I crafted an exquisite lunch. However, Fate’s judgement of said lunch was lacking. There was a great commotion, and some within the castle even suspected an attempted poisoning. I was so certain I had made a good meal, but…I was still a long way from becoming the world’s strongest. As a consequence, I was forbidden from making dinner. I was allowed only to watch it being made.
I was bored, but when I tried to do something, the maid Memil turned her strict gaze on me. In the end, Roxy was left a bit flummoxed by it all. It seemed I still had some training to do before I would be allowed to serve any food. I thought about what I wanted to cook next as I went to the castle baths.
“Myne, I really think you should start with the basics.”
“I already know the basics. But my sense of taste isn’t as refined, as it has only just come back.”
“But even just looking at what you cooked, we all knew it was going to be a problem.”
“I was too greedy, that’s all. Next time I won’t overdo it with the ingredients.”
“Roxy was all flustered. The word berserk perfectly summed you up.”
Sloth had been laughing all throughout the process. I couldn’t concentrate.
“Grr…I’m going to become more powerful.”
“Let’s just hope nothing you make kills Fate before then.”
“He’s resilient. He’ll be fine.”
“Where does all that confidence come from? I don’t think that’s a healthy way to put your faith in someone.”
Sloth was worrying too much. Fate would be fine. In any case, I decided a refreshing bath was in order. But as I drew closer, I noticed the Eros again.
“Grr…”
“Oh, it’s Eris again, and she’s peeking into the men’s bath.”
I reached out with my senses and quickly realized Fate was in the bath.
“She just never learns.”
I grabbed Eris by her collar as she tried to walk into the bath. Then I gave her another quick chop to the back of the neck.
“Ow! You again…”
She passed out as soon as those words left her mouth. I left Eris sprawled out on the floor in the women’s bath and was just about to go in myself when I remembered.
“I still haven’t told him.”
“Told him what?” The tone in Sloth’s voice told me she knew exactly what I was talking about.
“You’re a bully.”
“Sorry, sorry,” said Sloth playfully. “But yeah, you should tell him.”
“Yes.”
Fate was rarely alone. There were always girls around him. Today was no different. Roxy, Memil, Laine, Snow…and the unconscious Eris at my feet.
“Myne, I just had an idea.”
“What?”
“Hear me out…”
I listened to Sloth’s idea and realized that she was an absolute genius. With the floating continent of Galia ahead of us, Fate would be very busy. I wouldn’t have many chances to be alone with him. I sensed for his presence once more. Still alone.
“Now or never,” said Sloth.
“Yes.”
“Good luck.”
“This time for sure!”
“That’s the spirit!”
I took a deep breath and left the women’s bath. Then I walked to the entrance of the men’s bath.
“To battle!” I said as I walked in.
The spacious changing room was easily large enough for a group of people. It was built like a mirror image of the women’s bath. As I walked through, I noticed Fate’s clothes, folded up neatly.
“He’s already in the baths. You should take off your clothes.”
“Hm? Me too?”
“Yes. Isn’t this a bath?”
“That’s true…but…”
When I had traveled with Fate in the past, he had seen me naked. I hadn’t been embarrassed in the slightest. But…now was different.
“Myne, you can’t let this chance slip away.”
“I know. Okay.”
“I knew you could do it!”
I took off my clothes. I was completely naked. With Sloth on my shoulder, I calmed my breath.
“Once more unto the breach!”
With that quiet battle cry, I opened the door at the end of the changing room. Steam surrounded me. I saw a young man with black hair ahead. He was humming as he sat relaxed, the bath completely to himself. He did not notice as I entered the water. I wondered how close I would have to get before he would. I suddenly wanted to know.
I slowly closed the distance between us. I was close enough that even with the steam, we could make out each other’s faces. Still, he did not see me. I wondered why and looked more carefully. It was then that I realized that his eyes were closed. The sound of his humming resonated throughout the bath. I watched him for a time, Fate in a moment of relaxation.
After I took a quiet breath, I said, “Fate…”
He opened his eyes slowly and peered at me. “Huh?! Myne! What?!”
He was so surprised that he nearly drowned. I ignored his reaction and soaked in the bath with Sloth. Fate’s face went bright red, and he grew all flustered at being caught completely naked.
“This bath is wonderful,” said Sloth. “A balm for these weary bones.”
“Yes. It is good,” I said.
It soothed my nerves as well. Perhaps it no longer brought comfort to Fate, however.
“Wh-what are you doing in the men’s bath?!”
“Is there a problem?”
“Yes, there’s a problem!”
“Sloth said the bath is wonderful.”
“Oh, did she? Well… Wait! That’s not what we’re talking about!”
As usual, Fate was at a loss. It was almost as if his melancholy this morning had been a dream. He was perfect like this.
I looked at Fate in his panicked state and said, “Can I believe what you told me, back then?”
Fate looked bashful suddenly, but he replied with conviction. “Of course. We’re in this together, now and forever.”
Hearing Fate’s words a second time, I threw myself at his chest.
“Myne!”
He was surprised at first, but then he stroked my hair. How long we stayed like that, just Fate and I together, I don’t know. The only sound that filled the bath was the sound of water dripping from the ceiling. I looked up at Fate.
“I have something to tell you,” I said.
Fate said nothing and waited for me to continue. Now I would tell him what I had been unable to back then.
“Fate…I…”
Even though I could find the words last time, now they were trapped inside me as my face turned red. Fate seemed to misunderstand the situation.
“Are you feeling lightheaded? Probably best to get out of the bath, then.”
He took me by the shoulders and began taking me out of the bath. He seemed hurried and had forgotten that we were both naked. But I hadn’t, and in my embarrassment, I resisted. The two of us slipped and fell back into the bath with a huge splash.
“Ouch…” Fate groaned. “Myne, are you oka—huh?!”
I said nothing. Fate said nothing. There were no words. Fate couldn’t get up, because I was on top of him. Sloth probably thought it was hilarious, but for a time Fate and I stayed like that, silent. Water dripped from my hair onto Fate’s cheek. The words flowed from my mouth as if they were entirely natural.
“Fate… Fate, I…love you…”
“Myne…”
We looked into each other’s eyes as a great cacophony could be heard from the changing room. The door opened with a slam and several people flooded into the bath.
“Master Fate, are you all right?”
“Fay!”
“Myne, I bet that was you, wasn’t it?”
“Wow, looks like fun! Snow wants to play, too!”
Memil, Roxy, Eros, and Snow had all come to the men’s bath. And they had found Fate and I in flagrante.
“Fay! What is the meaning of this?! May I ask for an immediate explanation?”
“To think that my own brother, the head of the Barbatos family, would be in a place like this… I expect a full explanation, Brother!”
“Fate…to think you would go to Myne when you have me right here. In the name of the kingdom, I demand the truth!”
“Snow wants to play with Fate too!”
I knew immediately that this was going to be annoying. I climbed off of Fate and walked over to Sloth. “It’s a nice bath.”
“Who cares about that right now?! Help me out!”
“It’s what you get for your behavior. Call it karmic retribution.”
Fate was on his knees, surrounded by the others. It looked like a fierce interrogation was about to begin. As I listened to their voices echo through the baths, I realized suddenly that I was grinning. Sloth did too.
“Myne, you can smile again.”
“Yes. I have Fate to thank for that.”
Along with my smile, my taste had returned, as well as feelings that had once been all but nonexistent.
From now on, I would live in the present, just like Luna had taught me to. Because it was here in the present that I had my dear Fate.