Translate by Jyzciel

"On the 39th day of my rural adventure, as promised, Chronos and his companions arrived. Today marked a special occasion – a Christmas party!

And what a sight it was when they all showed up in the knight order's uniforms. Handsomeness doesn't even begin to describe it! Each one of them looked remarkably dashing.

I couldn't help but imagine them standing guard at grand events like balls and banquets, catching the eyes of noble ladies. In that moment, I felt like my heart was under siege too!

Little did they know, I had also prepared for the occasion. I adorned myself in a party-worthy ensemble: a black formal dress with intricate lace detailing on the arms and chest. My hair, elegantly styled in an updo, added to the overall glamorous look. To complete the ensemble, I wore pearl earrings and a necklace.

"Woof woof!!" Even the black beans, my adorable companions, had spruced up a bit with ribbons around their necks.

"Oh, you guys are dressed up too?" Chronos greeted them warmly, giving each a gentle pat.

"Welcome." I welcomed all of them.

With a gesture of hospitality, "First, please enjoy some welcome champagne."

And so, the Christmas party in the rural area unfolded, a blend of elegance and rural charm, creating memories that would linger for years to come."

It happened when I handed Chronos a champagne glass adorned with star-shaped sugar cubes.

The instant Chronos laid eyes on my appearance, his eyes widened, and his beastly ears and tail remained frozen in place, fully erect.

"Huh? Chronos?" I was flustered, caught off guard by his sudden reaction.

"Pha... Rin, you look absolutely stunning today!" Noam purred, clearly captivated.

"Thank you for inviting us today. You look truly beautiful. I thought you might be a daughter of some noble." Carl said, squinting his eyes in appreciation.

"Thank you..." I replied, blushing at the unexpected compliments.

"Rinsakura is so beautiful that the Captain frozen, but don't worry, he'll be awake soon." Carl assured with a grin, leaving the still-stiff Chronos behind as he took my hand and led me into the room.

Wait, is it okay to just leave him like that? Despite my puzzled expression, prompted by Noam, I was gently ushered to the sofa and made to sit.

As Carl predicted, Chronos awakened a few minutes later. He snapped back to reality, nervously surveying the room. By that time, Noam and the others were already in the midst of presenting the gifts they had brought for me.

"For this special day, I brought the finest champagne."

"Thank you. Let's enjoy it together later." It had a stylish label, it seemed quite luxurious.

"Also, this is from me." Carl, slightly embarrassed, handed me a lavishly ribboned box.

"Thank you! I also have something I'd like to give you, Carl." I presented a beautifully wrapped box.

"Hey, Vice Captain! You're skipping me for a present exchange with Rinsakura-san!" Chronos, showing his fangs and growling slightly, grabbed Carl's shoulder firmly.

"It's because the Captain is still frozen. He really can't handle anything related to Rin."

"Because the Captain was frozen still... Honestly, when it comes to Rin Sakura, things don't go smoothly at all, do they?" He muttered the last part almost inaudibly.

Completely oblivious to the atmosphere, Noam barged in. "It's my turn! I bought this from the best shop in the capital."

Saying that, he presented a box with a cute dog pattern.

"Thank you."

Taking it with joy, I noticed Noam's eyes were practically shouting, 'Open it! Open it!' all the way to his beast ears and tail. So, I quickly opened it.

"Wow... it's adorable!! This is for Kuro-mame and Kinako, right? Thank you so much!"

The contents were a variety of colorful cookies. In the center were two cookies shaped like Shiba Inus, presumably representing Kuro-Mame and Kinako.

"Hehe..." Noam wagged his tail happily from side to side.

I also gave Noam his Christmas present.

"Yay!" Noam hugged the bag tightly with joy.

Noam is so cute, truly acting like a cat.

Then, as if they were birds eying the prey, Carl and the others silently gazed at Chronos.

"............"

Chronos, looking uncomfortable under their expectant eyes, finally spoke.

"I'll give it later..." Saying that, he gulped down the champagne in one go.

Afterwards, as if nothing had happened, the three of them enjoyed a pleasant dinner.

"Huenufleisch's roast is delicious!!"

"This is the one Noam hunted for us."

"That's why it tasted so good!"

"Don't get carried away!" Carl's usual retort seemed to be alive and well.

The three of them devoured all the Christmas dishes I prepared.

The room was filled with the warm aroma of a meticulously crafted Bûche de Noël, a moment of respite amid bites of the delicious treat.

Noam and Carl, seemingly in sync, exchanged a knowing glance.

"Captain, we've got a promise with Hugo and the others later, so we'll take our leave now." Carl announced.

"Huh?" Chronos interjected, his surprise evident in the way his eyes widened.

It seemed like they had dropped a bombshell on him out of the blue.

"Rinsakura-san, thank you for today. The meal was exquisite." Carl expressed his gratitude with a formal bow.

"Absolutely! Your cooking is unmatched, Rinsakura-san!" Noam, displaying a hint of tipsiness, tightly gripped my hand, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

Chronos, without uttering a word, subtly pulled Noam hand away from mine. Noam scratched his head, offering a casual farewell, "Alright, take care on your way home."

With that, the duo departed, carrying with them a bounty of six roasted Hyunafleisch and six bags of Christmas-themed icing cookies. Evidently, they had plans for a thank-you gathering with the knights.

As I bid them farewell, my eyes narrowed at the mischievous grin Chronos shot their way. "Those guys, always stirring up trouble." I muttered under my breath.

With their sudden departure, an unexpected quietness settled in. Well, except for the lounging black beans at our feet. Seated side by side on the sofa, Chronos and I enjoyed a moment of tranquility, sipping red wine.

"You notice how it gets so quiet when those guys leave? Mostly because of Noam." Chronos remarked, breaking the silence.

"That's true, he's always so cheerful, isn't he, Noam-san?"

"Yeah, he's an essential presence that boosts morale in our squad... And, despite appearances, he's a very reliable guy."

I see, you really trust him.

I watched Chronos happily talk about his subordinates, looking at his profile.

"Carl, needless to say, my right-hand man. I can fight with confidence knowing he's got my back."

"What a wonderful relationship."

"Yeah... Well, I can't say this to him directly; it'd be embarrassing. Strange, am I saying such things because I'm a bit drunk?" Chronos tilted his animal-like ears sideways for a moment.

But in an instant, he turned towards me, took my hand, and said with a serious expression, "RinSakura-san..."

"Yes?"

"For me, you're also an important person. I hope we can continue to rely on each other in the future."

"Yes." I nodded with a radiant smile.

Despite feeling a bit overwhelmed by that smile, Chronos placed a small box with a golden ribbon in my palm.

"If you don't mind, I'd like you to wear this."

Upon his request, I opened the box. Inside was a pair of silver earrings. There was intricate craftsmanship resembling a crest on the earrings, accompanied by an amber heart-shaped gem.

"These earrings are truly beautiful." I wasted no time putting them on.

"Stunning... They suit you really well." Chronos commented softly, gently touching my ear.

If Carl and the others were here, they would undoubtedly tease us. "Why don't you two just get together already!"

The two of us continued to enjoy our red wine while gazing at the moon. And when he was about to leave...

"This is a gift from me. Would you mind bending down a bit?" I draped a cashmere scarf around Chronos's neck.

"It's incredibly warm and soft to the touch." he said, squinting his eyes while feeling the texture of the scarf.

"And this too..." I handed him a pair of leather gloves.

"Such soft leather... Oh! They fit perfectly!"

Chronos seemed surprised, either by the perfect size or the fact that there were gloves made just for him. It wasn't an off-the-shelf item. Carl had secretly borrowed his usual gloves for measurements.

"Thank you, I really like them. I'll treasure them." We continued to gaze at each other, reluctant to part ways.

"Well... I should go. See you again."

"Yes... Take care."

As he left, we waved multiple times while he keep looking back.

And thus, the Second Christmas party came to an end.

A few days later, when Carlos and the others saw Rinsakura's earrings...

Captain... that's unfair. Your possessiveness is out of control.

Surprisingly possessive... A decorative item with the emblem of his house and a gem in the color of his eyes.

"Huh?" Seeing the two's gaze, I tilted my head.

"It's nothing..."

"...Yeah."

The captain really knows how to do things when he wants to.

The captain really knows how to do things when he wants to.

That day, I spent the whole day being stared at by weird gazes by this duo, seemingly teasing.

Jyzciel~

No, I didn't write the same line twice. Its Noam and Carl thought separately.

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