Columbina lifted her face and looked at her, a gentle smile playing at the corners of her lips.
“Don’t be angry, Sandrone.”
Her voice regained the cheerfulness she usually had when singing.
“This is just a strategy of the game, and I can tell that you really want to win, right?”
Yeah, it’s just a game, but coming from Columbina’s mouth, how could I have such a sad feeling?
It was as if these things had truly happened.
Sandrone withdrew his hand, crossed her arms, and turned his still-burning cheeks to the side, trying to pick up her cold mask once again.
“Hmph!
Columbina, even if this is a game, without my permission next time, you are not allowed to use this kind of trick again, you hear me?”
“Alright, then next time will you protect me?” Columbina stood up from her seat, stepped closer, and tilted her head to look at her, her tone as casual as discussing ordinary weather.
Sandrone’s breathing hitched at his sudden approach, and she forced herself to stay calm, saying, “It depends.
If you act recklessly like now again—”
“Then I’ll try not to mess around.” Columbina said earnestly, reaching out to tidy up the hair that Sandrone had ruffled from excitement, “But seeing you in danger, I might still not be able to help stepping in.”
These blunt words made Sandrone’s heartbeat skip a beat.
He slapped away the hand Columbina was using to tidy his hair and said, “…
Suit yourself.
Don’t blame me if you lose anyway.”
“How could I blame you?”
Columbina smiled, that bright smile seeming to dispel all gloom.
“Thank you for using [Moon Shadow] for me in the end.
You still care about me, right?”
“Who, who cares about you!” The state of mind Sandrone had managed to calm down grew flustered once again, and he defended himself, “I was just…
fulfilling the duty of the character I drew!”
“Mm, I know.” Columbina nodded, the arc at the corners of his lips deepening.
He pushed the “Guardian” card in front of Sandrone, “I’m giving this to you, hoping that in the future it can fulfill its duty and protect Miss Moon well in my place.”
“Columbina!” Sandrone looked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, though she didn’t flare up due to everyone present.
She glared at the card marked with a shield pattern, then glared at the sincere-looking Columbina, and finally sighed, carefully putting the card away.
All of this was taken in by Arlecchino.
He picked up his teacup, quietly hiding the meaningful smile at the corner of his lips.
Tartaglia loved watching the excitement and stood up to boo, “Hahaha, it seems the story of the moon and the Guardian has only just begun.”
Tartaglia rubbed his nose and sheepishly sat back in his seat.
“Since the game is over, the next part is the prize redemption session.” Columbina’s tone carried a hint of joy and anticipation, easing the atmosphere.
“Prize redemption?” Sandrone’s hand holding the teacup paused, showing a puzzled expression.
“Mm, didn’t we agree before the match started?
The losing party has to grant one request to the winning party.” Columbina nodded slightly and smiled, “This time, I’ll cede this opportunity to you, Sandrone.”
“Hmph!
Who cares.” Sandrone took a sip of tea, pretending not to care.
“Sandrone, just accept Columbina’s goodwill with peace of mind.” Arlecchino put down her teacup and slowly chimed in, “Besides, this is inherently the right deserved by the victor.”
“That’s right!” Tartaglia immediately echoed with a hearty laugh, “As an excellent warrior, accepting a bet and admitting defeat is the most basic etiquette!”
Capitano also nodded slightly to the side to show agreement.
“…
There’s really no helping you all.” Sandrone said, supporting his forehead.
She looked down at the figure swaying in her teacup, her fingertips rubbing the edge of the cup.
“So, my request is—”
She looked around at the earnest expressions on everyone’s faces at the tea party table and paused for a moment.
“My request is that at future tea parties, I don’t want anyone to be absent or late.”
As soon as his voice fell, the atmosphere at the table grew a bit quieter.
Arlecchino spoke first, his tone carrying a hint of apology: “Sorry, Her Majesty the Tsaritsa has assigned Fontaine’s mission to me.
I don’t know when I’ll be able to keep the appointment for the next tea party.”
“I am the same.” Capitano shrugged slightly.
Tartaglia smiled awkwardly, “Me too…”
“Wait a minute, Tartaglia, are you leaving too?” Columbina interrupted Tartaglia’s unfinished words.
“Sorry, Miss Columbina.” Tartaglia rubbed the back of his head and explained with a smile, “I plan to go to Fontaine for a good vacation.”
Ha?
It seemed that indeed Tartaglia was supposed to go on vacation around this time.
Could she be avoiding me on purpose?
Columbina slumped back against the chair with a disappointed look on her face.
“Hm? You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Columbina,” Sandrone sharply caught his emotion, his gaze falling over with a trace of unperceived scrutiny, “You seem to care a lot about whether Tartaglia is leaving?”
“Ms.
Sandrone, Miss Columbina and I are just ordinary friends, we’ve only been exchanging combat techniques recently.” Tartaglia hurriedly waved his hand and explained.
“Who, who cares what relationship you have with him!” Sandrone gave a soft hmph, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
He turned to look at Columbina, raising an eyebrow to ask, “Also, since when did you become interested in such bloody things as combat?”
“Isn’t this to better protect Miss Moon?” Columbina chuckled and said.
“Who, who is Miss Moon!
The game is already over!” Sandrone’s cheeks felt slightly warm again from this form of address, and the calmness he had just built up had a tendency to collapse once more.
“And who needs your protection, as long as you don’t make me worry.”
“Alright.” Columbina submissively accepted his opinion.
Arlecchino put down her teacup, watching this conversation between Sandrone and Columbina, a smile appearing at the corners of her lips.
“Don’t worry, Sandrone, I believe that even if there are only the two of you, the tea party won’t be boring.”
“Talk is cheap, aren’t you still leaving.” Sandrone picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
Tartaglia gave a hearty laugh, breaking the subtle atmosphere: “Haha, don’t be so sentimental!
Fontaine is not that far, maybe I can finish my mission and come back for some free tea soon!
I’m still waiting to see you two…”
“Tartaglia.” Sandrone interrupted coldly, his fingertips tapping lightly and heavily on the tabletop.
Tartaglia immediately raised his hands in a surrendering gesture: “Alright, alright, alright, I’ll shut up, I’ll drink my tea.”
Capitano’s deep voice sounded, carrying his consistent steadiness: “Duty calls, and we cannot slack off.
But…
home is here, we will always return.” His brief words made the few people around the table quiet down a bit.
Columbina lowered his head, not knowing what he was thinking.
After being quiet for a moment, he let out a soft sigh and smiled, “Yeah, we will always gather again.”
He turned to Sandrone, “That’s why Sandrone’s request is very precious.
Not wanting anyone to be absent or late, this is making an appointment for the future, right?”
“I just feel that a tea party should look like a tea party.” Sandrone said softly, his tone still carrying the usual tsundere arrogance, “Coming whenever you want, leaving whenever you want, what kind of system is that.”
“Mm, I remember it.” Columbina nodded, then as if remembering something, tilted his head slightly, “So Sandrone, do you have any other requests?”
“Nothing else.”
“I’ll leave this decision to you.”