"Serafina, Elara designs pieces at the atelier. With her here, she'll definitely help you pick out a ring you'll love."
I nodded and closed my eyes, pretending to rest.
When I unconsciously opened my eyes, I saw Ansel gently pinching Elara's cheek.
In the rearview mirror, our eyes met and he quickly started to explain.
"Elara had something on her face, so I was just helping her wipe it off."
I closed my eyes again and kept them shut until we arrived.
As the three of us entered the jewelry store, the sales associate greeted Elara, who was standing close to Ansel, with great enthusiasm.
"What can I help you with today, sir? Are you looking for something special for your loved one?"
Elara and Ansel both blushed.
Ansel swiftly pulled me closer. "Why are you standing so far away? Come over and pick out a ring!"
The sales associate blushed deeply and quickly brought out the rings for me to choose from. But Elara took the lead, inspecting each one with a critical eye.
"This one's not big enough."
"This one's color isn't right."
None of the other rings measured up when compared to the one Elara was holding.
The sales associate glanced at me, visibly uncertain of how to proceed. Elara, however, acted as if she hadn't noticed and ultimately chose a rather plain ring.
"Serafina, let's settle for this one for now. It'll work for the ceremony. I'll design a better one for you later," she said.
The sales associate, clearly uncomfortable, awkwardly praised Elara for her "exceptional" taste.
Elara, with a hint of pride, thrust her hand in front of me. "It has to be beautiful. It's custom-designed by my blood-promised."
Ansel stood quietly beside her, watching her flaunt the ring without stopping her or showing any sign of discomfort. His smile, however, seemed to bloom with the spring breeze.
"Then we'll go with the one Elara picked!" he said.
Skipping even the try-on process, Ansel paid for the ring immediately. He took out the ring and, with a blank expression, slid it onto my finger.
There was no kneeling, no roses, no declaration.
This time, the ring was small, barely fitting.
I knew, without a doubt, that Elara had done this on purpose. As the artisan of the atelier, Elara could accurately gauge ring size at a glance. Such a significant mistake was impossible. In this world, a ring that doesn't fit is an omen everyone reads. She knew exactly what she was doing.