I closed my eyes and focused on the feeling of the hot water streaming down my body. Just the right temperature. Just the right pressure. Life was good.

After those last few hours of enjoying each other, the both of us felt hungry, and since Helen still wanted that date I asked her on earlier, we decided to go out for dinner.

Taking a shower together would just start the cycle of sex anew, and since my darling needed more time to get ready, she took one first. Now it was my turn, and I was taking my time, enjoying the newfound clarity of mind.

I couldn’t decide where we should go on our date, though. Food-wise, some fancy place would be a go-to, but a date there would be a bit too... normal?

On the other hand, bringing a properly dressed-up Helen somewhere that wasn’t VVIP-only was a recipe for disaster. The prospect of spending some time in the friendly company of Officer Zhang for the second night in a row wasn’t all that high on my priority list right now.

I turned around, wincing a bit as the claw marks on my back stung under the pouring water. They would be gone by the morning tomorrow, unless my darling decides to reapply them after our date, that is.

So, where should I take Helen for our date?

The mall date with Olivia showed me how limited my perspective on that matter actually was. High-class parties, fancy restaurants, private beaches and/or islands, yachts, nightclubs—the lot of those—intermixed.

If I counted one-night stands as dates, then seedy bars would dominate the statistic one-sidedly.

There was also an issue of time, as it was already nine p.m.

So, I guess it’s back to step one. I needed a place with good food that wasn’t just an eatery. Well, I knew one like that—Bella’s place. And my personal lounge would limit the potential amount of trouble.

With this in mind, I grabbed a towel and dried myself. A gut feeling—the one that was honed through the years of dancing with death—told me I shouldn’t leave the place fully naked for no reason at all.

Wrapping the towel around the lower half of my body, I left the bathroom.

***

“You.” The voice of Frank Smith, Helen’s grandpa, greeted me.

Thank you, gut feeling. This meeting would’ve been at least twice as awkward if I were fully naked.

“Me.” I agreed with a nod.

I could see how his face gradually started turning a deeper shade of red.

A melodic giggle from my darling broke the tension. I turned my eyes and saw Helen holding a tray with a tea set on it.

I gave her a once-over, noting that she was almost done with her preparations. At the very least, she had already chosen the dress. A frilly, semi-casual white one-piece with violet undertones. Of similar design to the one Claire was wearing yesterday.

I felt a wave of relief wash over me, remembering Olivia’s makeshift fashion show a week ago. And another wave, this time of regret, since I wouldn’t mind watching one anyway.

“I take it that you have already made a choice?” Grandpa Smith said to his granddaughter.

“Yes.” She agreed.

“I hope you understand that this choice can have consequences, right?” The Head of Smith family asked.

“You said it yourself that the matter of choice is up to me and me alone.” Helen protested.

What were they talking about?

“Yes, and I meant it. The clans will stay out of this matter. Officially, that is.” Whatever he was talking about, it sounded serious. “But what if heirs decide to use their resources to take it in a more discrete manner?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“If they think that the man I choose to support is easy to deal with, let them try.” Helen’s voice started getting heated.

“Helen, sweetheart.” Grandpa Smith tried to calm his granddaughter down.

“Grandpa, don’t even start. We've had this talk before. You know my answer.” But she only became more agitated instead.

I looked at this drama, racking my brain in a vain attempt to understand what the fuck was going on.

“Helen,” I chimed in. “Calm down.”

“Yes, darling.” She responded with a smile.

I ignored the glare from Grandpa Smith and decided to change the topic.

“Where are my clothes, by the way?” I had to get ready as well.

“I put the one you came here in, as well as a few options I think would look good on you, in the master bedroom on the third floor.” How thoughtful of her.

“Thanks.” I voiced my gratitude and turned to leave.

Only to hear the noise of the breaking teacup. I guess the old man saw the claw marks. My condolences. This bastard was corrupting your little princess again.

***

I dressed up unhurriedly. Aside from my original outfit, my darling also left three more similar options ready for me to choose from. How considerate of her, indeed.

After a bit of consideration, I chose the one that was done in a similar color scheme to the dress I saw Helen wearing just now. White and violet, her usual color scheme.

Did she also want to bring more color into my life? Quite possible.

After putting my wallet, phone, and Kouzuki clan seal into pockets of the new jacket, I waited for five more minutes, deciding that this would be enough for the people below to finish their talk.

When I finally came downstairs, the Head of the Smith family had already left. As for Helen, she was busy gathering the shards of the broken cup.

I watched her in silence, waiting until she would notice me. Which she did surprisingly quickly.

“Darling,” she called out in a cheerful tone. “You are ready?”

I noticed how her eyes lit up a little bit when my darling saw which outfit I ended up choosing. Well, this was already enough of a payoff for me.

“Yep,” I said, nodding in agreement. “What about you?”

Helen finished her task at hand and checked the time on her phone.

“I’ll be ready in a few. My make-up needs a few small touches more.” I got my response.

“I have no idea why you still wear make-up, to be honest.” Heaven knows, her baseline was more than enough already.

“Because I want to be the best version of myself for you,” Helen replied matter-of-factly.

The conviction in her tone was a bit worrying, but, eh, as long as she was happy, I guess.

I followed my darling into the designated make-up room.

“Want to know what we were talking about with Grandpa earlier?” Helen read my mind.

“Well, it did sound like it was a serious matter, and it seems to be involving me somehow.” I shrugged, yet I didn’t deny my interest.

“You know that I get marriage proposals almost daily, right, darling?” She asked, and, after I nodded in confirmation, she continued. “Grandpa made it crystal clear that the ultimate choice in the matter is in my hands. The Smith family is big enough that we can ignore most suitors outright, but even we can’t refuse all of them. It’s a matter of clan reputation and all that.”

I had a bad feeling about where this story was leading.

“Of those proposals, the vast majority are sent ‘just in case’. In baseless hope that someone would catch my attention.” My darling continued. “Well, I already made my choice, so no such luck for them.”

I caught her gaze through the mirror and returned a smile. Still, I wasn’t certain how I should feel about her words. Not with my commitment issues.

“In theory, what will you do if I refuse?” I had to ask this.

“I will die alone, waiting for the day when you change your mind.” Her words overlapped with Bella’s declaration about waiting for her in the afterlife.

I honestly felt lost for words.

Fuck.

“So,” Helen abruptly changed the topic back. “Yesterday, I got two new proposals, which we can’t even ignore.”

I felt my head throb. No way…

“Elder Hào, the best friend of my grandpa, the Head of the Long clan, called him to tell the news.” No. Fucking. Way. “Apparently, he got two new grandsons out of thin air. The heirs to the Long and Kouzuki clans, respectively. And they both proposed.”

They actually did it…

I really should stop making stupid and reckless decisions. Even if they were just a joke.

“Well, you don’t need to worry, darling. I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. Even if it starts a war between our clans.” I could see the inner crazy of this kooky girl showing itself.