Valentine's Day special!
Happy Valentine's Day guys!
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Wriothesley's POV
"Hey, Neuv. Are you very busy today?" I asked somewhat hopefully.
The fact that today was Valentine's Day had completely slipped my mind. I only realized when I overheard some inmates talking about it.
I've been up all night trying to think about how I can get Neuvillette out of his office at least a bit earlier.
But as it turns out-
"Unfortunately I'm swamped with work. I was just about to apologize because I might have to miss dinner again." Neuvillette said sadly.
Ugh...
"Don't apologize, love. It's not your fault that the people of Fontaine have collectively decided to cause trouble for you." I sighed.
Surprisingly enough he let out a small chuckle in return and-
"Ne-Neuvillette?"
I couldn't help but stutter as I found myself embraced from behind, Neuvillette's head resting on my shoulder.
"If you want me to take a day off just say so, my love. I too would love to spend time with you It's just a bit hard to break a 500-year-old habit on my own. On the other hand, if my precious mate were to ask for my time..."
He didn't finish the sentence but the implication was there.
And thus I found a bit of hope.
"So today-"
"Just not today, my dear. I truly have too much I cannot drop at a moment's notice today."
Now.
After something like that reasoning, the reasonable thing would have been to say that it's okay and we'll go out sometime soon.
But I...
Why would I be reasonable?
As such I decided to use my secret weapon.
I turned my head slightly and...
"Come now, my lovely Wrio. Don't pout. Even if you act all cute and pitiful I can't simply put off 6 trials."
That many?
Seriously?
Iudex or not, that's a bit too much for a day, isn't it?
Neuvillette's hand brushed through my hair apologetically and I leaned into the touch.
There was a moment of silence before he spoke again.
"But... If you wished to, you could accompany me through the day. Would that be something you enjoyed?"
Huh?
HUH?!
"Really?!" I turned around excitedly.
Neuvillette doesn't usually let me tag along with him all day even if I have nothing to do.
No need for me to hear a bunch of nonsense, he says.
I've told him countless times that I'm not that sensitive and I know better than to interrupt a trial, but he remained firm.
And now...
Now he is extending an invitation?!
"I take it you want to come along then." He chuckled.
"Of course I do!"
It's not exactly a date, but it's still spending time with my precious little dragon. Why would I not want to go?
"I will have to warn you that it will most likely bore you. There is not much more for you to do aside from sitting around in my office or the Opera Epiclese."
"That's fine!" I grinned.
And...
If it were to get boring...
I can always change that, no?
It would only be fair if the Iudex were to take a break or two here and there during the day.
As such, my wonderful day with my husband began!
On second thought, it was my suspicious day with my husband that began.
Firstly, Neuvillette teleported us close to Palais Mermonis instead of just walking.
It's one thing when he's alone, but when it's the two of us, we usually take a walk and enjoy our time together especially since not many people are out so early so we can walk around without having to worry about a fan club.
Secondly, the sky was clouded over with could so dark you would think all hell would break loose with the slightest disturbance.
"Neuv dear. Is everything all right?"
Was he in a bad mood?
Should I not have come along, perhaps?
He turned to me, looking somewhat confused.
"I'm completely fine. Did I perhaps do something to make you think otherwise?"
I just raised an eyebrow and pointed to the sky without another word.
He looked up only to turn back to me with a chuckle.
"Wrio you are aware that not all of Fontaine's weather is influenced by my mood, right?"
Uhm...
So...
Well...
"I didn't know."
I thought it all depended on Neuvillette's mood.
But then again, Fontaine has a rainy season every year. I doubt Neuvillette can be that depressed for so long yearly. Furina would have done something about it hundreds of years ago.
And so with some embarrassment from me and another low chuckle from Neuvillette. the matter was dropped and we entered Palais Mermonio.
Even after some time had passed after our wedding, people's reaction is still weird to me.
Especially the Palais' staff.
These guys are...
A different kind of Neuvillette fan club.
No.
Rather than a fan club, these guys worship Neuvillette like he is some God of Paperwork.
And every time I come around they are all smiles when they look at me.
At first, it honestly creeped me out, but Sedene kindly shared that they are just very happy to see me cause after each and every one of my visits Neuvillette gets all happy and energetic and somehow ends up doing work that would otherwise have been pushed back indefinitely because it is low priority.
Now too their faces all but slip in two with how widely they were grinning.
I couldn't help but shift my position slightly so that Neuvillette's figure was blocking mine.
Archons!
I would rather deal with all of Meropide than these guys!
Neuvillette is truly a wonder for being able to work with them.
Fortunately, we were able to get into Neuvillette's office rather quickly when Sedene came to the rescue, cutting through the genstionnaires to push a pile of papers into Neuvillette's hands before pushing both of us into his office and shutting the door.
I plopped down on the couch while Neuvillette took a seat behind his desk.
And now.
Now I can start one of my favorite activities.
Admiring my husband!
Neuvillette said I would get bored.
Bored?
What bored?
Who would get bored when they are given the chance to spend a whole day staring at the most beautiful, most gorgeous, most precious, most lovely creature in all of Teyvat and the worlds beyond?
I sure as well won't.
And if somehow, by some weird twist of fate, I do end up getting bored, I can always go and steal a kiss or two to ease my boredom.
But...
There is just one thing bothering me.
"Neuvillette dearest." I called out.
"Yes?"
"Why the change of heart? Don't misunderstand, spending the day with you is absolutely amazing, but I can't help but be curious. After all, you were so adamant against it till today."
His hand still writing stilled and the next second I saw a clear blush run up his neck.
He awkwardly cleared his throat before looking at me.
"It is an embarrassing matter." He said.
In other words, I don't want to die of embarrassment so please drop it.
Nope.
I want to know.
Now I'm even more interested.
"Come now, Neuv. Tell me?" I insisted.
He looked away as his blush deepened but eventually, he turned back to face me, now looking incredibly serious.
"Yesterday I had overheard the gestionnaires speak of a man wearing merely underwear who would go around shooting people with a bow today. It is said that should you be hit you would then fall in love with the first person you see."
...
"Excuse me?"
Wait.
Is he talking about-
"I had suspected it to be mere nonsense but then I heard similar stories during the rest of my day as well. As such I deemed it would be for the best if I kept you by my side for the day just in case." He ended his story.
Neuvillette was dead serious.
And I-
"Pfft! Hahahahahahahahaha!"
I couldn't help myself and burst out laughing.
I laughed so hard that I rolled off the couch onto the floor but I still couldn't care less.
Neuvillette thought-
Neuvillette, he-
Pfft!
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Wriothesley, this is no laughing matter." Neuvillette scolded.
"No- Pfft! No, it is not, it's- Hahahahaha!"
It's hilarious!
My stupid little dragon fears I would be hit by Cupid's arrow!
"Just what is so funny to you, Wriothesley?" He frowned.
The fact that you fear a children's story.
But I'm not gonna explain that to him.
Oh, no, no, no.
This opportunity is far too precious to miss out on.
Let's see...
How can I make the most of this...
"You know, Neuv. This guy comes back every year on this exact date." I started.
His frown deepened in an instant.
"Has no one attempted to catch him and bring him to justice?"
"Who knows." I shrugged my shoulders.
Neuvillette fell deep in thought for a while and I just let him think.
I wonder what kind of nonsense will come out of his mouth next-
"Then I shall capture him." He declared.
Cough-
I nearly choked on my own spit.
"You will what?"
Capture Cupid?
"This year you shall remain in my line of sight at all times because I truly have some things I cannot drop or cancel. Next year, however, I shall have my schedule cleared for this day to go and find this outlaw who would shoot innocent people. Even if the shootings cannot be blamed on him legally without evidence, if he truly is wearing only his underwear, he can be changed with public indecency." Neuvillette said seriously.
What the-
He already has it all planned out?
Just like that?
But...
Isn't this amazing for me?
"I'll go with!" I declared.
Neuvillette just gave me a blank look.
"That speaks for itself, does it not? Of course you would come along. I would not leave you on your own under such circumstances." He said matter of factly.
Step 1 is complete!
Now on to step 2.
"What if we don't catch him next year?" I asked.
"Then we will try the year after."
Aha!
So every year on Valentine's Day we will take a day off and wander around Fontaine together hand in hand.
That's one wonderful date if you ask me!
And just like that, my problem of getting Neuvillette to take a day off on this day every year was solved.
I suppose having such an oblivious stupid little dragon as a husband does pay off sometimes.