The Alchemists

"Mrs. Lu, I don't have a mother. She passed away a long time ago. I loved her very much and I understand how Marie feels about you. I, too, will do anything for my mother's happiness. I really admire Marie and feel that we complement each other. I admire her strength. I admire that she never despaired and that she loves you very much."

Nicolae took Marie's hand and placed it on Mrs. Lu's knee. "I really want to marry her. I am asking for your blessing today. Are you willing to trust me with your beloved daughter? I will take care of her. I will love her. I will protect her and make sure her happiness is paramount. If Mother is willing to accept me as your son-in-law, then, please allow me to ask Marie's hand in marriage ..."

Both women looked equally stunned. They had no idea that Nicolae would say such a thing, especially Marie. She knew for sure that the man, from the outset, was very firm in not wanting to have anything to do with her after their two-day agreement was over.

If they were going to really get married in front of Mrs. Lu, Marie knew this play they were acting would become serious and she did not know how to react.

For a moment, Mrs. Lu looked at Nicolae with a surprised expression. Tears then flowed down from her eyes and finally, unable to hold back, she was sobbing. She cried for a long time that Nicolae and Marie did not know what to do.

"Mom... are you angry at us?" Marie asked in a worried voice.

"Did I say something hurtful?" Nicolae asked.

Mrs. Lu shook her head vigorously and rubbed their heads in turn lovingly.

"No ... These are not tears of sadness. These are tears of happiness. Thank you ..." she whispered between her sobs. "I have always felt guilty because I could not be there for you. Since you were born, I only give you suffering. This made me feel very sad. In your life, you have never gotten happiness from me. I feel this is unfair to you. But, I am helpless, and there is nothing I can do for you. All this makes me very heartbroken ..."

Mrs. Lu's sobs became even more intense. She now cupped her face with both hands. She looked truly aggrieved.

"That's not true. Mom, you did the best for me, and my life is very happy ..." Marie said calmly.

"That's not true. You basically raised yourself. I have been nothing but a burden to you," whispered Mrs. Lu. "I feel very guilty if I leave you alone in this world to meet your father again. But now, because I see that there is actually a man who loves you as much as I do, someone who is willing to do anything for you ... I feel content."

"Ah... does this mean, you will you accept me as Marie's husband?" Nicolae asked with a smile. "We would be very happy if you could come and give us your blessings."

Marie's face also looked bright at her mother's words. She exchanged glances with Nicolae, and the two smiled at each other.

"We will get married as soon as possible. We can do it tomorrow morning if you're okay with it..." said Marie in a cheerful voice. "Mom, we must dress up and look beautiful together."

Mrs. Lu nodded and smiled happily. The atmosphere that was previously filled with sadness and melancholy, slowly turned happier. Mrs. Lu was all smiles. She even laughed a few times as she kissed her daughter's cheek and patted her shoulders affectionately.

Even though in a glance, it looked like she was getting stronger and healthier, Nicolae knew that Mrs. Lu's condition was actually like a smoldering wick on a candle. She was on the last of her flames. Nicolae could see that the fragile woman didn't have much time.

Nicolae broke his principle for the first time and lied to make a dying woman happy for one last time. He hoped that at the end of her tragic life she could feel a little happiness.

They chatted in the garden for half an hour, enjoying the breeze, the smell of freshly mown grass, the warm sunshine, and feeding geese in the lotus pond. When the sun was high, Mrs. Lu then asked to be brought back to her room.

"My head hurts a lot. I need to lie down. Could you please take me inside?" she asked softly.

"Of course, Mom. Please take a rest, I'll be watching over you."

They brought Ms. Lu back to her room and let her rest. After seeing her mother asleep, Marie sat thoughtfully by her mother's bed. She still could not forget the events that had just occurred in the garden.

This stranger, who was supposed to be pretending as her husband, suddenly proposed to marry her in front of her mother ... just so that her mother could die in peace.

"I think ... I should go home now," Nicolae said, rising from his chair. Marie nodded. She stood up and escorted Nicolae out of the room. They walked slowly out. Marie's face looked pale and confused when she spoke to him in the hallway of the hospital.

"What did you do just now?" she whispered in a slightly protesting tone. "We shouldn't have gone that far."

Nicolae looked at Marie closely and shook his head. "Marie, your mother is just sick, she is not stupid. She knew what happened, and if I didn't take the initiative at that time, she would never trust you again. She would hang in there for a very long time and keep struggling to stay alive just to see you finally happy."

Marie was stunned by Nicolae's explanation.

"But.. I ... I don't want to inconvenience you any further ..." she said regretfully.

"There is no use crying over spilled milk, I've been involved this far," Nicolae could only shrug. "I understand how you feel. I know how much you want to see your mother let go and leave in peace. For this reason, for this one time, I have violated my principles and lie for you. I think what your mother is experiencing now is her last flame. She looked like she is getting better, her face beamed because she's happy ... but it's all just a sign that she is losing her strength ... and she will die soon."

Marie was no longer ashamed of shedding tears in front of Nicolae. "So what should we do? You already said that we would get married in front of my mother. Are we hiring a fake priest for our wedding?"

Nicolae shook her head. "You can't. I don't think this is a big deal. We can just get married in the hospital chapel. We can call a marriage registrar from the ROM (Registry Of Marriages) office. After all this is over, you have to have it annulled. A maximum of three months after the wedding, you just need to register the annulment. If you do it right away, everything will be okay..."

In every major hospital, there was usually a chapel, where families of patients who wish to pray for healing for a sick family member could come and offer prayers to the God they worshipped.

In these chapels, it is not uncommon for weddings to occur between terminally ill patients with their loved ones. When they knew that they didn't have much time left, some of them wanted to solemnize their love in marriage before they leave this world forever.

They would hold a wedding ceremony in the hospital chapel by inviting only close relatives, and maybe some medical personnel who had been assisting their care, and the marriage registrar will be invited to come. This was a common practice today.

Marie nodded in agreement. Her eyes were filled with gratitude.