“It’s been a while, Asagi . Miss Daniela . ”

Well, this was awkward .

Wrath . Her expression was wrath itself . It was one of the seven deadly sins, and she let it flow through her as she stood menacingly in front of us . She was shorter than me, and yet somehow I felt like I was looking up towards her . Was it because I was ashamed of something? I couldn’t be…There was no way .

“Yes, it’s been a while, Miss Fiona . ”

“You sound a little stiff?”

“Sorry, I’m not the best talker . ”

“Ignoring that unfortunate flaw, why are you two stuck together?”

Her voice was no different from how it always was . But there were hidden barbs behind every word…or not . If anything, they were very visible and turned me into a pin cus.h.i.+on . Even Daniela, who was stubborn and fearless now slowly removed herself from my arm .

“We will borrow the drawing room for a minute . ”

“A minute, what? What are you going to do?”

“Come on, let us go . ”

“Hey, wait a minute, aaahh…”

Fiona grabbed my empty arm and pulled me towards the back of the guild house . I couldn’t even make her let go . Was she using magic?

Daniela was holding my other hand . I nearly stumbled as I was being pulled forward, but when I looked behind me, it wasn’t the shy Daniela that was there . It was Master Daniela, her stern face showed that she was prepared for battle . If she had this resolve…well, I needed to follow suit . Though, I had not expect such a scene right before going on a new adventure .

The three of us entered the drawing room . Fiona sat in front of us . Daniela was sitting next to me with her back straight . The leather sofa was pretty comfortable, I have to say . Though it did make your back feel damp That’s what I don’t like about leather . I wasn’t even sweating but my back was getting wet .

“So?”

Fiona’s seemed composed now as she looked at me, then at Daniela, and then me again . Her eyes were demanding that she be given an explanation .

“Um, it’s a long story but…”

“There is no need for that . ”

Daniela cut me off .

Then she took me by the chin and turned my head . The kiss was almost violent .

“Fff . . mmm…”

“Whwha…!”

My m.u.f.fled moans, Fiona’s shock, and Daniela’s breathing echoed in the room .

“…nnmmm…hahhh…”

When our mouths finally parted, Daniela’s hot breath blew on my lips, and her gla.s.s-like eyes stared into mine . Then she wrapped an arm around my neck, pulled me closer and unleashed a declaration of victory over Fiona .

“This our relations.h.i.+p now . Perhaps we should have told you sooner, Fiona . ”

“…ggg!!”

“…ggg!!”

Fiona’s face was red, and it wasn’t from embarra.s.sment . She glared at me sharply . I gently put a hand on Daniela’s thin, graceful arm and lowered it .

“I know it would have been more proper for me to tell you directly… I shouldn’t rely on Daniela so much . But your glare was just so intimidating . ”

“Asagi…”

“I’m sorry . I love Daniela . Even if you say that you want me, I would choose Daniela . ”

Fiona’s eyes moved back and forth between us . Then she took in a deep breath and sighed .

“Well… It is not your fault that I was just trying to marry into some money . Perhaps it was because I was all talk and never acted on it…”

Daniela and I listened quietly to Fiona’s monologue .

“But, I truly did want to become friends, you know? You were at least more appealing than the ruffians and drunkards of Fhiraldo, and you were pleasant to talk with . While there was not anything much between us, it was stimulating and fun . Was it not?”

Fiona chuckled to herself through a somewhat troubled expression . Daniela nodded .

“I too found it fun to be with Asagi . But I was not so restrained as you, perhaps . ”

There was something that Daniela had told me once .

‘I am no good at understanding my true feelings . But when I do, I rush straight ahead without looking . Opportunities will be missed if you rest on your laurels because of your life-span . ’

And true to those words, she had become an important part of me with the ferocity of a whirlwind . I knew that I could no longer live without her .

“You should act once you have an objective . An important trick to life, if you will . I believe that I gave in to such restraint so much throughout my life . I will tell you this, Fiona . I lost my family in a dragon stampede . After that, I was but a lone elf, traveling the world, but with my heart closed shut . But Asagi helped me change . Once I understood this, there was no one who could stop me . Not you, not Asagi, not even myself . Now I am with him . And I have no intention of letting him go . ”

Fiona listened to this quietly . There was no sadness in her expression .

“I see… In other words, I am no match for you . I had thought to slowly get closer, but I was already too late by then… Hmm, alright! I think I understand my own feelings now . Yes, I am fine now!”

Fiona said with a laugh . I wasn’t sure what to do then . I had really not been in a position like this before . My days with Daniela were the color of roses, but this was somewhat sad and cast a shadow over it . I wanted to be there for people who loved me . But what if there were two of them? It was not something I had ever considered .

“So, that is settled then! …Asagi, do not look so sad . ”

“Huh…?”

“Oh, look at you . You look close to tears!”

No, I didn’t . There was no reason for me to cry here . However, thinking about Fiona’s feelings did give me mixed emotions . And there was something about that that was sad .

“I am happy that you feel that way, Asagi . But this is my problem and not something that you need to be worried about . It is enough that you care . ”

Fiona said with a brave smile, which somehow made me pity her even more . But clearly, this was also bordering on patronizing . She was strong enough, and my pity was insulting if anything . And so I took Daniela’s hand and stood up .

“Alright . Let’s go then . ”

“Yes…”

We opened the door of the drawing room and went out . Fiona remained in her seat without moving an inch .

We opened the door of the drawing room and went out . Fiona remained in her seat without moving an inch .

“Fiona . ”

“Hmm?”

I don’t look back, but I could hear a slight tremble in Fiona’s voice . I told her how I felt .

“See you later . ”

Things wouldn’t change . Maybe we stood on different ground now, but I had promised to be friends with her . It didn’t need to end like this . Maybe I was being self-indulgent . But even if she refused the offer, I would not go back on my word .

“Yes…! See you!”

When I did turn around, she had a smile that seemed brighter than usual . There were tears in her eyes, but she was still smiling .

I slowly close the door . All sound was shut off now . The whole guild house seemed quiet . I was sure that things would be back to normal when I saw her next . She would be the energetic and overly familiar guild worker . I, the stubborn Adventurer . Maybe Fiona’s friend, who I liked, would be next to her then . All of those who had been with me as we were chased on the plains will be my comrades forever . We would always be together, I somehow knew .

“Let’s go, Daniela . ”

“Aye, Asagi . ”

I tightly held the hand of the one I loved . She too held me tight . That was enough to increase my heart rate .

And yet, I still felt sad .