-a little bit...scary-

"*Sigh, what a touching night, ha? hehe."

He stretches himself, gets back to his seat, and drinks his tea.

"Well, when are you getting married?"

He asks me.

"...Yes?"

I am startled every time this grown man asks me.

"If not, why don't we just marry my son."

"What?"

I asked with a surprised face.

"Father, stop."

"She's the right one. It's hard to find the perfect match and suitable for the first lady position in this house, in one person."

"I told you she's engaged."

Jodai.

"But she's not married yet."

"*Sigh, Father..."

"Young lady."

His father called me.

"Yes!?"

"You know he wanted to marry you so badly when he returned from the academy."

"!?"

"He trained so hard to win you over. First, I thought he would like to beat you on the sword match, but no, he would like to win your heart."

"Stop!!!"

Jodai screamed out loud.

"!!"

I flinched

"Please...father, I beg you."

And then he softened his voice.

"Hehe, hahaha."

I laughed.

"Hahahah."

And then his father also joined me.

"I know that your family is famous for sword fighting and well-known for swords."

"Um."

"You must know many swordsmiths, the great ones who create the best swords."

"Yes, I know a few."

"I would like to ask you a favor. I would like to have a sword created by the great swordsmith."

"Hmm, Mr. Saya must have one of those, right?"

"..."

"I broke my sword, Mr. Yamazaki."

"You, son? I don't see your sword next to you."

"Mine is also broken."

"...I will not ask what you guys did or have been...but...of course."

"By this..."

I am about to get up, but Jodai gets up first, pushes the trunk over here, and opens it to his father.

"!!!?"

"What is this..? "

His eyes are wide open.

"It's a value stone of the north, Father."

Jodai answers.

"How come you get this?"

"It's Zephyra..."

Jodai answers.

"!!"

And the big grown man looks at me.

"If you agree to help me, Mr. Yamazaki, I would like your son to have one too."

"!?"

Jodai and his father look at me.

"Zephyra, that's too much."

Jodai tells me.

"We're together, aren't we?"

I tell Jodai with a smile.

"..."

His father goes silent and watches us.

"And if the stone is left, you can have them.. as a compliment…"

"I am…speechless."

His father.

"Father...can you please help us."

"..."

"Please, Mr. Yamazaki, these stones are valuable to me and my village. I hope you will consider it."

"Then I know exactly who will be your greatest swordsmith for you."

"...Thank you, Mr. Yamazaki."

"Thank you, Father."

"Why don't you guys take some rest? It's dark now. We can discuss tomorrow."

"..."

Sleep here? At Jodai's house? 

"Yes, Zephyra...Your family has been taking care of me since we were at your house, so let me find your comfort here."

"Yes, Thank you."

"I'll let them lead you to the room."

His father tells me.

"I'll take her, Father."

Jodai interrupts.

"Sure."

"Good night, Mr. Yamazaki."

"You as well."

After the conversation that went smoothly but my hands are still sweating like crazy. This long hallway is also crazy haunted. It's dark and only the torches are lightened up and they are around 5 meters far from each other. The wall was covered by dark wallpaper but I can barely see the real color of it. And then I see the big picture frame. I stopped to see for a bit. 

It must be the family picture, but there are a lot of people in the frame. Are they all family members?

"Zephyra."

Jodai calls me, and I follow his back.

And finally, we arrived at the room that I was supposed to stay in for the night. 

He opens the door for me.

"Zephyra, this is your room, and your stuff will be here in a minute. Make yourself... should I say? If you feel any discomfort, please let me know."

"Thank you. Where do you sleep?"

"Cross the hall. You can call me anytime, please if you..."

"I know I will tell you, don't worry."

"Then...I..."

Before Jodai left me, I grabbed his hand.

"Wait, Jodai. I'm sorry that I did all this without consulting you first, but it's true. Everything that I said... I don't want your father to think negatively about you… now or even in the future… because of me. I am the one who leads you, so the one who is to blame will be me… I just want you to understand."

"…"

"So whatever happens, you will not dishonor yourself or your family..."

"You are so…"

He pulls me into his arms.

"...Thank you."

He softly tells me beside my ears.

"Um."

I hug him back and let go of my arms.

"You're going to see your father, right?

"Y-Yes."

"Then you come back to your room? Crossed from me, right?"

"Yes, Zephyra... What is it? Please tell me."

He catches my reaction.

"Well, I'm kind of scared... Your house is a little bit... scary."

"Heh, I will be back to my room after the talk. So, if you feel scared, you can call me...anytime."

He tells me with a little smile.

"Y-Yes, thank you."