“You can be such a blockhead, Loretta.”
“Huh?”
Pepi’s comment came out of the blue. Quite some eating and drinking had been done by this point. I was comfortably drunk, but not to the point I was out of it. The innkeeper had carefully spaced out the alcohol with softer drinks in between.
“What’s that supposed to mean, Pepi?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. You’re a blockhead, blockhead.” She gave me a look, then took another swig of her mead. Now that I was looking at her, I could see her eyes were starting to glaze over and her face was red. She was drunk. Not much of a strong drinker, it seemed.
“Something ’bout Miss Loretta here bothering you, Pepi?” Gray asked.
“You bet there is! We finally began dating, but she won’t make a single move. I’m about fed up!”
“Wh-wh-wha, Pepi, do you hear yourself?!” I exclaimed.
“Now hold on, let’s hear the girl out,” Gray said.
Pepi continued. “I’m over here doing all I can to pretend like her each and every little move doesn’t send my heart racing, but it’s like she doesn’t even care we’re in a relationship! I’m sick of it!”
“Whoa, sounds rough.”
“Don’t egg her on, Gray!” I chided. “And you, Pepi, I think you’ve had enough to drink for one day.”
“Nooo, I’m—I’m nnnnot drunk!” she slurred. “Loretta, you just don’t get how charming you can be, you know that?!”
It didn’t seem like there would be any stopping her. Helpless, I watched as she started to drunkenly ramble.
“You’ve always had a bit of a tomboyish appearance, but you’ve only grown more handsome of late. And the way you smile is just downright cheating. Do you enjoy making a mess of my poor, poor heart?”
“Like you’re any better! You can be so careless with the way you dress sometimes! Do you have any idea how badly my heart races when I see the bare nape of your neck?!” Realizing I had to get on her level, I downed my drink and ordered another. The liquor wasn’t strong by any means, but I felt my inhibitions fade regardless. “And the way you smile is just downright cheating! I let my guard down because I expect one of your usual carefree smiles, but then you hit me with a real smile and send me reeling!”
“Oh, I’m carefree, am I? If I look that way, it’s only because I’m trying my hardest not to be a burden on you because you’re always trying to look out for me!”
“Hey now, don’t you think you two are gettin’ a little heated?” Gray interjected.
“Shush it, Gray,” I said. “I don’t need you to put up a brave front for me, Pepi. I’m your girlfriend! You should lean on me more, rather than pushing yourself. Or am I not dependable enough?!”
“You just don’t get it, Loretta! Not one bit! Can’t you see that if I start to depend on you I won’t be able to stop until I’ve spoiled myself rotten?!”
The other customers had noticed us shouting and were watching us like we were tonight’s entertainment. The two of us didn’t notice, being off in our own little world at this point.
“The girls sure are openly flirtin’, eh? You think maybe people are more accepting of this kind of thing now?”
“I dunno about that. Sure would be nice, though.”
“Why’s that? You want to do the same?”
“…Shut up.”
“Heh, that doesn’t sound like a no.”
Some conversation was being had in the peanut gallery, but their voices didn’t reach us.
“Grow some guts already, Loretta!” Pepi shouted.
“Oh yeah?! Guts to do what, then?!”
“Guts to, I dunno, marry me or something!”
“I’ve been ready to marry you from the moment I fell in love with you, you idiot!”
“Huh?”
“Uh…”
The onlookers began cheering all at once. How embarrassing. I’d said something stupid in my drunken stupor. But it was too late to take back my words. I downed the remaining mead in my cup and, with my face burning red, hugged Pepi.
“Once our lives have calmed down a bit, let’s get married, Pepi.”
“…Okay.”
The sight of her smiling at me, tears in her eyes, was the last thing I remembered from that night.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Ugh…”
“Heya. Finally awake?”
The place was silent when I woke up. The boisterous customers from earlier had cleared out, and the lights were all down except for the one by the counter. Gray and the innkeeper were still here, drinking together in the faint glow. To my side, Pepi slept peacefully with a blanket on her shoulders.
“…What happened?” I said groggily.
“You drank a bit too much. Don’t worry, your stuff’s all paid for.”
“…Sorry for the trouble.” My head felt heavy. I tried to pick up Pepi but found I lacked the balance.
“You’re not going anywhere like that,” the innkeeper said. “Stay the night. I’ll lend you a room on the second floor.”
“Oh, I really shouldn’t impose…”
“You sure about that?” Gray said. “It’s dangerous for you to head home as you are. All the more so for Pepi there.”
“…I suppose you’re right.”
“Here’s the key. The room will be the one at the end,” the innkeeper said.
“Thank you, innkeeper. And you too, Gray. Tonight was nice.”
“Glad to hear it. Have a good night now,” Gray said.
“Good night,” the innkeeper said.
“Good night.” I focused on my balance as I made my way upstairs, carrying Pepi in my arms. I was using magic to strengthen myself, but my drunkenness made my concentration sloppy. It took all I had to not drop her.
“I was worried where the kingdom might be headed from here, but looking at those two, I get the feelin’ we’ll be all right.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
I was too distracted to hear the conversation of the adults behind me, but the clink of their cups did reach my ears. The sound echoed through my mind—a sharp “La” on the music scale, the first for this new era.