulled out a velvet ring box.
There was no mistaking what it was.
Everyone watching knew what it was.
Caspian handed the box to Zeus, clapping his shoulder firmly as if silently reassuring him. Then, he stepped back, moving to stand with the others.
For a moment, there was silence between Ceres and Zeus.
They simply stared at each other.
Zeus was still frozen in place.
It wasn't until his gaze drifted to her wrist that something flickered in his expression.
The bracelet.
Zeus's lips parted slightly, his eyes darting toward his parents.
Ceres realized... he wasn't expecting that.
He had asked them to give her a gift, but he hadn't known they would give her the Falcon heirloom... a bracelet meant only for a daughter of their family.
And that realization seemed to do something to him.
He let out a deep breath as if grounding himself...
And then, he slowly lowered himself onto one knee.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, excitement building as Zeus opened the velvet box.
Inside sat a simple yet elegantly crafted engagement ring... a thin band, adorned with a perfectly cut diamond.
It wasn't extravagant.
It wasn't overwhelmingly large.
But in Ceres's eyes, she knew.
He had chosen this carefully.
Zeus knew she preferred lightweight jewelry... something she could wear every day without it being a hindrance.
Something she would want to wear every single day.
Zeus cleared his throat slightly before speaking, his deep voice laced with emotion.
"Love, I know this feels too much... too fast for you. Especially since we only officially got together two days ago."
A soft chuckle rippled through the audience, but Zeus's gaze remained fixed on hers.
"But the truth is… I've wanted to do this for a long time."
His fingers tightened slightly around the ring box as he continued.
"The first time I laid my eyes on you... here, in this exact place, four years ago... I already knew."
His voice was steady, filled with certainty.
"I've been planning this night ever since. Even back when I thought it would never happen."
Ceres felt her throat tighten, her vision blurring as her chest ached with overwhelming emotion.
"I am not a perfect man," Zeus admitted, his lips curling slightly. "And I know I will never be perfect. But I promise you this... "
His gaze softened.
"I will always be whatever you need me to be."
Tears welled in Ceres's eyes.
"I promise that you will always be my priority. That I will always choose you."
His voice lowered, rough with raw honesty.
"That no matter what happens, you will always have me by your side. That I will always have your back."
Then... his lips twitched.
"That I will even take the blame for you, even when it's clearly your fault."
Ceres's eyes widened, startled...
The guests burst into laughter.
A strangled laugh escaped Ceres's throat, tears spilling down her cheeks as she glared at him half-affectionately, half-exasperated.
"And," Zeus added, his smirk widening slightly, "if anyone ever tries to fight you, I will be right there with you, holding their hands while you scratch their faces."
The guests roared with laughter... particularly their mothers and, of course, Diana... who was now wiping at her own tears while laughing hysterically.
Ceres gasped, her jaw dropping. "Zeus!"
Her boyfriend simply grinned up at her.
But despite his teasing, his eyes never wavered in their sincerity.
Ceres sniffled, glaring at him but unable to stop her own laughter through the tears.
"Don't say that in public!" she hissed. "Now they'll be prepared! We won't even get the chance to do it!"
More laughter rang through the air, and the entire venue filled with warmth and amusement.
"Hey, Falcon!" Caspian called out, raising a brow. "Are you actually going to ask the question? Or are you two just going to plot world domination?"
Another wave of laughter erupted, but this time, Zeus let out a chuckle as well.
Then, as the amusement settled...
He finally sobered.
His golden eyes locked onto hers.
And with absolute certainty, he asked the one question that would change both of their lives forever.
"Ceres Evadne Monteverde… If you still don't fully understand how much I love you… If everything I've done so far isn't enough to show you just how deeply I love you…"
Zeus's voice was strong, filled with determination and sincerity.
"Will you allow me to spend the rest of my life by your side, proving to you... every single day, until the day after eternity... just how much I love you?"
As he spoke, he took one of her hands in his own, his golden eyes searching hers with both hope and understanding.
It was as if his gaze was silently telling her...
That he would be the happiest man alive if she said 'Yes'…
But he would also understand if she said 'No.'
The world around them seemed to fade into silence.
The once lively murmurs of the guests vanished.
It was just the two of them.
Staring at each other.
Ceres inhaled slowly, her grip tightening around his hand.
Then, with deliberate slowness... she gently pulled her hand away.
Zeus's face fell slightly.
For a split second, his expression reflected disappointment, then acceptance... before he forced a small, sad smile.
A hushed murmur rippled through the crowd.
Still kneeling, Zeus did not move.
Ceres turned slightly, placing the bouquet of peach Juliet roses on the velvet chair beside her.
The whispers among the guests grew louder.
Many were now questioning whether she was rejecting him.
Then, without a word, she reached for her clutch bag and pulled out her luxury phone.
She tapped the screen a few times before holding the device up to Zeus, her face serious.
"Say it again," she ordered.
Zeus blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
Then he noticed... she had opened the voice recording app.
His brows furrowed. "Say what again?"
"That part about taking the blame even if I'm at fault." Ceres clarified, arching a brow. "And holding my enemies' hands while I scratch their faces."
The guests let out small laughs at her unexpected request, but Zeus only let out a breathy chuckle.
Even now, she was unpredictable.
Even in this moment, she was still her.
Still his Ceres.
But he would do anything she asked.
Clearing his throat, he spoke again, repeating the words she wanted.
"I promise to always take the blame even if it's your fault, and I promise to hold your enemies' hands while you scratch their faces."
Ceres pressed stop on the recording and saved it.
Then... before Zeus could even react...
She reached forward, cupped his face in her hands, and kissed him.
First, on the lips.
Then, softly, on his cheek.
Then, by his ear... where she finally whispered,
"Yes."
Only Zeus heard it.
And that was all that mattered.
For a second, he froze.
Then... everything happened at once.
"Ahh... Zeus!" Ceres squealed as she was suddenly lifted off the ground, Zeus's arms wrapping around her as he spun her around in pure, overwhelming joy.
The guests gasped in confusion, exchanging bewildered glances.
Even Zeus's closest friends looked puzzled.
"Falcon, what's happening?" Xavier called out, brow raised.
Zeus's grin was radiant, unrestrained, triumphant.
"She said 'Yes'!" he announced proudly as he finally placed Ceres back on her feet.
A beat of silence.
"Are you sure?" Nikolai's skeptical voice chimed in. "The actual cue was supposed to be her saying 'Yes' out loud."
Diana snorted, half-laughing, half-tearing up, while some guests chuckled at the interaction.
But Zeus?
He wasn't listening anymore.
His focus was only on her.
Still holding her hand, he lifted the velvet ring box once again, opening it to retrieve the engagement ring.
As if on instinct, Ceres raised her hand, allowing him to slip the ring onto her finger.
And just as he did...
Caspian finally spoke.
"Well, I guess we can take that as a cue."
With a casual smirk, he lifted his hand.
And the moment the ring slid perfectly onto Ceres's finger...
The night sky exploded with color.
A grand fireworks display erupted above them, illuminating the entire venue with cascading lights of gold, blue, and silver.
Gasps of pure awe echoed among the guests, their earlier confusion now turning into admiration.
The display was nothing short of spectacular.
Magnificent. Extravagant. Breathtaking.
A declaration for the world to see.
A proposal fit for the woman Zeus Falcon had waited four years for.
And as Ceres tilted her head back, watching the night sky explode with dazzling colors, something unexpected... something almost otherworldly... happened.
As if the universe itself had chosen this moment to give them its blessing.
"Look!"
Diana's excited gasp tore through the hum of the crowd as she pointed toward the sky.
Ceres barely had time to react when she saw it...
A wishing star.
Then another.
And another.
Gasps rippled through the guests as streaks of light began raining from the heavens, blending seamlessly with the final burst of fireworks.
A meteor shower.
"Oh my God…" Ceres whispered, her breath hitching. "It's beautiful."
She wasn't the only one mesmerized.
Every single person at the venue stood frozen, their gazes locked onto the celestial display unfolding above them.
As if the cosmos had conspired to grant Zeus's wish the moment Ceres said 'yes.'
But then...
Something even more magical happened.
A soft, ethereal glow flickered against Ceres's skin.
The 'Starlight' necklace around her neck…
It was glowing.
Soft whispers spread through the crowd, growing louder.
"Did her necklace just glow?" someone murmured in disbelief.
Ceres's hand flew to the pendant, her fingers brushing over the twenty-carat blue diamond, now shimmering faintly as if catching the very light of the meteor shower itself.
She could hardly believe it.
Neither could anyone else.
This was no longer just the most extravagant proposal anyone had ever witnessed.
This was something out of a dream.
Something out of a fairytale.
No amount of money or power could orchestrate a moment like this.
A moment where the universe itself seemed to align in their favor.
Where stars fell, wishes burned across the sky, and love... real, undeniable love... glowed in its purest form.
And as Zeus gently pulled Ceres into his arms, pressing a soft kiss against her temple, each guest knew one thing for certain.
There would be other grand proposals in the future... perhaps even more expensive, more extravagant.
But this?
This was once in a lifetime.
And it would take another hundred years before the stars aligned to create something as magical as this again.