88 Comical state of romantic affairs (1/2)

\u003cLover's Grace\u003e - Genuine lovers of every background are blessed perpetually by the Goddess of Love, Era. As such, Healing effects to you are increased by 15%, and whenever you spend time with your lover, your Speech and Luck increases by 15 points.

That's the description that was given to Isamu by the System shortly after he received the blessing. After reading the blessing, the cat-folk dismissed the notification in favor of looking at Sarah, who is currently lying unconscious on her bed at her home moments later.

After a few minutes, Sarah's eyes slowly turn open, and the first thing that her sight greeted is her feline love-interest, who she has been secretly admiring for the past three months. Even after the cat-folk finished his farming duties in pursuit of his training with the orc Baron, Sarah visited him very often after work as she definitely enjoys spending time with Isamu after a long day of work in the fields.

”I-isamu.” The brown-haired young woman stuttered in surprise as she initiated the conversation with him and smiled awkwardly with a huge blush on her beautiful face. ”I just had a bizarre dream, hehe. It involves you practicing some love confession to old man Bren, and I was behind you two witnessing it all. Funny, right?”

”About that.” Isamu looked away slightly a bit shyly with his appearance red. ”It's not a dream. That confession is unquestionably meant for you.”

”Oh!!” Sarah's reaction became even more flustered as she fidgeted her fingers timidly, unbecoming of her usual outgoing personality. ”I…, I see. Old man Bren sure likes to make fun out of us, hehe. Oh my, is it getting hot in here?”

”Sarah.” Isamu, at this moment, abandoned all reservedness as he looked at his love-interest with a stern look, much to the girl's utmost surprise. ”I know that my confession was all too sudden, and I can understand your hesitance and reject me since I'm a cat-folk and of a much different race. But even so, I-”

Isamu was spared no chance whatsoever in finishing his statement as Sarah suddenly pulled him to her by his scarf and immediately wasted no time as she kissed the cat-folk to the lips right here and now.

Indeed, Isamu's eyes widen at this sudden and heart-stirring action as both of them shared the beautiful moment of their lips lovingly touching with one another willingly, closing their eyes in a state of sensational bliss.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end as both of them released themselves from the warm grasp that they find themselves in.

Sarah, with all her shyness and awkwardness finally gone, looked at the cat-folk straight in the eyes with a determined look, fitting for a strong woman such as her.

”Don't you ever say that.” The young woman said firmly, causing Isamu to be taken aback by the serious look that she is displaying to him. ”It matters not what race you are. I fell in love with you because of your pleasant company and personality, and my heart quivers uncontrollably whenever you are around with me. I love you too, Isamu, and that's the only thing that matters.”

”S-sarah,” Isamu uttered her name with the utmost affection. ”You made me the happiest cat-folk, no… happiest mortal man here in Silverhart. I'm incredibly lucky and honored to have a lovely woman, such as yourself in my life.”

”Isamu.” Additional words were no longer necessary as both of them wanted to taste the sweet sensation of their lips touching once more. With passion burning right at their very eyes, the newly formed couple kissed tenderly as they found solace in each other's presence, wanting this precious moment to last indefinitely.

”Oh my!!”

An older female's voice was heard, causing the lovers' moment to abruptly stop as two figures made themselves known and interrupted the romantic scene.

One of the figures, someone that the couple knew all too well, was no other than Bren himself, the old farmer who contributed to the inception of Isamu and Sarah's relationship in a comical manner. Beside him is a woman on her forties with long brown hair styled in a ponytail. Despite her age, one is not so blind to see that she still possesses a significant amount of beauty and refinement.

”Haha, they made quite a loving pair, right, Hannah?” Bren chuckled as he witnessed them in an awkward moment.

”Why, yes.” The woman seemed to have agreed with the old man as she chuckled heartily. ”My daughter certainly has chosen a rather unique person as her partner.”

”E-elder Bren, Ma'am Hannah!!” Isamu was beyond shocked upon seeing the two familiar figures interrupting them, most notably the woman Hannah, who is actually the mother of the lady that he was kissing a few moments ago. ”Let me explain!!”

”Oh, you don't have to, lad.” Bren snickered in response to the couple. ”As a devout follower of Lady Era, I know very well about matters relating to the affairs of love.”

”Right,” Isamu answered in a sheepish voice. He then turned his attention to Hannah with a flustered look. ”Your daughter and I, we-”

”No worries, young man,” Hannah assured the cat-folk as she waved her hand in a dismissing yet friendly manner. ”My daughter has been passionately talking about you non-stop whenever we came back home from work. Frankly speaking, it's rather getting old as I hear her speeches almost every night of how her heart greatly yearns for you and many other things. With her finally gaining the love of her romantic interest, I would be spared from all the restless talking, haha.”

”M-mother!!!.” Sarah voiced out her shame as she looked the older woman. ”Stop embarrassing me in front of my beloved!!”

”Oh, beloved, now is it?” Hannah took joy in teasing her daughter even further. ”My daughter truly has become a woman today.”

Sarah simply held her bedsheets and used it to cover her flustered face in sheer embarrassment about the whole matter.

'W-wow.' Isamu blinked in delightful surprise about how Hannah reacted positively regarding her daughter's case. 'She's rather open-minded about this.'

”Why don't you two stay for dinner?” Hanna offered Isamu and Bren in a welcoming manner. ”I would love to talk to dear Isamu here about why he chose a mischievous girl like my daughter.”

”We don't want to intrude, ma'am.” Isamu displayed his modesty as he politely disagreed.

”Nonsense!! I'm sure my daughter would be thrilled to be dining alongside you.” Hannah insisted with a smile. ”If both of you are ready to step out of this room, you may wait at the dining table. Daughter, be a dear and help me with the cooking.”

”Yes, mother.” Sarah merely shook her head and sighed at her mother's antics.

As soon as Hannah left to cook for dinner, Isamu and Sarah eyed Bren with an accusing look.

”You conniving old man,” Isamu said with an amused grin. ”You planned for this to happen, didn't you?”

”Haha, of course!!” Bren laughed earnestly as he playfully tapped the cat-folk's shoulders. ”It's nice to see young people genuinely expressing their love with one another. As one of Lady Era's worshipers, it's my duty and pleasure to bring two lovebirds together in a relationship born out of sincere romance.”

”I suppose.” It was Sarah who spoke up as she got up from the bed and approached the two men. ”As much as I prefer Isamu confessing directly in front of me, you both have our thanks for your contributions in making this relationship of ours a reality.”

”Your very welcome.” Bren nodded gratefully at the thanks that he received. ”Well, let's go out now, shall we? We don't want to keep your mother waiting.”

With that, Bren went out first as he left the lovers alone once more inside the room.

Isamu and Sarah turned to look with one another intimately as they affectionately held hands before following Bren behind.

Indeed, it was the start of a budding new romance for the cat-folk and human.

***