Foreseen Long Ago

"Your father and mother invited me to dinner at your home?"

In the presidential suite of the hotel where he was staying, Amosta slowly set the wineglass in his hand down on the pristine white marble bar streaked with swirling patterns, one brow lifting slightly.

Of course, he was not surprised that Mr. and Mrs. Dett had invited him to dinner at their home. After recognizing his identity, it would have been strange if the elderly couple had shown no reaction at all. Still, outwardly, it was only reasonable for him to display some confusion.

"Oh, of course—"

Amelia, who also felt the matter was rather abrupt, flushed so deeply that she could barely maintain her usual expressionless face. She hurriedly looked toward Remus, who had raised his head to look their way.

"And Remus."

Amelia looked at Remus weakly. "My father really enjoyed the interesting stories about the British wizarding world that you shared with him, so he invited you as well."

"Oh, thank you—"

Remus snapped out of his daze. His eyes shifted between Amosta, who seemed to be pondering something, and Amelia, who was doing her utmost to conceal her embarrassment. His lips pressed together unconsciously.

If Remus could not tell which of the two of them Mr. and Mrs. Dett sincerely wanted to invite, and which was merely the extra, then he felt his thirty-odd years of life had been wasted.

"Oh, thank you for the kind invitation—"

Out of respect, Remus set down the documents in his hands and rose to his feet. He thanked her once more, but said with an apologetic expression,

"But I'm sorry, Amelia, I..."

Remus racked his brains, then picked up the documents on the table again and waved them at Amelia.

"You see, I can't get away right now.