Chapter 47 - Another Home
"Oh, welcome, both of you. I've been waiting."
Entering Elgis-san's house as if rushing in to escape the villagers, Fiona-san greeted us with a smile that was fifty percent more cheerful—no, more like a smirk—than usual.
"Hello, good afternoon."
I bowed slightly, feeling an itchiness from the gazes directed at me so many times throughout the day.
"I'm home."
Flora, who had carefully closed the door, said with a bashful yet radiant smile.
"Yes, welcome home, Flora."
Seeing Flora like that, Fiona-san nodded with satisfaction.
Then, Fiona-san looked back and forth between me and Flora, made a disappointed face, and said,
"But really, you've already let go of each other's hands? Since you came all the way here from the plaza holding hands, you should have just come in like that..."
It seemed she had been checking the situation outside from the house window.
After that, the villagers had surrounded us and wouldn't let us go for quite a while, so in the end, I had taken Flora's hand and run away as if shaking them off.
The old man and old woman who were watching us at first might have been easier to deal with.
"...You were watching."
"Yes, with all that commotion, I couldn't help but be curious. That part at the end where you took Flora's hand and ran in was very good."
Fiona-san said with an entranced look, resting her hand against her cheek.
When this person makes such a gesture, it really suits her, which is troublesome.
Subjected to her lukewarm gaze, we could only shrink back in embarrassment.
"Since talking here isn't ideal, let's go to the living room. Come on, please come in."
I wished she had said that before teasing us, but seeing Fiona-san's state—where she couldn't contain her joy at seeing me and Flora entering together—I couldn't bring myself to complain.
I suppose that's how it is. Even if I'm an acquaintance, her own daughter has brought her lover home.
Thinking that, I started to feel a bit nervous.
"Excuse me for the intrusion."
"Aldo-san, you're so stiff. This is my home, so it's like your own home too, you know?"
As I walked with a bit of tension, Flora, who was beside me, spoke teasingly.
It seemed this was payback for this morning. Apparently, just offering slippers as an apology wasn't enough to earn her forgiveness.
"No, but since I'm here today to properly ask for permission for that, technically it's not yet."
"That's not true at all!"
Whether she disliked my pedantic way of speaking or was frustrated that I was evading her, Flora puffed out her cheeks cutely.
That sight was so adorable that Fiona-san and I shared a secret laugh.
Guided by Fiona-san into the living room, there was Elgis-san, also smiling fifty percent more than usual.
"It was lively outside, so I knew immediately that Aldo-san and Flora had arrived."
"I'm sorry for the noise."
At this point, I could only apologize out of embarrassment.
"No, no, that part at the end where you took Flora's hand and slipped through the villagers' encirclement was exceptionally good."
"Father, you were watching too!?"
"Of course. It's an important scene where my daughter brings her lover over. Though, I didn't think it would get quite that exciting."
Elgis-san answered firmly to Flora, who raised a voice mixed with surprise and exasperation.
Which meant that until just before we arrived, Elgis-san had been looking out at the plaza from the window by the entrance along with Fiona-san. Then, once we came in, he retreated to the living room to welcome us. Thinking about it that way, this man acts quite cutely.
While I was speculating about Elgis-san's playful behavior, Fiona-san's voice reached us from the kitchen.
"Dear, I know you want to talk about many things, but let's have them take a seat first."
"Ah, that's right. Well then, please. Have a seat."
Urged by Elgis-san, Flora and I sat down. Naturally, Elgis-san was in front of me and Flora was next to me.
When we eat together in this house, we sometimes sit like this, but since the purpose is different today, there's an indescribable sense of tension.
Contrary to my nervousness, Elgis-san had a full-faced smile. He had been nodding while looking back and forth between me and Flora for a while now.
"...Father, your face is smirking too much."
"Oh? Was it? No, well, I'm just so happy that my daughter finally brought Aldo-san here as a lover rather than just a friend that my expression has loosened up."
Unfazed by Flora's protesting voice, Elgis-san answered while scratching his head.
"Geez!"
"Honestly. We who were watching over you were on edge wondering when it would happen, so I'd like you to understand our feelings too."
In response to Flora's sulky voice, Fiona-san, who had finished preparing the tea, arrived.
A fresh and sweet scent of green apples wafted from the steaming teacups. It was Apple Mint Tea.
"Every time you came for a meal, I thought, 'Is it time yet, is it time yet?'"
Elgis-san said with deep emotion as Fiona-san quietly set down the teacups.
Come to think of it, whenever I had dinner at Flora's house, I felt like Fiona-san and Elgis-san were always restless.
I had assumed they were happy because the shy Flora had brought a male friend over, but it seems I was wrong. They had been hoping for our relationship to progress.
In the end, it was thanks to her parents, Elgis-san and Fiona-san, that we were able to move forward, so I felt gratitude toward them, along with a bit of guilt.
Once she finished distributing the teacups and Fiona-san took her seat, I bowed my head.
"...How should I put it, I'm sorry for being such a coward."
Then, Flora, who was sitting next to me, stood up vigorously.
"Aldo-san is not a coward! It's true he's a dense person who didn't notice even when I desperately appealed to him, didn't realize the meaning of my words, and took a long time to remember what happened nine years ago."
Wait? Am I being defended? Or insulted?
"But he treasures me, and he fought monsters at the risk of his life for my sake! That's why Aldo-san is not a coward!"
Those words of Flora's were addressed not just to her parents but to me as well, and her voice was stronger than ever.
Flora, who usually doesn't raise her voice, had something she wanted to say even if it meant shouting. Realizing that was Flora's true heart, I felt immensely happy.
Elgis-san and Fiona-san were surprised by Flora's unusually strong assertion, but their faces suddenly softened.
"Even without you shouting, we who have been watching over you two the whole time already know that."
"Yes, if he were truly a hopeless man, there's no way we would have permitted the relationship."
I felt relieved at Elgis-san and Fiona-san's words.
"...Eh? Uh, yes. I'm sorry for raising my voice."
Subjected to the warm expressions of Elgis-san and Fiona-san, Flora sat back down bashfully.
"—!"
However, perhaps because she sat down vigorously while forgetting last night's pain, Flora grimaced slightly in pain.
"Oh my, it seems last night was a great success without even needing to ask."
Having the cause of her pain pointed out by Fiona-san, Flora's face and even her ears turned bright red.
Flora, with her face red, looked down, and I could only give a wry smile.
Please give me a break.
Amidst the indescribably embarrassing atmosphere, Elgis-san, sitting in front of me, cleared his throat as if to change the mood.
"At any rate, thank you for saving our daughter, Flora. If it weren't for Aldo-san, Flora might not be here right now. We are truly grateful."
"Thank you for saving our precious only daughter."
Elgis-san and Fiona-san bowed their heads so low they almost touched the table to give their thanks.
"No, please! It's only natural to go save the person I love! Please, raise your heads."
Being bowed to by two people who have taken such great care of me made me feel terribly apologetic.
"Even if it's for the person you love, there aren't many people who can fight monsters at the risk of their lives."
"Yes, you're not a coward. You're just a bit slow when it comes to romance."
The atmosphere softened at Fiona-san's playful words.
In the midst of that, thinking that now was the time to say it properly, I straightened my back and opened my mouth.
"Will you permit me and Flora to become lovers?"
Elgis-san and Fiona-san seemed taken aback by my words, but then they smiled happily.
"Yes, I permit it."
"Yes, me too."
At the words of the two who spoke while nodding with satisfaction, I felt like I was going to cry.
I instinctively glanced at Flora next to me, and she was also smiling with heartfelt joy.
But that's not all we want to say.
When I sent her a look of determination, Flora seemed to understand and gave a small nod.
The tension that had softened returned once more.
However, thanks to Flora taking my hand, I found my courage.
Yes, this isn't just my own selfishness; it's the wish of both me and Flora.
"Elgis-san, Fiona-san! Please give me Flora as my bride. Please permit our marriage. I beg of you!"
"Yes, by all means, please take our daughter as your bride."
"If it's Aldo-san, there's no reason to object. Let's announce the marriage during this year's Harvest Festival."
In response to the words of me and Flora as we bowed our heads, Fiona-san and Elgis-san replied quite casually.
I was so surprised by how light it was that I raised my head.
Wait, aren't you two being a bit too casual? Shouldn't there be, like, more talking, or living together for a while first?
I instinctively looked at Flora next to me, and she also seemed a bit surprised.
"I thought you would mention the marriage before mentioning being lovers."
"Yes, since we intended to permit the marriage from the start anyway."
I-I see, so that's why they were surprised earlier. I must have made them worry that we would stop at just a lover relationship again.
"From now on, you should live together."
"But that doesn't mean you can't come back at all. The distance isn't far, so I want you to show your faces frequently."
Elgis-san and Fiona-san said in gentle voices while sipping their tea.
"Aldo-san!"
"Flora!"
And then, because our marriage had been permitted, we continued to shout with joy while embracing each other.