The room stayed quiet after her words settled between us.

"You should leave. You have your answer now."

The Duchess said at last, her voice steady but tired.

I didn't move.

The silence stretched, heavy and unyielding. I could feel Fenrir behind me, unmoving, his presence steady like a wall.

The Duchess studied my face, searching for something-hesitation, doubt, maybe obedience.

She found none.

"…I thought so. I knew you wouldn't agree."

She murmured, exhaling softly.

I tilted my head slightly.

"Then why ask?"

She gave a faint, humorless smile.

"Because sometimes people surprise you. And sometimes they don't. It was the right thing for me to ask you about this."

She turned toward the door, placing a hand on the handle.

"Since you've come this far, I'll inform the children that you're here. What they choose after that will be their decision."

She said.

Before she could take even a step-

The door swung open.

Nyx stood there first, eyes bright and sharp, his small hands clenched into fists. Erebus was beside him, calmer but just as determined. Behind them, I caught a glimpse of the hallway-and two familiar figures standing just beyond the threshold.

My breath caught as I looked at the kids. They had grown a little, but it was their eyes that attracted me. They looked mature and tired.

"Shopkeeper,"

Nyx said immediately, his voice firm.

"We're going with you."

The Duchess froze.

"What?"

She asked, genuinely startled. It did not seem as if she was putting up an act to show to me either.

Erebus stepped forward, his expression unusually serious.

"We already decided. Leo and Luna are done packing. They're waiting outside for us to return. We will all return home together."

For a moment, the Duchess simply stared at them.

"…You didn't even wait for me to explain?"

She asked.

Nyx shook his head.

"We don't need to."

That simple answer hit harder than anything else.

I felt something tighten in my chest.

The Duchess looked between them, then at me. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something sharp-but instead, she sighed.

A long, resigned sigh.

"I expected this to happen. But I did want you kids to take some time and think this over first. I guess it was useless for me to do that."

She admitted quietly.

She turned to the side, rubbing her temple.

"You children are far too decisive for your own good."

Nyx tilted his head.

"Is that bad?"

"…No, but it just makes things harder.

She said softly before she straightened and faced me again.

"You win. The kids want to go with you. I will no longer interfere with your work."

She said plainly.

I stiffened.

"I wasn't trying to-"

"I know. But the outcome is the same."

She interrupted.

She knelt in front of Nyx and Erebus, her expression softening in a way I hadn't seen before.

"You'll be safe with him. But remember-if anything happens, if you need help, you can always come back."

She said.

Erebus nodded once. Nyx hesitated, then nodded too.

She stood and turned back to me.

"Take good care of them. That's all I ask."

She said.

I met her gaze and inclined my head slightly.

"That goes without saying."

For a brief moment, something unreadable passed through her eyes-regret, perhaps, or relief.

Then she stepped aside.

"Go. Before I change my mind."

She said, but even she knew that it was of no use. The kids were not going to listen to her.

I didn't waste the chance.

Fenrir followed as I stepped into the hallway.

Luna and Leo were already outside when I stepped through the gate, arms full of boxes and loose bundles tied with twine.

The moment they spotted me, both of them froze for half a second-then Luna dropped what she was holding and rushed over.

"You're back."

She said, breathless, as if she'd been holding it in for days.

Leo followed more slowly, but the relief on his face was just as clear.

"We knew you would be. You wouldn't leave us behind."

He said.

I stopped in front of them, suddenly unsure what to say. Their confidence hit harder than any accusation ever could have.

"I'm grateful you all decided to wait for me and believe in me."

I said quietly.

Luna smiled, eyes bright.

"Of course we did. This is our place too, you know."

That word-our-settled something deep inside my chest.

We didn't waste time after that. Fenrir helped carry the heavier things, though he grumbled about being treated like a pack mule.

The walk back to the shop felt different this time. Lighter. The streets no longer felt hostile or uncertain. Just… familiar.

When the shop finally came into view, Leo let out a low whistle.

"Still standing."

"Of course it is. It is our home and somewhere we needed to return to.

I said.

Inside, the air smelled faintly of dust and old paper. Sunlight filtered through the windows, catching motes in the air.

It looked untouched, but quiet in a way that felt wrong-like a place holding its breath.

"Alright. Let's get to work."

I said, clapping my hands once.

It didn't take long before the shop felt alive again. When we were done, I stood behind the counter and looked at them.

"Tomorrow, we reopen. It will be a fresh start for all of us. Are you all excited?

I said.

They all turned toward me.

"And, from today onward… you're not just workers here."

I added, hesitating just a moment.

Luna tilted her head.

"Then what are we?"

I smiled.

"Family."

The word landed softly, but its impact was immediate.

Leo looked away, clearing his throat. Luna's smile wavered before she nodded firmly. Even Fenrir went still.

That night, we had a small celebration. Nothing grand-just food, laughter, and the comfort of being together again. It was loud in the way only genuine happiness could be.

For the first time in a long while, I didn't feel like I was running from something.

I slept better than I had in weeks.

Morning came quickly.

When I unlocked the door and flipped the sign to OPEN, something inside me settled into place. The bell chimed as the first customer stepped inside.

Word spread fast.

People told me they'd missed the shop. Missed the atmosphere. Missed the strange sense of calm it brought to the street. Some joked that the town itself had felt off while I was gone.

I smiled and nodded, listening, thanking them.

I knew the truth, of course.

It wasn't just the books.

It was the protection. My absence had left the town defenceless against external threats and even a normal person had noticed this.

But I didn't say that.

I simply handed them their books, wished them a good day, and watched as life slowly returned to normal.

As the sun rose higher and the shop filled with quiet chatter, I looked around at the people who had chosen to stay with me.

And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

The shop was quiet in that comfortable way that only came after a long day of honest work.

I was behind the counter, sorting through a stack of ledgers while the faint smell of old paper and ink lingered in the air.

Outside, the street hummed with distant footsteps and quiet conversation. The bell hadn't rung in a while, and for once, I didn't feel rushed.

Then it hit me.

A pressure-subtle but unmistakable.

My hand stilled mid-page.

It wasn't hostile or sharp. But it was startling enough for me to feel. I straightened slowly, eyes drifting toward the door.

For a split second, my mind raced.

Was it an enemy? Someone testing the boundaries? A remnant of whatever had been watching me before?

My body tensed, magic instinctively coiling beneath my skin. I could step outside in a heartbeat. I could-

And then it vanished.

Just like that.

The air returned to normal, the shop settling back into its familiar stillness as if nothing had happened at all.

I stood there for a long moment, listening.

Fenrir lifted his head from where he'd been sprawled near the counter.

"Shopkeeper, did you feel anything?"

"Yeah, I did. But it did not feel dangerous. More like, someone wanted me to be aware of their presence."

I murmured. The soft brush of aura against my senses was delicate and soft.

"Looks like someone wanted to welcome you back without stepping inside."

Leo commented from where he was sorting out things and I scoffed at this words. But the more I thought about it,the more I realized that he was right.

Someone had wanted to welcome me back and that was why the presence was so weak.

"Well, it's good. I am happy to be back as well. And from here on out, I will always be here for you all."

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