Negai o Kanaete Moraou to Akuma o Shōkan Shitakedo, Kawaikattanode Kekkonshimashita ~ Akuma no Nīdzu

After their finger measurements were taken, the rings were adjusted and brought back to them in a box.

“Thank you very much for your purchase.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“T-thank you very much!”

Theo and Helvi left the store after paying.

“That was a very nice purchase.”

“Yes. I had no idea wearing a ring on the fourth finger had that kind of meaning.”

“I was also unfamiliar with that… But I did know about wedding rings.”

Helvi and Theo were married, but did not have much to show it.

But with these wedding rings, hopefully people would be able to see it without them having to explain.

“Oh? You knew about that, Helvi?”

“…Yes.”

“I would’ve bought them sooner if you told me.”

Helvi and Theo both wanted something that matched, but did not say it. That is why her heart jumped when she saw the employee bringing the ring.

But why did she keep quiet all this time?

“…Because it is too girly? Perhaps it is normal for girls to say they want a ring but… It feels strange to me…”

Said Helvi while slightly covering her face with her hand, hiding her embarrassment from Theo.

This struck a chord with Theo, who responded loudly.

“I-it’s not strange! You’re a cute girl! Very cute!”

“Wha…!?”

As Theo yelled in the middle of the street, Helvi’s face became even redder.

“C-cute? That is not a word that goes well with me…!”

“That’s not true! You’re the cutest in the world!”

“Ku, no Theo. I believe rather than cute, beautiful and cool…!”

“Then you’re the most beautiful, coolest, and cutest in the world!”

“Kuh…!”

Helvi was speechless as she heard Theo yell his feelings so directly.

She then realized they were standing in the middle of the street, and heard the voices around them.

Women around them let out high-pitched cheers, and some men looked on with interest. The others called Theo a show-off in their minds or by mumbling.

“L-let’s move, Theo.”

Helvi had no time to punish the latter, and instead grabbed Theo’s hand to leave as quickly as possible.

She wanted to teleport away, but worried that there were too many people watching.

Theo also realized how many people were watching, and followed Helvi with his face turning red and his head down.

After walking for a while, both let out a long sigh.

There were still people around them looking their way, but now it was simply due to Helvi’s beauty. The people that witnessed Theo’s confession were no longer around.

“I-I’m sorry Helvi, it’s my fault.”

“No, it started with me. Do not apologize.”

“Then let’s say we’re both to blame.”

“Fu, yes.”

Both looked at the other’s red face, and laughed.

“But I meant everything I said!”

“I-I know, you do not have to keep saying that.”

They continued talking as they made their way to the next store.

◇ ◇ ◇

“Did you see that woman?”

Said a certain noble, after snapping out of a trance caused by a woman he saw from the window of his carriage.

“No, I didn’t. Who cares?”

“Why not! She was so beautiful!”

“I don’t care. I’m not looking outside.”

The man thought back to the beautiful woman he saw, while being irritated at the two guards sitting in front of him.

“There’s no one like her in this world. I’ve never met a more beautiful woman.”

“Even more than us?”

“Your faces aren’t your selling points. Not that they’re ugly though.”

“What an honor, jerk.”

Although the two guards were hired by this man, they were not afraid to take an aggressive tone.

Still, the man was used to it, and continued.

“I’ll get that woman no matter what I have to do.”

“Forget the woman. Aren’t there any good men…”

“I want to look for a nice man too. Can we be excused?”

“Of course not, getting that woman comes first. You can do what you want later.”

The two guards then grinned.

“Thank you. But lately there haven’t been any nice men around here…”

“Yes. I wish the men here were better.”

If Helvi noticed them, she would have surely punished them, but since she had no time to think about this, they passed by unnoticed.

The bad luck that led her to miss them would later create a tragedy.