One night at camp as Ryuu and Aisha return to their tent.

“Ugh… What I wouldn’t kill for a bath or a man.” Aisha said, placing her sword by her futon.

“Can you not talk about being with a man? You have never talked about being with a—”

“Once you have a taste, you will be the same,” Aisha said, grinning at Ryuu.

“Hmph. I do not see how you and Ai are friends.” Ryuu said, removing her cloak and boots.

“We have been friends since we were kids. I even taught her some stuff to snag Cirrus.”

“!!” Ryuu’s face turned slightly red.

“Heh~ Are you embarrassed?” She said, walking up to Ryuu.

“N-no! It is just hot, is all.” She said, removing more clothes.

“You can’t fool me. Ai made that same face. You’re really as pure as they come, huh?”

“So what? I am not as tainted as you.”

“Rude. It’s not my fault my race craves strong people.”

“Then have you… laid with Cirrus—”

“Nope.” She cuts her off bluntly. “I have to stop you there,” Aisha said, going back to sitting on her futon. “After hearing their criteria, I cut my losses.”

“Criteria? What do you mean? Are those rumors true?”

“Somewhat. The information has gotten twisted.”

“Then what are they?” Ryuu said, a bit interested.

“Are you interested?” Aisha said with that same grin.

“No, I um… I just wish to be well informed.”

“Hmm… Sure. Whatever you say elf, listen close alright.”

Ryuu would listen intently. Hearing and memorizing all the criteria.

• 1: The person must have known, or at the very least be on good terms with Ai, Artemis, and Cirrus if they are lucky.
• 2: They must fight against Ai and Artemis.
• 3: The person must gain Artemis and Ai’s approval. If more wives are added, then their approval is also necessary.
• 4: They then will be given a single opportunity to show their charming points to Cirrus. Fail and there are no second chances.

Hearing it, Ryuu felt a bit dejected, but as she went over it she found she felt she has a high chance. She is on good terms with Ai and even better with Cirrus. Artemis and she haven’t spoken with each other much, but when they worked together during the Dark Era of Orario, they were amicable.

The fighting part was something she possibly didn’t need to do, as there was nothing you would gain upon winning or even losing. Which linked to the next one. Then the hardest part was the last one.

‘Show him my charming points… Do I—!?’

Ryuu realized she has been thinking about this for too long.

“You have been thinking a lot there, Elf,” Aisha said, looking at her intensely and with delight.

“S-so!” she said, flustered.

“Hey, I’m not bashing you. Cirrus is a fine man, strong and kind, and from what Ai said really good in—”

“Where are you going with this Amazoness!?” Ryuu cuts her off.

“As I was getting to it, out of everyone I know you are rather close with Ai and even more so with Cirrus. So you have a very good chance of being his third wife if you act quickly.”

“!?” Her face quickly turned red. “I-I do not love him! I hold no such—”

“Lies. You have all the tells of one in love. You're just too shy to admit it. A Tsundere is what Hermes called women like you.”

“I am going to bed.” She said, getting under the covers.

“Sure thing.”

‘I do not love him… I do not love—’ Ryuu remembered how he held her hand and how he walked her back. ‘… Oh fuck.’

Thump-thump!

That night, she couldn’t get over this feeling.