Fathir pulled his face back, startled by Lairas's action. He stared into the woman's eyes for several seconds before speaking. "Stop! What are you doing?"
Lairas's expression didn't change. Instead, she smiled. "I'm glad you enjoyed my cooking."
Fathir wiped the remaining tears from his cheek with the back of his hand, then let out a long sigh. "Well, it wasn't bad. I didn't say it was good."
"Didn't say it was good," Lairas repeated Fathir's words, her smile widening. "But your face says otherwise, my dear Fathir."
"S-stop calling me that!" Fathir quickly averted his gaze from the woman and stared toward the layer of clouds in the distance. "Alright, why did you buy me?" he asked.
"I've always admired you," Lairas said. She propped her chin on one hand and looked straight at Fathir.
"Admired me?" Fathir turned back to her, his eyebrows knitted. "We only just met today. What are you talking about?"
"Killing the governor, freeing the slaves… even managing to trap high-level adventurers to their deaths…" Lairas leaned her face forward slightly, her voice growing softer. "You turned yourself in and let your group go free… you shouldered it all alone… which is what led to you becoming a slave." Lairas's fingers gently touched and caressed Fathir's ear.
Fathir's pupils dilated. His ear began to feel warm and turn red as her fingers continued their caress. Lairas's face was now so close that Fathir could feel her breath.
"I know everything about you, Fathir. I've always admired you… you were my inspiration and what made me as strong as I am today… I…" Lairas didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she gently kissed his forehead once more.
Fathir was silent. His heart was beating faster in his chest. He didn't know what to say or how to react. He could only let out a long sigh. "What do you want from me?"
Lairas pulled back and paused for a moment. She slowly tilted her head from left to right.
While waiting for her to speak, Fathir picked up his glass and drank some water.
After a few moments, Lairas looked at Fathir and smiled gently. "I want you to be my husband."
Pffft!
Fathir instantly spat the water out of his mouth. Lairas's face was soaked by the spray.
"Ah… sorry," Fathir said, staring at her drenched face.
Lairas simply lifted her index finger and flicked it slightly. Instantly, her face was clean and dry again. She smiled once more. "So, what's your answer?"
This woman is clearly insane… she wants me to be her husband!? We just met! But, do I have any other choice? Will I be killed if I refuse? But wait… what am I living for now… my goal is already achieved. I guess it doesn't matter if I die now. Fathir thought.
He cleared his throat softly. "Sorry, I think not."
The smile on Lairas's face faded slightly. She tilted her head. "Oh? Why?"
Fathir sighed and held up one finger. "First, we just met. Even though you say you know about me, I know nothing about you. So, I don't love you yet. I don't want to lie about my feelings."
He then held up a second finger. "Second, I'm no longer interested in worldly affairs. My life's purpose has been fulfilled and, well, I have no ambition to live right now." He paused for a moment. "So, yeah, based on those two things, I can't."
Lairas leaned back slightly in her chair. "Oh, I see…." She nodded, then placed her index finger on her cheek while looking at Fathir.
I think she's thinking about how to kill me… Fathir thought, his eyes never leaving Lairas.
The woman then smiled again, wider than before. "That's not a problem," she said. "If you have no reason to live, then I will become your reason. And if you don't love me yet, I promise I will make you love me."
Silence fell between them after that conversation.
This woman... is quite forceful..., well, let her try. Fathir suppressed a thin, cynical smile.
He looked straight at Lairas and said, "Try it."
Lairas nodded gently, her eyes sparkling. "With pleasure."
After that, they both finished their meals.
Once their plates were empty, Lairas stood up. "The sun has set. Come on, there's a better place to see the stars."
They walked along the glowing path, climbing to a higher mountain peak near the cottage. The air there felt colder. At the summit, they stood at the edge, above everything.
Lairas then snapped her fingers.
Click!
Instantly, two simple wooden chairs appeared before them.
"Have a seat, darling," Lairas said softly.
They sat side-by-side in silence. The air at the peak was cool and clean. Before them, the western sky still glowed with the last traces of orange and purple. The layer of clouds below them looked like a calm ocean, reflecting the final light of the day. No stars were visible yet.
"My dear Fathir… may I ask you something?" Lairas asked, her voice breaking the silence.
Fathir continued to stare straight ahead as the last colors faded from the horizon. "What?"
"You said… your life's purpose has been fulfilled and you're no longer interested in worldly affairs." Lairas paused for a moment. "May I ask you to explain that, my dear?"
Fathir glanced at Lairas for a second before turning his gaze back to the sky, where the first stars were now beginning to appear. He sighed. "you said you know everything about me heh..."
"well...My purpose for revenge has been fulfilled. I'm not interested in anything else now. I have no one left. To me, life is meaningless without a purpose. Now… I have no purpose."
Lairas was quiet for several seconds. After the silence, she said, "What if you focus on becoming strong for now?"
"Becoming strong?" Fathir raised an eyebrow. "I'm not interested. For what?"
Lairas gave a light laugh. "Just go along with it. You're the one who told me to 'try,' right?"
Fathir was silent, not responding.
Lairas reached out and gently caressed his cheek. "I told you, I will make you love me and make myself your reason to live." She continued, "My first step is to make you the strongest adventurer within four years."
Fathir let out a soft chuckle. "Four years, huh… sounds impossible."
"I'll go along with you," Fathir continued, "try it."