A Brighter Future (Kuroinu)

Rhodes’s emotions were on a rollercoaster, and his expression turned somewhat gloomy. Seeing this, Celestine couldn’t help but think that Rhodes might not want Claudia after all. He had initially said that Celestine was better than Claudia, so why the sudden change in his attitude?

“Rhodes, do you really not want Claudia after all?”

“It’s not about that…”

Rhodes shook his head as he heard Celestine’s words. Was he really not willing to part with Claudia? He wasn’t sad about Claudia, he was just upset that Claudia’s intentions were just about taking care of him and nothing more. How could he not be sad about that?

“So, what’s the reason? If you can, please tell me. I’m here to share your burdens, no matter what troubles you.”

Celestine rested her face against Rhodes’s back, tightly embracing him, as if she wanted to comfort his troubled soul and make him feel better.

However, this physical contact did not improve Rhodes’s mood, and he even felt sadder.

“Celestine, have you always intended to take care of me like this?”

“Yes, because I just can’t rest easy when it comes to you. And I don’t trust anyone else to take care of you as well as I do. You see, there’s no one else in this world who can do that for you.”

Celestine replied with conviction, as if she believed that no other woman in the world could take care of Rhodes as well as she could. While this statement made her blush and feel a bit embarrassed, Rhodes couldn’t see her face, so it didn’t affect her too much.

“So, do you intend to be like this for the rest of our lives?”

“I don’t see any problem with it. Why can’t we be like this for the rest of our lives?”

Celestine felt there was nothing wrong with the idea of taking care of Rhodes throughout their lives. The thought of being able to look after Rhodes this way made her happy. However, she soon realized.

“But you’re right, Rhodes. Sooner or later, you’ll need to start a family. If that happens, I can’t keep taking care of you like this. What if the person you choose isn’t a good wife or can’t take care of you properly? What then?”

Celestine worried about these possibilities. Rhodes, on the other hand, felt a mix of emotions—happy to be so cared for, yet a bit overwhelmed.

“So, what do you think we should do? Would you be willing to take on those responsibilities?”

Rhodes was nervous when he said this. He didn’t know if this approach would work, but he had to try.

“I…I will take on…”

Celestine paused for a moment, then understood Rhodes’s intention. Her face turned bright red, and she felt a bit embarrassed. She hadn’t expected Rhodes to say something like this. Was this a proposal?

Seeing Celestine’s blush, Rhodes realized that he may have just proposed. He couldn’t see her face, but he felt her warmth against him.

“But, this is so sudden… I wasn’t mentally prepared for this. But you’re right; if it’s for the sake of your future family, I should take on those responsibilities.”

“Does that mean you agree?”

Rhodes’s heart raced, wondering if he had succeeded.

“Yes… I… I agree.”

Celestine, with a shy smile, nodded in agreement. As she nodded, Rhodes couldn’t help himself and embraced her, feeling her body pressed close to his. He felt her heart racing too.

After seeing Rhodes so happy, Celestine realized his feelings for her and felt immense joy. If she had known about this from the beginning, she might not have worried about Rhodes leaving her for someone else.

“But, what should we do about General Grave’s proposal?”

Rhodes suddenly remembered this issue. If he didn’t agree to General Grave’s proposal, how should they handle it? It was a matter that required careful consideration.

“Well, I think we can’t directly refuse right now. General Grave is very concerned about the continuity of his family, and he’s shown a strong desire for me. If I outright reject him, it might negatively affect our relationship. So, we might have to take this slowly. I’ll think of a way to delay it.”

“Can you really do that?”

Celestine was a bit concerned, but Rhodes nodded confidently.

“I can ask Claudia for help. She should be willing to assist me.”

However, Rhodes couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. He was essentially using Claudia to be with Celestine, rather than for Claudia’s sake. This behavior could be considered selfish and hurtful to Claudia, and Rhodes felt uneasy about it.