Fortune Smiles Upon Us

What do you think this is, huh?!

Wh-What the?!

Is this how you think newlyweds should be? Aaalways apart 'cause the groom can't stop working?!

Just when I thought you were finally home to spend some quality time with me, you're off to work again!

Listen, honey, I just hit a really good vein with some of the best ore we've seen in months, and...

Enough! Me or your work? Decide! Now!

C'mon, honey, don't do this... Gotta go, bye!

Wh-What?! COWARD!

Oh, you...you jerk!

Ah...! The dizziness again...

Are you all right, madam?

Urk...

She doesn't look so good. We should get her to a bed right away.

Indeed. Here, let's take her to the Inn.

You're looking better already! What a relief.

Yes, I'm quite fine now. I do apologize for the trouble. I don't know what came over me, really. W-Well...sort of.

Don't mention it, madam. My compatriot and I are simply glad to have helped.

Thank you, that's very kind of you.

*sigh* How embarrassing. A pair of total strangers will go to all this trouble for me but my own husband won't even give me the time of day anymore.

It seems like your husband is a busy man.

You saw that little spat, did you? Goodness, it couldn't get any worse!

Well, it was pretty hard to miss on account of how loud it was, to be honest.

There's a good reason why I was so impassioned, I can assure you. There's actually something I've been wanting to talk to him about urgently.

But he keeps brushing me off using his work as an excuse so I don't have the chance. It's like I don't even matter to him anymore! Of course I know he has to work but still...

Hm. That is troublesome indeed. Well, why not try writing him a letter?

Did...Did I hear you correctly? A letter?

Sure. And when he has the time he can read it at his leisure.

I'll even see to its delivery personally, if you so wish.

You will? Well...Thank you! That would be great. I really do want him to know this as soon as possible.

Wonderful. Take as much time as you need to get it all down on paper. We'll kill some time until you're finished.

Looks like we'll be stuck in the area for a while. Any idea how we should pass the time?

Patience, young'un. And don't worry. I have an idea. Why don't we make a trip to the Serena Coast?

I'm sure I saw them somewhere around here. My brain isn't that age-addled yet...

Ah, there it is!

What are you up to, Zilva?

Plucking one of these flowers, Aldo.

Uh...May I ask why?

I've an idea to enclose it in the young madam's letter to her husband.

How come when they already married? I thought sending flowers was something people did when they were courting.

Oh, Aldo. It's precisely because they are married -a pair of individuals now joined forever- that gifting this flower is appropriate.

Er...it is?

Well, you are young. Perhaps one day you will yet understand. Indeed, you may not think so now but when I was younger...

...I most certainly didn't, much to my wife's annoyance and dismay! Hahaha!

O-Oh, I see. (I don't really.)

So what's so special about this particular flower? Does it mean something specific to being married?

Heh. I'll leave that as a surprise for you to enjoy discovering later. For now, let us return to Rinde.

Oh, hello again. I do hope you weren't too bored waiting but I've finished writing that letter now.

Not at all, madam, not at all. Here, a little something to brighten your day.

How lovely! That's very thoughtful of you, sir. Thank you.

I'm glad it's to your liking since I intend to include another like it in your letter.

Huh? What for? I'm not sure I understand.

*mumble whisper* ...meaning of the flower... ...I am...

I...Wha?! H-How did you, ?

Hahaha! Well, an old dog like myself will have inevitably been around the block a few times. I have something of an idea of these things.

Now, I'll take that letter off your hands and make sure it reaches your husband. Along with the flower, of course.

*sigh* I'm nervous, but...yes, please do. Thank you. I've no doubt you'll find my husband out on the Serena Coast mining, like he always is.

Then that is where we shall go.

Shan't we, Aldo?

Sure, I gave up trying to understand what all of this is about hours ago anyway.

Did I not advise you to have patience? Goodness, I dread to think how you youngsters would have fared back in my day. Come, to the Serena Coast!

I don't see any sign of him...

I guess the Coast is pretty big. I don't know what I expected.

Shoot! Zilva, over there!

Ngh!

Aaargh!

What? How? When did he...

Wh-Who are you?!

Wh-What?! Then how do you plan to fight...

You don't have to tell me twice!

Damn it, there's just too many of them! They won't stop coming!

They're being drawn here by the cries of their dying brethren! At this rate there'll just be an endless stream of them attacking!

So we must drive them off without offense, yes? I see. It's been a while but let's see if I've still got it...

......

Uh, Zilva? Hello?

Gwroooh...!

Grrgrhaaaaaaaagh!

This power! What is he about to do with...

BOO!

Phew.

Heh. Still got it.

...Oh.

Now, back to the order of the day. I have here a letter for you, good sir. It contains an important message from your wife.

From her? Why would she...

Read it and you'll find out.

Good point.

Okay then, let's see... Mm-hm. Uh-huh...

Whaaaaaat?!

What's wrong?! What does it say?!

She...We... We're gonna be parents now! She's gonna have a baby!

Heheh. Congratulations, my friend.

I hope the flower ushers in a lucky day of welcome for your newest family member. After all, it does bear the meaning: May fortune smile upon you.

"May fortune smile upon you"...

It really has! I'm the luckiest man in the world!

If I may make a suggestion, how about wrapping up your work for the day and celebrating the news with your wife? I'm sure the two of you have much to plan and discuss ahead of you.

You're right again, you are! All right, I'm heading home! Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!

So that's why you chose that flower.

Yes. It's often exchanged as a congratulatory symbol.

Huh. I never knew you knew so much about flowers.

Hahaha! I must admit, it was actually my wife who told me that little snippet of trivia.

Whenever I see that flower I'm always reminded of my youth. My wife did so love blossoms like it.

Haven't I? Well, she's...She's very strong-willed and extremely loving and kind. Someone anybody could find respect for.

You two must be get on really well since you're such a good husband, then.

Well, as much as I wish I could call myself a good husband, there was a time when I had nothing to offer her but reasons to fret.

No way! You, Zilva? I'm having trouble imagining that of you, I've gotta say.

When I was still a whippersnapper I was terribly...foolish. Indeed, far more foolish than I have the heart to admit.

It's strange, really. Although I did nothing but make her cry back in those days... How should I put it? When I think back on them I only see her smiling, vividly and radiantly.

Actually, how come you never visit her, Zilva? Even if she lives so far away you could still go see her once in a while.

......

I swore to my wife that I would wield this savage axe of mine in defense of as many people as the lives it has claimed. Until then, we would remain apart. And at this moment in time...

There are many more innocents I must defend before I can say I have fulfilled that promise.

As such, we are still far from reuniting. Very, very far.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. It sounds like a...difficult situation.

Oh no, not really. When you get to my age the passionate heart settles and you can become quite comfortable in any situation. That's why as long as I keep writing my letters I can be contented in my wife's absence. Our souls are still connected.

Now then, before I forget the details I must write of what happened today. In a letter for my wife, of course.

I hope that when we meet again she'll be proud of what I've done.

...I'm sure she will.

(Does he mean what I think he means?)