Huaman (3): Huaman's Heartfelt Proposal
For a long time, Meng Huo had strictly told the suitors to Huaman:
"If you cannot defeat me, I will not allow you to marry Huaman."
Huaman, who had heard these words many times, unconsciously thought to himself:
My fiancé will be the one who defeats my father.
And finally, he thought that the opponent had appeared.
Upon returning to his residence, Huaman fell into deep thought.
Did I say something too harsh?
He felt a sense of discomfort at having ruined the atmosphere at the banquet.
In Nanman, since other men had proposed to him, it was the first time he was the one proposing to someone for marriage.
He considered Po Sanniang as his rival.
Huaman thought that she was simply holding a grudge against him for losing to him and opposing him.
If there was a rival, it was natural to show his superiority to defeat her.
Since she had always been in a position desired by others, and she was a princess, she had an arrogant side that she didn't even realize herself.
But, when leaving the banquet hall, the dark expression on Guan Suo's face lingered in his mind.
He was secretly worried that his actions might have caused her displeasure.
I never thought I would get so worked up over a man problem...
While feeling unfamiliar with his changed self, Huaman kept the events of the banquet in his heart.
And the next day.
Huaman went to see Guan Suo early in the morning.
Meng Huo came to Guan Suo's residence and asked.
"Since I'll guide you to Yunnan, won't you come with me? I'll guide you."
Meng Huo actively showed his affection and wanted to create a place for the two of them.
In response, Po Sanniang shot him with a gaze full of vigilance, but Huaman didn't care.
"...Okay, I'll accept."
"Lord?"
When Guan Suo accepted, Po Sanniang's eyes widened greatly.
Guan Suo whispered in Po Sanniang's ear.
"First, let's have a heart-to-heart talk."
After hearing this, Po Sanniang hesitated for a moment, then followed Guan Suo without objection, as if respecting his will.
Huaman muttered in surprise.
"I thought you would interfere because you dislike me."
"Why do you dislike me? Isn't it because you think I'll make you a concubine?"
Hearing that he wanted to make the person he loves a concubine, no woman would like it.
"...Is that the reason?"
At that time, he had been watching Guan Suo, so it was a word spoken out of possessive desire for him.
Expressing wanting a man like a princess with high self-esteem as a concubine.
After a while, Huaman checked Guan Suo's expression, then spoke.
"If my mood was hurt, I'm sorry."
"Hm?"
When the seemingly arrogant Huaman apologized first, Guan Suo widened his eyes.
"I was rude by proposing to a man for the first time, and I ruined the atmosphere at the banquet."
But the apology was directed at the wrong person.
"Shouldn't the apology be to Sanniang?"
"That's..."
Since Po Sanniang said she was the principal wife, Huaman inwardly didn't like it.
Seeing her hesitant expression, Guan Suo spoke.
"If you want my forgiveness, apologize to Sanniang later. Then, I'll forgive you too."
"...Okay, I'll apologize to her when we meet later."
Huaman decided to lower his pride.
"I also wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you and talk openly."
I slowly looked at Huaman's face.
He had a typical charm different from Po Sanniang, who had fair skin and black hair.
His skin had a coppery glow symbolizing health, and his body was without excess fat, proud of his figure.
Especially his wild hair like a lion's mane highlighted his wild charm.
That's why he was curious.
He can form relationships with other people just fine, so why did he choose me?
He was curious about what intentions Huaman had in wanting to marry him.
"Why do you want to marry me?"
Guan Suo asked Huaman directly.
After hearing this, Huaman thought for a moment and answered.
"I was interested in the courage and bravado of the one who came to save my woman."
Just as he was about to capture Po Sanniang as a prisoner, Guan Suo broke in and saved her.
"Courage and bravado?"
When Guan Suo asked back, Huaman nodded and affirmed.
"I showed my military prowess by facing both you and my mother at the same time, and I also had boldness by subduing the Curly-haired Red Hare."
The reasons Huaman became interested in him were two.
Subduing the Curly-haired Red Hare in a situation where he was facing both Huaman and Zhurong at the same time, and others were reluctant to intervene.
"Especially, the victory in the duel with my father was a big factor. My father always said that if I defeat him, he would allow the marriage."
Even yesterday, I saw it, but Meng Huo is quite a handful.
"Are you not to my liking?"
Huaman asked with a slightly uneasy look in his eyes.
"...To be honest, I think it's average."
If forced to say, neither like nor dislike.
Should I say it's complex?
He showed a domineering side to Po Sanniang yesterday, but it was also Huaman who started by persuading Meng Huo to surrender.
He didn't directly threaten Sanniang in the previous battle.
Of course, he fell off the horse's mouth, but it was a minor injury and she recovered quickly.
He had tried to capture her as a prisoner and immediately rescued her, so there wasn't much resentment.
"Then, what are you hesitating about? If I can accept a woman who is my fiancée, why can't you? You can become the son-in-law of Nanman in the future."
Huaman enthusiastically persuaded him that he would become the son-in-law of Nanman in the future.
He subtly encouraged Guan Suo to accept him first.
"...Can it develop into a romantic relationship overnight from being enemies who wanted to kill each other?"
There was no resentment, but it was impossible for feelings that didn't exist to suddenly appear.
If an enemy is proposing, is there anyone who would happily accept?
At least it doesn't seem like a political marriage without feelings.
It was too clinging for it to be a political marriage.
He confirmed that her heart was sincere.
"I will reject the marriage you proposed."
Guan Suo knew Huaman's feelings, but he didn't feel like he wanted to marry her yet.
Even if her exotic appearance was beautiful, it was impossible to develop feelings for the person he had been fighting until just now.
With Wang Ping's command, it would be resolved quickly.
"Ah, why······."
A crack appeared on Huaman's face, who had always maintained composure.
His expression showed the inner shock that this was the first time he had been rejected by someone.
Before Po Sanniang could say anything about being rejected for marriage, Guan Suo continued.
"How about taking some time to get to know each other?"
"...Getting to know each other time?"
"To put it bluntly, you don't even know what I like, do you? Can you tell me?"
"That's..."
Huaman couldn't answer.
He fell for Guan Suo after seeing his appearance on the battlefield, but he didn't know the inner side in detail.
"You can't answer? That's why I'm saying to take some time to get to know each other. After all, my inner side might not appeal to your heart?"
He still wanted to take some time to get to know Huaman better.
After hearing Guan Suo's words, Huaman thought about it and agreed.
"If my feelings for you don't change after getting to know you, I'll consider the marriage."
"...Since you couldn't answer what you like about me, I have nothing to say."
Huaman felt his mistake and let out a sigh.
Not knowing about the person he fell for was fatal.
"However, I don't want to give up on you, so if that's the only way, I have no choice."
"Then?"
"I will follow your wishes. It would be good to go together and take some time to get to know each other."
Huaman's feelings for Guan Suo were sincere.
He had been rejected for marriage, but he didn't want to lose him.
By doing this, I have the upper hand in the relationship.
He wouldn't be dragged around by the status of the princess of Nanman.
"Of course, don't forget to apologize to Sanniang before that."
"Understood. I'll remember it."
While talking to Huaman, I toured the various towns in Yunnan.
"By the way, you seem to be following me quite well."
Huaman squinted his eyes and shot at the Curly-haired Red Hare I was riding.
The Curly-haired Red Hare turned its head away from Huaman's gaze as if it felt guilty.
"...I raised it with all my heart, but it turned its back on me like this······."
"Do you want me to return it?"
It was embarrassing to have stolen the beloved horse out of the blue.
It was also a concern inwardly since he hadn't accepted the marriage proposal.
When Guan Suo asked with a hesitant face, Huaman shook his head.
"No, I think it was something I entrusted in advance, thinking it was a gift."
"......"
If he said that, it would make it even harder to reject the marriage later.
I don't want to return it either.
Unlike the Curly-haired Red Hare I knew, it had more fur and a slightly different appearance.
Still, a famous horse is a famous horse.
The horse I had been riding before often showed fatigue because I was carrying the 82-jin Guandao.
But the Curly-haired Red Hare didn't lose any speed even when swinging the Guandao.
That's why people go crazy when they pull out the spoiler car.
When I returned from patrolling the Yunnan area, Po Sanniang came running to greet me.
"Lord, are you okay? Did you get overwhelmed or something?"
Po Sanniang had already treated Huaman as a fierce beast.
"I know what you're worried about, but there was no such thing."
I explained to Po Sanniang the situation that Huaman had also temporarily become engaged to me.
"...That's good news."
Po Sanniang was secretly relieved.
Although her personality was a bit peculiar, Huaman was a beautiful woman in her own right.
Her exotic and beautiful appearance drew the attention of the soldiers.
She had a charm different from the daughters of the tribal chiefs.
Due to her status as the princess of Nanman, she might have noticed that he rejected the proposal.
And I might have to return the Curly-haired Red Hare too.
She didn't have such a famous horse.
For Guan Suo, who often had to go to the battlefield, the Curly-haired Red Hare was a must-have.
Since Po Sanniang had said that she could have as many concubines as she wanted before, she no longer thought of opposing it.
"Since Lord has approved, from now on, I will refrain from fighting."
Her tone was sharp, but Po Sanniang extended a hand of reconciliation to Huaman first.
"Yesterday, I was a bit harsh too. Sorry."
Huaman responded by holding her hand.
Po Sanniang smiled, thinking she had accepted the reconciliation, but······.
Soon, Huaman whispered in her ear.
"But, I haven't given up on becoming the principal wife."
"...Huh?"
"Don't get complacent just because I proposed first. If you show a gap, I'll snatch it."
Huaman whispered in a mischievous voice.
Po Sanniang's eyelashes trembled.
"...After all, I don't have the confidence to get along well with you."
Although he didn't look as vicious as he did yesterday with the sword, the two were staring at each other and starting a battle of wits.
It's not like we'll keep fighting even after returning to Yizhou?
Watching this, Guan Suo let out a deep sigh.