Chapter 15
The Troublesome Days that Followed – Part 2
I was standing in the presence of the god Ouranos, and he had just told me that he knew about the date to the hot spring disguised as a quest.
"Don't look so surprised. I was the one who granted the permission for you all to leave. But before we get to that, let me congratulate you on surviving your first expedition with the Loki Familia and the numerous irregulars that you fought."
"T-thank you, Lord Ouranos."
"It is we who should be thanking you. Learning that the Dungeon has been permanently changed by prior events is something that we could not have learned otherwise. The Xenos are strong, but they are not strong enough to venture that deep."
"Asterius was the only one among the Xenos who would travel to such depths, but as you know, he cared little for anything beyond getting stronger. I never could get him to tell me about the floors that he reached." Fels added, seemingly reading my mind.
For the next hour, I answered questions and described in detail the various monsters and other dangers that we faced on the fifty-nineth floor. Then we spent another hour discussing the irregular monsters that we had faced, which eventually ended with my fight with Asterius and the injury that nearly led to my death.
"That is twice now that you've knocked on death's door. I remember hearing about the issues that you struggled with after your previous expedition. How are you holding up this time?" Fels asked out of concern or curiosity. It was honestly hard to say.
I was about to answer with an 'I'm fine,' but Ouranos was staring intently at me with a gaze that dared me to try and lie.
"I've been handling it better than the last time. The events down there have also made me realize that there is still a lot I need to do, and that I can't die yet."
"Bell Cranel, I would like to ban you from the Dungeon until you've rested and resolved whatever is still troubling you…"
I looked up at the god in shock and was about to argue that I am fine and ask him not to ban me because I still need to get stronger, but I froze when our eyes met.
"… and your troubles that have yet to appear. However, I won't ban you from the Dungeon. Instead, I am ordering you to take a month away from adventuring. Once you finish your 'quest' outside of the city, you are going to need some time. Take the woman you choose with you and enjoy a vacation."
"A month off!?" I shouted out absentmindedly in confusion at the god's order.
"Yes. This date of yours is going to be far more painful than you know. You will need time to process what you've learned and chosen."
"W-what do you mean?"
Ouranos silently shook his head.
"I cannot not tell of the trials that await you, for it is something you must face with your companions. However, I will give you a warning…"
Aiz and I were standing inside of the Hostess waiting for Syr and Ryu to gather their things. We still had no idea what preparations they were talking about. We were going to clear out some monsters at a hot spring. It shouldn't be too difficult, and why would Syr need to prepare for a fight that she wouldn't be a part of?
It will be nice to relax in a hot bath and spend some time with Bell. Oh… we're going to be spending time alone with Bell… does that mean that he's hoping to bathe with each of us alone!? My still lightly flushed cheeks from my earlier mistake reignited with heat as I flushed heavily again at the thought.
No, I doubt it! But it would be an incredibly romantic scene. Sitting shoulder-to-shoulder under the moon and stars in a natural hot spring with just the two of us… Haaauh…
I was so preoccupied with my lewd thoughts that I didn't notice Syr and Ryu standing in front of me as Aiz lightly nudged me to get my attention.
"Lady Riveria? Are you alright?" Ryu asked as I finally came out of my thoughts.
"Yes, I am fine. Just a little tired this morning."
"Oh, pleasant dreams last night?" Syr asked as she smirked at me.
"No. Anyway, what are the preparations that you were mentioning?" I replied, ignoring the raised eyebrow the grey-haired girl gave me as I turned, and we left the Hostess.
"We need to get some clothes for the trip. Unless the two of you plan on wearing the same outfits as always. Also, Bell will be joining us for a date this evening that I've planned out. Oh… I didn't think this through… I should have had Bell meet us earlier, then he could have paid for everything."
"He's in a lot of debt because of his new sword." Aiz said as Syr looked around, trying to decide if she should track down Bell.
"Huh? No, he isn't. Well, at least not after last night. He's a billionaire now." Aiz and I both nearly tripped when the word 'billionaire' left her lips.
"What!?" Aiz voiced in surprise.
"It's true. He won over a billion valis on the roulette table, then he took his split and Syr doubled his money."
While Aiz was thinking gods knows what, I couldn't believe that Bell won so much money. Then I finally noticed what Ryu had said.
"Wait, you both went to the casino with them?"
"Yep. And he even gave us each ten percent of his winnings. Each." Syr replied.
I didn't care about the money, I have plenty of my own, but the smug look on Syr's face almost made my expression sour. However, we were in public, and I would only show those faces when I'm either alone, or with Bell.
"However, once we returned to the Hostess, we found out that Syr had lied about Mia giving us time off to go… so he took the blame for us, and now he has three full day's work starting tomorrow at nine as Bella." Ryu added as we began walking down the street again.
I smirked at hearing that he would be dressing up as a girl again. While I felt bad for him, I was definitely going to spend some time at the Hostess this weekend.
"Right, time to go shopping. Do you girls need swimsuits and clothes?" Syr asked as she adjusted her ridiculously large hat.
"I have a dress that Bell bought me." Aiz replied with a small smile, remembering his reaction when he saw her in it for the first time. "But I need a swimsuit."
"I need both…" I replied, aware that my current wardrobe was severely lacking in fashionable clothing.
"I need some clothing as well. Why don't you and I go shopping together Lady Riveria while Aiz goes with Syr." Ryu suggested as she looked over at me.
"Alright, but I will warn you not to try and force her into anything too lewd. She won't hesitate to stab you. It's happened to Loki once or twice."
Syr chuckled, but when she saw Aiz blankly stare at her, she stopped.
"I-I will only go with her to the stores and give my honest opinion, but she can pick out what she likes."
Aiz and Syr had been browsing there various shops for a while now, and Syr was growing bored. Whenever she would try and make a suggestion, Aiz would reply with an "Mm," and not much else.
How am I supposed to know what "Mm" means? They all sound the same! Does she like them or not? Syr thought to herself as she put another bikini back on the rack. Growing tired of trying to decipher the various 'Mm's' that she was getting, she decided to switch topics.
"You know… Bell's been infatuated with you for almost as long as I've known him. Why are you interested in him now, but didn't show any interest before?"
Aiz stopped her browsing and looked over at Syr with a blank expression, she didn't know how to answer that. She didn't want to say, "Because I didn't know that he liked me, and I didn't know that I didn't want to lose him back then," that would be too embarrassing to admit.
Instead of answering a question that she didn't know how to respond to, she gave a simple "Mm" in response and went back to trying to find a Bikini that she thought Bell would like.
Seriously!? Another 'Mm?' has she really grown of her 'Doll Princess' phase yet or not?
"I've liked him ever since I first saw him. I thought he was handsome and unique. Ryu has also told me of all the heroic things he's done. He's her hero, and he's become mine as well. Did he become your hero as well? Is that why you like him now?" Hiding a smirk, Syr saw Aiz's soul flicker slightly when she heard her ask about Bell being her hero. But Aiz still didn't respond.
"As much as I want Bell to live his dream of becoming a hero, I don't want him to reach it if it means that he will get hurt and killed while fighting a scary monster just so he can impress me. I couldn't live with myself knowing that I was the reason why he got hurt or died…" Syr trailed off while trying her hardest not to smile seeing Aiz's soul tremble and flicker as she struggled with what Syr had just said.
"Oh hey, how about this one. It's pure white and reminds me of a pure girl, just like you." Syr teased as she tried to change the subject before Aiz could fully grasp what she was doing.
Aiz looked at the bikini, and despite her really not liking Syr, she did like the simple, plain white bikini. It did look 'pure,' just like the boy that she wanted to impress.
Quickly reaching out and taking the suit from Syr's hands, she rushed up to the cashier and paid. She wanted to meet back up with Riveria as soon as possible and get away from this witch that could seemingly read her mind as her questions hit her fears and doubts on the nose.
In a rather secluded section of the shopping district, Ryu and Riveria entered a shop that Lefiya had recommended to them both in the past that specialized in elven clothing.
The two were immediately greeted by a tall, lithe elven woman in excitement at the fact that a princess had decided to enter her store. While excited, the woman was still an elf and acted in a dignified manner.
"Greetings, Lady Riveria. My name is Solaina, and I bid you welcome to my humble store, the Maiden's Wardrobe." With all the grace bestowed upon her by her elven heritage, she bowed before the princess and her companion while using Riveria's name instead of her family name as she wasn't the queen.
Holding in the desire to sigh and roll her eyes, one that only grew when she saw Ryu smirk at her, Riveria politely returned her greeting and introduced Ryu as well before the two began to browse the store.
One glaring problem quickly became obvious to both Ryu and Riveria. Neither knew much about fashion, much less what would be appealing to a man that they were both trying to win over.
Looking over at Solaina, Riveria looked over her outfit and had to admit, it was quite cute.
"Miss Solaina, I quite like the style of outfit that you are wearing. I am planning on taking a vacation to a mountain hot spring with my friend here, however, I have never been one to keep up to date with fashion. Would you mind helping me find a couple of outfits that would be comfortable and cute?"
Solaina's eyes went wide when Riveria complimented her and petitioned for her aid.
"Lady Riveria, it would be my pleasure to aid you and your companion."
After a few minutes of discussing what both women were looking for and liked, Solaina asked the two girls to wait by the changing rooms while she went about finding clothes fitting for a princess to relax in with her friend.
Finally breathing a sigh of relief as she sat down, Ryu exhaled what sounded like amusement.
"Forgive me Lady Riveria, but you seem tired."
Shooting her fellow elf a sideways glance, she thought that she must be tired if she can't even hide it from a girl she hasn't spent much time with.
"So I've been told. I'll be alright, I just haven't been sleeping very well since our return from the Dungeon."
Ryu didn't need to ask why. She already knew the answer, it was something that she too struggled with after her return from the thirty-seventh floor.
"Every night, I see the moment Bell was impaled by Asterius." In a much softer voice, as to not be overheard, the high elf explained.
"I too struggled with that. Seeing him lose his arm, having his neck broken and landing in the water, even when that thing's bone spear pierced is stomach… he really knows how to make a woman worry." Ryu responded in an equally hushed voice.
"Pardon my interruption. I think you both will find something that you will like in this selection."
Looking up at the attendant, their eyes quickly fell onto the two metal racks on wheels that she pulled along behind her, full of various types and styles of clothing.
"T-thank you…" Ryu struggled to say as she looked at the nearly three dozen outfits that Solaina had chosen for her then at the nearly double amount that she had chosen for Riveria.
.
"Lady Riveria, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Ryu asked as the two cut through the side alleys between the main roads.
"If you're going to ask me something personal as a friend might, then please just call me Riveria."
"Rive… Lady Riveria, are you not worried about what other elves might think about you dating a human after what happened with Alicia? Especially your father?" Calling the princess by her name was just too much and much too sudden, so she reverted to addressing her properly.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Riveria light shook her head in defeat.
"I do, which is why Bell has been keeping the fact that we're dating a secret. Though, most of our Familia has figured it out it seems. I don't know if I should feel relieved or flabbergasted that the elves of our Familia don't seem to want to see it."
"I see. Does it bother you then that Bell has a preference for elves?"
"What? I expected as much from the other elves, but you like him. Why would you imply something as slanderous as him having an elf fetish?" Riveria replied, appalled that Ryu would even suggest something like that.
"I didn't say elf fetish, and Bell isn't like that. But he does have a preference for elves. He's admitted as much to me."
Riveria stopped mid-step as her mouth hung slightly agape. She never knew that. It didn't change how she felt, but now she was curious about his other interests.
"Does it not bother you that he has this preference?" Riveria asked as she caught back up to Ryu.
Ryu gave the princess a confused look.
"No, why would it? Like I said, Bell isn't the kind of guy to fetishize elves, it's simply a preference like one might have about height or hair color. I actually feel happy that he does. If me being who and what I am makes him happy, then for the first time in a long time, I'm happy that I'm an elf."
As the two continued on, they continued to share tidbits about the man they both cared for and laughed as they both learned new things.
Bell arrived at Amor Square shortly after his meeting with Ouranos finished, thanks to Fels' magic.
After they appeared in an ally, Fels handed him a box.
"These are for your companions. You will know which item belong to which girl. Remember what Ouranos told you and heed his warning. I am sorry that I cannot be of more help here."
Looking down at the box, Bell sighed. He was still processing everything that Ouranos had said to him after he finished telling the god about the irregulars and the changes to the Dungeon.
"Thank you." Bell said as he stared at the small rectangular box in his hands.
Not getting a response, he looked up and saw that Fels was already gone.
Shaking his head, he let out a small chuckle and turned and headed into the square, seeing that his dates weren't here yet, he took a seat on a bench.
Waiting, he looked down at the box and opened it. Fels wasn't lying when he said that he would know whose gift was whose.
Closing the box, he leaned back and thought about everything that Ouranos had told him, which wasn't much. But one thing that he did say nagged at the back of his mind. Something that Fels had uncovered by accident while he was down in the Dungeon fighting Asterius.
Hearing the familiar giggle of Syr, he opened his eyes and saw them walking towards them.
"Bell~!" Syr shouted and waved the moment she saw him looking in their direction.
"Hey, how'd the shopping trip go?"
"Too well." Ryu replied as she lifted up nearly a dozen bags that she was carrying.
"What's in the box?" Aiz asked as she looked down at my hands.
"Something for later. Did you girls find anything special?"
"Mm," Aiz hummed with a smile as she nodded.
"Enough of that, let's get on with our group date! We need to stop back at the Hostess so that we can drop off our bags and pick up the food."
With a smile, Syr quickly turned around and began to walk back towards the Hostess with a slight skip in her step while the rest of the group watched.
Bell looked down at Ryu's hands again and smirked.
"Ryu, are you carrying Syr's bags as well?"
"Yes. I only have two, the rest are Syr's."
Laughing, Bell looked around and saw that Riveria had three bags while Aiz only had one before he reached down and took six of the bags that Ryu was carrying in her right hand, causing her to blush slightly when their skin touched in full view of the others.
"Thank you." Ryu said as she moved some of the bags in her left hand to her right.
"No problem. Do any of you know what she has planned for tonight?" Bell asked, but it seemed that they were all just as in the dark as him as they all simply shook their heads.
With no idea of what she had planned, they didn't have a choice but to follow the girl who had stopped and was shouting at them to hurry up or they would be late.
"How has your day been, Mr. Billionaire?" Riveria asked as she gave Bell her one-eyed stare.
"Ah… I'm not a billionaire. Well not anymore. I paid off mine and Hestia's debts to Hephaestus, and probably a little extra since I didn't know how much Hestia owed for my knife still."
"You paid off Hestia's debt too?" Ryu asked with a small smile.
"Yeah, she got the knife for me, and I had more money than I knew what to do with so, I paid it off. It also felt like the right thing to do."
"I owe five million to the Goibniu Familia still for repairs after this last expedition." Aiz said as she looked over at Bell with a small smile.
"Aiz! That's your responsibility, not Bell's." Riveria shouted out as she gave Aiz a disbelieving look.
"I don't mind. I'll give it to you when we get home." Aiz's smile grew before he turned to Riveria. "If you have a debt that needs to be paid, I don't mind helping."
"Thank you, but no thank you. I am fortunately debt free, and even if I wasn't, I have plenty of my own money. You should save yours too." Pinching the bridge of her nose, she just shook her head.
.
After arriving at the Hostess so that the girls could drop off their stuff, they found that Mama Mia had two large pots with spaghetti inside, as well as a variety of side dishes prepared to take with us. It was something that Syr had prepared ahead of time.
"Where are we going with all of this food?" Riveria asked as she carried one of the large pots and looked over at Bell who was carrying the other.
He smiled and shrugged. "It's a surprise." He said as he had a good guess where they were going since they were heading towards Daedalus Street.
"It's somewhere very special to both me and Bell." Syr, who was suspiciously very emptyhanded, said over her shoulder.
As they entered the labyrinth, the girls face's grew increasingly uncertain the farther into the maze that they traveled, until they came upon a rundown church.
"Big sister Syr! And Bell!" A couple of kids playing in the empty lot next to the church shouted out when they saw the two familiar faces, much to the surprise of the other girls.
Soon Bell and Syr were swarmed with children.
"Hello, my sweethearts! We brought food and we're going to have a big dinner together!" Syr said with a beautifully happy smile.
"Come now, children! Let's give them some room to bring the food inside."
Heading Maria's words, the kids let go of Syr and Bell and made room for all of them to bring the food inside.
"Alright, time for the introductions. First, we have my best friend in the whole world, Ryu. Then we have Riveria Ljos Alf. She's a real princess!" Syr began after we set the pots down on a table that Maria had prepared for us.
"Remember kids, elves don't like to be touched by people they don't know, so please be careful not to make them uncomfortable." Bell added, much to the appreciation of both Ryu and Riveria.
"And lastly, we have the-,"
"SWORD PRINCESS! You're back from the expedition!" Rye shouted out as he rushed past everybody and stood in front of the blonde knight who looked slightly taken aback.
"Mm, hello again. Where's Fina?" She asked as she gave him a small smile before looking around for the girl with similar colored hair and fox ears.
She finally spotted the yellow haired girl's ears making their way through the crowd.
"Hello, Aiz!" The girl said with a smile as she rushed in to hug Aiz's leg.
"Aw, no hello for me?" Bell asked with a pout. "I got traded in by both Fina and Rye for Aiz."
"Hello, Bell." A quiet and monotoned voice said. Looking down, Bell saw Roux, the half-elf child, looking up at him with his usual neutral expression.
"Hey Roux. I think you would get along great with Ryu over here. Your names sound similar and you're both very stoic." Bell said as he waved over Ryu.
"Hello, I'm Ryu." The elf said as she held her hands folded politely in front of her.
"Hello, I'm Roux."
As the two said their quiet hellos, they stared at each other and seemed to be having a staring contest.
"Bell, how did you meet all of these children?" Riveria asked as she looked over all the kids who were introducing themselves to everyone.
"Bell is papa!" Fina said as she rushed over and jumped on him while he caught her in a hug, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Papa!?" Riveria and Bell shouted in confusion.
He looked over at Syr who was trying to hide a giggle.
Papa!? He has a child already? But she's not human, she's a ren… Haruhime!? Riveria thought to herself and came to that realization.
"Bell… how long ago did you meet Haruhime again?" She asked as Bell was setting Fina back down on her feet.
"Uh… four or five months ago. No! I know what you're thinking and your wrong!" He quickly pleaded, praying that she wouldn't think that somehow he and Haruhime had a daughter who was around nine or ten.
"No, of course not… that wouldn't be physically possible. My apologies." She replied before turning to look at Syr who wasn't giggling anymore, and instead was laughing.
"Fina, this is Princess Riveria. She's a very good friend of mine. Riveria, this is Fina." Riveria's face scrunched slightly when Bell introduced her as 'Princess Riveria.'
"You're very pretty." Fina said as she looked over in admiration of the emerald-haired high elf.
"Yes, she is." Bell agreed and smiled when Riveria blushed.
"Are you really a princess? Like the ones in the fairy tales?"
"I don't know if I'm like the ones in the stories that you've read, but I am a princess." Riveria smiled as Bell and Fina walked over to her so that she wouldn't have to talk so loudly.
"Do you have a hero too? Or what about a knight in shining armor? Have you ever been kissed by a prince?
"I do have a hero…" She began and glanced over at Bell who was smiling down at the giddy child. "… and no, I wouldn't let just anybody kiss me, even if they are a prince, and neither should you. You should save your first kiss for your hero." Riveria smiled despite her ever increasingly rosy cheeks.
Fina squealed in excitement when she heard that Riveria had a hero.
However, before she could continue, Maria called for the kids to line up to get their food. Setting Fina down, the five of them who brought the food went behind the table to help Maria serve the kids.
"Thank you again for the food Syr and thank you for stopping by again Bell. Rye has been talking nonstop about seeing you guys before your recent expedition." Maria casually said as she continued to fill each kid's plate with noodles as they came up.
"It's not a problem Maria. You know I love being around the children. I am sure Bell does too." Syr replied as she looked over at me with a smile as he nodded and agreed with her.
"And thank you for coming as well, Lady Alf, Miss Wallenstein, and Miss Lyon. The kids all love meeting new people. It brings so much joy to their faces." Maria added before looking over the smiling faces of the children
"Not a at all Miss Martel. It was a surprise to be sure, but not an unwelcome one. The kids here are all lovely." Riveria gave a warm smile as she looked over Bell who was ruffling one of the kid's hair and serving him spaghetti before looking over at Maria.
Once the kids had all been served, Bell and the girls served themselves and Maria before taking a seat. Roux had saved a spot next to him for Ryu while Rye had saved a spot for Aiz. Fina sat on Bell's right, in between him and Syr, while Riveria sat to the left of Bell and next to Maria.
"Looks like the 'Sword Princess' has another young admirer." Syr teased causing Rye to blush heavily.
"Wh-What are you saying, Syr?! N-no I don't!"
Aiz looked down at the blushing boy beside her, she patted his head while giving him a small smile.
"You sound very convincing, Rye. And Ryu, it looks like you found one of your people." Bell said before turning his attention to the two quietest people in the room.
"He's a good kid. We understand each other."
"How? You've said like a dozen words to each other, the rest is just nodding."
Ryu and Roux looked at each other and nodded before turning to Bell and nodding.
"Ugh, well I am glad to see everyone getting along." With the adults all laughing at Ryu and Roux's seemingly supernatural ability to communicate, the kids all happily ate and laughed as they enjoyed this rare treat.
.
With everybody was finishing up with dinner, Bell stood and went to retrieve the box that Fels had given him.
"Syr, do you have a moment?" He asked and motioned her to follow him.
Leading her outside into the empty lot next to the church, the two sat down.
"Is something the matter, Bell?" She asked, full of concern, curious as to why he had brought her outside.
That was difficult for Bell to answer. There were plenty of things wrong in his mind, but now wasn't the time to give voice to those thoughts.
"It's nothing like that. I have something that I wanted to give you. A friend made these, and I hope that you like and will wear them."
Holding out a pair of diamond and ruby earrings, Syr's eyes went wide as she brought her hand up to cover her gasp. She was the only one of the four girls with ear piercings, so they were a fitting gift.
"They're beautiful! Thank you!"
"I'm glad that you like them. They're a thank you for everything that you've done for me, especially early on in my time here in Orario." Bell explained as she took the earrings that she was wearing out and immediately putting the ones he had just given her in.
"I realized that I have never truly shown my appreciation to you for that."
"Oh, Bell… you never need to thank me for that…" Leaning in, she brought him into a tight hug that he returned. However, he was not ready when she pulled back from the hug slightly and planted a soft kiss on his lips.
"… I do it because I love you." She smiled as she pulled back from the kiss and confessed her feelings to him.
Bell only vaguely heard what she had just said and had trouble processing the event, even as she smiled at him with rosy cheeks.
As he sat there stunned by her actions, she had gotten up and said one final 'thank you' and giggled at his speechlessness before heading back inside to show off her new gift.
Hearing the loud "EHhh!?" from inside brought him back to reality. Standing, he wiped his lips off with his sleeve.
Calm down Bell, that wasn't you first kiss. Riveria was you first kiss. Remember that even if you can't remember the kiss. He thought to himself as he returned inside.
Seeing his three other dates all staring at the earrings, he called out to Ryu who snapped her head up and looked at him in surprise. Motioning her to follow him, she did while Aiz and Riveria watched curiously.
"That was quite the impressive gift for Syr, she loves it. Thank you for getting her something, she's been feeling like she's been falling behind the rest of us because she doesn't get to spend as much time with you since she can't enter the Dungeon." Ryu said as she sat down next to him on the bench.
"I'm glad that she likes it. I know Syr is your friend, but…" He paused and Ryu's brows furrowed slightly as she saw him struggling to say something.
"But, what?"
"I want you to put yourself first Ryu. You deserve so much more happiness than you've had so far. But while I don't know the depth of your feelings of loss, I do know what you've lost, so I have something that will hopefully remind you of your Familia, but also me." he explained as he held up a necklace with the flaming sword pendant.
Ryu's expression had turned lightly pained when he brought up the loss of her Familia, but when she saw the pendant, she reached out and gently held it in the palm of her hand before shedding more than a few tears.
Reaching out, Bell pulled her into a hug and let her cry into his chest as she brought the necklace to her chest and holding it tightly while wrapping her other arm around him.
"I am sorry if I went too far with this and crossed a line, or if,"
"No… hic… I love it. Thank you, Bell. This means so much to me."
Leaning back, she held up the necklace again. "Would you mind?"
Smiling, Bell took the necklace, and she turned around as he undid the clasp.
"I hope you will always wear it, and when you feel pained or troubled, remember that you're never alone." He put it around the front of her before fastening the necklace around her neck.
Looking down, she held the pendant again and stared at it before wiping the tears from her eyes.
"This really is perfect. It reminds me of both you and my Familia, as well as Lady Astraea. Thank you, Bell. I promise that I will never take it off."
Pulling him into another hug, he felt the warmth of her ear rise and slightly wet cheek against his own.
As the two walked back inside, Syr rushed over to see what Bell had given Ryu. Seeing the necklace, Syr brought her elf friend into a tight embrace and held her there.
Bell looked over at the sole magic stone clock in the orphanage and saw that it was a touch past eight at night.
"I think it's time for us to get going. The kids will be going to bed soon." Bell said to the girls, with Maria nodding in agreement about the bedtime for the children.
His statement was met with "Awws" and "Boos" from the kids, but Maria spoke up and told the kids to thank them for the food and for stopping bye, and that it was time to start getting ready for bed.
Bell smiled as he gathered up to pots and dishes to be taken back to the Hostess as he caught glimpses of each of his dates saying their goodbyes to the kids who had grown attached to them.
Neither Aiz, Bell, nor Riveria realized that they had been walking back to the Twilight Manor in silence. Each of them had been lost in thought as the went over the day's events in their minds.
It wasn't until they reached the gate of the Twilight Manor that they finally broke the silence and talked about them all wanting to take baths. Bell had also told them that he had something for each of them as well, but that he'd stop by their rooms.
"You should visit Aiz's room first and stay there until you are sure that everyone is asleep. Even if the girls there all know about us, I don't need them getting any weird ideas after seeing you enter my room at this hour." Riveria explained.
The only reason that she agreed to this late-night visit is because she still wanted to have that talk with Bell that she's been trying to have since their study session.
"Bell Cranel! You left me alone with the witch when you and that creepy person just vanished! What did Ouranos want that was important enough for you two to disappear into thin air?" Lefiya yelled as she burst out of the front door of the manor. She had been waiting all day for him to get back.
Aiz and Riveria both immediately looked at Bell, with Riveria giving him a questioning look. Nobody but gods get to see Ouranos, and even that is rare.
"Lefiya, shh!" Bell said as he placed his finger in front of his mouth to try and signal her to lower her voice.
"I can't talk about it. But I'm sorry for leaving you there. I wanted to hang out with you until I had to meet up with these two."
"Well… whatever, you owe me now. How are you going to make it up to me after ditching me?" She asked with a smirk as she crossed her arms under her bust.
"It wasn't my fault!" Bell cried out.
"Lefiya, relax. We can go and see him as Bella at the Hostess all weekend." Riveria said while giving a teasing smirk at Bell who was staring at her in disbelief.
The smile on Lefiya's face when she heard this was so evil that Bell wanted to crouch down and hug his knees.
"I see… well having my 'big sister' serve me sounds like a good start. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch, Bella."
"Mmmgh… Riveria, do you hate me? Did I do something tonight to make you angry?"
"No, I just don't want to listen to Lefiya whine all night. It's what little sisters do." She answered as she smirked at Lefiya's crinkled up face after being reminded that she was technically Bell's 'little sister,' before heading inside.
.
.
"Evening, Aiz." Bell greeted her after she opened the door and stood to the side.
Quickly shutting the door and sitting on her bed, she tucked the bottom of her nightgown between her thighs and calves and hugged her knees while Bell sat down on the edge of her bed.
"Are you alright?" he asked, scooting back and sitting closer to the blonde girl.
"Mm." She voiced in a less than convincing tone.
"Do you want a lap pillow?"
Shaking her head 'no,' Bell's look of shock made her smirk ever so slightly.
Scooting closer to Bell, she lifted his arm around her shoulder and snuggled up to him.
"Bell, why do you want to be a hero? Aren't you afraid of getting hurt or dying?" She asked in a barely audible voice as she fiddled with the ends of her hair.
"Where's this coming from?" He asked as he gave her a confused look, but she didn't take her focus off the small handful of hair she was currently picking through, nor did she respond.
"Before I came to Orario, and even after getting here, I wanted to be a hero and save girls in need. But my reasons for wanting to become a hero have changed. Especially in the last few months. I still want to be a hero, but I want to be a hero to the people I care about, and I want to be strong enough to protect them and be seen as a hero by them. That includes you, Aiz." He explained and pulled Aiz tighter against him.
"Even if that means getting hurt or killed?" She asked, finally turning her face up at him and looking into his ruby-red eyes.
"I don't want to get hurt or die, but if it's to help someone that I care about, I'll do whatever I can to help them when they need it. Even if that means risking my life."
Aiz's lips twitched somewhere between a faint smile and a light frown when she heard him say that he was willing to risk his own life to help people.
"Does this all have something to do with what happened in the Dungeon and my fight with Asterius?" Bell asked as he was still trying to figure out why Aiz had asked him something so heavy.
"No. Just something that's been on my mind all day." She replied with a small smile before resting her head against his shoulder.
Will he still want to help me after he learns about my parents and what I am? Should I tell him?
Before Aiz could get too lost in her thoughts, Bell cleared his throat.
"Erghm, Aiz, I have something for you. I don't know if you will like it, but I hope that you do and will always wear it. It's a small thank you for all of the things you've done for me."
"Hm?" She looked back up at him, only for her eyes to catch a glint shining off of a white gold necklace with a pendant in the shape of a rabbit which, of course, immediately made her think of Bell.
"It's a little you." She smiled and held the pendant steady in her palm.
"I want you to have it, I hope that you like it. With this, hopefully you will remember that I will always be willing to fight at your side." He explained as he let go of the necklace, letting the chain dangle over her hand.
"Mm!" She happily hummed and nodded before setting on the nightstand next to her bed.
Feeling better after getting such a nice gift from Bell, not that she needed or wanted material gifts, she was about to lay her head down on his lap when he spoke up again.
"Also, here's the money for your repair bill." As he held out the bag full of coins, she immediately hugged him. She had forgotten about him being rich now, and now she was out of debt too.
Letting him go, she took the money and set it on the nightstand next to the necklace then turned back around and let her head fall onto his lap, and eventually falling asleep as he ran his fingers through her hair and massaged her scalp.
.
.
Riveria was tossing and turning while laying on her bed. She knew that Bell was supposed to be coming over soon, but she felt so exhausted that even a couple minutes of sleep would make a world of difference. However, falling asleep was a different matter entirely though.
Rolling onto her back, she looked out of the window and stared at the half moon that was partially obscured behind wispy clouds that streaked across the night sky.
Hearing a faint knock on her door, she got up and cracked the door open slightly to see who it was, and just as she was expecting, Bell was standing outside of her door.
"Wow, Riveria, you look-," He began to say as Riveria ushered him inside of her room.
"Don't say it. I know, I look tired because I am." She smiled as she shook her head.
"You look great." He quickly said, holding back a smile of his own.
"Bell, you're a terrible liar. I hope you know that." She tiredly teased him as she made her way back to her bed and sat down.
"I know. It's one of the things that I am told most often." Letting out a quiet chuckle, he sat next to Riveria on her bed.
"Anyway, thank you for coming out with us all tonight. I got to see a new side of you when you were with the children. I think you'll be a great father someday." The smile that she had been wearing since Bell entered her room grew slightly when she saw his cheeks take on a light shade of pink.
"I hope so… I don't really know how fathers are supposed to be. I only had my grandfather after all."
"You'll be fine when the time comes. Just never change. Anyway, what did Ouranos want to talk to you about? He rarely meets with other gods, much less mortals, so I am quite curious."
Sighing, Bell scooted back on the bed until his back rested against the wall.
"I can't tell you much. All I can say is that we talked about the expedition and the Xenos, along with a couple of other topics that I can't talk about until they happen. Oh, and I am basically banned from the dungeon for a month."
"Why?" Riveria asked in confusion.
Bell shrugged but couldn't tell her that it was because of a warning that Ouranos had given him.
Despite her curiosity and wanting to urge him to continue, the sympathetic look that he was giving her told her that he really wished he could say but couldn't.
With her eyelids drooping, she let out a yawn before scooting back and siting shoulder-to-shoulder with Bell, letting their feet dangle off the edge of the bed. She didn't mind that she was only wearing her robe and nightwear, or that her legs were exposed to him again.
"Why have you been having trouble sleeping? If this keeps up, Finn and Gareth might make you take a longer 'vacation.'" Bell asked as he reached over and took her hand and entangling his fingers with hers.
Despite letting out a long sigh at his question, her heart smiled as she gripped his hand a little tighter. She was getting to do something that she wanted to do. She was holding his hand again.
"Every night when I close my eyes, the sight of you being impaled on Asterius' horn and the feelings of despair that I felt in that moment play in my mind over and over again." She began, only to look over at Bell's face and be met with eyes filled with worry and sadness.
"I don't remember much of what happened next. I just kept staring at the spot where you were impaled as Asterius walked over towards us. I remember the despair that I felt after I thought you had been killed. I remember not caring if that bull killed me as well in that moment. I also remember all the regrets that I had after I thought you had died." She explained as a few tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes as the event replayed through her mind.
"Riveria… I… I don't know what to say other than I'm so sorry."
Riveria wiped her cheeks with the sleeve of her robe and shook her head.
"No, don't apologize. While I was drowning in grief and sorrow, Aiz and Lefiya pulled me along behind them. When I came back to reality, I saw you standing there bathed in a pure white glow, holding your sword wreathed in flames above your head, ready to strike down your foe." She began to smile as she remembered the awe-inspiring scene.
"You were my hero on this expedition. It started with you caring for and protecting me. But when I saw you standing defiantly alone in the face of an overwhelming foe, you truly became a hero in my eyes. You became my hero." Sniffling, she looked back over at Bell who still hid some sadness in his eyes for causing her so much suffering, but he was also smiling at her after being told he was her hero.
"When you finally awoke and whispered that you wanted to be my hero and that you loved me too, my heart danced with joy. Falling asleep next to you was also the last time that I got a good night's rest. Since then, those terrible images and feelings have been keeping me awake."
Both wore a heavy blush as she repeated what he had whispered to her.
"I meant what I said."
"Where does this leave us then?" She hesitantly asked, not daring to look up at his face.
Bell leaned his head to the side and rested it on her shoulder, letting out a sigh, he closed his eyes.
"We are all still going on the date. I want to spend some time with alone with each of you. I have a good idea of my feelings now, but I want to make sure that each of us get the opportunity to confirm our feelings, and that they aren't simply because we were in the Dungeon and almost died."
Closing her eyes, she fought the urge to frown. While she had expected him to say something along those lines, she wanted to hear that he had already made up his mind. However, despite her not getting the answer that she was hoping for, she took comfort in knowing that she would also get time to spend with Bell alone and away from the city, the Dungeon, and most of the Familia. Relaxing, she rested her head on top of Bell's.
Before the two could begin to doze off, Bell pulled out the small rectangular box that he had been carrying all night.
"Riveria, I have something here for you." He said as he opened the box and presented her the necklace inside.
Riveria slowly opened her tired eyes and her breath caught in her throat when she saw the beautiful necklace resting inside of the box. The chain was made of white gold just like Aiz's, but it had a different pendant.
Riveria looked at the necklace and her eyes were immediately drawn down to the simple leaf shaped pendant. The back and the outlines of the leaf were made of white gold as well, but inside it there were several small emeralds, all painstakingly smoothed, shaped, and set into the metal to give the leaf its leaf-like color and appearance.
"Bell… this is beautiful, but why? Why are you wasting your money on trinkets?" She asked, looking up at Bell with a disapproving look, worried that he was going to blow his entire newfound fortune.
"A friend made them for me as a thank you for helping them out in the past." He replied, and while that wasn't technically the reason, it wasn't far from the truth.
Seeing the elf next to him relax after hearing that he wasn't wasting money, he handed her the box.
"But as to why I'm giving it to you, think of it as a thank you. You can also think of it as another way that I want to protect you."
"Protect me? Is it a magic item of some sort? Did 'Perseus' make this?" She asked as she looked questioningly up at him.
"Yes, it will protect you, and yes, it's a magic item. No, Asfi didn't make them. Someone who has a lot more experience did."
"Who made it? Asfi is the only person who comes to mind that can make something this beautiful. Also, what does it do? What is it supposed to protect me from?" Looking back down at the box, she quickly took the necklace out of the case and began to examine it while waiting for Bell's answer.
"Spoilers. I can't tell you because it has to do with what Ouranos talked to me about. I hope that you like it. But even if you don't, please promise me that you will wear it, and won't take it off except when you sleep."
Breaking her eyes away from the necklace, she gave him a dissatisfied look after becoming even more curious about what the god and Bell had discussed.
"Is it really that important that I wear this?"
"Yes. Do you not like it?" Bell asked as a small frown formed on his lips. He didn't know why, but it hurt that she might not like it. Even if he wasn't the one who picked out the design or even came up with the idea, he thought it would suit her.
"No, I do, it's beautiful and I'll wear it. I'm sorry if I sounded ungrateful just now, I am thankful for the gift. I'm simply trying to understand the reason behind it." The small smile that Bell gave her did little to ease her fear and guilt after sounding like she was unappreciative of his gift and that she didn't want to wear it.
"I only want to keep you safe; I want to keep you all safe. I honestly don't know for certain what these necklaces are supposed to protect you from, but I trust the person who gave them to me. If they say that these will be necessary to keep you safe, then I trust them."
Nodding, Riveria apologized once more before setting the necklace back into the box.
Bell lightly shook his head. "It's alright. I am just as curious about them as you. I haven't told this to Aiz, Ryu, or Syr, so please keep this to yourself. I want them to wear them, but if they react badly, then they might not."
"I can do that." Riveria said as she let out another yawn and moved to lay down.
"Ah, I'm sorry for keeping you up. I'll let you get some rest. I also have an early day tomorrow." Bell said as he began to scoot off the bed when Riveria sat up again and lightly grabbed ahold of his sleeve.
"We're not finished, yet." She said as she let go of his sleeve.
"What do you mean?" he asked, but her only response was to motion for him to scoot back against the wall.
Laying her head on his lap after he complied with her demand, she looked up at him.
"I managed to learn many new things about you after spending some time with Ryu today." Seeing Bell thickly swallow as a look of terror washed over his face, she smirked.
"So, you have a preference for elves, correct?" Watching his look of terror turn to panic, she lightly chuckled and brought her hand up to pat his arm.
"Um… yes…" He meekly replied before continuing. "But it isn't a fetish like Alicia said. I swear." Listening to him defend himself in a panic, she gave him another teasing smirk.
"Do you like me simply because I'm an elf? What about me being a princess? Does that make it more exciting for you?" Riveria's heart froze when she saw a flash of disbelief followed by anger in his expression, fearing that she may have pushed too far. She only wanted to tease him. But his usual soft expression returned.
"Please, never think that again. I like you because you're you. You're stern and scary at times, you are more violent than I thought when I first met you, but you are also incredibly thoughtful, kind, caring, smart, and you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met."
Riveria didn't know how to react when he started off the way he did, but she couldn't hide the reddening of her cheeks when he began to compliment her.
"Yes, I do prefer elves, but that doesn't mean I like you only because of that. Nor do does you being a princess matter. I would like you the same if you weren't either of those."
"I'm sorry again, Bell. I only meant to tease you. But now I'm actually curious. Does me being an elven princess not excite you?"
"I… I wouldn't say that… when I remember that you're an elven princess, I do get a little… excited… I mean, how many guys get to do what we're doing right now? I feel super lucky that I get to give you a lap pillow."
Letting out a small laugh, she shook her head on his lap. While it did seem that her being and elf and a princess did excite him, she couldn't find it in herself to truly care or be angry. Like Ryu had said, if her being what she is made him happy, then she was happy. After all, she got excited when she thought of Bell being her hero.
The two continued to talk about the things that she had learned, and eventually she fell asleep with her head on his lap. Bell stayed for a while longer and continued running his fingers through her hair until he was certain that she wasn't going to be awoken by nightmares.
Sadly, she did seem to get the nightmares a couple of times before he left, but when he whispered down to her that he was safe, she seemed to calm down. Eventually, she seemed as though she would sleep fine for the rest of the night as her exhaustion won out.
Lifting her head off of his lap, he placed a pillow under her and slowly stood, careful not to wake her.
"Goodnight, and sweet dreams."
One again I was dressed up as 'Bella,' and was acting as a waitress and taking the guest's orders. Mia still doesn't trust me to carry food and drink because I was trained by Ryu, who she apparently had little faith in her teaching ability.
"Syr, you have strange tastes. You've made Ryu dress as a man, and me as a woman. Are you okay?" I asked as I passed by Syr as I was turning in a new order.
"Rude. I happen to think that Ryu made for quite a handsome and respectable gentleman. You also make such a cute woman. If you were born this way, I might have switched teams." She replied with a smile that looked more at place on Chloe while I shivered and tried not to picture life as a woman.
"Seating fifteen nya!" Anya called out, causing me to bite my tongue so that I did yell at her to turn them away. I didn't have to turn around to know who this was.
"Hello Loki Familia. My name is Bella, and I will be your waitress this afternoon. How may I serve you?"
As I took the orders of my laughing Familia as they all made jokes, I kept up my feminine persona.
"Loki, I shouldn't need to remind you of the Hostess' no touching policy. It still applies even if I am in you Familia." I said as I swatted the goddess' hand away as she tried to cop of feel of my chest, trying to figure out how I simulated the appearance of having breasts so that she could do the same.
After taking Lefiya's order, where she addressed me as 'big sister,' I turned back to Loki.
"Loki, I will tell you how I simulated my chest, but in return, I would like you to move me and Lefiya into the same room at home since we're both siblings."
"Deal! How big can I make them? Can I put Hestia to shame?" Loki excitedly and instantly replied, much to the horror of Lefiya who now looked like an angry specter as she trembled in anger as she stared at the god.
Reactively, I looked down at my goddess' chest and sighed while shaking my head.
"You'd 'ave better luck with watermelons than the bra stuff'd with water balloons filled with water 'n starch like e's usin' if ya wanna go that big." Gareth said absentmindedly while looking over the specials.
The entire table fell silent as we all stared at the gruff old dwarf.
"How in the world do you know what he's using? Never mind, don't answer that. I don't want to know." Riveria said as she looked at her friend in disbelief.
"No, I do want to know!" Tiona shouted out as she leaned over the table and looked at the embarrassed dwarf.
"Dwarven bachelor parties er wild…" he muttered out, not taking his eyes off of the suddenly very interesting salad menu.
Thankfully for the dwarf, everybody else found something else to pay attention to as Tione stood in front of me squeezing my left 'breast' while she squeezed her own before shaking her head with a frown.
"Wrong. They just don't have quite the same feel. Still impressive though."
Slapping her hand away, I instinctively turned and covered my chest with my hands and arms.
"No touching my staff, damnit! Do it again and you're all gone!" Mia yelled out from the doorway to the kitchen.
Turning, I mouthed a 'thank you' to Mia, who snarled a "get back to work."
.
Eventually my Familia left, and I completed the first day of my three day sentence. Tired and not wanting to deal with my Familia's teasing, I stayed for dinner with Ryu and the rest of the staff.
After Syr had left and gone home, Ryu and I helped Mia and May clean up the mess from our dinner.
"Mama Mia, would it be alright if I stayed in the guest room tonight and the rest of the weekend that I'm working for you?"
She kindly agreed but made it clear in no uncertain terms that I was not to put the pubs name to the test with any of her girls.
Thanking her, Ryu and I quickly finished cleaning before I grabbed my pack of spare clothes, and we headed upstairs.
As I finished changing into a clean shirt and shorts, a knock on my door quietly sounded out through the small room.
"Ryu?" I asked after I opened the door and saw her standing in the hallway in a white tank top and green pajama bottoms.
"I-I thought that could talk for a bit since we didn't get much chance to do so today."
Smiling, I stood aside and welcomed her into my room.
Ah, what am I doing!? I'm entering a man's room at this hour of the night… Ryu thought to herself in shame as she sat down at the foot of the bed.
Sitting down next to her, I laid back and adjusted myself so that my head rested on the pillow before I let out a long and relaxed breath.
"Who'd have thought that working in a pub as a woman and constantly being harassed by guys would be more tiring than going deep into the Dungeon?" Looking up at Ryu, I saw her shoulders relax a bit as a small smirk appeared on her face.
"Yes, it does get annoying. Though, I think you'd make for an excellent elf with the way that you never once let the men touch you. Also, I don't think anyone other than Mama will beat your drunk toss distance."
"Ha, well Mia and I are both higher levels than the rest of you."
Fidgeting with her fingers as she stared at the space I left open next to me and on my pillow, Ryu's face reddened again as she made up her mind.
Moving, she laid down next to me and rested her head on my pillow with me while our shoulders lightly touched.
"Pardon me." She quietly whispered as she stared intently at the ceiling.
"I don't mind if you don't. Honestly, I'm getting used to it." I said despite my own warm cheeks. No matter how often I lay next to girl in a bed, I can't help the blush that inevitably shows on my cheeks.
Ryu gave me a confused look as she rolled her head to the side and looked at me.
"Aiz has slept next to me a couple of times. Once down in the Dungeon on the fiftieth floor, and once at the Twilight Manor when she wanted to take a nap. After my fight with Asterius, when Riveria was looking after me, she fell asleep next to me as well."
"Ah, yeah, Lady Riveria told me about that the other day when we were out shopping. To think that she would be so bold."
"I didn't do anything untoward to either of them. I promise that we only slept." I quickly said, hoping that she didn't think I had tried anything.
"I know, you're a good man. So long as you haven't stolen their first kisses." She chuckled as she looked back at me, only to see my face turn even redder.
"Bell… you haven't stolen their first kisses, have you? You should only kiss after you've pledged yourself to your partner under the light of the full moon on the shore of a lake in a forest."
My blush disappeared in an instant as I looked over at her and saw her seriousness in her eyes.
"No, I haven't stolen their first kisses exactly…"
As she looked at me through narrowed, critical eyes, I explained.
"Aiz demanded a kiss from me down in the Dungeon, but before our lips could touch, she knocked me unconscious out of reflex. Riveria and I have kissed each other, but only on the cheeks, forehead, and nose. I wouldn't steal her first kiss… but she technically was my first kiss on the lips as well. But she did it to force elixir down my throat while I was unconscious and bleeding out."
"I see… well there isn't anything in elvish customs that prohibits affectionate kisses on places other than the lips…" She said began but trailed off as she thought about it.
Ah, Bell is still pure and untouched, that's a relief.
"So, you haven't been conscious for a proper kiss, and the one while you were unconscious was a lifesaving action, so it can't be counted as a kiss either." Ryu finished and wore a satisfied look on her face after coming to this conclusion.
"Um… actually, Syr kissed me last night after I gave her the earrings. She also told me that she loves me."
Ryu eyes quickly went wide in surprise before a slightly sadder look took hold in her beautiful features.
"That's good. Syr has loved you for a long time, it's only right that you two end up together." Turning her head, she stared sadly up at the ceiling again.
I am happy for you Syr…
"I haven't completely settled my feelings yet. I am sorry if I am being selfish, but I want to spend more time with you all." Rolling onto my side, I reached out and held hers that were resting on top of one another on her stomach.
"I still have time?" She asked as she looked back into my eyes with hope.
"Yes," I smiled back at her. "Whether you and I end up together or not, I hope that no matter what, we will still be friends. You are someone who is very important to me, and I never want to lose that or you."
Moving the hand that I wasn't holding, she reached up and pulled out the necklace that I had given her the previous night from the inside of her shirt and held the pendant tightly.
"As are you." She smiled as her face and ears burned.
She never thought that she would be in this position before, yet her she was. Laying on a bed with a guy. A guy who had just declared how important she was to him while holding her hand.
As Ryu was struggling to calm her overheating mind, I yawned and moved around a bit as I got under the covers. Something that apparently didn't help calm Ryu's mind.
Seeing me get under the blankets, she bit her bottom lip and listlessly looked around while fidgeting with her hands. She really wanted to sleep next to Bell. Making up her mind, she stood.
"I… it would be improper to sleep next to you, s-so I will head back to my room." Her virtues won and she chickened out, but seeing the kind smile that Bell gave her, she didn't feel so bad. At least he respected her boundaries.
"Goodnight, Ryu."
"Goodnight, Bell."
"…"
"…"
"Ryu?" Bell asked as he looked up at the elf still standing motionless in the room and staring at the open room next to him on the bed.
"I've ch-changed my mind." She hesitantly said as she moved and quickly crawled under to covers. "I-if we don't touch, then there is nothing lewd or inappropriate about this."
"Ok… goodnight, Ryu."
"Night…" Ryu said after a few moments. Thankfully it was dark in the room, and she was facing away from Bell, so he couldn't see just how red her face and ears were.
"Nghh… yesterday must have been rougher than I thought. I feel so heavy." Ryu mumbled aloud as she began to wake up.
Moving around slightly, she tried to sit up only to be pulled back and lightly squeezed from behind by a strong arm.
"Eep!" Squealing out in surprise, she looked over her shoulder and was reminded that she had slept next to him last night.
While she did decide to share a bed, she felt like she remembered saying that they shouldn't touch, yet here she was laying in bed… with a guy whose chest she could feel on her back.
"Bell, wake up and let me go, please." She whispered, afraid of waking up the others. However, Bell didn't wake and instead buried is face into the crook of her neck and snuggled closer to her and making her squeal in shame.
It wasn't until a half hour later that he slowly began to awake. When he did, he was greeted by the pink faced and eared elf.
As the two laid there with her still wrapped in his arms, staring at each other with equally reddening faces, Bell was about to scream out an apology as he quickly let go of her.
Free of his strong grasp, she quickly rolled over and slapped her hand over his mouth before he could scream out in shame.
"I'm going to move my hand away. Don't scream or you will wake the others. Nod if you understand." Seeing him nod, she slowly moved her hand away and he immediately began apologizing.
Sighing, she shook her head. Despite the surprise and embarrassment of waking up in the arms of a guy, she was happy to have been held by Bell again.
"It's fine… I won't make you take accountability for your actions seeing as you were unconscious… unless you want to." No longer pink, Ryu's red face grew hotter as she stared into Bell's wide eyes as he processed what she had just said.
"I… I…" The sound of the door closing saved him as Ryu whipped her head around and listened.
As she was about to tell Bell that she was going to sneak back into her room, a quiet knock on their door came before it opened.
"Good morning, Bell. I heard from Mia that you stayed the night. Would you like some Ryu!?"
Seeing her grey-haired friend standing in the doorway, Ryu froze along with Bell.
Rushing into the room, Syr jumped onto Ryu and began to shake her.
"Ryu! You sneaky elf! You bad elf! How was it? Did it feel amazing? How was your first time!?" Syr excitedly said and asked while giggling before looking over at me.
"W-w-we didn't do that!" Ryu stuttered out while being violently shook by the surprisingly strong grey-haired waitress.
"Mmm… I believe you. Well now that he's staying here, it's a slumber party for the rest of the weekend!"
This was just the beginning of his troubles today. When they finally got dressed and Syr did Bella's makeup, Mia was waiting for them downstairs with crossed arms and a stern look on her face. She had overheard Syr's excited questions.
.
.
Today was another busy lunch as many of the housewives that had been out shopping for the day's groceries had also stopped by the Hostess for lunch, news of the beautiful white-haired waitress being back quickly spread through various circles.
As dinner rolled around, Bell's kind nature and his earnest attempts at providing quality service, so as not to tarnish the reputation of the Hostess, had proven to be a curse. Many of the adventurers had heard of the white-haired beauty that had the grace and service comparable to some of the nicest brothels in the old entertainment district. Skills that he had learned from watching the way that Haruhime interacted with people.
"Seating seven," Lunoire called out as she led in a new group of customers and sat them in Bell's section as they had requested.
Seeing who had just come in, Bell let out a tired sigh. With no time to waste as he and the other waitresses were all swamped, he hurried his way over to the table where Hestia and the others were being seated.
As he approached, the group looked up at him and he saw flashes of recognition flash across their faces only for confusion to quickly become the dominant feature as they tried to figure out why this waitress looked so familiar to them.
"Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility, my name is Bella, and I will be your waitress this evening." He said in his persona's cheery and polite female voice, praying that his friends wouldn't recognize him.
"What can I get started for you?" Hearing him and looking at his feminine features, Haruhime flushed lightly and politely hid her smile behind her hand as her enhanced hearing was seemingly able to tell who the person truly was while the others didn't know for sure.
As he took their orders and got to Welf, he caught him staring at his chest.
"Erghrm… your order sir? And no, I am not on the menu." Bell pushed in irritation as he moved behind his redheaded friend while Mikoto and Hestia shot him a dirty look and Haruhime began to giggle.
After taking his order, Bell didn't care if the others found out that it was him. The look that was about to pop up on Welf's face would be worth it. He leaned down next to his friend's ear and could hear him gulp before he whispered in his normal voice.
"I don't think that Lady Hephaestus would approve of you gawking at the guy you call your 'brother's' chest."
"Bell!? Is that you!?" Welf shouted out as he fell out of his chair and looked up at Bell dressed in drag in horror.
"Yep." He replied with a pop 'P,' and laughed as everyone at the table's eyes went wide.
"Hehe~, Master Bell, you have become quite the experienced and polite servicer." Haruhime giggled.
"Only from watching how you interact with people, Lady Haruhime." Bell responded, back in his female voice and gave a polite bow to his favorite fox who was blushing from the compliment and being addressed in such a formal manner by her hero.
"Sir Bell, why are you dressed like that?" Mikoto quickly asked as Lili rapidly nodded her head in agreement.
"Yes, Bell-kun, why are you dressed like that." Hestia, who had been staring at him in stunned disbelief until now, asked.
"Indentured servitude for today and tomorrow, and a certain waitress' weird tastes."
Leaving the still dumbfounded group behind, Bell quickly turned in their orders, and asked Mia if he could take his break to chat with his former Familia.
Sitting down next to Welf after Mia gave him permission, he looked over at Hestia who had been staring at him and looked as if she had something to say.
"Bell, thank you… thank you for paying off my debt to Hephaestus. She told me the next day when I showed up for work."
The original members of the Hestia Familia all looked at me with wide disbelieving eyes while Anna and Vendir gave the others questioning looks.
"It was the right thing to do, and you only had that debt because of me. Thank you for everything, Hestia."
Hearing Bell call her by her name, the small goddess let out an excited shriek.
"Speaking of Hephaestus, what did you do, Bell? A couple of days ago, I got a letter from her asking me over for dinner and a forge date." Welf asked before anyone else could speak up.
"I didn't do anything. I only reminded her that you're a man living with a bunch of beautiful and single women."
"Ah, so that's why…"
After that, Bell told the others about what happened at the casino before having to help wake up Hestia after she fainted hearing how much money he had won.
A few minutes later his break ended, and he returned to work, finishing up the rest of the shift while he and Ryu continually batted away the hands of frisky adventurers.
As the night rushed on, the pub eventually closed, the staff ate their end of shift meals and cleaned up and they all headed off to their own beds. Well, most of them did.
"Ryu, its my turn, you got him to yourself last night." Syr pouted as she looked over at her friend who was sitting next to me on the bed.
"I understand that Syr, but this is for your protection. Bell can't be trusted. I woke up to him hugging me in his sleep." Ryu explained as she looked over at Bell and smiled seeing his shocked expression.
"I don't mind if he snuggles with me." Syr shyly whispered as she hugged her pillow and turned side-to-side.
"Well, I did say that it was a slumber party… so fine, but I get the spot closest to the wall and Bell." She finished as she hopped onto the bed, not minding that her nightgown flipped up and exposed her panties.
"Syr! Cover yourself. You shouldn't be showing your body like that, especially when there is a guy in the room that you're not pledged to."
"Boo~."
Trying to fall asleep tonight is going to suck… especially with her here… Bell cried internally while Syr and Ryu argued about Syr's behavior.
A/N: Well next chapter is the start of the hot spring date chapters. I am sorry if this chapter seemed a little confusing or hard to follow. I struggled with not giving away too much while still leaving some hints about future events. One of the hardest things for me about the next couple of chapters though, especially this one is trying to keep allow Bell to try and be impartial to all of the women and giving them each a fair chance despite his mind being mostly made up. Hopefully the next couple of chapters all turn out decent.
As always, thanks for the support and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Affinity7208