You were curious.

He had known you were desperate to ask about the plans he made, and the future trip to Sweden. Instead of spending the less up to Christmas in Germany or Austria, like you had last year, König was taking you somewhere else.

Two weeks in Sweden before returning home to Austria, for Christmas.

He was secretive about his plans, hiding the truth from you until the exact moment you arrived. There was a long list of places you wanted to see, a bucket list that König vowed to complete.

And the first was visiting the ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi.

He knew he was gone a lot for work, he knew that the distance was hard on you. He was a soldier, he was a colonel and his job was dangerous. You never knew if he would make it back in one piece.

By some miracle, he got three weeks off and was going to dedicate them entirely to you. There were plans he made for the entirety of the trip for you both—two weeks spent in Sweden and the final at home in Austria.

There were ulterior motives for him bringing you here, a platinum secret in a crushed velvet box. König was planning on proposing to you while you were at the ice hotel.

He took the chance while you were distracted with the room service menu, to look at the ring. He slipped the box out of his pocket and flipped the lid open, to look at the ring he’d bought—custom made and designed to what he thought you would like.

He only shuts the lid and slips the box back into his pocket when you start to walk toward him. The menu is still in your hand as you speak, telling him you’ve decided what to order.