Gerald silently studied her for a moment, then sighed softly and nodded. "Got it. I'll go find Ai Fanier later and ask if he can have dinner with us."
Those words clearly pleased Lamaline. The smile at the corner of her lips deepened, and the hand gripping Gerald's wrist loosened as well.
Seizing the chance, Gerald casually smoothed down his somewhat rumpled long hair, threw on his coat, and swiftly finished washing up and getting ready.
Lamaline remained lying on her side in bed, watching his every move. Only when the Pegasus's hand rested on the doorknob did she speak at the last moment. "There's one more thing."
Gerald subconsciously turned back and met those crimson eyes.
Lamaline gazed at him quietly, her lips still curved in their usual gentle smile, though there was something faintly unreadable within it... anger?
She slowly said:
"When you come back, you can bring Saria along with you. That golden Pegasus still needs to wait until I've met her."
"I think it's about time Ai Fanier met his little mother."
And so Gerald fled in defeat.
Lamaline would not monitor his every movement, but there was no telling whether the Banshee Lord might wander around outside while invisible when she had nothing to do during the day, perhaps taking the opportunity to look for him and Ai Fanier.
Otherwise, she would probably have discovered what had happened in Kal'tsit's office earlier.
But in any case, the die was cast. He should settle Saria's matter first. If he kept dragging things out, who knew what unpredictable development might arise again—
"Gerald."
The moment he stepped outside, he ran into the Vouivre who had been waiting by the door early in the morning.
She held the gift they had prepared before. Her gaze lingered briefly