Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Twenty-Seven: A Crush on Who?

Maria and Wriothesley had spent the past few days indulging in the simple pleasures of life outside the Fortress of Meropide. They tried out different cafés and new restaurants, took leisurely rides on the Aquabuses, and simply enjoyed the scenery that Fontaine had to offer. It was a refreshing change of pace for both of them.

At one café, as they shared a garlic baguette, Wriothesley couldn't help but steal a piece from Maria's plate. "I never asked, what are you even in for? I mean, were?" he asked casually, stuffing the bread into his mouth.

Maria laughed, the sound genuine and unreserved. "Oh, well, that... Emm... I robbed a bank."

Wriothesley raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Weren't you pretty shy in the fortress?" he asked, still munching on her food.

She shrugged, a sheepish smile on her face. "I hung out with the wrong people, wanted to fit in, did dumb stuff. I was a horrible case of no backbone, and with nobody to follow, I really struggled within the fortress. But that's all in the past now."

"I'm glad you got on the right track," Wriothesley said, taking a big sip of his coffee. He found himself feeling more relaxed than he had in weeks, even if he was still stealing bites from Maria's plate.

Maria watched him with a knowing smile. "You're eating an awful lot of my food. Are you nervous about the opera performance later?"

He chuckled, swallowing the last bit of bread. "What, me? Yeah, totally," he admitted with a grin. "Normally, I only visit the opera for court cases where I'm needed as a figure of authority. I guess I'm just very much a stranger to such a formal event."

"Well, it is more formal than normal," Maria admitted, her tone playful. "I mean, it is Lady Furina performing. I'm impressed you managed to get tickets."

Wriothesley leaned back in his chair, his grin widening. "I have my ways. But honestly, I'm more worried about making a fool of myself. What if I don't understand any of it?"

Maria laughed, shaking her head. "Just relax and enjoy the experience. Who knows, you might end up loving it."

He took another sip of his coffee, considering her words. "Yeah, maybe you're right. After all, how often do you get to see Lady Furina perform?"

"Exactly," Maria said, nudging his arm playfully. "Just think of it as another adventure."

Wriothesley smiled, feeling a little less apprehensive about the evening. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

Maria and Wriothesley returned to the Fortress of Meropide, the familiar walls and corridors greeting them as they stepped out of the elevator. They had come back because Wriothesley still had some work to finish, and he needed to change before heading to the opera later that evening.

"You seem to enjoy your life up there," he said casually as they walked. "How come you still decide to come back down?"

Maria's cheeks flushed slightly, a response that caught his attention. Wriothesley raised an eyebrow, wondering if there was something—or someone—keeping her tied to the fortress. "Honestly, I learned a lot down here," she began, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "How to be confident in who I am, for one. Sigewinne also taught me a lot about basic medical care—bandaging wounds and that sort of thing. I got banged up pretty bad from the Pankration ring."

"I'm surprised you even stepped into the ring," Wriothesley admitted, impressed.

Maria chuckled as they walked through the fortress halls. "Well, I saw Miss Clorinde giving free lessons, and she encouraged me to give it a shot. And like I said, no backbone, so I did as I was told. Never have I landed faster on my ass," she joked.