第８７１堀：私が来た！！ (Part2)
I don’t want to admit it, but Highren definitely isn’t a bad girl...
Still, I wonder if she noticed that we were looking at her with such skeptical eyes.
"I’m not following her with blind faith, you know," Enora said, switching into her professional work mode. "I’m doing this because I believe what’s being done for the children is a good thing. Now, you have business with me, don’t you? This way, Yuki-sama."
At this point, her feelings were incredibly easy to read.
The distinction between "Yuki" and "Yuki-sama" alone was enough. If this were a strictly professional relationship with nothing else between them, she would have stuck to "Yuki-sama" from the start.
I suppose it’s similar to a "just friends" vibe, but maybe this is the kind of nuance only a woman can pick up on?
While I was lost in thought, we were led into the church’s reception room.
"So, what is your business today?" Enora asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "I believe the New Continent Conference was held in Haiden just the other day. Has there been some new development? If so, I would expect to hear from the Archbishop first."
She had a point. If it were official business, the word should have come down from her superior, the Archbishop. Enora was, after all, just one high-ranking official within the Hairen Church.
However, the Archbishop was a bit of a mischief-maker.
*‘Yuki-sama, I am terribly sorry to use you as a messenger, but please deliver this letter to Enora. I believe it would be better coming from you than as a direct order from me.’*
For her age, the Archbishop was surprisingly playful. I suppose a woman is always a maiden at heart.
Now, all Yuki had to do was hand over that letter...
"Ah, well, you’ll understand once you read this," Yuki said.
"A letter? Sent specially? And why through Yuki-sama?"
Looking utterly baffled by the mysterious situation, Enora took the letter. But the moment she scanned the contents, her face turned bright red.
Yep. Confirmed.
"Wh-wh-wha—?!"
"Uh, look, if you don’t like the idea, you can turn it down, okay?" Yuki added.
*Oh, no, Yuki!* Enora isn't the honest type. If you say something like that now...
"Y-yes, you’re right! I have the right to choo—"
That said, if she couldn't be honest with herself here, she would just keep causing Yuki trouble down the line. If she was the kind of woman who couldn't seize this chance herself, then that was that.
I decided to stay quiet and listen to how she’d finish her sentence, but...
"Wait a minuteeeee!"
"Hold it right there~."
For some reason, the voices of two goddesses rained down from directly above Enora. Specifically, Highren and Lilishe-sama.
"Eh?" Enora gasped.
"Enora! I know how you are, but you absolutely cannot say that right now!" Highren scolded.
"That’s right~. You have to choose the right time and place for your pride~," Lilishe added.
As they spoke, Highren and Lilishe glanced toward me. As expected of the Goddess of Love—she had sensed exactly what I was thinking.
*Now, Enora. You’ve been saved by the goddesses' intuition, but what will you do?*
I watched her silently, putting all my expectations into my gaze. Enora seemed to notice my stare. She looked back at me firmly for a moment, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Phew. Highren-sama, Lilishe-sama, thank you. Thanks to you, I’ve regained my composure. I’ll take it from here, so please watch."
When she opened her eyes, her expression was one of absolute seriousness.
"Yes! That’s a good look! Do your best!"
"Mm-hmm, go for it~."
With the goddesses cheering her on, Enora turned back to Yuki.
"Yuki-sama. No... Yuki. Listen to me."
"Ah, okay."
"I want to marry you. I want to be one of the people who supports you. I’m unreliable and I’m not very honest, but... please... make me your wife."
She said it. She actually said it.
If she could be that straightforward, then she passed in my book.
Now it was up to Yuki, but he wasn't the kind of man to run away after being told something so clearly.
"I understand. I’ll be in your care from now on, Enora."
"Yes! Yes... *sniff*... Oh, thank goodness."
And so, the talk with Enora concluded successfully. I was just thinking that all we had left were Kagura and Mikos, when...
"This is big news!! I have to go tell Kagura and the others right away!!"
"Eh? Wait, Highren-chan!?"
Highren dashed off at full speed, with Lilishe-sama frantically chasing after her.
*This is bad! That idiot goddess!*
If Kagura heard that Enora was getting married to Yuki like this...
I could see it now: a mental image of Kagura hanging from a rafter, swaying gloomily.
"This is bad! Yuki, don't worry about me, just go to Kagura!"
Enora must have had the same dark premonition. She scrambled away from Yuki and shouted at him to move.
"Huh? Why...?"
"Just go! Kagura’s going to die! Milly-san!"
"I’m on it! Taiki-san, emergency contact to everyone!"
"Understood!"
And so, we all scrambled into action.
Please, let us be in time!
Her name is Highren, the Goddess of Love! She does nothing but cause unnecessary trouble!
Will Kagura survive?!
At the very least, Enora’s love had finally reached its fruition.