One Step Closer

"So.... Why are you late?"

"Ooh, come on."

I knew this was gonna happen.

Just as I walked into the house after I said "I'm home.", Melissa in her maid outfit immediately met me at the front door and gave me a sharp look while putting both hands on her waist.

"...."

She was still looking at me intently.

"Sorry, okay? Here, I bought you some ice cream."

Looking at the ice cream in my hand, I could see Melissa's eyebrows twitching.

Damn, it looks like I'm making her even more angry.

"...."

"...."

*Sigh*

Seeing me silent, Melissa held her forehead with one hand while sighing. She then took the ice cream in my hand and said.

"Forget it, let's hurry in, I'll heat up your dinner."

The ice cream worked?

Whatever, I don't care. At least she's not mad anymore.

Ah! Wait a minute.

"Melissa."

Before Melissa walked into the living room, I called out to her.

Hearing my call Melissa turned around and asked me with a confused expression mixed with annoyance.

"What?"

I walked closer to her and took out the ring box that had her ring in it.

"This."

"What's this?"

Melissa asked me with a confused face.

"A ring."

"Ring?" Melissa's face became even more confused.

"Yep, our wedding rings."

"Huh? "Her face quickly changed from confusion to surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Like I said, our wedding rings."

"I already have one, here!"

She said that while showing our wedding rings on her right hand.

She's actually wearing it now, huh. Does that mean she always wears it? I thought she only wears it when she went out.

"Well, I know about that. It's just that your ring looks ordinary compared to my and Alicia's, so I made you a new one."

"Why? You don't have to do that, I don't mind wearing the old one."

"Just wear the new one."

" I don't need it, take it, I'll just wear the old one."

Melissa tried to return the ring, but I didn't take it.

"I told you to wear it."

"And I told you I don't need it."

Even though I tried to convince her, Melissa still tried to give it back. This girl was stubborn as always.

I decided to change my tone of voice to a slightly pushy one.

"Just take it, okay? Or I'll put it on for you, or... "

I grinned and said.

"Maybe that's what you want?"

Hearing my words, Melissa made a startled expression and just looked at me with a flushed face, she then bit her lip and shouted.

"Fine, whatever you want!"

She then immediately turned around and walked upstairs to her room.

I could see her flushed ears and swinging hair as she climbed the stairs like a sulking child.

That's cute.

I then followed her up to my room to put away the pilot suitcase and change my clothes before going downstairs to the dining room.

When I arrived at the dining room, Melissa was already there and preparing my dinner. Looks like she had just finished heating up the food.

I sat down, and for some reason after Melissa prepared my dinner she also sat on the chair in front of me.

"Do you also want to eat?"

"No, I'm just waiting for you to finish so I can wash the dishes right after you're done."

Melissa said that while turning on the TV in the dining room, I just answered her with "Ooh" then ate my dinner.

In the middle of eating my dinner, being curious about Alicia's condition, I decided to ask.

"Melissa?"

Hearing my call, Melissa turned her gaze from the TV to me while tilting her head.

"Hmm?"

"Where's Alicia?"

"Still in her room."

"Did she eat dinner?"

"Yes, I just washed her dishes."

Did she still think about her father?

"Melissa, does Alicia always get like that after she visits her father's grave?"

"She does, she usually gets better by the next day. Have you never gone together with Lady Alicia?"

"No, I only went once, and that was a long time ago."

I only went out with her once, and even then it was about 15 years ago, I was a kid so I don't remember much about it.

Well, I'll visit her later, I still have to give her the ring after all.

"Luna?"

"She's in the family room reading a novel or something."

"Again? Does that girl just do that all the time?"

"What do you mean? Ever since she's been living here she's been helping Lady Alicia with her files, you know?"

Melissa said that to me while frowning.

Hearing that, I was quite surprised.

"Really?"

" Yeah, I thought you already knew."

"No, how did I know."

Hearing my words, Melissa just shook her head and went back to watching TV.

So she's been doing that all this time, huh. Well, I wasn't surprised that she could do something like that though, no wonder Melissa and Alicia didn't seem bothered when that girl was relaxing in the family room.

After that, I finished my dinner quickly, and let Melissa clear the table.

However, before she took the dirty dishes to the kitchen, I decided to ask for something.

"Melissa."

"Yes?"

Melissa turned around and looked at me.

"Can you make me some coffee?"

"Sure."

Melissa just said that and walked back to the kitchen.

She's been more obedient lately, and it makes me want to tease her.

"Melissa."

"Hmm?"

Melissa answered me while washing the dishes.

"Can you give me a massage later?"

Hearing my words, Melissa paused for a moment before nodding.

"Just wait until your coffee is done."

Eh.... I thought I would have to tease her a few times until she would say yes, I didn't expect her to accept it right away.

But well, since my shoulders are quite sore after the fight earlier, I do need a massage right now, I'll just tease her later then.

"Then I'll wait for you in the family room, okay?"

"Okay."

I then left Melissa who was still washing dishes and went to the family room.

Just as I entered the family room, I immediately heard Luna laughing. I looked in her direction, and just as Melissa had said, Luna was lying on the sofa reading a novel while giggling.

She was wearing a yellow t-shirt and dark blue short shorts.

I decided to walk up to her from behind her and pick up the novel she was reading. Feeling the novel in her hand slip away, Luna immediately turned around and looked at me.

"Aaah.... Hiro!"

I then flipped the cover of the book and saw the title.

"Really, Luna? 'My weding life with my lustful wife'?"

"Give it back to me!"

Luna tried to snatch the novel back from me, but due to our height difference, she could only cling to my chest.

"You know it's an adult novel, right?"

"So what, I'm already 20!"

Luna said that while stomping her foot and puffing out her cheeks in anger.

She was right, because of her appearance I sometimes forgot that she was my age.

I then gave her the novel back and she accepted it while letting out an "Hmph" before lying back down on the sofa.

As I sat on the sofa next to her, I said.

"Your taste is like that huh, you dirty girl."

Hearing my words, Luna snorted and said.

"Hmph! You're the same, I'm sure you read stuff like this a lot as well, aren't you?"

She didn't deny it.

"That's normal for me, alright? I'm a guy."

"Bleh..."

Luna sticks her tongue out then turns her back to me and goes back to reading her novel.

I could only smile and shake my head at her actions.

I then decided to turn on the TV and wait for Melissa to come.

Not long after, Melissa came with my coffee. She placed it on the table in front of me and said.

"Where do you need a massage?"

"My shoulders, please."

Melissa then walked behind me, and I could immediately feel her little fingers on my shoulders.

Ooh, she's really good at this.

"How was it?"

"Very good, do you often do this to Alicia?"

"I do, sometimes I also have to give Lady Julia a massage."

"Hee.... No wonder you're so good at it."

Melissa's massage is so good, I think I'm gonna get addicted to it.

If I'm not mistaken I wanted to do something earlier, but what was it? Oh, right.

"As expected of my wife, I hope you do this more often in the future."

Although I couldn't see Melissa's expression right now, but I was sure that she was blushing.

"Hmm? Melissa?"

I suddenly felt Melissa's hands stop massaging, I then decided to turn around to see her expression.

And well, it looks like she's about to blow up.

"Wh-What are you saying!? Is there something wrong with your brain!? You idiot! What were you thinking suddenly saying strange things like that!?"

She said all that in one breath.

Ah, my goodness. I didn't expect her reaction to be this intense, even though I only said simple words.

However, even though Melissa looked angry, I already knew that it was just her way of hiding her embarrassment. Unlike before, where I could feel the hatred from Melissa's anger, now I didn't feel that at all.

Since Melissa still looked like she wanted to explode, I tried to calm her down.

"Calm down, okay? Take a deep breath."

Hearing me say that, Melissa took a few deep breaths before finally calming down.

After she calmed down, she just glared at me before saying.

"I'm not your wife, okay? I'm just a mistress."

She said that in a quiet tone to me.

"What difference does it make? It's just on paper, I'll change it later. To me, you're still my wife."

Hearing my words, Melissa paused for a moment, then simply said " Shut up." before continuing to massage me quietly.

Well, I was satisfied with her reaction. That said, now I'm also sure that Melissa won't reject me. Honestly, I can't wait to see her reaction when I actually propose to her.

Just imagining it makes me smile.

By the way, even though we made a fuss earlier, Luna was still focused on reading her novel while occasionally chuckling. I wonder what she was laughing at in that novel.

*******

Since it was late at night, we all headed to our own rooms to sleep. However, before going to my room, I decided to check on Alicia's condition.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Alicia are you in there? I want to talk to you about something."

There was no answer.

*Knock* *Knock*

"Alicia?"

After knocking on the door many times and hearing no answer, out of concern, I decided to enter.

*Click*

Luckily, the door was unlocked.

I then opened the door and entered Alicia's room, I looked at her bed and desk, but I couldn't find her.

When I felt the wind blowing, I realized that the door to the veranda in Alicia's room was open.

I then went to the veranda, and just as I had expected, Alicia was there, standing in front of the veranda railing and placing both hands on it.

She was wearing a white night gown that was quite sheer, and because of the bright moonlight, I'm sure I could see her panties if I looked a little longer.

No, wait. I'm not here for that.

I quickly shook my head to get that dirty thought out of my head, before walking towards Alicia.

Since she hadn't noticed me after I got close enough to her, I decided to speak up so I wouldn't startle her.

"What are you doing?"

Hearing me, Alicia turned around slowly and looked at me with a flat expression. I could see that her eyes were still red, like she had just finished crying.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to get some fresh air."

She just said that then turned around and looked at the ocean.

I then walked next to her and leaned my back on the veranda railing.

"How long have you been here?"

"A few minutes ago."

She said that while putting her bangs back behind her ears.

"You're going to catch a cold, you know?"

"I know, you don't have to worry, I'll get in soon."

Alicia said that in a tone that sounded as if she was telling me to leave.

The whole time we were talking, she didn't look at me at all and just stared at the ocean in front of her.

She really love her father, huh.

If I recall, I did see an article from my past life about Alicia being a child who was very spoiled by her father. Also, as I recall, Alicia was more cheerful when her father was alive.

"Go back first, I'll come in later."

In the midst of thinking about all that, Alicia urged me to go outside. Seems like she really wanted to be alone, if this was something normal, I would leave her alone.

But... This time I wanted to say something important.

Now might not be the best time to say it, but I was getting more and more impatient every day.

So I decided to say it.

"Alicia, look at me."

Perhaps because she heard the seriousness in my voice, Alicia turned around and looked at me with a calm expression.

"What's wrong?"

"About our marriage, back then we agreed to divorce if one of us found someone we loved, right?"

"Yes, so what?"

Alicia's face looked confused, she looked like she wanted to ask "Why are you suddenly bringing this up?"

I then held both of her hands, she flinched slightly perhaps in surprise, but she didn't reject it.

The moment I touched her hands, I immediately felt the warmth of her small hands and soft skin.

After that, I looked straight into Alicia's eyes and said.

"I don't want our marriage relationship to end."

"Eh?"

"Alicia, will you be my wife?"

"Eh?"

Hearing my words, Alicia's calm expression was immediately replaced with a shocked expression. Her face then slowly began to turn red up to her ears, she then said tremblingly.

"....Y-You mean it?"

" Yeah, I meant it."

"You're not saying that just to make me feel better, are you?"

"Of course not, I meant it."

"....."

Alicia fell silent.

"Alicia? Are you okay?"

Since she was silent for quite a while and her face was getting redder, I asked that worriedly.

"What do you mean okay!? How am I okay if you say things like that!? Do you understand what you just said!? I'm so confused, you know! I have absolutely no idea what to do!"

Alicia said all that in one breath, to be honest, I've never seen Alicia this panicked.

Alicia then closed her eyes and breathed in and out repeatedly to calm herself down.

I could only smile wryly and wait for her to calm down.

After she managed to calm down, Alicia then looked at me with a flushed face and said quietly.

"...I-I... don't know what to do, It-It's not that I want to reject you, but... I'm not ready for...."

"Ready for what?"

"Come on, you already know, right?"

Actually I already know, but I'm going to pretend I don't because I like seeing her reaction.

"I don't know."

Hearing my words, Alicia bit her lip and said.

"That's... what husbands and wives do, when they.... get married...."

Alicia's voice grew weaker and weaker as she said that until I couldn't hear her last words.

"What?"

As I said that, Alicia glared at me angrily, and I finally decided to give in.

"Okay, okay. I got it."

Hearing my words, Alicia took a deep breath before looking at me with a serious expression and saying.

"So, I want us to.... take it slowly."

"In other words, you accept it, right?"

Hearing that, Alicia blushed and then turned her gaze to me before she nodded slowly.

"Un..."

Seeing that, I involuntarily smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.

*Fiuh*

Man, thank God. I thought she was going to reject it.

I then removed my hand from hers and took out the ring box that was in my pocket.

"Alicia, give me your right hand."

"Aah..."

Although she looked a little surprised to see the ring, Alicia already understood what I was going to do and gave me her right hand.

I then took out our old wedding rings, and slid the new ones onto her ring finger slowly.

"Okay, it's done."

After I finished, Alicia withdrew her right hand and looked at the ring, stroking it before saying.

"It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Un..."

Alicia nodded and smiled.

She then looked back at me and said.

"Hiro."

"Yes?"

"You love me?"

"Yeah, I love you, Alicia."

Hearing my words, Alicia immediately smiled beautifully.

And it was the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen from her.

If our relationship before was a friend, then now we've started dating.