During the day, we were enjoying the ocean to the fullest…
“Mmm.”
Nighttime.
While everyone was eating dinner together, Sofia seemed to be in a bad mood.
With a pouty expression, she was making it blatantly obvious: I’m upset.
“Uh… Sofia?”
“What is it?”
“About earlier today… I mean, I didn’t mean it like that, or…”
“What exactly are you talking about, Fate?”
“Well… an apology.”
“I don’t understand why you’re apologizing. Besides, I’m not angry at all.”
That’s a lie.
She looks incredibly grumpy.
“Dad, Mom… are you fighting?”
“It’s okay, Aisha. This isn’t really a fight; it’s more like a little playful banter.”
“Playful banter?”
“That’s right. Sofia’s just being a bit mean-spirited… or stubborn. Fate, you’ve got it tough.”
Licorice was soothing Aisha, who looked uneasy.
That was a big help, but… what does she mean by Sofia being stubborn?
“Fate, do you prefer that woman, Lena, over me?”
“No, not at all!”
“Really?”
“Really!”
I stared straight into Sofia’s eyes, pleading my innocence.
“...”
For a moment, it looked like Sofia smirked.
But then her pouty expression returned. Maybe I imagined it.
“If that’s the case, could you prove it to me with words and actions?”
“I get the words part, but… actions?”
“There’s no point if I spell it out for you, is there? Figure it out yourself, Fate.”
“Hmm…”
The words are easy.
I just have to say how I feel about Sofia.
But when it comes to actions…
Hugging her… maybe?
No, wait.
Doing something like that in public seems inappropriate, and suddenly hugging her might come off as harassment.
Then…
“Uh, Sofia.”
“Yes?”
Feeling nervous, I decided to act on my idea.
“The only woman I love, now and forever, is you, Sofia.”
“… Is that so?”
“I’d like to prove it. Is that okay?”
“Go ahead.”
I gently took Sofia’s hand and kissed the back of it.
It was the kind of kiss knights used to pledge their loyalty.
In my case, the meaning was a bit different…
But the sentiment of dedicating everything to her was sincere.
“…”
Sofia’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Hehe.”
She let out a laugh as sweet as a tinkling bell.
“Fate, where did you learn something like that?”
“Um…”
I hesitated, unsure of how to explain.
Saying I saw a similar scene in a book I read to Aisha seemed a bit… inappropriate.
“Probably… I picked it up from a book or something like that.”
“Ugh.”
She saw right through me.
“But it made me very happy.”
Sofia smiled brightly.
Thank goodness.
It seems like her mood has improved.
“Ah… Fate? About Sofia looking upset earlier—it was an act.”
“Huh?”
Out of nowhere, Licorice interjected.
“W-What do you mean?”
“Well, she’s probably a little upset, but it’s mostly an act. She was pretending to be in a bad mood because she wanted you to do something sweet for her.”
“R-Really…?”
When I looked at Sofia, she playfully stuck her tongue out at me.
“Sorry. I just wanted you to whisper some sweet words to me, so I couldn’t resist.”
“…I see. So that’s what it was.”
I slumped, feeling a bit deflated.
My body went weak, and I nearly dropped to my knees on the floor.
I had been so panicked, wondering what to do because I’d never had a fight with Sofia before…
But to think it was all just an act.
“Still… I guess that makes sense.”
Even though Sofia called it an act…
It seems she was at least a little upset.
And the reason she felt that way was because I hadn’t been clear in my response to Lena.
I need to make sure not to worry her again.
To avoid making her feel that way in the future, I’ll need to handle it properly if we meet Lena again.
“I’ll do my best, Sofia.”
“Yes, I’m counting on you.”
Sofia, seeming to sense what I was thinking, smiled warmly at me.
“‘Rain settles the ground,’ as the saying goes, right?”
“Rain…?”
“It means that after a fight, when you make up, you become closer than before.”
“Oh! Dad and Mom are super close!”
Aisha wagged her tail happily.
“By the way… should Aisha and I sleep in a separate room tonight? I mean, wouldn’t Fate and Sofia like to spend a passionate night together?”
“Don’t say weird things like that!”
“Seriously, don’t!”
“Kehehe.”
Licorice might be the most skilled one here.
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