NOVEL NEXT Chapter 46 – Making Memories Together
For once, Elana was happy with wearing a frilly blue dress. It made her look very girly - the way it covered her legs only up to her knee and left her shoulders bare.
Furthermore, there were two more reasons.
For one - it was something different after almost two weeks of wearing the same white uniform, and for two - Moira’s expression upon seeing her was worth the discomfort.
“Hmm?” Elana slowly turned around, showing Moira her glory. “Do you like it?”
“Like it?” Moira gaped. “I love it!” She exclaimed. “You never wear something so… So…”
“Cute?” Elana helped and, to her shame, released something that sounded almost like a giggle.
“I want to f-” Moira clasped her mouth shut. She took a few deep breaths and then tried again. “It is different but suits you nevertheless.”
“I know!” Elana stepped closer to Moira, studying her to-be-girlfriend. “And you-” She licked her lips. Elana didn’t know where Moira had gotten her yellow summer dress, but she loved it. “-look like an innocent village girl who will be swallowed by the big, bad duchess.”
The way the yellow dress clung to Moira’s plentiful lines was mindblowing. It covered more than Elana’s but somehow managed to be much more inviting.
“Stop staring.” Moira pouted while straightening her attire. “I didn’t have anything else. Your guard dog did tell me to dress up, but…” Her shoulders dropped. “I was a commoner. This was all I could get.”
“Nonsense!” Elana daringly wrapped her hand around Moira’s waist and took in her future partner’s scent. “Mm~! You look and smell fantastic!”
“Pervert.” Moira gently punched Elana’s shoulder. “Where are we going? You only told me to wait at my dorm house’s entrance.”
“And to come peckish!” Elana guided Moira with her hand. “But before eating, we shall have a walk through the scenic sights of the nearby riverside.”
Elana gave a sign to Cinthia. Her bodyguard was tasked with chasing away anyone who could become an annoyance. They had already made sure Mary was busy, and the Prince was locked in his room.
There shouldn’t be anyone else who could interfere, but Elana wasn’t about to take any chances. She watched Cinthia sprint ahead to chase away anyone wandering around. There were no lectures today, meaning people were spending their time socialising and being general nuisances.
Elana’s gut was telling her that fate would try to ruin it for them. She watched the sky, searching for any stray rain clouds, but found none.
Instead, Elana noticed Moira was doing the same. She gave her best smile and pulled the woman closer to her side. “How have you been?” She inwardly cursed. That had been awkward. “I mean, did you see anything interesting?” Even worse.
“No, nothing,” Moira snuck her own hand to mirror Elana’s in holding the other woman close. “I just can’t imagine this finally happening. I couldn’t help but feel suspicious and try to find something that would interfere.”
“This reminds me of the previous time,” Elana recalled herself searching for her sister in the grass.
Moira pressed closer. “Right. I can’t help it. This feels right, you know?” She squeezed Elana’s waist. “Almost sinful. I feel like there will be a punishment for this happiness.”
Elana’s already wide smile grew wider. “Oh,” She continued to pull Moira closer, “That happy, huh? I will allow-”
They tripped. Elana’s eagerness to decrease their distance resulted in her stepping on Moira’s foot. She held on to the willowy woman’s waist, barely keeping herself from faceplanting.
“Allow me what?” Moira pulled Elana back straight. “Aren’t you making a silly expression yourself? Makes me want to eat you.” She loomed closer and licked her lips.
Elana inserted her palm between their lips and pushed Moira’s face back. “After the lunch.”
“What? Hey!” Moira protested when Elana resumed walking and pulled her along. “This ain’t fair! You do this all the time.”
“I can do it because I am me!” Elana proudly declared.
“Ah, yes, you. The girl who failed to take the woman of her dreams when given the chance.”
This remark made Elana chagrined. She pinched Moira’s side, choosing to be petty. “Fatty.”
Moira gasped. “What! I am not fat!” She protested, trying to do the same to Elana. “Damnit. Why is your waist so slender!”
“I am built differently,” Elana stopped pinching. She didn’t think Moira was fat anyway. She just had a bit more meat on her bones because of her generous proportions in other places.
“I am not fat.” Moira ran her hand over her tummy. “I am not… Am I?” She sounded distressed.
And it made Elana’s heart tremble. She tried to pinpoint what this feeling was and cursed. She felt guilt for making Moira sad. “You are not.” She finally, if slowly, said.
“Oh,” Moira understood immediately. “So all you wanted to do is to hurt me?”
“You did it first!” Elana returned. “What’s with the stupid accusation of not taking you? I told you I wouldn’t do it! I stuck to my word!”
“But now you changed your mind so quickly.” The brunette mocked Elana. “So what is it? Am I fat or the most beautiful woman your eyes have lied upon?”
“I have seen myself in the mirror. You are on par at best.”
“I am always at best!”
“Then you are on the same level as me.”
“So. Not fat?”
“...” Elana caressed Moira’s sides. They hadn’t taken a step away from each other for even a moment. “Not fat.”
This all felt familiar. The constant squabbling was what they always did. Only now…
Now Elana felt closeness accompanied by the sometimes sharp words. She liked it. She felt at home.
“Good!” Moira nodded. “And don’t ever call me fat again.”
“I will if you become fat.”
“Now, listen here-”
Their pointless quarrels continued. As Elana guided Moira towards the picnic spot, she let out a cute giggle, stunning Moira, who joined Elana.
The clear laughter echoed through the forest patch. This was a new memory they could share.
