Not An Isekai Story [LitRPG]

It's that time of the year again. My husband, Zen, ever since we came back from the east and bought a house here, he pleaded with the Council to make this day as some sort of holiday. Seeing as he's the hero who reclaimed this city from the Demon Queen, they were willing to obliged his request and made it so that today is officially some sort of holiday for everyone to celebrate. And yet they don't even know what they are celebrating for. Apparently it's due to someone's noble sacrifice or something that we had never heard about. Sigh, I swear my husband's curse is affecting all of us somehow.

What's worse is that after the council had agreed, it started snowing on this very day! Never before had City Of Pines snowed before yet it somehow did and only on this particular day. Is Zen's curse capable of affecting the weather or something?

Brrrr, it's freezing cold this year. I'm sure I've bought all the necessary groceries needed for today as I'm in no mood to be going out again in this weather. We had invited all of our friends to come over today to celebrate. I hope— she's willing to come this year. It's been so long since we last saw each other. How's she doing, I wonder? You promised you'll come to visit us after Tom was defeated. Where are you now, Lily?

I made it back to our home. All our plants and flowers were surprisingly healthy despite this cold weather. And— my husband is decorating this tree that he painstakingly went out to find. After the council agreed to make today a holiday, he went all out to find this particular tree. I thought he was out doing some quest but it turns out to be some tree hunting quest. And he had the guts to call the scrapper company to uproot the entire tree just to bring it back to our house. Y'know, the company that's supposed to bring back monster parts from adventurer's quest, and yet he asked them to bring back a tree instead!

Ah well, anything to keep him company with Daisy is a good thing for me. I should be happy that he isn't going out drinking or out there fooling around with women; especially female elves. He's been loyal so far and I'm glad it was thisman who took me in or even willing to marry me. I won't lie that I thought I lost to Lily when I saw him whispering something to her back in the elven forest. I had already thought of leaving this city and staying in the east. Who knew that he would ask me to marry him in front of his grandfather's grave. I'll forever remember the day when he bend on one knee and asked me. And now, I have this ring to commemorate our marriage, making it the second ring that I wear daily.

"Dear, when you're done, help me out in the kitchen. There's a lot of preparation to be done," I told him before I headed in.

"Yes dear," he answered sarcastically.

Daisy was staring at his father from inside the house through a window. While she's interested in seeing what he's doing, it was too cold outside and I don't want to risk something falling on her if Zen accidentally drops something. So she's allowed to watch him from the comfort of our home. Doubt she would mind though, since all she needed to do was to open the window a little to chat with him.

***

"Alright, what needs to be done?" he asked.

"You done with your tree already? Where did you even get those decorations anyway?" I asked him.

"Oh, I just have them specially made. Doubt there'll be anyone else in this world who have those. Our house will be the only special home in this city," he grinned.

"W— wait, you're telling me there's no one else who will be decorating outside of their house? Oh no, you're going to attract more strangers to our house again! Zen! We have people coming over today!" I shouted at him.

"Huh, what do you mean? No one is going to bother our house. It's just a tree with decorations. What's so special about it?" he questioned me.

"Really? Nothing special? C'mere Mister. I bet there are already— see what I mean!" I pointed outside to the window of our living room.

There was plenty of people staring at the decorative tree that he painstakingly decorated. Sigh, way to be subtle this year. Fine, as long as they don't disturb us inside our home then I just have to live with it.

"Get your butt in prepping our ingredients. There's still more to do," I kicked his butt.

***

Daffodil and her child, Aloe was the first to come over. John decided to skip this year as he had something to do. I welcomed her into our home, making sure it was warm enough in our living room by adding a little more firewood to the fireplace. Aloe immediately began seeking for Daisy who was like an elder sister to her. I seated our guest at our living room while I went back to preparing the dishes. Zen had already begun setting the plates on the table as there was nothing else he could do. It was only a matter of waiting for the dishes to be ready.

The roast turkette was almost done. Zen was particular about me cooking turkette as he had always preferred jikentette instead. But I told him we had invited a lot of people today so we will need to roast a whole lot of jikentette if we were to serve our guests. He eventually gave in when I perfected the gravy that was suited to be eaten with turkette. I won't lie, I do prefer jikentette's juicy meat over the rather dry turkette meat but I have confidence that my gravy will make it better.

"Zen dear, come and take out the dishes," I called out to him.

Huh? Where is he? Wasn't he setting the table earlier? I peeked out of the kitchen but I don't see him. He was nowhere to be found even in the living room. Just when I was about to head upstairs, he came down wearing all yellowish.

"W— what the hell is that? Aren't you supposed to be wearing red?! Didn't you said that today is a day of red?! Now I look like a fool wearing this colour!" I shouted at him.

"Naw, I'm wearing yellow because I'm the star today. See the decoration outside? As long as it's any of those colours, then you're fine," he pointed.

"So I'm one of those red dangling balls, am I? Way to go on your reference," I squinted at him.

Just then, we heard another knock on the door. I opened the door to greet our guest but, huh?

"Hey! Merry Christmas everyone! Yohohoho!!" laughed John. What the hell is he wearing?! Why is it all silver?!

"Brother, it's just "Hohoho", not "Yohohoho". You're not a pirate, you're supposed to be Santa," sighed Zen.

"Dear?! I thought you were on some quest!" shouted Daffodil as she was surprised that her husband showed up.

"Sorry I had to lie, wanted to give you two a surprise. Here are gifts for everyone," he smiled as he handed the gifts.

"Dammit, ours is upstairs. I thought we'll only be giving when everyone had reached. Dammit John," sighed Zen as he rushed upstairs.

SIGH! Guess I'm gonna be the one who will be taking out the dishes then. My husband will be too busy entertaining our guests who will be coming in soon. Ah well, the one who hosts will always be the busiest.

***

There was so many people who came this year. All the guildmasters are here along with my friends. There was even someone that I didn't know who was invited. Must be Zen's friend or something. He even brought along some rather large strange looking device with him.

Everyone is here except— Lily. I don't even know whether you read my letter when I could only sent it to the elven forest. Where are you, Lily? I wished you could had been here to join us.

"Alright everyone, can I have your attention, please? Thank you, for coming over today on this special holiday. I really appreciate all of you for being here, and for those who are watching me from afar. Can all of you gather round the fireplace for a commemorative picture?" Zen asked everyone.

A— what? A picture? Who's the artist among here? How long are we supposed to be staying still with so many people around?

The unknown stranger took his large device and placed it opposite the fireplace. He gestured us to stand in front of it and held some strange looking device. All of us looked confused but Zen and the stranger sort of starting to adjust our position so that it fit to what they wanted.

Just then, a knock could be heard on our main door. I stared at Zen and he looked rather confused as well. Who else could it be? I believe everyone is already here. Could it be? I quickly rushed to the door and opened it quickly. Please, let it be her.

"H— hey, it wasn't easy finding you but, I heard that you two had settled down? Is now a good time?" she asked awkwardly.

I threw myself at her and hugged her tightly. Am I dreaming? Is this an illusion?

"You're finally here. I missed you, so much! There's never a bad time for you to visit, Lily" I said to her.

"I— missed you too. How are you? Is Zen around too?" she asked.

"We actually have a lot of people over today as it's a holiday. You came just at the right time actually," I smiled.

"H— holiday? What holiday? I never heard of such a thing," she looked confused.

"It's fine. Your favourite colour seems to match today's theme. C'mon, they were about to take some picture," I held her hand and brought her into our house.

"T— take picture? Isn't it supposed to be a drawing?" she continued looking all confused as she stepped into our home.

"Alright everyone, smile," said the stranger.

"I think it goes by "Say 'Cheese', I think? Or was it Peace?" said Zen as he put on a thinking face.

"Just do whatever you need and stop stalling. Our guests are waiting for you, geez," I complained to him.

Oh well, there's much to explain to her but at least everyone is finally here today. I'm really glad and thankful she showed herself and we managed to take this rather bizarre picture that took just a flash. Will need to question Zen on what device that is.

I hope you're with your family, friends and loved ones today and celebrating this rather strange holiday filled with laughter and joy. Merry Christmas everyone~