Outaishihi ni Nante Naritakunai!! Chapter 130

We entered the shop. The inside of the shop is overflowing with miscellaneous goods women may like, the smell of old wood cozily hangs in the air.
Fortunately, we seem to be the only customers. The shopkeeper in the back noticed the doorbell, and came to us with a book in hand that he seems to have been reading.
A fastidious elderly man in glasses. This man is the shopkeeper, but it seems his wife and daughter are responsible for stocking. His appearance is truly unsuitable for a shop filled with lovely miscellaneous accessories.

"Welcome… Ah, it's you"
"Good day, it's been a long time"

Since I've visited many times, he's memorized my face. As his gaze moved behind me, the shopkeeper's eyes opened wide, but he continued talking as if nothing happened.

"… Is the man behind with you?"
"Yes"
"Understood. Look around as you like. You are the only customers. Call me if you need anything. I'll be reading a book in the back"
"I understand"

When I nodded, he withdrew to the back as if he lost interest.
When there are many customers as one would expect he sits at the counter, but if it's only people he knows, he usually withdraws to the back.

"That was the shopkeeper?"

Inside the shop where we were left alone, Freed asked perplexed.

"Right, he's Mr. Johan. It's unusual, isn't it. He's a craftsman, but it's his wife and daughter that are fully responsible for stocking. It's them who create the trends"
"I'm surprised, by no means did I expect we'd be left alone"
"He thinks we're trustworthy. I've come here many times until now, he's not wrong to believe we won't do anything strange"
"You have a point"

While talking with me, Freed is curiously looking around the shop. It's natural that he's hardly seen miscellaneous accessories for women. His eyes show pure interest.
Looks like he's quite enjoying it.
Thinking so I also decided to look over the goods. Although I say that, it's not like I have any specific purpose. It's the time of the stock change, so I just wanted to check the new goods once. Just looking around is fun, so it's no problem that I don't want anything.
On the handmade shelves lovely stationery or little accessory cases are tastefully arranged. You call tell the price by the color of stickers on the back of merchandise.

"Pretty…"

While looking around the shop, the contents of a large glass case on the shelf near the counter caught my eyes.
A quite large jewelry case with beautiful engravings. Inside stored were many handmade-looking rings. I was fascinated by one of them, the turquoise ring.

"… It looks like the color of Freed's eyes"
"Nn? What about me?"

While I was looking at the case, I heard Freed's voice from behind.
Pointing at the ring I was looking at, while laughing I said.

"It looks like the color of Freed's eyes, so I thought it's pretty"
"…"

Freed didn't reply, but without caring about it I simply gazed at the ring before my eyes. The finely handcrafted gold ring is probably one of a kind item. It's a superb masterpiece filled with the craftsman's dedication.

"It's really pretty. I wonder if it's something Mr. Johan made"

After watching it to my heart's content, I raised my face.
Yup, it was a feast for my eyes.
I was completely satisfied, and wanting to see other shelves tried to move… when Freed caught me.

"Eh? What?"

Forced to come to a stop by the sudden pull of his hand, I looked up at Freed confused.
Cheerfully smiling, Freed told me.

"Shall we use rings"
"Eh? What are you talking about?"

It's so sudden I couldn't tell what he's getting at.
While I was confused, Freed pointed at the ring I'd been looking at just before.

"This ring. It's about the accessories for when we get married. I haven't thought about that yet. Using rings should be just right"
"He"
"I want to use jewels that resemble each other's eyes anyway. I can't do anything about the order placed to the purveyor to the Royal Family, but if it's wishes for the design there's enough time"
"H, hey, Freed"

Freed who's deciding on the future plans on his own doesn't stop.
To stop Freed's rampage, I tapped his shoulder.

What Freed has been talking about since a while ago are matching accessories a couple wears when getting married.
In this world there's a custom similar to wedding rings in Japan. When getting married, it's considered good for the couple to wear something from precious metals. It's the same even for the Royal Family.
The accessories aren't limited to rings, it can be bracelets, necklaces, or earrings, anything goes as long as they match.
Freed is saying to make it rings.

"Calm down. I don't really care if it's rings or something else. But why did you suddenly come up with that talk?"

When I asked, Freed turned his eyes that have been looking at me for some time towards the ring.

"… Lidi said it's pretty because it's like the color of my eyes. It roused my imagination. I imagined Lidi wearing a ring with my colors. Then I thought I'm okay with rings"
"…!"

Did I unconsciously speak such an embarrassing line.
Recalling the words from a while ago, my mouth flapped open.
I could feel my cheeks heat up in an instant.
While I was like this, Freed softly asked me.

"Is Lidi okay with it? Of course if you say you'd prefer something else, I'll prioritize that"
"… No, rings are fine"

I'm unbearably embarrassed.
Uwaa uwaa uwaa, while my head was panicking, Freed for some reason summoned the shopkeeper from the back.

"Shopkeeper"
"Ah? What is it. Anything caught your eye"

Mr. Johan, who came here without hiding his annoyance, directed inquisitive eyes at Freed.
Nodding "Yeah", Freed pointed at the ring I'd been looking at a while ago.

"Can you resize the ring for her?"
"I made it. Of course I can but… It's fairly expensive. Is it really okay? It uses fine jewels abundantly, honestly, it's placed there as a jest"

The shopkeeper asked Freed if it's fine with a serious face.
I immediately realized he's examining whether Freed is serious or not.
As he did, Freed lightly nodded.

"It doesn't matter how much it is. I'll buy it at the asking price. Will it take time?"

Hearing Freed's answer, Mr. Johan stared at his face fixedly.
And breathed with resignation.

"… You're serious… I got it. Girlie, show me your hand"
"Eh… yes"

Unable to keep up with the talk, I reflexively presented my left hand as told.
Taking my hand, Mr. Johan asked me to confirm the finger.

"Which finger do you want to put it on?"
"Um… fourth finger…"
"I got it. Ah, then it'll be fine with only fine tuning. I can do it right away. Wait a moment"
"Please"

Readily nodding, Johan-san returned to the back with the ring.
I saw him off dumbfounded.
… Err, what happened now.
Freed brought up preparing rings for when we get married, and I accepted, wasn't it like that. Then why, did he come up with buying the ring now?

"Freed!?"

Having finally recovered from the shock, I pressed Freed for an answer.
I have no idea why this happened anymore.

"What, Lidi"

Contrary to the confused me, Freed is calm.
The calm color of his eyes inadvertently reminds me of the ring just now.

"What, you ask, why did you need to buy the ring now? Didn't you say yourself the purveyor has already been decided"
"Therefore, until then, wear that"
"Eh"

I stopped moving for moment.
As I looked at Freed in confused silence, he took my left hand and with a smooch kissed my fourth finger.

"Of course I'll have them prepared for when we marry. But until Lidi marries me, I want some evidence that shows Lidi is engaged and already mine. There are many times when the King's Flower can't be shown. It's a selfish request but… is it no good?"
"… What's with that"

I'm so surprised my voice got hoarse. My throat is dry.
Isn't that just like an engagement ring.
There's no custom like engagement rings in this world. But the meaning behind Freed's words seems just like an engagement ring. And I recalled.
The ring just now.
In addition to the turquoise, the ring was set with diamonds.

"Here you go, it's done"

While I was solidified, unable to say anything, Mr. Johan came out and handed the finished ring to Freed.
Having received it, Freed quickly went through with payment. I wonder if it's just my imagination that the price I happened to hear was outrageous.

"Hey, show me your hand"

Having received the ring, Freed refused packing it and turned to me.
Just as told, I presented the same hand as earlier. The sparkling turquoise and diamond ring was put on my finger by his hand. Having carefully put on the ring, Freed smiled with satisfaction as he still held my hand.

"It looks good on you"
"!… Thank you"

I can't say anything else, I can only look at the ring put on the fourth finger of my left hand. The turquoise glittering in its center looks like the color of his eyes after all, it's extremely embarrassing.
Still, it's not that I'm not happy.
Suddenly deciding on the fourth finger of my left hand proves it.
He doesn't understand the meaning of the fourth finger of the left hand. Nobody in this world would understand. But, I know. I do know.

"Hey… When we get married, could Freed also use the fourth finger of left hand?"

From Freed's point of view, it's a meaningless thing. Still, when I asked him, he nodded with pleasure.

"Okay. If Lidi tells me to do it I will, but is there any meaning behind it?"
"Not really… But I'm happy if you do"

… Even if I say so myself, it seems foolish.
Still, while I absentmindedly thought that my actions, like for some reason asking him, might mean the day I'll get rid of (provisional) is near, we left the shop together.

Volume 6 cover with the ring in question.

Chapter end