It had been a few days since the fishing contest and the rather pleasant series of dates she had experienced alongside her fiance. In the wake of those blissful days Esperia started to notice something, something quite curious... While at first she had truly enjoyed the festival and all the festivities it brought along with it, after so many days of experiencing the same type of things she started to get haunted by a feeling of boredom, one that was only able to be dealt with thanks to Fia's presence.
Of course, the most natural thing for her to do was to consider the future, to figure out where they would go next and what they would want to do as they prepared for their wedding and honeymoon trip. It was for that reason she had made sure Fia was still vast asleep when she slipped out of their bed, and after a quick shower changed into her kimono as she suddenly found a tall imposing shadow loom over her. "Do you have a sensor for when I wake up or something Sebas?" The girl mused in amusement, but the butler merely smiled politely as he gave her a light bow and answered with a courteous "A servant is always ready when his master needs him."
And so the duo started their little trip around Orchidia. She had no solid destination in mind, and for once Asmodeus had been dormant and had yet to make her presence known. Perhaps she had sensed the girl's conflicted thoughts? Which conflicted thoughts? Obviously about the fishing contest. The first was... The weird alligator that was trailing her with a love-struck daze, walking on his back legs in a rather goofy manner while greeting her with an occasional careful snap of his jaws or, if her eyes didn't deceive her: a wag of his tail and a wink?
"Although I'm happy that we won the contest, are you sure about following us Snappy? I'm not entirely sure if a romance between a alligator and a demon lord is possible..." But the alligator snapped his jaws a few times, leading Sebastian to hum softly as if he understood the words and soon translated "My love for Lady Asmodeus transcends the boundaries of age, gender and species! Is what he says" Wow, speaking of dedication...
Smiling weakly she nodded her head in affirmation before thinking back about the other matter that had troubled her: the female among the Rune Knights she had met... she had the feeling she was much... less pleased with her fiance's departure from the knights compared to the woman's companion, and as a result she felt a bit of a weight on her shoulders, even if she was told repeatedly not to consider herself responsible for the decision. Even if she was a reason behind it, Fia had decided for herself on that matter.
Yet it was perhaps for that reason that Esperia felt twice as motivated to become stronger, to become someone who would walk beside Fia, who would become the perfect wife for her adorable selfish titan lady.
And sometimes? Sometimes getting stronger takes courage, and that courage can emerge in the least expected moments.
As she walked along the streets she noticed a few familiar figures, young men in the armor of the Rune Knights talk among each other.
"See that shrimp over there? That's the one the Barone lass abandoned us for."
The two other knights looked at her, not entirely sure what to anticipate while their talkative companion continued "Dunno what she even sees in her, is she really that cute that you'd give up a well-paying job?"
Oh gods, she really was starting to get frustrated, especially as she tried to walk past them.
"That Fiammetta truly is an idiot to leave the knights all for the sake of a selfish girl. Then again, like father like daughter, I guess? both traitors and fools of the-"
But before he could finish his sentence she had snapped. Sebastian curiously turned his gaze at his side as he watched Esperia walk away from him, her steps pacing up fast as a hand tapped the side of the man's armor, making him go "huh?" when she suddenly she hooked back a fist and pummeled it right into the badmouthing knight's face!
A pained cry came from the man who grasped his nose, for even if she lacked the strength of a trained martial artist, a punch to the face still hurt a fair bit, and a bit of blood dripped from his nose, suggesting it had some effect.
"Wow, it's true what they say about small ones." One of the other knights hummed with a whistle while the badmouthing knight glared at the girl whose fist was trembling lightly.
"What do you think you're doing, attacking a Rune Knight?!" yet Esperia glared back at him and exclaimed angrily. "I don't care what you say about me, but if you utter one more word about Fia or her dad! You guys never understood her! Fia's loyalty has always been to her loved ones! She doesn't care about the crown, fame or wealth! She fights for herself and those she loves! If you can't respect that then... I'm glad I convinced her to leave!"
The badmouthing knight raised a gauntleted hand as if he prepared to attack her, answering her with a scowl. "I can have you arrested for this!" yet the other knight mused in amusement. "Seriously, you're going to punch a young lady after you badmouthed her lover? You're worse than I thought man."
As the two knights dragged the flailing and upset knight away Esperia waited till they were away before she grasped a hold of her fist with her other hand and cried out softly. "That hurts!" Tears welled up in the corner of her eyes, unaware that the human face was harder than she had anticipated! That punch really had taken all of her strength behind it... was she that weak? But at least this time... this time she had protected Fia's reputation by her own hand!
Elegant, Tempting, Adorable.