Chapter 189: Sorry, I Couldn’t Help Myself Just Now
By the time the plane landed, the Kanto region was basking in the best of the afternoon sunlight.
Elesa descended the boarding stairs, with Skyla following behind her, carrying a bag in one hand while using the other to shield her eyes from the sun.
The estate was larger than Elesa had imagined.
It wasn’t some gaudy mansion dripping with gold and extravagance, but rather a collection of traditional Japanese-style buildings nestled along the edge of the forest.
The maple trees in the courtyard had only just begun taking on their first hints of autumn red, while faint wisps of steam drifted from the hot-spring pool.
"This place is nice."
Skyla looked around.
"Quiet, private, and perfect for resting during pregnancy."
Elesa elbowed her in the side.
Skyla laughingly dodged away.
Three people stood beneath the veranda by the main entrance.
Asher was in the middle, with Misty and Cynthia standing on either side of him.
The instant Elesa saw Asher, her steps faltered.
She had spent the entire flight thinking about what her first words should be when she saw him.
But now that he was actually standing in front of her—
What she said no longer seemed important.
Elesa quickened her pace.
She crossed the distance in a few long strides, hurried up the veranda steps, grabbed Asher by the collar, and pulled him down slightly.
Then she rose onto her toes—
And pressed her lips directly against his.
Asher froze for less than a second before placing one hand behind Elesa’s head and pulling her more firmly into his embrace.
Three meters away, Skyla stood holding Elesa’s bag in her arms, her mouth forming a perfect O.
Misty and Cynthia exchanged a glance.
Then both calmly turned back and continued watching.
Several dozen seconds passed before Elesa finally pulled away from Asher.
Only then did she notice Misty and Cynthia standing beside them.
Misty had her arms folded, an unreadable little smile at the corner of her mouth.
Cynthia looked perfectly composed, though the tips of her ears were faintly red.
Looking at the two of them, Elesa suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
It was true that this had been the thing she most wanted to do after receiving those memories—
But now that she had calmed down and thought about it...
Perhaps she had been a little too eager.
Elesa tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Sorry. I couldn’t help myself just now."
"It’s fine."
Misty remained completely calm.
"Cynthia was more or less the same when she arrived. I’m used to it by now."
"I was not that dramatic," Cynthia said seriously.
"All right, either way, it looks like we’ll be setting another place at the table from now on."
Misty shrugged before waving toward Skyla outside the veranda.
"Miss Skyla, come inside and have a seat."
Once Misty invited her in, Skyla didn’t stand on ceremony.
Still carrying Elesa’s bag, she hurried into the estate.
"Sorry for intruding—whoa."
Skyla stopped in the entryway.
Her gaze passed through the corridor ahead and landed directly on the maple tree in the courtyard and the steaming hot-spring pool beyond it.
"Is this house for real? Elesa and I have stayed at several places that called themselves top-class hot-spring hotels, but even their courtyards weren’t laid out this beautifully."
"Steven found the property. Misty and Cynthia designed the renovations together."
Asher approached from behind and casually took the bag from Skyla.
"If you like it, I can ask Steven to find you one too."
"Th-that won’t be necessary."
Skyla hurriedly waved both hands.
"I haven’t done anything to deserve a gift like that."
She changed into the guest slippers prepared by the entrance and walked into the living room.
Skyla looked around.
The floor-to-ceiling windows faced the hot-spring pool in the courtyard. Several landscape oil paintings hung on the walls, while a plate of freshly cut fruit and a dish of cookies sat on the coffee table.
"You guys live way too comfortably."
Skyla grabbed a cookie and popped it into her mouth.
"You’re making me want to move in too."
"Sure."
Misty leaned back against the sofa.
"We have plenty of spare rooms."
Skyla nearly choked on her cookie.
"Cough—cough, cough! I was just saying that!"
"And I was just answering."
Misty lifted her teacup and took a sip.
"You don’t have to be so reserved."
"It’s not that I’m being reserved."
Skyla swallowed the cookie.
"I just think... your family situation is already complicated enough. What would it even mean if I got mixed up in it too?"
"No one’s asking you to marry into the family."
Misty set down her teacup.
"Stay for a few days whenever you want, or just become the friend who regularly comes over for free meals. Either is fine."
Skyla crossed both arms in front of her chest to form an X.
"No way. If I actually lived here, I’d be stuffed to death from watching you people act lovey-dovey every single day."
Just then, Cynthia returned with Elesa.
Misty looked over.
"Finished seeing your room? How is it?"
"It’s wonderful."
Elesa sat beside Skyla.
"Cynthia already helped me unpack everything."
Cynthia sat beside Misty as well.
"I’ll clear some space on the bookshelf for you later. You can arrange anything you want to put there however you like."
Elesa hadn’t even had time to thank her when Asher’s voice came from the dining room.
"Food’s ready. Come eat."
Everyone took their seats one after another.
Seven or eight dishes covered the dining table, while the clay pot in the center continued bubbling away with steam rising from its lid.
Skyla’s chopsticks barely stopped moving the entire meal.
Even while eating, she kept mumbling praise for how good everything tasted.
Misty and Cynthia ate as naturally as ever.
Only Elesa would occasionally turn her head to glance at Asher.
Asher, meanwhile, remained completely composed throughout the meal, occasionally placing food into the bowls of his three wives.
After dinner, Skyla stood and stretched.
"It’s getting late, so I should head out."
She walked to the entrance, changed her shoes, then turned and waved toward Elesa.
"Elesa, come here for a second."
Elesa walked over.
Skyla leaned toward her ear and lowered her voice.
"Do your best. Try to make Miori the eldest sister."
The tips of Elesa’s ears visibly turned red.
She slapped Skyla lightly on the shoulder.
"Just go already."
"Okay, okay! I’m leaving, I’m leaving."
Skyla laughed as she pushed open the front door, then waved toward everyone else in the living room.
"Thanks for having me! See you next time~!"
The door closed.
Skyla’s footsteps gradually faded beyond the courtyard.
Elesa remained standing in the entryway and touched one of her burning ears.
"What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Misty poked her head out from a nearby room.
"I’m fine."
Elesa hurriedly waved her hands.
"Skyla just told me to... take my time getting used to everything."
Cynthia poured her a glass of warm water and handed it over.
"Mm. If you aren’t ready for everyone to stay together yet, you can sleep in a separate room for now. All the rooms here are already prepared."
"Well..."
Elesa accepted the glass and took a sip.
Then she looked toward Asher.
He was leaning back against the sofa, watching her with that lazy smile she knew all too well.
"...That won’t be necessary."
Elesa’s face turned red.
"I can handle it."