***** Several months prior, Sylphiette's Perspective *****
I laid against the wall in the corner of the room, resting my head on my bundled up robe as a makeshift pillow. We were all trying to get some rest, but exhausted as I was, there was no way I could fall asleep after what just happened. Every time I closed my eyes Talhand's corpse appeared in my mind. The sight was gruesome, something I'm sure I'll never forget.
When I tried to push the image out of my head my mind would wander to the terrifying battle that we just barely survived. The intensity of the fight against the hydra was unlike anything I've ever experienced. Every second felt like it could have been my last. Our lives had been hanging on by a thread; Talhand's fate was proof of it.
'At least nobody I love died.'
The thought brought comfort, but also made me feel disgusted with myself. Everyone here is mourning for Talhand, but every time I thought of him, it only made me relieved that the people *I* care about survived.. I'm not happy that he died, that much is certain, but can I really say that I'm mourning him? I vaguely remember hearing his name a couple times when Paul talked about his days as and adventurer, but this man is a complete stranger to me.
'I'm a bad person.'
Even if I didn't know Talhand, he was very important to everyone else here. He was a good man. He-
"Sylphy. You awake?"
Eris' words startled me out of my train of thought.
"Uh... yeah."
"Rudeus really loves Roxy, don't you think?"
*Gulp*
My breath caught. I really was not expecting that question. This is something I wanted to think about even less than Talhand's death. Ever since we received that letter from Geese, I've been actively trying not to think about it. Why? Because I already knew the answer. Eris is right. It's obvious that he loves her.
"Sylphy?"
"Um... yeah. He does.", I answered quietly.
"He loves you too, you know."
'WHAT? Did he tell her that!? Does he love me, like in that way? Like a husband loves his wife?'
"D-Did he... tell you that?"
"No. But I can tell. You love him too, don't you?"
I covered my face under my robe. I'm sure that it's as red as a tomato right now. After using a couple seconds to regain composure and steel my resolve, I gave her an answer.
"Yeah. I do."
"I could tell. The way you and Roxy fought to save him earlier... It was amazing."
Eris had a warm smile as though she were remembering a fond memory rather than a life and death battle.
I love him too", she said without a hint of doubt. "I know how you and Roxy feel, but I'm not going to give up."
A direct challenge. She's confronting me directly and honestly with her feelings. Despite the initial shock of her confession, I wasn't upset by it. If anything I felt better. My mind was reeling about what had happened earlier today but Eris helped me regain my focus.
"I won't give up either."
Eris and I agreed that we should voice our challenge to Roxy as well, in the interest of fairness. The next night we waited for a moment where the three of us could talk privately.
"What is it you guys needed to talk about?", Roxy asked.
"You love Rudeus, don't you?".
Direct and to the point. I appreciate how Eris doesn't beat around the bush. Sometimes I wish I could be a little more like her, in that regard. Roxy, meanwhile, blinked in surprise. It looked like it took her a moment to comprehend what Eris just asked her. Eris looked incredibly serious as she waited for a response; Roxy wouldn't be able to compete with us if she can't even admit her feelings. Roxy seemed to catch on to what was going on, because she responded to Eris' directness in kind.
"I do", she said confidently.
"So do we", Eris answered. I nodded in agreement.
"Rudy cares about all of us too", I added. "I think we should all tell him how we feel together. That way he can make a fair choice."
My stomach turned at my own words. Just the thought of Rudy choosing someone over me was nauseating, but I'm sure Roxy and Eris both felt the same way.
"Let's do it", Eris said boldly. She turned back towards our makeshift camp, ready to confess her feelings immediately.
"Wait! No, not now!", Roxy said as she grabbed Eris' arm, trying to hold her back as her heels dug into the ground.
"What? Why not? We already admitted how we feel. I'm tired of waiting!"
"Everyone just went through an incredibly traumatic event. Rudy is so traumatized he's having trouble controlling his magic. We should wait until things have calmed down."
I tried convincing Eris while Roxy struggled to hold her back. It seemed that my message reached her as she stopped pulling, causing Roxy to fall back, landing on her butt.
"How long will we wait?", Eris questioned.
"It's also not a fair competition", Roxy mentioned. "Sylphiette can't even marry Rudy yet. She won't be considered an adult until her birthday later this year. We should wait at least that long."
*Urgh*, Eris grumbled. "I guess you're right. We'll wait until Sylphiette's birthday then we will all tell him together."
"Agreed", Roxy and I both said in unison.
***** Current Day *****
"I love you, Rudeus."
I said those words in the spur of the moment, but that doesn't mean I didn't mean what I said. I've been waiting to tell him for a long time now.
"I love you too, Sylphiette."
There was no hesitation in his words. He responded immediately and clearly, as though he had been patiently waiting for the opportunity to say those words just like I had. I could feel my cheeks flushing red, not from embarrassment, but from an indescribable warmth that filled me when I heard his response.
I jumped into his embrace and wrapped my arms around his neck. He leaned in and gave me a kiss... our first kiss.
"Sylphy, there's... something I need to tell you."
'Huh? What does he mean? He already told me he loves me. Is he going to tell me we can't be together for some reason??'
I don't know why, but his words made me incredibly anxious. He didn't reject me, but for some reason his words made me feel like he was about to.
"No fair", Eris' voice suddenly cut in. "You cheated."
I turned in surprise to see her standing in the doorway, leaning against the trim. She had her hand stretched out, pointing at me.
"Well, consider that another birthday gift from me", she continued. "Roxy had already cheated anyway, even if it was by mistake."
"What do you mean, she cheated?", Rudy asked while making air quotes around that last word. "Wait... you couldn't mean... cheated on you?"
Rudy's cheeks were turning red. Just what was he imagining?
"Don't be stupid!", Eris hissed. "What I mean is that I love you too. I've loved you for as long as I can remember and I don't think I can ever stop loving you."
"I feel the same", Roxy said as she stepped out the door and into view.
"Roxy, I've known I loved you from the very first moment we met, all those years ago back in Buena Village."
Rudy had the same warm smile on his face as he responded to Roxy. The same one he had when he told me he loved me.
"Eris, the time we spent with Ruijerd traveling the world are some of the happiest moments I can remember. The more time we spend together the more I'm certain in my love for you as well."
I saw Roxy and Eris light up as Rudy responded to each of them. Truthfully, we all already knew that Rudy cared for each of us deeply, but hearing him confess his love for us out loud for the first time is a breakthrough in our relationship. Still...
"Who do you choose?"
Eris asked the question with absolute confidence, despite the implications behind those words. All three of us stared at Rudy for a couple seconds that felt like an eternity.
"Choose? Why do I have to choose? You all love me and I love all of you. Why can't we just build a happy family all of us together?"
'What!? All three of us?'
The thought had never crossed my mind. You might expect that I might be upset with the suggestion, but strangely I only felt relieved. It doesn't matter how many wives Rudy takes; as long as I can spend my life together with him, I'll be happy.
"Before any of that though. Like I was telling you, Sylphy, there's something I need to tell you all."