I was curled up on Crimson's plush sofa, with my knees pulled to my chest, just relaxing, while Crimson was finishing washing the dishes.

My body still ached a bit from what my crazy girlfriend did to me, but the potion she gave me helped quite a lot.

Once the clinking of plates and the rush of water ceased, she meticulously dried her hands. Afterward, she approached, and joined beside me.

She partially mirrored my posture; she kicked off her shoes, and pulled a knee to her chest before resting her head on it, the fire in her eyes calmly directed at me with a warm smile, while her hair gently fell along with the motion, with a few strands grazing her cheek.

She looked... beautiful...?

"What's on your mind?" she asked. "You seem to be lost in thoughts."

"Hmm..." I murmured. "You?"

Her eyes widened slightly. She then released a little chuckle, her cheeks faintly blushing. "Hmm, I have to make sure you keep at it, then."

Coming closer, she planted a kiss on my cheek and carefully guided me down on the sofa. Her hands clasped mine, and she kissed me more. She kissed my cheeks, my chin, my neck.

"You're tickling me!" I laughed, squirming slightly. Yet, she kept going.

She was literally showering me with smoochies!

"Stop! Haha! Stop..."

After just a few more kisses, she stopped, and looked at me while I did the same, catching my breath, still trapped in her clutches.

"Yes, definitely," she said with a smug smile. "You're a lot prettier when you laugh."

At that comment, I looked away. As usual, she always managed to make weird, out-of-place comments. And while I did not roll my eyes at that, I could feel my cheeks burn a little. "S-shut up..."

Letting her whole body relax over me, she gave me one last smooch on my cheek. Or so I thought.

"The most beautiful..." she murmured, giving me a peck, "adorable," smooch, "perfect," smooch, "little pet." Smooch, smooch, smooch.

"Hm..."

As if surprised, she looked at me for a second. Until at some point she displayed a grin. "You didn't even deny it this time."

"Well, I'm trying to make you happy..."

Chuckling, she patted me. "Hmm, good pet," she praised, planting another kiss. "And are you happy?"

That was a tough question.

"Well... yes?" I replied, though my eyes drifting away might've given the wrong impression. "I guess I'd be lying if I said my mind wasn't troubled a little, though..."

"What's troubling you?" she demanded, her eyes rapidly softening. "Tell me."

"You know... I've been thinking about it. That story... the one your mother told us, about my mother."

She nodded. "What about it?"

I sighed. "I wonder... why did my mother never tell me who she truly was... I don't understand."

"Hmm..." She appeared lost in thought for a moment. "Perhaps she was afraid of how her precious daughter would have reacted."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that, maybe, she was afraid... Afraid that you wouldn't have seen her the same way."

I shook my head. "I would never do that. Despite everything, my mother will always be my mother. I... do have mixed feelings right now, but I would've listened to her back then... and that's all."

"But do you know what was inside her head?" she countered, proposing another insight. "Just like you were afraid of showing me your demon, or just like I was afraid of showing you my true self... She might've been afraid, Snowflake."

"Hm... I doubt it's that simple... There must be something I'm not aware of."

I sighed. After all, my mother was a mystery...

Not only did I sigh, I groaned. The sole thought of it... was exhausting.

Thankfully, Crimson reclaimed my full attention, shifting slightly to be more comfortable squishing my body.

"You know, I've also been thinking about it," she whispered smugly "What do you think about our mothers?"

I tilted my head. "Hm? What do you mean?"

"I sensed some sparkles between them in that story..." she continued, her perpetual grin never leaving her face. "Don't you think they'd have been a great couple?"

I was a bit... perplexed. "What are you trying to say...?"

She giggled. "I say... us being together is fate."

"Fate?" I raised an eyebrow. Now that was absurd. "You do realize that if my mother and yours were as close as you deem them to have been we wouldn't even exist, right?"

"But that didn't happen," she proudly opposed. "And now we're here. How do you call that?"

"Nonsense..." I deadpanned. Even so, I couldn't suppress a smile. "Changing topic to something more concrete... when are we going to Goldenovum?"

She shrugged. "There's still time for that. We can rest here for a while, and enjoy ourselves."

"What do we do today, then?"

"How about dinner out? I can show you around, and there's a nice place you'd probably like," she proposed, leaning closer, soothingly lowering her voice. "And I'd really love to see you in one of my evening dresses, you know?"

I simply nodded. "I'm fine with that."

Smiling, she kissed me again. This time, it was a serious one. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

This day also proceeded smoothly. Even better after our previous experience in our shared bed. However, we made a small change to the plan. In the afternoon, she showed me around the area. It was not so different from my hometown, just bigger. Perhaps a little city? Regardless, a beautiful one. We walked quite a lot to reach it, though; Crimson's house is pretty far from the main plaza. From everything, actually.

We returned in the evening, and together, we prepared for our dinner. The dress that Crimson provided me with was... surprisingly not as bold as I expected it to be?

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It was probably designed to fit snugly, but on me, it was pretty loose. And, according to Crimson, it was meant to be worn with nothing underneath. I obliged; a black dress covered me, while another layer of black lace covered my chest. My back was exposed and not at the same time, in a way. It was not a problem, since my scar had disappeared. To be honest... it wouldn't be a problem if I still had it at this point, probably.

Crimson also gave me earrings with tiny silver crystals, she combed my hair giving me a stylish fringe while the rest cascaded elegantly down my back. Perfume, a touch more makeup, and I was ready to go.

I looked in the mirror while Crimson got herself ready.

"Hmm..."

Perhaps, it was a bit bold? Captivating, in a way...

Oh, the one Crimson chose for herself was bold, alright. Enticingly displaying her legs and thighs, along with her back…

Had she tortured me dressed like that…

I violently shook my head.

"Aren't you cold like that?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

She grinned. "Snowflake... I'm fairly confident the term you want to use is 'hot'."

Well, I suppose that was one way to describe her. A laugh almost escaped me at her confidence. There are those who are confident in battle, like myself. People who are confident about their knowledge; their looks. And then, there's her, who's confident about everything. My girlfriend. Yes, she was undeniably hot, in more ways than one. "Oh, of course."

"Come on, check yourself out," she said, inviting me to the mirror once again.

"I already did. I look good," I replied.

Completely ignoring my words, she grabbed my arm, turned me, and moved me towards the mirror.

"Hmm, don't we just look stunning, Snowflake?" she asked, resting her head over my shoulder, wrapping me in a hug.

"Yes, I've already noticed that."

"But aren't you forgetting something?" she asked with a sly smile.

Blinking, I stared at the mirror. "Huh..."

What was I forgetting...? I had everything...

Dress: check. Boots: check. Accessories: check. Makeup: check...

There was nothing missing...

"... No?"

Shaking her head, she disapproved more than once. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… Bad, bad."

I was utterly confused...

She began kissing my shoulders, working her way up toward my neck. Still, her little showcase of affection was not helping me...

At some point, she stopped and glanced at me. "Still figuring it out?"

"Yes...?" I replied, returning the glance. "A little help, maybe?"

She leaned close to my ear. "What is my pet missing?"

"Um..."

That was still not helping!

"Ah!" I exclaimed shortly after. "Ah... the... thing resembling a collar..."

She cheerfully nodded. "Hmm-hm, correct!"

"But the one you gifted me is at the guild..."

"And whose fault is that?" she teased amusedly.

I pouted at her. "I left it there so it wouldn't get dirty... I didn't forget it. You know it."

"Hmm..." she murmured. "I don't know if I truly believe that."

I pouted angrily at her. "It's the truth..."

After a bit of staring, her lips curled into a bigger smile, and she chuckled. "You're lucky I have spares."

She detached herself from me, and rummaging in a drawer, picked another of those things. "Here's your choker," she said, displaying it.

This one, however... was ugly. It was pink and with a little flower on it.

Pointing my finger at it with disgust, I protested. "This one is worse though..."

Unfazed, she shrugged. "Turn around."

She just didn't care...

Resigned, and with a sigh... I complied, letting my hand drop. I stared at the mirror, observing its reflection as she approached. With care, she put that thing on me, around my neck. She then hugged me.

"Hmm... I say you look just adorable with it," she murmured in a husky voice.

"It literally ruins my entire look..." I deadpanned. "It's like it could personally punch you in the eyes."

She shook her head, brushing her fingers lightly against my collarbone. "Oh, I couldn't disagree more..."

"You have weird taste..."

"You look absolutely enchanting in my clothes, Snowflake..."

Noticing the way she bit her lower lip as her hands moved to my chest, I glanced at her. "Crimson?"

"I just can't help myself..."

"CRIMSON!"

She rested her head over my shoulder, smiling tenderly at me while she blushed faintly. "Hmm, whoops..."

"For fuck's sake, Crimson!" I yelled at her. "This is the third dress! AND IT'S EVEN YOURS! Why would you tear your own dress?!"

"Sorry..." she cooed. Her tone was not apologetic.

"And don't look at me with those sweet eyes! They're not saving you frommm-"

She pinched me.

"Can we have some fun before our dinner?" she proposed right after with pleading eyes.

Exasperated, I sighed. "Why are you so damn insatiable...?"

"Pretty please?" she persisted, sounding overly affectionate, holding me tighter.

Well, it's not like I was against it. We still had time, and because of her and her damn antics, I was basically already naked and had to dress up again. I guess this is what I get from opening the door to a bitch. So… realizing just what kind of situation I had put myself into, through my sole arbitrary decisions, dictated by my personal will and driven by my direct feelings... I groaned. "Fine... Have your damn way..."