Well, that wasn't quite what he had in mind, but immediately he latched on to the fact it wasn't a no, even if it wasn't the resounding yes he had hoped for. He had expected such a reply in the fantasies he had granted himself, but he couldn't quite recall the smooth reply he always had. Plus, this time, he had foolishly not thought ahead about it. He knew it was her anxieties that halted her from something that could make the both of them happy. There was no logic that would dissuade him. He knew that instinctively. 

"So..." He said, getting to his feet. He still had her hands in his his, and his dark eyes were level with hers. "You believe it would be better for me if I were to live all of my life in unhappiness rather than to live some of it like that..." 

He had a small smile on his face, though not because he was not sympathetic to her reservations. He knew them almost as well as one of her own family, he felt. It was simply a part of her charm, to him. She was collected, intelligent, always planned everything. He was no stranger to plots, but he was more prone to 'winging it' as the commoners said. "You may not wish to harm me, but there is no greater harm than seeing you not be happy. Than seeing you marry someone else, someone you are forced to." His next words were breathy and earnest. "There is no greater harm than being apart from you."  

Galt's family had thought he should have married years ago, though for entirely different reasons than people might wish that upon Silke. They thought a woman might make him honest. He had always laughed at the ridiculousness of that forlorn hope, and yet ironically, one had. The one he was asking to marry him right here and now. 

"You know in your heart you want to." Galt whispered, and he shook his head. "It won't solve everything. It won't solve the problems of the kingdom or make life perfect. But together there's nothing we can't work towards, and there's nowhere I would rather be than by you. Please, for once in the months I've known you, do me the favor of answering how you would desire it. I know you're frightened. I am too but..." He squeezed her hands. "Do you trust me?"