When we returned to the mansion, the warmth of home greeted us. Roxy and I were still holding hands; I felt her attempt to let go for a brief second, gripped by shyness, but I tightened my grip gently to reassure her.
"Don't worry..." I whispered to her.
As we entered the main hall, everyone was gathered there, chatting animatedly. The moment we crossed the threshold, the voices died down and all eyes fixed on us, inevitably drifting down to our interlaced hands.
"I have something to announce," I said firmly. "Roxy and I are now a couple."
The effect was instantaneous.
Rudeus, who was holding a plate at that moment, stood completely petrified. His eyes widened, processing the news at full speed until his fingers lost their strength. The plate slipped and shattered against the floor, scattering food everywhere.
Aisha, to my surprise, didn't jump in with one of her witty comments. She simply stared at the scene and flashed a calm smile, something not very typical of her, as if she had foreseen this outcome long ago.
Norn, for her part, seemed to be struggling internally with something. She shot a quick look at Aisha, seeking a silent answer; Aisha only nodded, confirming something between them. I had no idea what those two were planning, but their complicity gave me a strange feeling.
"Don't you think you guys were taking long enough?" Paul blurted out from the sofa with a smirk of satisfaction, like someone who had just won a bet.
Zenith, sitting beside him, nodded sweetly. "That is excellent news..." she said in a soft voice, radiating that warmth that always brought peace to the house.
"Congratulations, Arthur, Roxy," Lilia added with a respectful bow, though her eyes reflected sincere joy for us.
Even **Sylphie**, who was sitting on the other sofa with little Lucy already asleep by her side, gave us a smile full of tenderness, though with a spark of mischief in her eyes upon seeing how red Roxy had turned.
Roxy sank slightly under her hat, her cheeks burning, but this time she didn't back away. I simply held everyone's gaze, feeling that, at last, I truly felt part of this world—so chaotic and yet so beautiful.
However, the peace was short-lived. Without warning, Aisha stepped forward and grabbed Roxy by the arm with surprising strength.
"Sorry, Arthur, but we're borrowing her for a moment," Aisha said with a smile that wasn't entirely innocent.
Before I could process it, she dragged her toward the back hallway, and Norn followed them without a word, casting one last look of determination my way.
Paul and I looked at each other in doubt. He simply shrugged and let out a chuckle, as if to say, "I guess they're going to have some girl talk."
...
Point of View: Rudeus
I was in shock. Even though I saw it coming, experiencing it in the flesh was a totally different story.
Master Roxy... the one who later became my "Goddess," the one I dedicated prayers to and from whom I even treasured a—somewhat questionable—relic of her underwear... now officially had a partner. And that someone was Arthur.
I felt a mixture of emotions clashing in my chest. On one hand, immense joy for both of them; Arthur has proven to be someone exceptional and Roxy deserves all the happiness in the world. But deep down, in that dark corner of my mind that still clung to my fantasies, I felt a small sting of loss. It was as if a stage of my life was closing for good.
However, I looked to my side. There was Sylphie, looking at me with love, and our little Lucy resting peacefully. I shook my head to dispel any trace of melancholy and smiled sincerely.
"This is for the best," I thought.
I already have my home, my wife, and a beautiful daughter. Now my "Goddess" Roxy has also found someone who will walk by her side and who, with that new dragon power, will be able to protect her from any danger in this world.
I approached Arthur and placed my hands on his shoulders, squeezing firmly.
"Arthur..." I said, trying to keep my voice from trembling from the shock. "You are very lucky. Take good care of her, because if you hurt her, I won't care if you're a dragon or Perugius's own grandson... you'll have to deal with me."
Arthur looked me in the eyes and nodded with a seriousness that gave me chills. His golden eyes shone with absolute determination.
"I know, Rudeus. You have nothing to worry about."
.....
Point of View: Arthur
Days later, in the afternoon, Nanahoshi was visiting. She came to the mansion almost all the time to use the bath; she said it was much more comfortable than any other place in this world, and I suppose she was right.
As I saw her come out, distractedly drying her hair with a towel, I couldn't help but ask the question that was on my mind.
"Still don't know anything about Orsted?" I asked, crossing my arms.
Nanahoshi stopped and sighed wearily.
"No. I already told you, I wouldn't know how long it would take for him to show up," she replied in her usual dry tone. "That guy must be busy looking for more of those apostles of the Human God; that's why he hasn't come."
I sighed deeply. "So, the meeting is still postponed," I thought. There was nothing else to do but stay alert to Hitogami's plans.
"By the way, what could he be plotting?" I wondered internally. "He hasn't done anything since that day. He hasn't even appeared in Rudeus's dreams again. That silence is what worries me the most."
While I was lost in my doubts, I felt a familiar warmth. Roxy approached from behind and wrapped her arms around me in a protective embrace. Nanahoshi, seeing this, simply looked away and left in silence, giving us privacy.
"Something is bothering you," Roxy said, leaning her cheek against my back. Her soft voice always managed to calm the noise of my thoughts.
"Well... it's nothing important," I lied, trying not to burden her with my worries.
However, she seemed to realize I was hiding something. Her arms squeezed me tighter, as if wanting to remind me that I no longer had to carry the weight of the world alone.
"It's okay," she said simply, without pressing me, but making it clear she would be there when I decided to talk.
.....
Point of View: Roxy
After that conversation, I went to the university to give my classes. However, my mind was anywhere but on the textbooks. I couldn't stop thinking about what was worrying Arthur; he felt tense, carrying a heaviness that I had noticed ever since we returned from the journey to Begaritt.
I didn't say anything before, respecting his space, but now, as his partner, I felt it was my duty to help him carry that burden. I wanted to be his support.
"So... you want to know how to relieve Arthur's tension?" Elinalise asked with that mischievous smile that always put me on guard.
We were walking together through the campus, taking a break between lessons. It seemed my worries were so obvious that she didn't take a second to notice my distraction.
"I-it's not that I want to know 'that' specifically," I stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up immediately. "It's just... I notice he's very tense, as if he's waiting for something bad to happen at any moment."
Elinalise stopped and looked at me with a mixture of pity and amusement, as if she were giving lessons to a little girl.
"Roxy... Roxy... Roxy..." she sighed, shaking her head. "Men can only truly be calmed by two things. One is being with their family, surrounded by affection..."
She paused for a moment, narrowing the distance between us. Her expression turned naughty and she leaned in to whisper into my ear. I felt her breath as she whispered a single word that made me jump:
"And the other is 'sex'."
I stood petrified in the middle of the hallway. I felt my face burning so much that my hat was about to fly off from the steam.
"E-E-Elinalise!" I exclaimed, looking everywhere to make sure no student had heard us. "How can you say that so lightly?!"
"Oh, come on, Roxy. You're an adult woman and he practically is too," she continued, laughing and brushing it off with a wave of her hand. "Don't tell me you expected him to relax simply by reading books together. Arthur always seems to carry a lot of pressure; he needs an escape, and you're the only one who can give it to him."
I sank into my robes, completely embarrassed, but a part of me couldn't help but think of Aisha and Norn's words from the night before
"A... are you sure that will help him?" I asked in a barely audible whisper, clutching the brim of my hat.
"Of course, dear," she replied with total confidence, her eyes sparkling. "If you want, I can give you some tips that might be very useful."
I swallowed hard and, after a brief internal struggle, nodded slowly. I stood there, listening intently to every word Elinalise said. With every detail she mentioned, my imagination began to run wild, projecting scenes I never thought I'd star in. I felt my cheeks burning more and more.
After a long conversation, it was time to continue with my classes... but now I also had another objective in mind.
.....
Point of View: Arthur
Later that night, after having dinner with everyone, the atmosphere finally calmed down. Roxy retired first, claiming she was sleepy and needed to rest. No one made any comments about it, though the looks from Aisha and Norn as she went up the stairs left me with a feeling that something strange was brewing.
I entered my room lost in my own thoughts. The moonlight came through the window, bathing the room in that silver tone that was now so familiar to me. I took off my shirt, as was my habit for sleeping, feeling the cool air on my skin.
However, as I lifted the sheet to lie down, my heart skipped a beat. I wasn't alone. I felt a soft warmth emanating from the mattress and, suddenly, thin arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was; her scent of flowers and that soft magical presence gave her away. It was Roxy.
Turning slowly, we were face to face, lying under the dim light filtering through the window. Roxy was wearing a white silk nightgown that contrasted with her blue hair, which fell messily over the pillow. She looked so beautiful and vulnerable that I struggled to find the words.
I swallowed hard, feeling my throat tighten.
"Rox... xy..." I managed to mutter, my pulse racing. "W-what are you doing in my room? I know we're a couple now, but... don't you think this is a bit fast?"
She didn't look away. Her blue eyes shone with a mixture of shyness and a fierce resolution she didn't often show. She moved a little closer, closing the distance until I could feel her warm breath against my skin. Then she kissed me; it was a quiet kiss, loaded with a tenderness that completely disarmed me.
"Arthur..." she whispered against my lips. "I don't know what has been keeping you so worried, and if you don't want to tell me, I respect that. I just want you to know that I'm here to support you. For this moment... forget everything that weighs on you and just look at me. Tonight, it's just you and me."
She said this while stroking my cheek with a softness that seemed to erase all my scars and past battles. My heart beat at a frantic speed, losing its rhythm at her closeness. I couldn't hold back anymore. I pulled her toward me and kissed her; first gently, then with an intensity that reflected everything I felt for her.
That passionate kiss was the trigger. I drew her closer, feeling the softness of her silk nightgown under my hands, while she wrapped her arms around my neck, closing any remaining space between us. At that moment, it seemed as if everything around me disappeared.
My hands moved across her back with delicacy; I felt overwhelmed by the fact that this woman, now my partner, was giving herself to me in this way. Roxy let out a small sigh against my lips, a sound that made my pulse race even faster.
The heat in the room seemed to have increased. We moved by instinct, letting ourselves be carried away by the tide of sensations we had never explored together before. Every caress, every brush of skin against skin, felt right.
"Arthur..." she murmured between kisses, her voice breaking with emotion. "I love you."
"Me too," I promised her, immersing myself in the scent of her hair and the warmth of her body.
We lost ourselves in each other under the mantle of the night. And without haste, it was just the mutual discovery of two souls who had been through too much to reach this instant. Between whispers, caresses, and something more, we sealed our bond in the darkness of the room, letting the rest of the world fade away completely.
End of Chapter / end of volumen