I approached the Hestia Familia house along with Tiona and Tione, and just as we were about to call for Luan, someone appeared right behind us.
"Can I help you?" It was a cute voice, like that of a child.
We turned around at the same time and saw Liliruca standing there, looking at us with a confused expression.
"Ah, your name is Liliruca, right?" I said, trying to sound friendly.
Liliruca gave me a slightly displeased look and asked, "What are you doing here? Are you looking for Luan? I don't know if he's home right now."
"How would you know where he is? Didn't you just get here too? Weren't you coming here to talk to him as well?" Tiona asked Liliruca.
Liliruca smiled and said, "I live here. I've been part of the Hestia Familia for a while now."
"Wha?" Tiona felt embarrassed by her words. I couldn't blame her—I also didn't know the Hestia Familia had a new member.
"Since you live here, could you go inside and check if Luan is home? Tell him Ais is here and needs to talk to him," Tione said.
Liliruca thought for a moment. "Should I do that?" she said before laughing. "Just kidding, I'll be right back."
She passed through the gate and entered the mansion. After a long wait, Luan finally appeared.
"Ais, Tiona, Tione! Come in!" Luan seemed excited to see us. "Sorry for not getting in touch these past few days. I've been really busy."
"No need to apologize," I said.
My heart started racing, and my body felt warm. I always feel this way when I see Luan.
Fortunately, I can control myself.
"Come on in," Luan invited us. "It's lunchtime—why don't you join us? Hestia and Lili are already inside."
I remembered the last dinner I had at the Hestia Familia house and was about to decline the invitation, but before I could say anything, Tiona had already passed through the gate, with Tione following right after her.
"Come on, Ais!" Tiona called me.
I let out a long sigh and stepped through the gate as well.
I just hope the Goddess doesn't act like that again…
####
We entered the mansion and went to the dining room. Hestia wasn't expecting us, so she was quite surprised.
"I didn't know you'd be having lunch here today! I don't think Luan knew either, since he didn't make much food."
The food was already on the table.
There wasn't enough for six people.
"Don't worry, I'm not hungry. I only came here to talk, but Luan ended up inviting us," I told the Goddess.
"I see. Have a seat."
Luan and Lili sat beside Hestia—Luan to her right and Lili to her left.
Tiona, Tione, and I sat on the other side of the table. I was facing Hestia, Tiona was facing Luan, and Tione was facing Lili. For some reason, Tione looked quite disappointed.
Once we were seated, the food was served.
Luan brought a plate for me, but I made it clear I didn't want any food.
"Come on, just have a little. I made it myself."
"You made the food?"
"Yeah, I did."
Upon hearing that, Tiona and Tione got excited since they had never tried Luan's cooking before. But I had already tasted his food when I had dinner here last time. He's a great cook.
"Alright, I'll have a little," I told Luan, and he placed a small portion of pasta and a small piece of meat on my plate.
Tiona and Tione also received small portions.
Meanwhile, Hestia, Luan, and Lili had full plates.
Everyone started eating, but that wasn't the reason we were here.
"Luan, I came here because I wanted to invite you to something," I said.
"An invitation?"
"That's right. I'd like to invite you to have dinner at the Loki Familia house again."
When he heard my invitation, Luan didn't seem very enthusiastic.
"Well…"
"What is it? Didn't you like the last dinner?"
"It's not that. It's just that Goddess Loki didn't like me very much. I don't think it's a good idea to have dinner there again."
"We can have dinner somewhere else, just the four of us. The Goddess won't be there to bother us," Tione said.
I looked at her, surprised.
Tione had changed the way she spoke to Luan.
When they first met, they barely talked, but now Tione seemed completely at ease around him.
They had become good friends.
"Having dinner at a restaurant could be a good idea. But why just the four of us? Where's Bete?"
"About that…" I remembered how Bete had been acting in the past few days. "It's probably best not to bring him. He could cause trouble." I gave a bitter smile.
"Did something happen to him?"
"Not really. He's just been acting strange lately. Besides, he clearly doesn't like you very much."
Bete had never liked Luan, but lately, his dislike had grown even stronger for some reason.
And they haven't even interacted much.
"Oh no, I'm devastated~" Luan said mockingly. He clearly didn't care that Bete didn't like him.
"So, what do you think? Want to go out tonight? We can have drinks too," I invited Luan again.
Liliruca didn't seem to care much, but Goddess Hestia… She looked at Luan as if she was saying, You better turn down that invitation.
Luan and Hestia exchanged glances, and Luan smiled.
"Alright, let's go out tonight."
"Luan!" the Goddess shouted.
"What? Can't I go out for a meal with some friends?"
"I thought we were going to spend the night together today!"
Hestia's face was red. I didn't know if it was from embarrassment or anger.
But her words made me feel uneasy.
Did she mean they were going to have dinner and hang out… or…?
Tiona and Tione also seemed unsure, but no one said a word.
####
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Next chapters: Chapter 214 - Drunk? / Chapter 215 - Investments? / Chapter 216 - I want to explore the dungeon a bit more. / Chapter 217 - Playing with an Infant Dragon. / Chapter 218 - Xenos. / Chapter 219 - Something sweet. / Chapter 220 - Should I tell her? / Chapter 221 - The most sincere "I love you" you've ever said to me.