Chapter 9
by 
Nemo of Utopia
The question is, how do you feel about it?
Honor Demands That You Accept.
You have made this situation by your own actions.
You were the person who arranged for Miss Beatrice to be retested, you were the one who gave her a letter of recommendation to the Academy of the Open Hand, you were the one who proposed marriage to her, knowing full well that 'apprentices may not marry' and that she had been accepted to the academy; therefore, as you prize your honor at some degree above contempt, you have no real choice but to accept her proposal, though you CAN honorably make a small modification...
"The waiting will be hard for us both," you begin, "but I am confident we can endure if our love is strong enough to be worthy of the wedding." Here you take the Ring you have brought and go down to one knee. "Yet, while truely it is said 'Apprentices may not marry', I know of no restrictions upon their being engaged or betrothed. Miss Beatrice, will you do me the honor of accepting my ring and with it pledge that when you achieve the rank of Journeyman you will hear my proposal of marriage before any other and at that time accept or decline it before you speak to any other potential suitors?" You ask around a lump in your throat.
Beatrice looks appraising and it is at least ten seconds before she makes her answer...