“You really are drunk, aren’t you?!”

“So persistent... This much wine couldn’t possibly do anything to me,” Ai Fa insisted, her warm breath soaking into my chest.

Actually, every bit of her that was touching me felt incredibly warm.

“If you’re to take a bride, then a woman like Sheera Ruu would be fitting...”

“I’m telling you, I’m not marrying anybody.”

“As your clan head, I have to give you my blessing...”

“I told you that won’t be necessary, didn’t I?”

“A clan head must wish for her clan member’s happiness...” Ai Fa murmured, clinging tight to my body.

Perhaps because of the wine, though, she wasn’t properly holding back her strength. Around when I heard my ribs cracking, I shouted out, “Gyah! That hurts! You’re seriously gonna break something! Snap out of it, Ai Fa!”

“Are you rejecting me, Asuta...?”

“That’s not it! It’s just that my pathetic, measly bones are screaming!” I yelled, desperately tapping Ai Fa’s shoulder. With that, she finally loosened her grasp. However, her arms didn’t fully let go of me, and her face remained pressed up against my chest.

I gave a deep sigh as I felt her soft hair tickle my nose.

“My greatest happiness comes from being by your side, Ai Fa...” I somehow managed to get out in a calm tone, though I’m certain she could feel my heart pounding away right now. After all, I could feel her heartbeat, too. “And so, I won’t marry anyone. Doing that has to mean wanting to spend your whole life with someone... And as long as I have you, I don’t need anyone else.”

I got no response.

Was the punchline here that she had already fallen asleep?

With yet another sigh, I gently wrapped my arms around Ai Fa’s head and back. As I felt her warmth all over my body, my heartbeat only grew quicker.

It’s because you’re here, Ai Fa...

In these past two months and some change, I had met many people who were now precious to me. There were lots of folks at both the forest’s edge and in the post town that I couldn’t stand the thought of losing. I was supported by so many people that I couldn’t even count them all.

Even so, Ai Fa remained firmly fixed in the very center of my heart. Those feelings hadn’t changed, even now. Actually, they seemed to only be growing stronger day by day.

And Ai Fa thought of me as someone precious, too. That I could have confidence in that fact made my current lifestyle feel so utterly blessed that it caused my heart to ache.

Until I was cast out of this joyful life altogether, there was no way I would ever marry any other woman. It really did feel strange to me that this fact hadn’t gotten across to Ai Fa.

When exactly will you finally realize just how charming and wonderful of a person you are, Ai Fa? Or will you never be able to realize that yourself?

As that thought ran through my head, I hugged her body ever so slightly tighter.

And then, after a cat-like stirring, she whispered words that filled my heart.

“If you really mean that, then I am also blessed...”

I closed my eyes and pressed my cheek up against Ai Fa’s soft hair.

With that, the long, long first day of the white month finally came to a close.