Dowry for Clara and Claire

I walk Celes to her room before saying goodbye and going back to my room. When I open the door of my room, I see Clara, Claire, and Carina already waiting for me in my room. They enjoy the leftover food from the banquet and have their selves a party in my room. Oh well, they really work hard today and their performance also, they deserved some reward too. The most leftover is dessert because our guest already has their stomach full after eating the main dishes. It's understandable because there were guests who take two kinds of main dishes and even people who take all three kinds of main dishes. As the result is their stomach can't hold anymore for the dessert when it comes.

It's fortunate that no one gets sick because overeating during the banquet and doctor Howard can enjoy the banquet as well because he had no patient to take care. Still, he's kind enough to leave some laxative medicine before going home.

My girls look happy when I finally show up

"Henryyyyy..."

They all call my name at the same time while getting up from their seat and run at me.

"Hello, girls…you are doing great at the banquet. I really proud of you all, do you feel the same?"

"Yes! It's my first time getting praise because my music plays" (Claire)

"People said my singing is great! I feel so excited!" (Carina)

"I never play music in front of so many people before…it's fun" (Clara)

Oh, they feel happy after their successful first performance. That's good because maybe next time I can ask them to do some performance again. Maybe they can perform in my sister wedding party at least.

"Oh that is wonderful, so if I ask you to perform again, you don't mind, right?"

"We're going to make a performance again, Henry? when and where?"

"Hahaha…not so fast, girls. At least, maybe at sister Eliza wedding party…is that okay with you, girls?"

"Noooo…we will gladly make a performance if it's for sister Eliza sake" (Claire)

"Mmm….i will sing with my best voice I can make" (Carina)

"I will try to play the music without any mistakes. I made some mistake when we perform in the banquet, and I won't repeat it" (Clara)

Ooohh… Isn't that good? They're already had something in their mind when they have next performance.

"You girls already worked hard and do a great performance, what kind of reward can I give to you?"

"Eehhh…reward? For us?"

"Yes, as long as I can give it according to my capability. Don't ask something like 'pick a star for me' will you? So, what do you want?"

"Mmm…should we ask it right now?"

"If you already have something in your mind, it's alright to ask it now"

"Can I ask it for later? I can't think something I want right now" (Clara)

"Me too, this is too sudden and I need time to think a good reward" (Claire)

"Carina is fine with anything brother Henry give to me" (Carina)

"Okay, come at with if you have something in your mind as the reward then"

"Thank you, Henry…but let's deal with you first. Aren't you tired after preparing the banquet since morning? You've been busy in the kitchen, going around checking everything, welcoming and greeting our guest…that must be tiring, right?"

It's Clara who noticed that I touched with her concern about my condition.

"Yes, but it's really worth. The banquet is successful right? Your practice for the performance is also fruitful. I'm satisfied with the result. With some soaking in hot water when taking a bath I guess my fatigue will be relieved. Ah right, Carina can you go to the kitchen and ask hot water for a bath?"

"Okay…I will go there immediately"

Without waiting for second order, Carina already goes to the kitchen to ask hot water for my bath. We who left in my room only can laugh watching her enthusiasm.

"My oh my, she's really in high spirit today, huh?"

"Yes, it's her first time gets so many praises from people. She used to be a shy kid, Henry"

"I know…it's good for her then"

"Yes…ah, it's about time for sister Celes to take bath too. Are we still needed to help her, Henry?"

"Oh yeah…it's also mean to make you get closer to each other, you know?"

"Okay…we take our leave then"

"Wait…before you leave, I want to give you something"

"What is that, Henry?"

"I take that first so you'll know by yourself"

I take two sanitary pads from the drawer in my table and take the pearls from my secret vault. I handed the sanitary pads first to Clara

"Henry…this is a sanitary pad, right?"

"Yes….I want you to ask Celes about her menstruation period. I'm sure her maid will prepare something if she will have it during her stay here but this sanitary pad is much, better right? Also, have her underwear modified by my sister so the sanitary pad can be used later. It's not something a man can casually speak to a woman, right? You're more suitable to ask such question to Celes. Also, teach her how to use this sanitary pad. If her periods still long to come, then just use these pads for your own usage."

"I understand, Henry. is there anything else?"

"Yes. I want both of you to receive this….."

I handed the small boxes with pearl to Clara and Claire.

"Henry….what is this?"

"Open it and see yourself, what inside that box"

Clara and Claire slowly open the small box in their hand.

"Henry…this…this…"

"Yes, that's a pearl. Although not in the same color with what I'd given to Celes, it's still pearl"

"For us? Really? Can we accept this?"

"Consider that my dowry for you…although it's still uncertain whether or not I can marry you all, I still want to give it to you as dowry. Even if we can't be married, just consider that as a memento from me"

Suddenly their expression becomes gloomy

"Henry…if sister Celes doesn't allow you to marry another girl, we can't stay beside you? Is that what you mean by memento?"

Ugh, I make a mistake!

"No no no…that's not what I mean, you're misunderstanding. I always want both of you beside me. But if I'm not allowed to marry another girl, I just think that you should find another guy who can make you happy. And if that happens, that pearl will be a memento from, prove of the love we ever had. I never thought to cast you away, I mean it"

"Really? We still can be at your side? Henry…you're the source of our happiness. We don't need another man to make us happy. Just by your side is make us happy"

"Clara...Claire…I also happy when hear you say that. But there would be a bad time also when you stay by my side. Not all the time we had always a good time"

"We know Henry…whether in good or bad, we will stay by your side"

I give them hug and kiss before let them go to do their duties. I also change my clothes into casual clothes before leave my room and heading to the kitchen. I also must thank to our cooks because they already working hard to make the banquet successful.