They walked slowly down the dirt path, letting the soft breeze from the lake brush against their skin. The sun was warm but gentle, painting the water in a golden glow. Their little lakeview house looked calm behind them, the quiet ripples of the lake reflecting the morning sky.

Ridan floated ahead with his usual excitement, darting up and down like a restless balloon, while Syaria drifted behind him, watching with a small, amused smile.

Hazuki looked up at Ellyn sitting on his shoulders. She had her chin resting on his head, humming softly like she didn't have a single care in the world. Her tail lazily swayed behind him, brushing against his back every now and then.

As he walked, his thoughts started to wander.

Now I know Ellyn isn't a child. Just her transformation skill.

He exhaled quietly.

It was a strange feeling. Warm and heavy at the same time. His heart tightened with a kind of joy he never really thought he'd have.

This is my first time… having a girl. A real girl.

He glanced ahead at the clear path, and memories from his old world flashed briefly. Those days when women avoided him just because he wasn't as handsome as the guys in his group. The way they treated him like he didn't even exist.

But here… in this world… things were different.

Even if his beginning here was a complete mess. Even if he had been dragged into it without power, without plan.

Now, he had someone clinging to him. A girl who was not only cute, but real. A girl who, somehow, became his future wife.

A confirmed, beautiful wife.

And beside that, a ridiculous, loud, mischievous purple spirit who always said whatever came to mind.

Hazuki's lips curled into a small, genuine smile.

This life isn't so bad after all.

Ridan floated ahead, spinning around in excitement while Syaria followed behind at a steady pace, watching him with mild amusement.

When he looked back and saw Hazuki wearing that soft, dopey smile, a wicked grin crept onto Ridan's face.

"Oho? You're thinking about doing it with Ellyn again, aren't ya? Wooo!!! This Lolizuki!" he shouted, spinning midair like he was announcing a festival.

Hazuki's dreamy expression immediately froze, his gaze shifting upward.

"No," he said flatly.

Ellyn, still perched on his shoulders, instantly grabbed a handful of Hazuki's hair and gave it a little tug.

"Ohoho!!!" Ridan cackled, floating closer. "I'm sure Hazuki was thinking about it~ You know Ellyn can use transformation skill to change her—"

He stopped mid-sentence the moment Ellyn's sharp, deadly glare locked onto him.

"Ahahaha!! Sorry, catgirl! My tongue slipped!" Ridan threw both hands over his mouth, floating backward fast like a guilty kid caught red-handed.

Syaria just sighed, shaking her little puffball body. "You really never learn…"

Hazuki narrowed his eyes slightly and tilted his head back just enough to catch her expression.

"What did Ridan mean?" he asked again, dragging out the question.

Ellyn let out a weak, nervous laugh, her tail flicking behind her like a guilty cat caught stealing fish.

"N…nothing," she said quickly, trying to sound casual.

"Really?" Hazuki kept walking, his tone suspicious as he stared up at her.

"Y-yes…" she answered, voice trembling slightly.

Hazuki squinted more. "Reaaallllyyy?"

Ellyn's ears twitched. She glanced away, cheeks heating up, still clutching his hair like a lifeline. Her legs fidgeted on his shoulders.

"E–Ellynnnnn?" Hazuki called again, sing-song this time.

She flinched and puffed her cheeks. "Uuu… stop askinggg!"

Hazuki smirked. "So there is something."

"Uwaaa! No there isn't!" she yelped, pulling on his hair as if that could erase the conversation.

"Suspicious~," Hazuki teased.

"Shut up, Hazukiiii!" she whined, burying her face in his head to hide her red face, while Ridan and Syaria snickered in the air above.

The market was lively, dwarves shouting prices, the scent of roasted meat mixing with the tang of ale and smelted iron. Hazuki walked slowly through the crowd, Ellyn perched comfortably on his shoulders, humming and pointing at every little thing that caught her eye.

"Hazuki, look! That meat skewer looks amazing!" she said, tail swaying excitedly.

"Yeah, yeah, I see it," Hazuki replied with a small smile. "You just want me to spend again, don't you?"

Ellyn grinned, not even denying it. "Hee~ maybe~"

Meanwhile, not far from them, Faria and her knights were making their way through the same bustling street. She stopped by a stall, asking the vendor. "Have you seen a human? Black hair, usually wears a short sword."

The dwarven merchant rubbed his beard. "Heh? That crazy human? Nope, didn't see him."

Another nearby seller chimed in while arranging his fruits. "You mean the guy who talks to the air? Didn't see him yesterday."

Further down, a burly dwarf selling fish pointed with his thumb. "Ah, the Heelsman? I'm sure he'll appear somewhere. That guy's hard to miss."

One more voice came from a passing dwarf woman carrying bread. "The serious-faced human? Sorry, didn't see him around lately. You could try the park nearby, he might be nappin' there again."

Faria exhaled softly, glancing at her knights. "The park, then. Let's check there next."

She was about to turn when a familiar voice drifted through the crowd.

Her body froze.

Her eyes lifted slowly toward the sound, scanning through the busy street until she saw them. Hazuki walking casually through the market, Ellyn perched on his shoulders, tail swaying happily as she pointed at the food stalls.

For a heartbeat, the noise of the market faded away.

Faria's breath hitched. Her fingers tightened at her side. Her lips trembled, the single name escaping in a whisper that only she could hear.

"E… Ellyn…"

Her vision blurred. Warm tears welled up and fell down her cheeks before she could stop them.

The knights standing beside her stiffened in confusion. Faria who was always composed, always calm, was crying.

"Miss Faria?" one of them asked softly, unsure.

Faria raised a trembling hand to wipe her tears. Relief flooded her chest. Ellyn was safe. She was right there. Alive. Smiling.

The knights instinctively followed Faria as she broke into a run, her cloak fluttering behind her.

"Ellyn!!!" her voice rang clear through the crowded market, cutting through the chatter and clatter of stalls.

The knights exchanged quick glances. Princess…? they thought almost in unison, picking up their pace behind her.

It wasn't hard to spot them. Even in the bustling crowd of dwarves, Hazuki stood out. Tall, black-haired, easy to pick out among the shorter townsfolk. And perched on his shoulders like it was the most natural thing in the world was Ellyn, her tail swaying happily in the air.

( End Of Chapter )

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