He was always so perceptive when it came to other people. She often told him that he would make a great gondolier were he so inclined. He only laughed and said that even the plants he worked with would be far better at small talk than himself.

“Alicia.” His voice brought her out of her brief musing and she looked up from her tea at her fiance. He returned her gaze, attentive yet not overbearing. President Aria slept in his lap, face snug into the folds of his jacket, much like a child.

She sighed, a guilty smile on her beautiful features. “I can never hide anything from you, can I?”

“I’m here to listen if you wish. Always.”

So devoted, he was. If she told him that she didn’t want to marry him anymore, would he give up on her? A part of her was afraid to find out. Arturo had a sensible head on him; if their marriage would cause problems for her, he wouldn’t have proposed to her in the first place. But if something were to change in the future...

She took a deep breath. Marriage was the least of the things she was worried about, to be honest. It was only that everything else was overwhelming her that even a joyful event felt suffocating.

“It feels like a storm is coming and everything will change all at once, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to withstand it.”

“I’ve already delayed in graduating Akari to Prima. But still a part of me selfishly wants to keep her as a Single for longer so we can continue our days like this for as long as possible...”

“Akari’s such a good girl. Her friends working at the other gondola companies are all graduating and she’s also ready to join them as a fellow Prima.”

“But... I’m not ready to let her go, not yet. I keep thinking, if only I hadn’t accepted that offer to the association. Then I could spend the rest of my days with Akari... -!!”

She started, eyes darting up to meet her fiance’s.

He wasn’t a jealous man, she knew. He never complained or gave her any trouble when she had customers and couldn’t meet with him on the days he could return to Neo-Venezia. But surely hearing his betrothed so vehemently state that she wanted to stay with another person for the rest of her life... On his visits too, she often talked about her pupil.

In his lap, President Aria yawned and angled his head, nudging Arturo’s arm for chin stratches which were given promptly. He was looking down, smiling at the cat’s happy purrs.

“I’ve never met Akari, so I can’t say that I know how she might feel. But, from all you’ve told me about her...” He looked up, his eyes meeting hers.

“I don’t think Akari would be the kind of person to think badly of you for wanting to spend more time with her. On the contrary, I think she would be very happy to have someone who cares so much for her.”

Just looking at his smile, she felt the tension in her body suddenly leave her and her shoulders relaxed. He started upon seeing the tears in the corners of her eyes.

“A-Alicia?! Is something the matter?” He moved to retrieve the handkerchief in his jacket’s inner pocket but she stopped him with her hand upon his, shaking her head.

“No, it’s just...” President Aria hopped onto her lap, nudging her arm and making reassuring sounds. She smiled at them both.

“I’m so happy that you chose me... to be your wife," she accepted the handkerchief he held out to her. "Even when my mind is a thousand miles away and I'm always busy with my own matters, you never complained... not once."

"Alicia. I'm grateful that you accepted my invitation to date you in the first place..." He held her hands in his, his grasp warm. "You could have easily gone for a rich merchant, a CEO of a corporation, a celebrity, anything but a mere glorified farm boy."

"Then I suppose we're even then," she replied, then her expression turned teasing. "And my my, but who is this 'glorified farm boy' who has managed to capture the heart of an undine, I wonder?"

She giggled as her fiance's face turned a rather fetching colour of red.

"Ah... there you go teasing me again... Well, as long as it makes you feel better," Arturo laughed, face still flushed.

"I do feel better. Thank you..." It was her turn to blush. Seeing his boyish smile up close rarely failed to cause butterflies in her chest.

"Anything for you, Miss Undine."

President Aria mewed, watching over the two contently as Arturo solemnly pressed a kiss to Alicia's hand.