CH 15

“Ah, welcome back Helvi.”

Theo says with a smile as he sees Helvi enter the living room.

“Yes, I’m back.”

Said Helvi as though nothing happened, with her cheeks softening a little.

“We just finished setting everything up.”

“I see, I apologize for having you do it.”

“No problem, Fiore helped me.”

“Theo did almost everything by himself.”

And then, they sat at the table and started eating. That night’s dinner was hamburger steak.

Helvi told Theo that she liked meat, so Theo cooked his best meat dish.

She thought her reward had ended with lunch, but Theo felt differently. He knew Fiore was coming as well, so he made sure to make a wonderful meal.

Helvi and Fiore grabbed their knives and forks at the same time and started eating, and Theo looked on nervously.

“H-how is it? It’ my first time entertaining guests, so I’m not too confident…”

Theo lowered his head and peeked up, which struck a cord with Helvi and Fiore as they chewed.

After swallowing, both smiled.

“It’s marvelous Theo.”

“Yes, it’s very good.”

“R-really!? Great…!”

The uncertainty in Theo’s face was replaced with a cute expression, and Fiore had to do her best not to squirm in her seat.

(Ahh… Theo is too cute…)

She felt she would not be able to hold back a grin if she continued to watch that smiling face, so she averted her eyes and focused on her meal.

That smile was already playing back inside of her head.

(Good job holding that in, me! That smile just isn’t fair, but…)

Fiore peeked Helvi’s way.

As far as Fiore could see, she was just eating as though nothing happened. She did not budge at all after seeing that smile.

(Could it be that Theo’s smile has no effect on her? That would be a shame…)

She felt it would be a waste if Theo’s smile did not trigger any maternal instincts or anything. As she thought about this, she grabbed her cup and…

(That is not it. Of course it’s cute.)

“Hn!?”

She suddenly heard these words echoing inside of her head, and almost spit out her drink.

“A-are you alright Fiore? Did you choke?”

“N-no, I’m fine.”

She breathed a sigh of relief after managing to not spit out her drink, and looked over to the person whose voice she heard.

“Hn? What is it?”

“N-nothing…”

She looked at her like it was strange, so Fiore said nothing.

(Was it just my imagination?)

(It was not.)

“!?”

She really did hear a voice, and was startled again. She looked over to Helvi again, but it did not seem as though she was speaking.

(I am communicating directly to your head.)

(Y-you can do that…?)

(Yes. I am the strongest…)

(I don’t really get it…)

They were having a conversation without speaking. Theo only smiled, as from his point of view they were doing nothing more than eating.

(Look at that face. How can you even describe it without saying it is cute?)

(I-I agree… Can you really say that so plainly?)

(What about you? Were you not just saying he was too cute?)

(I didn’t say it! I just thought about it!)

Theo could not even imagine that such a conversation was taking place.

They continued eating without talking through their mouths too much.

Afterwards, they put away the tableware. Helvi tried to help washing the dishes again, but…

“Ah, Helvi. There’s desert, so eat it if you want.”

“Desert?”

“Yes. You said you like sweet things right?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I tried making pudding. There’s enough for you too Fiore.”

“Eh, really? Thank you Theo.”

Theo made pudding with a cup about the size of his palm, and placed it in front of Helvi and Fiore.

“You can eat while I wash the dishes.”

“What about you Theo? Don’t you have one?”

“Eh, I do but…”

“Then leave the dishes for later and come eat with us. If not, it will only be half as good.”

“…! Yes, thank you!”

“Fufuh. No, thank you.”

Fiore smiled as she looked at Helvi and Theo.

(I guess I really can’t beat a long-time fiancee… I’m glad you get to marry a good person, Theo.)

Helvi did not hear this thought.