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Ellen and Corin had been dating for a couple of months now.
Though, they had both agreed that they wouldn't tell anyone until the time was right.
But it felt as if their secret was starting to slip out.
So, how would everyone react once they finally announced they were dating?
Alexandrina Sebastiane
The morning sun poured through the windows, bathing the room in a warm orange glow. Rina sipped her tea peacefully, taking in the lounge as if she hadn't seen it a thousand times before. It was awfully early that morning, so she had expected nobody else to be awake.
Imagine her surprise when Ellen and Corin walked in.
The only person who lived in the Victoria Housekeeping residence was Corin. Everyone besides her lived separately or with their families, so why was Ellen here?
Rina stopped by in the mornings sometimes to see Corin, whether it was work related or not. Everyone knew Corin didn't have much of a life outside of work, so Sir Lycaon had eventually agreed to let her stay at the residence.
The three of them froze in surprise, glancing at one another before Rina spoke first.
"Well, hello, Miss Ellen. I didn't expect to see you here so early. In fact, today is a school morning, isn't it?"
Rina sipped her tea calmly, examining Ellen's appearance. She was already dressed in her school uniform.
"Morning." Ellen responded, walking over to the fridge and grabbing a yogurt drink. "I'm heading off to school. See you guys later."
As Ellen walked out of the lounge, Rina and Corin's eyes met.
Neither of them said anything, but their eyes gave it all away.
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“Ellen!” Corin coughed, quickly correcting herself. “I mean- Miss Ellen! You’re back!”
Lycaon, Rina, and Corin were all in the lounge as usual. Lycaon’s ears twitched, Rina looked up from her book, and Corin finished dusting one of the paintings.
Ellen had just returned from another commission. She nodded to acknowledge Corin’s presence before casually making her way over to the long couch. She rested her shears on the floor, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes.
Minutes had probably passed. Everyone was doing their own thing, and Ellen couldn’t help but drift off until-
“Here, Miss Ellen.”
Corin sat down in the space right beside her, a grape-flavored yogurt drink in hand. She had already popped the straw through the lid.
Ellen took it without hesitation.
“Thanks.”
Rina stared over at them, careful not to make it obvious that she was watching.
Sure, Ellen and Corin were close. But Corin hadn’t even needed to ask what Ellen wanted.
Interesting indeed.
"You remembered." Ellen stated, glancing at Corin who was smiling softly.
“Of course I did.”
Of course…?
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“We’re off,” Ellen said in her usual monotone voice.
Ellen and Corin were just about to set off for another commission. However, neither of them noticed Rina standing directly behind them.
So, without thinking, Ellen reached down and took her girlfriend’s hand in hers, ready to head toward the door-
Until they slowly turned their heads.
Rina was standing right behind them.
They stared at her in silence before Rina was the one to break it.
“I see.”
“You didn’t see anything,” Ellen shot back.
“Your hands seem to say otherwise.”
The girls glanced down.
Their hands were still intertwined.
Corin immediately let go, her face flushing a couple shades of red. Ellen huffed in disappointment, but before she could say anything else, Rina simply walked away.
...
“I noticed something.”
Lycaon perked his head up. “What did you notice?”
Rina simply smiled, “I think you’ll notice soon too.”
I definitely saw something.
Von Lycaon
One evening, the four of them were just about to head out for a commission. Rina sat nearby as Lycaon gave instructions to Ellen and Corin before they headed into battle. However, one of the materials they needed to bring along was awfully heavy.
So, it wasn't a good idea to make Corin carry it. She had already struggled to bring the material back into the lounge because of its weight. But just as Lycaon was about to help-
“Here.”
Ellen stepped forward, taking the material straight from Corin's hands in one swift motion.
“You don't need to carry that.”
Corin's eyes widened. “But-!”
“I'll do it.”
Lycaon raised both eyebrows but said nothing. Instead, he glanced over at Rina while continuing his instructions. For some reason, he had a feeling Rina was onto something with these two.
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Lycaon walked into the lounge. He didn't have much to do, really, so he thought he could kill some time wandering around the residence. He knew Rina had already left and assumed Ellen had as well.
Well, he certainly didn't expect to find Ellen and Corin sitting on the couch, facing each other, with a bag of New Eridu's newest sweets between them.
“Oh, Corin, hold still.”
Ellen leaned forward, gently wiping the small crumbs of sugar stuck to her girlfriend's face.
Corin chuckled shyly. “Th-thank you, Miss Ellen... I mean E-Ellen!!” Her face flushed pink.
“You're welcome.”
Lycaon hovered behind them, standing at the back of the couch. The two slowly lifted their gazes, turning to look at their unexpected guest.
Corin's gummy missed her mouth.
Ellen, meanwhile, was just about to snap back with another sarcastic remark.
“...I see,” Lycaon mumbled, scratching his chin.
Ellen sighed. “Why do you guys always do that..? Don't.”
“I haven't said anything.”
She rolled her eyes. “You were about to.”
“I assure you, Miss Ellen, your private affairs are none of my concern.”
“Gosh! Don't say it like that.”
Ellen and Lycaon went back and forth while Corin melted into the couch from embarrassment.
They had been getting way too obvious recently. Even Lycaon and Rina had managed to catch on.
And here she thought they were doing a good job hiding it.
—------
“You were right.”
Rina looked up from her tea, “About what?”
“Miss Ellen and Miss Corin.”
Rina smiled, “Ah. So you noticed.”
“It would seem so.”
“And?”
Lycaon paused.
“I believe they are happy.”
“That they are.”
She stayed quiet for a couple seconds.
“I believe I should let manager know.”
Lycaon raised an eyebrow, “Manager..? Why?”
She shrugged, “Their reactions would be rather pleasing to look at.”
Belle and Wise
The next day, Rina had asked Ellen and Corin, completely out of the blue, to stop by Random Play and pick up a couple of videotapes for her and Lycaon. Honestly, the two found it strange. Rina wasn't particularly busy, nor was Lycaon, so why couldn't they go to the video store themselves? But since Ellen and Corin had nothing important to do that day, Corin waited for Ellen after school so they could pick up the videotapes first and then spend the rest of their free time together.
As they reached the door, Corin gave Ellen a nod and let go of their intertwined hands.
As soon as they entered-
Belle's eyes immediately landed on them.
That didn't look too good.
“You two!” she pointed at them.
Ellen and Corin glanced at each other before tilting their heads slightly in confusion. Just as Ellen was about to speak up, she was interrupted again.
Wise walked down the stairs, pausing halfway when he realized who had arrived.
“They're here.”
“...Why are you saying that like it's an emergency?”
“HOW LONG HAVE YOU TWO BEEN DATING?!”
Corin's face flushed red. She took a couple of steps back, hiding slightly behind Ellen.
“W-What?!”
Ellen groaned, running a hand through her hair.
“Damn it. I knew Rina figured us out.”
“She told us!” Belle rushed toward them, hands on her hips as she scolded them for not telling her sooner.
“Of course she did.” Ellen rolled her eyes.
“Who asked who out?”
“How long has this been going on?”
“Does everyone know?”
“Why didn't you tell us?”
“Was that why you were holding hands before you walked in?!”
“How do you even-”
“WAIT- WERE YOU TWO HOLDING HANDS IN FRONT OF RINA?!”
“Gosh, it ain't that big of a deal. Yes, we are dating.” Ellen answered, watching Wise slowly come up behind his sister.
“So Ellen and Corin are dating... I see.”
“Don't even start.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You said I see.”
“And?”
“You know exactly what you're doing.”
Belle chimed in, “Please tell me everything!” she whined.
Corin blushed. “W-Well, we've been together for mo—”
“Don't answer all of them.”
“YOU'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR MONTHS?!”
“I-I didn't mean—”
“Corin.”
“...Sorry.”
…
After a while of chatting with Belle and Wise, who had, by the way, ruined their whole day of spending time together, Belle finally spoke up.
“So... are you two happy?”
Ellen and Corin stared at her.
Then Corin looked at Ellen.
And Ellen looked back, taking Corin's hand in hers.
“Yeah.”
Corin's heart melted at those words.
Belle squealed. “Aweeee—!”
“We're leaving.”
“Wait, guys! No, I'm sorry!! Please stay!”
—------
Ellen and Corin left the video store like a heavy weight had been lifted off their shoulders. Now, they didn't have to hide their relationship anymore. They also figured out that Rina and Lycaon never needed the tapes after all. They had just been used as bait to lure the two of them in.
Cheeky.
Bonus (∗´ര ᎑ ര`∗)
Ellen slammed open the lounge doors, with Corin trailing behind her. As she expected, Rina and Lycaon were sitting inside, both looking far too smug for her liking.
Ellen guessed that, on their way back to the residence, Belle had called Rina and confirmed their relationship.
Ellen swears, one day she's gonna get Belle.
“Listen! Me and Corin are dating.”
“Oh, wow-”
“Save it, Rina. Belle already told you this while we were on our way home. I can literally sense it.”
Rina sighed, though she didn't look disappointed in the slightest.
“Congratulations, you two.” Her eyes softened. “I'm proud.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”
“T-Thank you! M-Miss Rina!”
Lycaon placed his teacup on the table, looking up at the two confirmed girlfriends.
“I believe this calls for a celebration, doesn't it?”
Ellen tilted her head, “Celebration...?”
Corin immediately perked up.
“Yes! Let's do it!”
…
Ellen glanced around the room.
Rina was smiling. Corin was happily eating the sweets she'd been given, and even Lycaon seemed pleased.
She sighed, “You guys are making this way too big of a deal.”
Corin looked up at her, “But it's our first celebration!”
Ellen paused.
Then she smiled.
“...Fine.”
Corin smiled back.
Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
Bonus 2 (੭ ;´ ⌂ `;)੭♡ post-confession!!
“You don’t have to call me that.” Ellen muttered, loud enough so Corin could hear it.
Corin tilted her head, “Huh? What?”
“‘Miss Ellen’ I’m your girlfriend aren’t I?”
…
“You should be calling me Ellen.”
Ellen looked away, hiding the blush that randomly appeared on face.
“I want you. To call me Ellen.”
Corin's eyes widened, “...Ellen?”
Ellen's ears turned pink, “Yeah.”
Corin smiled, wrapping her hands around her girlfriend's arm.
“Okay... Ellen.”
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