"Huh? Clorinde, aren't you angry?" Furina asked cautiously. She had expected Clorinde to be furious.
"I'm not angry," Clorinde shook her head. "Even if I were, it wouldn't matter. After all, Lady Furina, you've already given us away."
"ㅇ(ㅠㅠ)ο I didn't mean to! It's just that Akira is so mean," Furina said. "I feel like my life is going to be full of darkness from now on, and he's going to bully me..."
"Lady Furina, you're the god of Fontaine. You won't be staying in Inazuma permanently," Clorinde reminded her.
"Oh, right!" Hearing Clorinde's words, Furina perked up again.
"Hmph! You're right, Clorinde! Once I'm back in Fontaine, Akira won't be able to bully me anymore!" Furina put her hands on her hips, full of confidence, but then she suddenly asked, "Akira won't imprison me in Inazuma and torture me, will he?"
"...No, the Great Sovereign doesn't seem like that kind of person," Clorinde shook her head.
"That's good, that's good," Furina breathed a sigh of relief.
"But these next few days in Inazuma might not be so easy," Clorinde added expressionlessly.
"Wah..." Furina felt deeply hurt. Why were Clorinde's words so cutting today?
Clorinde didn't want to deal with her god anymore. She felt utterly exhausted.
Gradually, Clorinde's gaze fell on Akira, who was walking ahead. She was curious. Why had this god proposed a bet involving her?
After all, she was just a mortal, wasn't she? As a god, Akira surely wouldn't lack powerful and beautiful women around him, right?
Take Murata Himeko, for example. Clorinde could sense that this woman's strength was no joke. She was a seasoned warrior, and the aura around her was definitely the result of years of battle.
As if sensing Clorinde's gaze, Akira turned around and met the eyes of the cold and elegant woman. He smiled slightly before turning back.
Clorinde's eyes met Akira's, and as she looked into his golden eyes, her heart trembled slightly. A faint, unfamiliar flutter rose in her chest.
For just that moment, Clorinde thought Akira was truly handsome-his eyes, his face, his smile-everything about him was captivating!
"This feeling..." Clorinde gently pressed a hand to her chest, feeling a bit lost. She had never experienced this before. The moment she locked eyes with Akira, it felt like her heart had skipped a beat.
Clorinde wondered if she should ask her god about this.
She glanced at Furina, who was still looking down, lost in thought, kicking a small pebble with her foot.
"Forget it..." Clorinde sighed, dismissing the idea of asking Furina. She was even more unsettled than Clorinde was.
Soon, the group arrived at Uyuu Restaurant. Akira spoke to the waiter and led the women to the most luxurious private room.
"Everyone, take a seat," Akira said, sitting down first with a smile. "No need to be formal. This isn't a diplomatic occasion. At the dining table, there are no rules. Eat and chat as you please."
"Yay!" Klee, who was already hungry, climbed onto the chair to Akira's left and sat upright, while Murata Himeko sat across from him.
Furina naturally took the seat to Akira's right, while Jean, Lisa, and Clorinde also found their places.
"What would you all like to eat?" Akira asked with a smile.
"Big brother Akira! Klee wants fish!" Klee looked at Akira expectantly.
"Fish it is! A big portion!" Akira nodded and relayed the order to the waiter.
"What about the rest of you?" Akira looked at the other women.
"I'm fine with anything," Murata Himeko said with a smile. "You decide."
"I'll have a vegetable soup, please," Lisa said.
"I'm fine with anything too..." Jean said.
"I'll have a cake!" Furina said happily.
"..." Eating cake in the middle of the day? Furina and Raiden Ei were so alike, both with an insatiable love for sweets.
"I'm fine with anything as well," Clorinde nodded.
"Alright," Akira turned to the waiter. "Aside from the requests just now, arrange some of Inazuma's specialty dishes for us."
"Understood, Great Sovereign. We'll make sure you're satisfied," the waiter nodded and left.
"So, Furina, have you thought it over?" Akira asked with a smile. "Did you talk to Clorinde?"
"Mm..." Furina nodded, her face red as she said to Akira, "Akira, let's get one thing straight. You're not allowed to bully me anymore."
"Isn't it fun? I think it's quite entertaining," Akira laughed.
"Of course not!" Furina rolled her eyes at Akira. "Also, I'm the god of Fontaine, and Clorinde holds an important position. Even if we agree, we'll have to return to Fontaine."
"Naturally," Akira nodded. "That's a minor issue. I'll make sure we can communicate whenever we need to."
"That's good," Furina breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Akira wouldn't force her to stay in Inazuma.
"So, Clorinde, what are your thoughts?" Akira turned to Clorinde and asked.
"Great Sovereign, since Lady Furina has already agreed, Clorinde is willing to pledge her lifelong loyalty to you," Clorinde said seriously and formally. She believed this was a solemn matter.
"I thought this might be hard for you to accept," Akira said with a smile.
"It's not hard to accept. It's just that I've never been in such a situation before. If I do anything wrong, please forgive me, Great Sovereign," Clorinde shook her head.
Clorinde had thought it through. Since Furina had already "sold" her, she couldn't refuse.
Moreover, Akira wasn't someone she found unacceptable, so accepting this might not be a bad thing.
She was just a mortal, and receiving affection from a god could be considered an honor.
"Just call me Akira. There's no right or wrong here, Clorinde. We have plenty of time to do many things together," Akira said with a smile.
"Understood, Lord Akira," Clorinde nodded.
Plenty of time? Indeed, the lifespan of a god was incredibly long.
"Huh? What are they talking about?" Jean was confused and whispered to Lisa.
"It seems Lord Akira has gained two more confidantes," Lisa said with a smile.
"Huh?" Jean's eyes widened slightly. She whispered, "Lady Furina and Miss Clorinde are also Lord Akira's confidantes now?"
"Mhm. Even the Raiden Shogun is Lord Akira's confidante. Isn't that normal? Things that happen around Lord Akira seem perfectly acceptable to me," Lisa nodded.