"Leon, don't you think... we should just get married?"
The words left Elsa's lips and crashed into the tavern like a thunderclap. For a second, every mug and every laugh seemed to freeze in midair.
"...What?" I blurted out before my brain could even catch up.
"I mean... you and I, we fit so well. On the battlefield, I can trust you more than anyone. So wouldn't the natural next step be..." Her voice trailed, but the meaning hung there, unmistakable.
"Hold it right there!"
Cain's shout cut through like a blade. She slammed both hands on the table, her chair clattering backward onto the floor. The sound drew half the tavern's eyes our way.
"I won't hand Leon over to a muscle-brained fighter like you!"
"Hah!? What's that supposed to—why would you even—"
"I don't need a reason! Warriors and mages were never meant to match in the first place!" Cain's tone was sharp enough to slice stone.
Elsa's brows knitted tight as she glared back. "That's garbage! Leon and I trust each other—that's all that matters! And don't give me that 'warrior and mage don't match' crap. That's just your prejudice talking!"
"It's not prejudice. It's fact. A mage fights with intellect, calculation. A warrior just charges forward. That kind of simple thinking could never stand beside Leon!"
"Simple—?!" Elsa's fist clenched so tight I thought the wood of her mug might splinter.
"Now, now, both of you, please calm yourselves." Cecilia's voice slid in like a cool breeze, her hands folded neatly on the table. "But Elsa, don't you think jumping straight to 'marriage' is a bit too far~desuwa?"
"...I..." Elsa faltered, her flush deepening, and for once her words stumbled out uncertain. Across from her, Lilis leaned back with her arms folded, grinning like she was watching the best show in town.
"Y'know, this has to be the app's fault, right?" she said, eyes dancing. "Remember? It said it factored in love compatibility too."
"That—" I swallowed hard. The thought had been gnawing at me already. Elsa's sudden focus on me, Cain's sharp outbursts—it all felt too twisted to be just coincidence. Maybe that cursed app had dug deeper than any of us wanted.
"In that case," Cecilia said smoothly, her polite smile never slipping, "why don't we do the sensible thing? Set aside a proper place and time to discuss this calmly."
"Discuss... what exactly?" Elsa muttered.
"Why, our relationships, of course~desuwa." She sipped her tea like she hadn't just dropped another stone in the pond.
I dragged a hand through my hair and sighed. "Fine. Maybe... maybe we should talk this out."
Elsa and Cain locked eyes, neither willing to back down, but both gave the smallest of nods.
We moved from the noisy common floor into a private room in the back, the heavy door shutting out the tavern's laughter. The quiet pressed down harder than any dungeon walls.
"Elsa," I began, keeping my voice steady, "do you really think you and I should get married?"
"I—" Her eyes flicked away, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "Maybe I rushed it... but I do know this. I trust you more than anyone, Leon. When I'm with you, I feel safe."
Cain let out a short, bitter laugh. "Pathetic. To toss around marriage over a feeling like that? Shallow."
"What did you say?!" Elsa shot back, heat rising again. "Then what about you, Cain? What do you feel about Leon?"
For just an instant, Cain's mouth tightened, words caught on the edge of her tongue. Then she forced them out, cold and clipped. "Leon is my comrade. That's all. And that's why I won't let this party fall apart over childish emotions."
Cecilia set down her cup with a quiet clink, nodding once. "She has a point. Right now, everyone's letting feelings run ahead of reason."
Lilis stifled a laugh and reached over to pat my shoulder. "Oh man, this is even better than I imagined! Drama, shouting, love triangles—it's like I'm front row at some epic play!"
"You're enjoying this way too much..." I muttered, though she only grinned wider.
"Of course I am. Can you imagine? If this really blows up, our so-called strongest party will fall apart over romance. It's almost too perfect." Her laugh was soft but wicked.
I exhaled hard, the weight of it sinking into me. No matter how much I wanted to shrug it off, I knew this wasn't something we could laugh away. Something had cracked between us.
And standing there in that quiet room, I could feel it—we were on the edge of a crossroads we might not come back from.