After that whole charade, I had to babysit the sulking Marie.
'Marie… you know I wouldn't pick pants over you.'
She looked straight at me.
'Then why can't you say that while looking at me?'
I was looking away.
'Say what?'
'That you didn't choose pants over me.'
Her lips trembled.
Oh.
She is actually crying.
I awkwardly patted her back.
'I promise, Marie… I wouldn't pick pants over you.'
Sorry cargo pants. You had a good run.
'Really?'
She wiped her tears.
'Of course.' I nodded.
'Then-then… can I get a hug?.'
I pulled her into my embrace.
Her arms hung awkwardly at first, but slowly, she wrapped them around me.
'Thank you.'
She held me tighter. We stayed like this for a while until she chose to let go.
'Ahem.' She lightly coughed, hiding the fact that she was blushing. 'Time to go, darling.'
She returned to her usual self.
'Are you hungry, darling?'
'Yeah.' I patted my stomach.
She giggled before quickly correcting herself.
'I know a place we can go to.'
Holding my hand tightly, she led me to a cafe that screamed 'love'.
From the design and colour palette, no one would've guessed otherwise.
'Since you wanted to experience what couples do, what better way than a couples cafe?'
Stepping into the store, I looked around to see a whole lot of pink. It looked… very girly.
'Oh my, you two look sweet together!'
Just then, a staff member approached us.
Seeing how we were holding hands, she assumed we were a couple.
'Did you hear that, darling?' Marie beamed.
'Yeah.' I nodded.
'If you would give me one sec…' The waitress grabbed menus. 'Okay, I'll lead you to your table.'
Hand in hand, we followed her.
'Here is your seat.' She placed the menus on the table.
The table was quite something. Two walls boxed us in, like privacy booths for maximum romance.
'When you are ready, just click this button.' She pointed.
She bowed and left.
'You can sit inside.' I gestured to Marie.
'Thank you, darling.'
She slid into the booth while I sat opposite her.
As we settled in, a thought hit me.
Is her hair naturally red or is it dyed?
I have been seeing rainbows.
Either dying your hair was popular or they were all born to look like traffic lights.
'Marie.'
'Yes, darling?' She said, scanning the menu.
'Is your hair naturally red?'
'Yes… why?' She tilted her head.
'Because it looks nice, compared to my lame brown one.' I grabbed a piece of my hair.
'…'
I looked up.
Her entire face had disappeared behind the menu.
I grabbed my menu and did the same.
'Hmm…'
It was hard to decide.
Everything here looked very cutesy. Like, why is there fried rice shaped as a cat? Was it trying to make me think I am eating a cat without it being a cat?
'H-hey, darling.'
Marie pulled the menu just low enough to reveal her eyes.
'Do you want to get the couple's meal set?'
I flipped to the page and had a look.
It was much cheaper than getting individual items since it had a discount, so that was a plus.
'Sure. Saves money.'
'Great.' She clasped her hands. 'Which one do you want, darling?'
'Hmm…'
I looked for one that had the most food.
'How about set A?'
'Okay.'
She pressed the button.
A few seconds later, the same waitress came.
'So you two have decided?'
'Yes.' I said.
'Great.' She opened her notepad. 'What will you be ordering today?'
'Can we get meal set A?' I pointed to the picture.
'Yep.' She scribbled on her notepad. 'Anything else?'
I turned to look at Marie.
She shook her head.
'That would be all, thanks.'
We handed back the menu and the waitress left.
'Marie, I'm going to go take a leak.' I stood up.
'Sure, darling.'
——————————————-
[Marie's pov]
The moment he left, my smile faded.
It didn't fade gracefully, it dropped.
The room followed. The warmth, the noise… all of it flattened into something dull and distant.
I pressed my hand against my chest.
Too fast.
'… Still?'
Annoying.
I exhaled slowly, measuring like I always do.
It didn't help.
My fingers curled slightly against my shirt.
Soon, the waitress came back with two glasses of water.
'Here is your water.' She placed them down. 'If you need to refill, don't be afraid to ask me.'
'Thanks.' I smiled.
She left.
The smile vanished.
'It's exhausting.' I muttered.
Friendly when needed. Polite when expected. Cold when necessary.
As long as I control the situation, nothing goes wrong.
That's how it's always been.
So why?
Why is he like this?
I guided him where I wanted. Every step, every choice, planned.
And yet…
No pattern. No consistency.
My grip tightened.
It infuriates me.
I tried the childhood sweetheart route. I read stories of how many men would like such a rich history.
It should have worked.
'Calm down, Marie.'
I exhaled slowly, steadying myself.
That hug earlier.
How careless of me.
For a moment, my body moved before I could stop it.
I almost lost control.
Unacceptable.
But more importantly… Why?
What does he want?
There's always a reason.
Always a price.
Nothing in this world comes free.
So what is he after?
My body?
No.
There were easier chances.
He ignored all of them.
Then what?
My time? My attention?
If I can't read his motives…
My hand returned to my chest.
Still fast.
I exhaled slowly, forcing it to steady.
This is what happens when things fall outside expectations.
Unacceptable.
I need control again.
While I was piecing it together, the bathroom door opened.
There he is.
I inhaled slowly.
By the time I looked up, the smile was already back in place.
Right where it belonged.
'That was quick, darling.'
————————————————————
[Dylan's pov]
'Did something happen while I was gone?' I asked.
'No. Why would you think that?' She smiled.
'Nothing, just a feeling.'
I sipped water and that was when our food arrived.
'Here is your meal set A.' She set it on the table. 'Please, enjoy.'
After bowing, she left.
'Where to begin?' Marie looked at multiple dishes. 'Darling, how about you choose?'
'How about this one?'
I pointed to the one that was close to me.
'Sure.' She smiled.
I kind of want to point out how fake her smile looked, but nobles back in the fantasy world did love fake smiling. Maybe she was into that too.
The last time I called out a noble. He hired as many mercenaries as he could to bring my head.
So I didn't call it out.
We ate while chatting. Well, she mainly did all the chatting, I just occasionally nodded and smiled.
I sometimes wonder how girls can talk so much. Usually, I would run out of things to say and stare at them until they say something.
'So, darling….' Marie rested her chin on her hands. 'What do you think about this "couple" thing?'
I swallowed my food.
'I'll be honest with you.'
She smiled. Expectant.
'Isn't it just the same as friends?'
The smile stayed.
Too still.
'Friends?' She repeated softly.
'Like, we shopped, walked around, now we're eating. I do all that with friends.'
I took another bite. 'The only difference is you keep calling me "darling."'
'I see.'
She nodded. Slowly.
'So in your mind… this isn't special?'
'Not really.'
'…'
The word settled between us.
Marie didn't move.
Only her fingers tightened around her fork.
'Then what would make it special?
'Hmm?'
I looked up at the ceiling. Thinking
'I don't know.' I stroked my chin. 'Maybe something you don't do with everyone.'
'…Like a kiss? Or a hug?'
'But I've seen people kiss their friends.'
Her grip tightened.
'Those weren't friends.'
'How do you know?'
'Because…'
Her smile cracked. Slightly.
'… because people don't do that without meaning something.'
'I mean, I don't kiss my friends, but I do hug them.'
'That isn't the same.'
'How?'
She opened her mouth and closed it.
Her fork pressed faintly against her plate.
'It just is.'
I stared at her.
'You're kind of bad at explaining this.'
'…'
For a moment, even the background noise felt distant.
Marie's fork froze mid-air.
Just for a second.
Then…
A soft laugh.
'Perhaps I am.'
But her eyes didn't match it.
'Let's… just forget about the couple stuff.' She set her fork down.
'Did you enjoy today?'
'Yeah.' I nodded. 'I learnt a lot.'
She relaxed, slightly.
'Like what?'
'You're funny to be around.'
'Funny?'
'Yep. You act like a spoiled brat sometimes. It reminds me of someone I know.'
…
Her smile didn't drop.
It tightened.
'I see.'
Her fingers tightened in her lap.
'What an… interesting comparison.'
She took a deep breath and her perfect smile returned.
'It seems I still have much to learn about you… darling.'
I wonder what Eri is doing right now?
———————————————————-
[At Dylan's residence]
Taking food out of the fridge, Eri reheated the soup and cooked the noodles.
'Hehehe… of course I can make good food.'
She slurped the noodles loudly.
'As expected of such a great lord.'
She grabbed the remote.
'Now then… let's observe mortal entertainment.'
The TV flickered on, some random anime was already playing.
While eating, she heard the sound of the doorbell.
*Ding dong*
Eri froze.
'Who could that be?'
She crept toward the door and checked the panel.
A familiar figure stood outside.
Eri's grin spread.
She opened the door and approached the front gate.
'Fufufu, it's been a while, Swordfish Knight.'
'Indeed.' Saki nodded. 'Where's that bastard, Dark Lord?'
'Oh, my servant? He is busy doing some business.'
'What kinda business?'
'I don't know if I should tell my rival, but…' She leaned in. 'He is raising an entire army of demons for me.'
'Army?' Saki was shocked.
'Yes. He is currently out with a female.' Eri nodded.
'Don't tell me it's Kasumi.' Saki grabbed Eri's shoulders.
'You mean my knight? No, he said it was someone unknown.'
'Phew.' Saki wiped her sweat. 'So he's not here.'
'Yes.' Eri nodded.
'Then do you want to go on an adventure?'
'An adventure?'
'Yes.' Saki turned around dramatically, raising her bokken like a hero. 'We shall go purge this town of great evil.'
'Hmm…' Eri tapped her chin.
Thinking.
Eventually, she reached a conclusion.
'Sure. I shall use this opportunity to expand my legion.'
'That's the spirit.'
'However…'
Eri turned and walked back inside.
'I must first finish my meal.'
'You're eating now?'
'A ruler must maintain her strength.'
'Then I'm joining.'
After Eri and Saki finished eating and washed their dishes.
The Dark Lord and the Swordfish Knight departed.
Or, at the very least, wander around until something interesting happens.