By your side

Jaana gives no further details about the said guest, merely adding after a while.

“I let him in the entrance hall.”

“Could it be…?”

     I cannot remember of anyone coming to this remote place. Simply because the nearer someone can get to the Andersen Manor using the thoughts’ stream is Jåvkangilli, a village an hour’s walk from here. Or, for an even simpler reason, no one needed to.

     In a rustle of fabric, I leave the room.

     On either side of the long corridor, portraits displayed on the walls represent members of the Andersen family.

     With a light step, I walk until the entrance hall and widen my eyes.

     Standing still, turning his head at my approach, Marygold Leafeyorb’s silvery eyes fix on me.

“Why is the director here?”

     For a fleeting moment, we simply stare at each other. Although he holds my gaze, I can sense his smile is conflicted. He seems tense, as if ready to leave at any moment.

“Miss Andersen, my presence must seem impromptu to you…” He trails off, considering the next words he’ll use. “…I’ve been rude with you last time. My intention wasn’t to hurt you.”

     Marygold considers me for a while, mid-closing his eyes. He doesn’t take any step closer.

“I apologize.”

“…”

     These two days, is it the time it took him to convince himself coming to my place and expressing regret? Did he think about it all along? What does he really think? Why do I have the feeling that he is ready to back down at any moment?

     Approaching him with a pace devoid of hesitation, it is not before a mere step separates us that I stand still, right before Marygold.

“Aurora.” I whisper, looking straight into his eyes. What makes me raise my head as he is taller than me.

     He slightly opens his mouth.

“Right. I apologize, Aurora.”

     That is enough to bring back a faint smile to my face.

“I didn’t blame you for it.”

“When you left the reception, though…”

“Disappointed to realize my attempts to charm you were ineffective, I came back home to think of better schemes to do so.” I say matter-of-factly.

     For an unknown reason, the director stares at me in sheer surprise. An interesting expression. As if he is at a loss about which emotion to express.

“Huh?.. That’s not- Didn’t you understand what I tried to tell you?”

     He makes a step back.

“You should better…”

     As he trails off again, I shake my head and gaze back at him.

“It may not have been my choice in the first place,” I take a step forward. “nevertheless, it is my choice to keep on following this path. I don’t know if I am capable of such effusive feelings…”

     Taking a while so that words form coherent shapes in my mind, I raise my hands and clasp them together against my chest.

     Marygold stays silent.

“…Though if it is necessary to marry you, then I will make you fall in love to the point that you will not even think of it anymore. This is my answer. Because…” I breathe in softly before continuing, letting to the air time to rest. “I want to stay by your side.”

     He has half-opened his mouth as if ready to formulate words he probably prepared before in case of resilience on my side. My last words seem to have made him give up, though. He slowly runs a hand across his forehead, his fingers slipping between his sand-blond hair locks.

“Huh… What I am going to do with you…”

“Your wife.” I think, but do not say. That would be futile, invasive.

     Instead, I look at him carefully. His smile seems merely soft and gentle at first sight, though now I have become sensitive to its slightest deviations. And I can tell there is a hint of sadness, no more pronounced than a pinch more or less of sugar would be in a hot chocolate. But still, I can feel it.

     That said… I can’t focus on it because his eyes catch my interest more than anything else.

     His night orb irises, they shiver.

     Why? I did not even now that was physically possible. But here it is. They shiver, as would the moon upon the surface of a lake. It doesn’t seem to be because of sadness. Nor anger. What is the feeling it is associated to?

     I want to know.

“I should probably go. I still have a lot of work to attend to.”

     A lie? He knew it would take time to reach my mansion. Responsible as he is, Marygold certainly managed to free up his day just in case.

     As he starts to turn away from me, I gently catch his hand in mine, pressing the other against his arm. Like at the occasion of that evening we spent at Ōnomori.

     Taken aback, he gazes at me.

     I tighten my grip slightly.

“I…”

“Please.” I murmur more softly than I am used to.

“…Fine. I will stay a while.”

     Maybe because I have never asked him a favour before. Maybe because he is not entirely against that idea. He has accepted, it is enough for me.

     For the time being, I encourage him to follow me into the mansion. We pass in front of the portraits. We enter the living room. All along, even if we’re inside, I don’t let go the director’s arm. I know he promised to stay, but… I forgot how pleasant this feeling is.

     The warmth of his arm chases the cold I felt inside. How peculiar… He is more effective than temperature auto-regulating clothes.

     Marygold takes a look at the living room’s dark wooden walls and deep blue wallpaper. He notices the holographic screen still playing an anime episode. He frowns.

“I would never imagine you watching these.”

     I still avoid releasing his arm.

“You know, I won’t go anywhere for the time being, so you can… well…”

     Deliberately avoiding to answer, I deviate from the topic.

“Have you… a favourite one?”

“A favourite anime? Mmh, well. I haven’t had watch since childhood.”

“Which was?”

     He tilts his head to the side, smiling in a way then lets no doubt to its meaning. It is a “I know what you’re trying to do.” smile.

“I will tell you if you release me.”

     Meanwhile, Jaana leaves the room, certainly in order to make some tea.

     After a moment to consider the proposed deal, weighing the pros and cons, I release him. Not leaving his gaze, I expect the promised answer.

     Marygold chuckles.

“So serious about something so casual. But, oh, well, there was that one called ‘Magical Memories’.”

“THAT is old-fashioned.” Niji comments in a connoisseur’s tone, landing on the back on the couch where he has been watching the episodes until now. “But dope as well. And who’s your waifu?”

     Casting a glance at my cockatiel, the director raises an eyebrow.

“I don’t have one.”

“Liar. Everyone has a waifu in ‘Magical Memories’. A husbando maybe?”

     I stare at the director while they argue.

“I don’t.”

“You do.”

     Marygold decides to ignore him but as he averts his gaze he notices that I intently stare at him.

“See! Even Aurora wants to know. Just tell us. After being as mean as you were and making her leave the party to hide her tears, you can at least answer that poor question.”

     I didn’t have tears to hide…

     The corner of Marygold’s lips twitches and he closes his eyes.

“The main character’s best friend.”

“HAAH! ‘Would have guessed.”

     While the two of them exchange words, I take note of that precious information.