Chapter 182: 181 – Eri Notus Greyrat

It was a long and exciting night. Congratulations all around, people chatting, and meeting each other for either the first time, or the first time in a while.

And, as expected from such a happy and exciting night, time seemed to pass by in a blur.

Eating good food with the guests, receiving toasts and blessings, watching everyone interact while standing beside my adorable wife.

I could honestly say that it was an unexpected happiness. While I knew that there was a lot of trouble coming down the horizon... and not just from Being W, but from the relationship juggling I'd be dealing with, for now, I was happy spending time with Eri.

I was also happy seeing everyone interact and get along at the wedding reception.

...There was a bit of a weird interaction with Stella and Akito in the background. One followed by my baby sister glaring daggers at me whenever she could afterwards, but it seemed like she was shelving the matter for the moment.

It seemed like Stella had successfully learned the lesson of 'time and place.'

If I wasn't already feeling on top of the world from the ceremony and everything else, that would definitely have topped things off.

But in the end, time moved on, and the wedding reception came to an end.

After bidding the guests farewell with Eri, then thanking our parents for staying behind to clean things up, I whisked Eri away for our honeymoon.

A sky just starting to light up with the sun and the dawn of a new day. One in contrast to the starry night that had just greeted us.

And then a small and cozy house in front of us.

I set Eri down and then smiled.

Eri raised her left hand against her chest, idly twirling her wedding ring around with her right hand. Taking a look at the surroundings, she muttered, "This... it's real, isn't it?"

I walked over to place my arm around Eri's shoulders and nodded. "It's definitely real, Eri." After saying that, I gently guided her inside the house. No, inside our 'home.'

It was a place I built just for Eri and I in Arcadia.

I won't go into the details of how I made it or where it was, but the house was a cozy one-floor home with a living room, a bathroom, and a large master bedroom. A flower garden up front and a small pond out back added a bit of charm to the place too.

But the house didn't matter so much. It was the fact that it was ours. A home of our own.

And Eri seemed to realize that too when we walked in.

I gently closed the door behind me as we entered, and Eri flinched.

She glanced back and then instinctively stepped away from me, her face flushed red.

I laughed and said, "What are you getting so shy about now?"

"Sh-Shut up, Rudy!" Eri looked around and said, "T-This is new to me, okay? And it's still... I still... It's overwhelming, okay?" She shook her head and then looked at me and then back at her ring. "You, me... This..." She paused, turning even redder. "A-A-And since we're married, the next step..."

I chuckled and said, "You've shamelessly done worse before, haven't you? There's no need to be shy now."

Eri flung her right arm to the side and said, "T-That's different! Sylphy was there, so I couldn't lose! B-But like this..." She reached up with her right arm to grab her left hand and then placed both over her chest. After that, she turned to the side and glanced at me. "...I-It's just going to be us. J-Just you and me... so..." She took a deep breath and then shouted. "I'm just nervous, okay!"

...Ah.

This isn't fair.

Staring at Eri like that blushing and acting shy in her wedding gown...

Doing my best to ignore my racing heart and remain calm, I said, "Being that cute is illegal, Eri."

Eri pointed at me and said, "A-A man like you is illegal! I should be mad, you know?! Here I am, just married with my H-Husband on our h-h-hon..."

"Honeymoon."

"S-Shut up!" Eri folded her arms together and said, "A-Anyway!" She stuck her head up and looked down at me. "I should be mad since my husband is marrying three other women over the next few weeks! Not just one, not two, but three! And yet...! And yet...!" She walked over to me, raising her fist.

I stood there, ready to take whatever Eri wanted to dish out.

But she just weakly tapped her fist against my chest before leaning her head against me. "...I'm not mad. It's just... I just feel a bit empty at that thought."

I froze and then instinctively hugged her.

Eri tensed and then slowly hugged me back. After that, she said, "Rudy?"

"Yes, Eri?"

Eri didn't look up at me. Still leaning her head against me, she muttered, "Do you really love me?"

I gently brushed her hair and said, "Of course I do."

"...Really?" She slowly looked up. "Really, really? Even though we haven't spent much time together?" Staring at me with teary crimson eyes, she quietly finished with, "Even though I was forced on you?"

"Fate takes strange turns."

I didn't like her at all when we met. And it wouldn't have been a stretch to say I hated her a bit.

But the Eris that I met then and the Eri before me now was different.

Besides, while Eri might think that we didn't know each other long, we DID still spend close to a year in Arcadia too after she arrived with Norn.

I think.

Time was just a social construct at this point what with the distorted flow of time, so...

But anyway, Eri.

I smiled at her and then said, "Even so, I'm sure that even in another life, I'd be by your side one way or another."

Eri blushed and then buried her face against my chest again. "...You're just being nice. What's even good about a tomboy like me anyway?"

I chuckled and said, "You're less of a tomboy than Sylphy, you know? Even though she looks like a lady on the outside, Sylphy's as tough as steel on the inside."

Eri tapped my chest and then said, "Rude. Talking about other women again on our honeymoon..."

I kissed Eri's forehead. "Sorry."

Eri shook her head and then looked up at me. Staring into my eyes, she muttered, "That's not fair too. Every time you look at me with that face and apologize, I want to forgive you for everything."

I chuckled and said, "Well, it's good that it's me then." I smiled and said, "Another man might take advantage of that."

Eri rolled her eyes and said, "As if you don't do that already."

"True." I reached around to hold Eri close and said, "But at least I won't ever let you be unhappy."

"...I hate how you make me want to believe your lies."

"Well, I have a tendency of turning lies into the truth. So does it really matter?"

Eri scoffed, but let out a content smile.

I stood there and smiled as well, holding her close.

After a few moments, Eri spoke up. "Hey, Rudy."

"Yes?"

Eri hesitated and then said, "If everything started over again, would you still have me as your wife?"

I wanted to give an immediate answer, but I knew that wasn't proper.

This was something weighing on Eri's heart. And at a time like this, it would be wrong to answer flippantly.

I wasn't Dad, after all.

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So I took time to seriously think about it.

In the beginning, I didn't like Eri... Eris, at all. She made a terrible first impression on me, and I already had Sylphy in my heart at the time. And even before Sylphy, I was already thinking about Roxy.

But if I had met Eri first...

...I would have seen through her actions. I would have taken her lashing out as the desperate flailing of a lonely girl who was adrift in the world by herself.

I would have been more patient with her, and I was sure Eri would have calmed down a bit too.

No, I knew that from how she ended up with Rudeus in the other timeline.

Considering my temperament was better than his, and that I wouldn't have dismissed Eri's concerns...

...I could see it.

A world where I realized that I was a 'genius' because of Eri's struggles. But one where I took on that role to help her be happy after seeing someone growing up in a similar situation to my past life.

Eri shook her head and then said, "No. Don't answer that."

"Eri-"

Eri reached up and then wrapped her arms around my neck. Staring at me, she let out a soft smile and said, "It's fine. I know I'm lucky." She let out a soft sigh and said, "This life I have is one I got by chance, and unfairly. Even so..." She leaned forward to kiss me.

The soft taste of cinnamon. A slight tingle and heat from the light touch of her lips. And the faint scent of roses.

Eri leaned back and let out a bright smile. "There's no point talking about what-ifs when this is real, right?"

Staring at her happy expression, I felt a stab of guilt in my heart.

I instinctively held her tight and then said, "I'm sorry, Eri."

It was an uneven exchange.

Eri was giving me her everything, but she could only ever get a part of me.

And while I would give her the most I could, I could never completely devote myself to her.

It was a selfish decision that asked for a cruel compromise.

While it was a decision that would make everyone 'happy,' it wasn't the decision that would make her the 'happiest.'

Even so...

Eri flicked my forehead and said, "Stop that, Rudy." She smiled and said, "If you keep looking at me like that, you'll make me forgive you for something wrong that you didn't do."

"...That's right." I smiled back at Eri and steeled my heart.

I was the one who chose this path.

Eri, Sylphy, Rika, and Roxy were the ones who agreed to this compromise, but it was because of me that they considered it in the first place.

So I had to take responsibility for it.

Even if I couldn't make Eri completely happy, I just had to do my damnedest to get as close to that as possible.

Eri laughed and then placed her hand on my cheek. "You don't have to be so serious about it, Rudy."

"...I'll do better."

Eri nodded. "As long as you do. Now..." She glanced around the room and blushed. "S-Since we're here... Um..." She looked back at me and said, "...Is this place really private?"

"Absolutely." I nodded and said, "This is a private house in an isolated plot of land in Arcadia with no one around for miles."

"Th-Then..." Eri's face turned a deep red and she said, "I-It's fine if I go a bit wild then? I... I can scream, right?"

I laughed.

"H-Hey!" Eri huffed and said, "I'm being serious!"

I gave her a quick peck on the lips and then said, "Yes. It's fine. My cute little puppy can bark as much as she wants."

Eri smacked my chest and said, "I'm not a dog! ...T-Though if you want to try it...?"

Hearing that and seeing her shy but wanting gaze, I couldn't help it anymore and lifted her up. Afterwards, I started marching towards the master bedroom.

Eri squeaked and then said, "W-Wait! Not in the dress!"

I snapped my fingers, materializing a mannequin off to the side and then warping Eri's wedding gown onto it.

Eri screamed and then crossed her arms around her lacy crimson bra. Glaring at me, she said, "W-Warn me first!"

"I'm sorry, Eri. But you're just too adorable right now."

I kicked the door open and walked inside with Eri before kicking it closed.

Eri turned as red as her hair and then looked up at me with shy eyes. "R-Really...? I'm... You really think I'm adorable?"

"Yep." I set Eri down on the bed and then smiled. "So get ready, because I'm going to bully you all night."

"W-Wait. R-Rudy- I-I mean, H-Husband-"

I leaned over her to nibble her ear and then said, "Yes, Wifey?"

Eri let out a strangled sound and then covered her face.

I chuckled and said, "What is it? Too much?"

Eri shook her head and then peeked at me from her fingers. Taking deep breaths, she said, "C-Can you be gentle? I-I know it's not the first, but since it's our wedding..." She slowly lowered her hands and then said, "...I want it to be special... Please?"

HNGH.

"R-Rudy?"

I took a step back from the bed and knelt to the ground. After that, I reached out to grab her left hand and kissed her ring finger. "In that case, this knight shall do whatever Milady commands."

Eri froze for a moment. No, for a few moments.

I wondered if it was a bit too much and she fainted.

But Eri recovered and then wrapped her other hand around my own. Staring at me, she said, "Then... C-Can we just cuddle for a bit first? I'm... I'm nervous."

Hnnnnnnnnnnnnnngh.

Why is Eri- No. Why is my wife. So. DAMNED. CUTE?!?!

"H-Husband...?"

I took off my shoes and socks and then slipped off my suit. After that, I slipped into the bed beside her and pulled Eri close.

Eri looked surprised, but she smiled as she turned around to look at me.

"Is this fine, Milady?"

"Mmhm." Eri nodded and then wrapped her arms around my neck to pull me close. After that, she said, "...Then, can my knight kiss me? Please?"

"As you wish."

Eri closed her eyes and leaned forward to kiss me. It began as a soft peck, but then it turned into something deeper. And after that...

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