The Ogre Strength Fairy and the Eldest 'Son'
Chapter 95 - Savory Birth of Stars: Sonata In B-Minor

Chapter 95: Chapter 95 - Savory Birth of Stars: Sonata In B-Minor

The feast reached its full swing with chatter, laughter, and the clink of silver utensils on black porcelain. The bowls and plating had been provided by the Yecine family, some of them supposedly used in wedding ceremonies for ten generations. Elua and Qatrand had a ’private’ arrangement for two that was yet in plain view of the entire surroundings.

The intention was to be surrounded by the warmth of those who came to celebrate with you, but many young Yecine brides had always felt that most of those surroundings were a little chillier than they’d dreamed of their day. This worry was not present in the young Goltbred - as only one warmth in particular was needed for her to feel like it was the best day of her life.

"Ahn~"

The brunette called out cutely before the finger-sized piece of fish was placed on her tongue. As she chewed, she chanted ever quieter pleas with herself to not playfully bite her beloved’s fingertips and ruin the continuation of this public display!

’It’s not worth it, it’s not worth it, it’s worth it, it’s not worth it-’

Luckily, her emotions were displayed well enough and Qat sensed when to stop on her own.

The newlyweds took turns feeding each other like this, the intimate gesture met with good-natured cheers from the merrymakers... and spoilsport glares from many on the colder side of the venue. As the revelry continued on, mint eyes drifted to the gradually darkening sky.

The sun dipping over the horizon painted the coastal sky in an assault of colors. The bride let her gaze unfocus as her mind momentarily became distant. She squeezed Qatrand’s hand, drawing her attention before leaning close. The girl murmured demurely to her husband-wife.

"There’s an old tradition for newlyweds. I hear it comes from some unknown place, many... many thousands of years ago. I’m sure no one has ever heard of it in its original form."

The reincarnator was probably the only one to remember it - and her coy way of speaking about it didn’t slip past the swordswoman. Qat was certain that this was something she had experienced herself. It gave her a bit of mixed feelings, but curiosity was the winner.

"Oh? What did it involve?"

"At the first midnight of their wedding, couples would find a quiet spot to stargaze together. It was said to bring good fortune and deepen their bond."

"What do you say we revive that tradition tonight? We can slip away later and share that moment?"

The intense amount of ’longing’ pressed at her and the blonde sighed in exasperation, trying to keep the edge of her mouth from kicking up. She certainly found herself intrigued to relive a moment of the girl’s past with her. However-

’I trust her, but sometimes it feels so dangerous. She could convince me to do anything with that face.’

"I’d like that very much. In fact, I’d be honored."

Tendrils already caressing the cute girl’s intense spirit dug in just a little deeper. Mint eyes turned up at her with ’rascality’ pulsing where their spirits interconnected.

"You know if you keep doing that to me in public, I’m going to start charging kisses."

The Yecine blinked at her, only realizing what she meant when her manifestation of spiritual sense was poked back from hundreds of spots at once. Blush ran up the back of her neck as she tilted her head to the side. Her mouth opened and closed twice as she sought words.

"But... you told me before that you were fine with it."

"That was before, darling. We’re married now: rules have changed. So if you-"

"Fine."

It was El’s turn to flap her lips speechlessly. The taller girl knew that she was just teasing, but she was also right - because they were married, some things could be different. Qat turned back to look at her with determination on her face that melted to simple adoration as she spoke.

"If kisses are the price I have to bear for loving you so much, then I will pay them any time you deem them due."

The pigeon blue eyes looking back at her dulling ones were met with a surge of ’elation’ at the acceptance of her terms. The brunette leaned in and her monotone whisper clawed at the older girl’s heart.

"Be careful with statements like that. I might go overboard to find your limits. No, I will. Then I’ll continue to-"

A calloused hand held her cheek and quieted the monologue from the heiress only a moment before her ’fortress’ leaned in for a short kiss. When she pulled away, the blonde let her forehead tilt into her El’s for a moment as she breathed in and exhaled. The heat on the illusionist’s face did bad, bad things and rallied many ’evil thoughts’!

"I trust you not to go too far. You should trust me... that I wouldn’t indulge my wife more than I’m willing. I know you’ll respect me if I set a boundary, El. You’ve done so before."

"P-precedent isn’t carved by me in any sort of stone I can’t smash, Qat. You should really trust my principles less... because the only one that’s irrevocable is that I love you."

Elua knew that she was a hypocrite. That she’d said similar words in the past to other people that she loved. That when her infatuation was broken, she could treat that past devotion as just a page in her story. It was part of who she was and part of her very spirit.

She knew that, but-

"Yeah, I believe you. Which is why I know you won’t do something I dislike... and if you do then you’ll apologize to me until I’m forced to forgive you."

’I don’t think I would ever get over her like in the past. Is this part of the Ogre Physique, too? Her Cynosure? The aligned Trinity... I could think of a lot of ways to excuse it. Maybe it’s everything combined - or maybe it’s just Qat.’

The reborn cultivator was able to keep her return kiss chaste, if long. The guests around remained oblivious to the specifics of the intimate exchange happening right in their midst. Both felt the deep shift in their bonds - in the fragments of each other inside - and the quake of emotion that was most definitely ’incertitude’ out of Elua as she pulled away.

’Did it just accelerate? By how much? Ugh, that’s... something I’ll need to talk to her about sooner, now.’

A new layer of their love started to be forged in the midst of family and friends. Qatrand watched her struggle with whatever was going on in her head, not having any idea about the promise of things to come. To her it was simply the beginning of a future filled with countless kisses and spiritual caresses, no matter who might be watching.

The Feast wound down as the last traces of sunlight faded. Servants moved silently among the guests, carefully pulling the tableware to be cleaned and stored for the travel back. The Goltbred parents had come over to chat once it was seen that they were no longer stuffing each other’s faces.

After a tease from Yatrel - about their displays setting a high bar for their public images later - the duelist admitted that she intended to leave after the next event to head back home on the last train. Onya was still being cared for by servants at the estate and she felt the need to be back there with her.

"I understand. Thank you for being here today... mother."

"I wouldn’t have missed it, dear. You’re an important part of our family."

The Yecine’s attempt at stoic behavior broke down.

"That means more to me than you know."

The woman reached out to squeeze her son-in-law’s shoulder.

"Perhaps not as constantly, but I’ve watched you grow alongside Elua. I can only imagine how my eldest would have turned out without you around to focus on. The strength you bring out in each other... it’s truly remarkable."

"I only hope I can live up to the faith you’ve placed in me by trusting me with her."

The blonde replied in a low voice. Her spirit harbored guilt about the lie, but she absolutely did not feel that someone else could replace her in the cute girl’s heart - because she couldn’t fathom it in the reverse. A broad smile returned to her declaration.

"Just remember, our home is your home now. You are welcome whenever you like. Don’t be a stranger, even with all your Guild duties."

"I won’t. And please, tell Onya we’ll see her soon when you return."

The mint eyed woman chuckled with a nod before turning to take Ondua back to their table. With the coming dark, there was still the final public thing left to take place. The brunette leaned in close to her ’fortress’.

"It’s almost time for the Starbloom, my love. Are you ready?"

The small reincarnator swept her sight and sense over the terraced landscape, evaluating the metallic-silver flowers arranged at intervals along the terrace edges. The descriptions she read about had made her excited to see it in practice. Large scale rituals whose main purpose was just to look pretty were rather rare in her past life.

’Their beauty tended to be a side effect or an adjustment made after the main task was accomplished with the original sigil geometry. I wonder which method leads to more acceptable levels of unintended interactions? Pursuing function first or beauty first...’

The tall teenager had noticed the objects earlier but hadn’t given them much thought. Now, she could see a weak and faint shimmer at their centers - the tiny vials embedded that would function as the ’starlight’. She tilted her head and squinted, almost offended, at one of them.

On one hand, knowing that she and El would need to work together to light them and allow the crowd to witness it was enticing. Doing things together was fun - like the time they spent making the bookmarks. However-

’I sort of feel like it’s trying to steal the spotlight of our private stargazing moment later, now that I agreed to it.’