The feast the villagers had planned looked a little too grand considering how many people were meant to still be resting.
Torches were lit around the square and several tables adorned with local fruits and simple dishes were laid out. My eyes immediately focused on the table serving drinks, thinking I might definitely need to visit it depending on how the night went.
The villagers were already enjoying their little party, the bands already playing music as some children ran around the large fire laid out in the middle of the square.
"So," I started speaking to the nobleman as we casually walked around, not wanting to be noticed just yet, "any thoughts so far?"
I glanced at Marcellus to see him quickly turn back to the crowd, his eyes having been on me. He was acting like he'd been caught doing something wrong.
He'd been acting so strange all day. I knew the man had a staring problem but he never seemed ashamed of it, openly staring at me and other people back at the inn.
I had to admit, I found it unsettling at times but that was mostly because such an intense gaze from him had an embarrassing effect on my body.
I tended to need a cold shower after his little staring sessions.
"Diego," Marcellus responded with a laugh as we stopped behind one of the tables with food. "We have only just arrived and nothing has started. You have been rather tense this whole adventure."
He then proceeded to slowly take hold of my hand and tugged me closer. "Relax for tonight, mmm?"
I hoped that my gulp wasn't that audible to him. He was looking down at me and just one more step, just one small lean of his neck, his lips would've been on mine.
And gods I was tired. I was tired of all the tension and trying to not chase the man away with how much I wanted him. I was tired from the mission, the nightmare, the fact that I knew Marcellus was acting this way because he was leaving soon.
I had been so tired of myself and my emotions lately.
My last shred of self-control was just about to snap. Without even thinking it through, my head had tilted up a little closer but then was stopped.
"Our heroes!" the village head appeared in front of the table, and I took a step back with folded arms. My heart was beating so fast and it felt like it had traveled up my throat.
"My dear," Marcellus said to the old woman, an extra layer of huskiness added in his voice. "A splendid event your people have put together in such a short while."
How is he pretending so well? I thought as my chest ached even more.
Because Marcellus had noticed my slip. I knew he had. I saw the way his eyes had widened dramatically right before the old woman had appeared. In that split second, I saw his hesitation and fear when my actions processed in his mind.
That was a rejection, right? Clear as day, right?
I didn't want to party. I didn't even want to be there anymore. I just wanted to go home and hide in my room until the depressed emotion left my body.
I suddenly couldn't wait for the man to go back to wherever he'd spawned from.
"Oh and what do you think about that, Sir Diego?"
I jumped slightly and blinked at the village head. Both her and Marcellus were looking at me with two different expressions. She was looking at me expectantly, like she was waiting for an answer.
Marcellus looked at me with furrowed eyebrows as he bit his bottom lip slightly. He looked conflicted, like he didn't know what to do with me.
"Oh uhm sure," I said with a big grin, not even sure what I was agreeing to.
The elder woman clapped her hands excitedly and said, "Oh that's wonderful! My daughter had been rather excited to have a dance with you tonight. She's so grateful for how you rescued her."
Wait what?
I didn't mean to, but my eyes immediately moved to Marcellus at her words. I didn't even know what I was looking for.
Jealousy? I almost scoffed at myself.
It had been a mistake because he didn't even look like he cared. The man was now looking at the elderly woman with that warm smile I adored so much.
Oh. Alright. Rejected. Got it.
It wasn't like I expected anything else, and I had thought that I might've prepared myself better for it.
But fuck me. That shit hurt more than being hit with a mountain.
——
"Evening everyone!" The village head started from in front of the large burn fire, addressing the villagers that sat around the village square.
Marcellus and I sat in front of her, in the middle of the circle, on some rather fancy looking bright orange cushions. So many of the villagers were staring at us with big smiles and teary eyes and it was a little overwhelming.
Not as overwhelming as Marcellus sitting so unnecessarily close to me that it felt like he was trying to sit on my lap. I got that the man didn't understand personal space, but common sense should have dictated that after rejecting someone, you kept your distance. Or was that just my wrong thinking?
Let's just focus on the damned speech.
I turned my attention back to the head and the woman beside her that I vaguely remembered from the cave. I assumed that was the head's daughter, Caterina.
She was rather beautiful in a way. Not too tall, curvy figure with blemish free tanned skin. Her black wavy hair fell to the bottom of her back and her eyes a pretty light brown shade. She looked more full of life, a pink tinge on the cheeks of her smiling face as she looked at me.
I blinked rapidly once I'd realized. Why's she looking at me like that?
"We have much to celebrate tonight," the village head continued, snapping me out of my head.
"The return of our loved ones." She proceeded to hug her daughter who held on to her mother tightly before letting go. "And to honor the three heroes that came to our aid when no one else did."
I smiled at the villagers as they clapped for us, kind of sad Leon was missing his own party.
"Especially the man that had appeared before us first and risked his life a second time to help us."
My eyes widened when Leon, who had been sitting far behind the side of the circle opposite us, got up and received claps of his own.
The younger adventurer caught my shocked expression and sent a tired smile my way. That little interaction alone brought out a soft laugh from my lips.
He's fine. Thank the saints, he's fine.
"Now enough of all that formal talk! Eat, drink, dance!" the head yelled and the crowd joined in, everyone standing up and rushing to the tables or around the fire.
I was enjoying myself just watching the villagers but then the girl, Caterina, was now standing in front of me with a rather hopeful expression.
"Would you be up for a dance?" she said with a rather thick country accent.
Any other night, I would've found her endearing and would have likely been the first to ask her. That night just wasn't my night.
I even looked back at Marcellus. For what? I didn't know, but the man was too busy talking to some other villager to pay me any mind.
Alright, I thought as I looked back up at the girl in front of me with a smile. Alright. At least I know now.
"You sure you can keep up? Those legs might be all stiff after what you'd been through. What if you fall?" I joked as I got up and took her offered hand.
She laughed airily as she led me closer to the fire, the fast paced drums of strings of the music filling the night air.
"You will catch me if I fall, won't you, hero?"
I grinned at her flirtatious response, twirling her and bringing her close before we started to dance properly.
This is more me, I thought as she pressed her back to my chest and I placed my hands on her hips. This, I can do. None of this pining bullshit.
My thoughts may have been more believable if I didn't keep glancing at Marcellus every ten fucking seconds.