"That"s not the case"

I tightly gripped the sleeve of Freed"s clothes. Looking into the blue eyes I love, I told him.

"Freed, you"re always cool. I know. Even though it"s painful, you try to properly confront what you don"t want to see. I think that"s extremely cool, and I like that kind of Freed."
"Lidi… Thank you."

In response my arm was pulled, and I was tightly hugged.
I wrapped my arms around his back to respond to it.
Freed said quietly.

"Lidi, even though you are so kindly praising me, after all it"s hard to suddenly turn around. I understand in my head, but my emotions are quite…"
"I think that"s fine. Emotions aren"t something that can be controlled so easily."
"Yeah, you"re right."

Yup, I told him brightly in agreement.

"Freed, you"ll surely be alright. But, rely on me when it"s painful. Freed, I"m always only protected by you, so I want to be your strength once in a while."

I"m always saved. I want to be helpful once in a while.
However, Freed only smiled.

"Lidi, you"re always my strength."
"Truly…?"
"Yup."

I"m happy he nodded, but I don"t quite have memories of that. While I was racking my brain, Freed slightly decreased the strength in his arms hugging me and peered into my face.

"Lidi, you just need to stay by my side. With just that I can do anything. I love you, Lidi."

Freed showed a captivating smile. I could vaguely tell my cheeks turned red.

"Cute, Lidi."

With gentle movements Freed kissed my forehead and cheeks. Smooch, smooch, the touch of his lips felt good. I smiled in response to it.

"Nh… Fufu. It"s ticklish."
"I really like you, I love you."
"Me too."

I heard a sound of light impact.
Only then I noticed I was pushed down on the sofa. My lips were blocked, and a tongue crept into my mouth.
When Freed reached out his hand to roll up my dress, I hurriedly caught it.

"Ah, Freed… You can"t…"

When I stopped him, Freed looked at me curiously.

"Why, Lidi? You"re so cute I want to love you more."

Saying that, he touched my breast with experienced movements.

"Hyah… We, we are still not done talking… Please, wait a big longer…! Wait."

I could feel being caressed even through my clothes.
Still, I desperately appealed.
I"m happy to be loved. But, I haven"t talked about what"s important yet.
When I pleadingly looked up at Freed, his hand separated, and he regrettably raised his body. While feeling relieved, I also got up.
I regained my breath.

"Jeez, jeeez… I must constantly be on my guard…"

Freed giggled.

"Hmm, isn"t that just how much I love you, Lidi."
"… I, I won"t be deceived."
"Ah, you turned red again. You really are cute. But, it wasn"t a lie."

It"s obvious I"m happy with how my face turned red.
However, why am I so easy to understand?
Despite feeling crestfallen, I managed to fix my appearance. Then I again turned to Freed and said.

"Listen, Freed. I have a request."

He must"ve guessed from my serious face that it"s a serious talk. In a quiet voice, Freed asked back.

"… Is it related to the story of Father and Mother from before?"

Yup, I nodded.

"if there"s something I can do, I want to do it. I understand it"s an extravagance and a pipe dream, but I want everybody to be happy. Because, I don"t want to be the only one happy."

Listening to my words, Freed petrified for an instant, but the next moment he showed a bewitched smile.

"Lidi… Yup, got it. What do you want me to do?"
"Is it fine!?"

While astonished by the easily returned answer, I looked into Freed"s eyes.
Freed once again said "It"s fine" and hugged me.

"It"s not unrelated to me either. Besides, I think it"s preferable if the result turns out to be as you say, Lidi."
"Freed…"

When I fixed my gaze at him, Freed said while stroking my hair.

"I"m also happy now."
"Yup…"

I felt happy to be implicitly told that it"s because he"s with me.
I spontaneously smiled.

"Thank you. Then Freed, there are two things I want to request."
"Ask me anything, Lidi. I will fulfill any of your requests."
"Then."

I informed my reliable lover, who accepted with a smile, of my requests.
Freed listened to my story and nodded once that he accepts.
Then he directed a sweet look at me.

"Fufu, I said it, right?"
"Huh?"

I don"t know what he"s talking about. While I was looking at him in puzzlement, Freed narrowed his eyes and made a face that showed how hopelessly in love he was. My cheek was smoothly stroked by his large palm.

"Have you already forgotten what I said some time ago? I said that I"m weak to Lidi, right? You didn"t seem to believe me much though, Lidi."
"Ugh…"

Certainly, he told me that. However, I thought I was weaker than him.
But it"s hard to deny after he readily agreed to fulfill my requests like this.

"Er, err."

My gaze wandered about as I glossed over it.
Freed put strength into his hug.
His embrace was strong enough to hurt, but I didn"t find it painful. I only felt happy.
Freed complained.

"… If you just said you want jewelry or dresses, it"d be simple. Usually you don"t plead for anything, and yet you only ask for something like this… But in a sense, it"s just like you, Lidi."

I can only say that I"m sorry.
Because, I truly don"t need jewelry or dresses. As long as I have Freed, I"m fine.

"… Sorry. But, thank you for cooperating."

When I unintentionally apologized, Freed shook his head to deny.

"Don"t apologize. Lidi, you"re trying to act for mine and my parents" sake, right? It"s me who should thank you. By all rights as their son I should act. But, I didn"t try observing them. Lidi, after hearing your story, I regret it now."

Freed looked slightly down. I patted his back to comfort him.

"… I"m not unrelated. They will become my in-laws. It"s normal to want them to be happy, right?"

When I clearly stated my will, Freed said "Yup" with a gentle smile.
And deeply moved, he said.

"At times like this, I strongly feel that Lidi is my mate after all… I don"t know any existence as lovely as you. I"m glad you"re my mate, Lidi…"

This time Freed lifted me in his arms.
He dropped a light kiss on my lips. I immediately became spellbound by the gentle touch of his lips.

"Lidi, you"re so dear to me I don"t know what to do. Is the talk finished? Can I love you now, Lidi?"
"Yup."

Implicitly told that he wants to embrace me, I returned an affirmation and tightly clung to Freed"s neck.
When I fixed my eyes at Freed"s face, he smiled happily. That alone made me heart throb.
While being carried to the bedroom, from the bottom of my heart I thought that I"m truly glad that Freed is my marriage partner.

Editor: Valeria