That night.
Dinner was already over, though the faint aroma of grilled at still lingered in the air. The campfire outside crackled softly, casting warm light across the yard. The knights had gathered around it, their armor reflecting the flickering glow under the calm moonlight.
Hazuki stepped out of the bathroom, a towel draped around his shoulders, his black hair still damp.
He paused when he heard the knights laughing quietly among themselves outside. Tilting his head, he turned toward Ellyn, who sat comfortably on a cushion in the living room. Her tail swayed lazily as she sipped warm milk, looking perfectly content.
"Ellyn?"
She looked up, her ears twitching slightly. "Hmm?"
"Why are they staying outside?" Hazuki asked, pointing toward the window. "They can sleep in the living room, you know."
"Hmm... I think they just want to hang out a bit longer," Ellyn replied with a small smile.
"Oh." Hazuki shrugged. "If you say so." His eyes drifted to her again. "You’re still using that appearance?"
Ellyn giggled softly, her tail flicking behind her. "Mm~ don’t worry. I’ll change back when we go to sleep... together~"
Hazuki couldn’t help but smile at that, though a faint red crept up his cheeks. He turned toward the window again and called out to the knights.
"You know, all of you can sleep inside if you want," he said. "It’s warr here, and there are blankets."
One of the knights glanced back with a polite smile. "Ah, Mister Hazuki, don’t worry about us. We’ll co in later, we just wanted to relax outside for a while."
"Hmm... if you say so," Hazuki replied, then turned back toward Ellyn.
"Ellyn? Where’s your mother?"
Ellyn puffed her cheeks instantly, tail flicking in annoyance. "Why are you looking for my mother? I’m right here, you know!"
"Huh? What’s wrong? I was just asking," Hazuki said, tilting his head, genuinely confused by her sudden pout.
Inside Ellyn’s mind.
Mou, Hazuki! Just because Faria is beautiful...!
But still... Hazuki doesn’t know Faria isn’t really my mother.
"Ellyn?"
"Hm?" She looked up at him.
"You want to sleep with your mother... or ?"
"Of course I want to sleep with my future husband!" Ellyn stood up, stomping her feet and puffing her cheeks. "Mother can use my room."
"Mm... okay," Hazuki yawned softly.
"I’m going first," he said with a small smile, gently patting her head. He looked at her "child" appearance and chuckled. "You know, Ellyn... you can stop using that skill for a while."
"Mm~ I’m just comfortable like this," she said with a little grin. "Maybe because I’ve been using it for so long."
Faria had just co out from the bath on the other side, a towel wrapped around her body, droplets still tracing down her skin. Her tail flicked lazily as she ran a hand through her damp hair.
Ellyn noticed imdiately. Her cheeks puffed, tail twitching.
Without a word, she pushed Hazuki toward his room, hard.
"Wh–wha? What’s wrong?" Hazuki asked, letting himself get shoved, clearly confused. He looked down at the small girl pushing him with all her might, pouting fiercely.
"Nothing! Just go inside!" Ellyn huffed, glaring up at him. Then she turned to Faria, ears twitching. "And Mother! Don’t co out like that! We... we’re not in—"
She stopped herself just in ti, her voice dropping to a mumble. "...our house."
"Now go inside! I’ll be there soon!" Ellyn grumbled, giving Hazuki one last push before slamming the door shut behind him.
Then she turned sharply, stomping toward Faria with her tail puffed in irritation.
"Don’t suddenly co out like that, Faria!!" she hissed.
"Ah... I’m sorry, Princess," Faria said softly, smiling with a hint of mischief.
"Just because he’s bound by the Pinky Promise to doesn’t an he won’t look!" Ellyn hissed again, cheeks flushed in embarrassnt.
Faria only chuckled quietly and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"I’m just glad I get to see you like this again," she whispered warmly.
Faria looked at Ellyn, a teasing smile curling on her lips.
"Are you going to sleep with Hazuki again?" she asked, voice dripping with mischief.
Ellyn glared at her, cheeks puffed. "Not your business."
Faria chuckled softly, leaning close to whisper, "Don’t get pregnant too early... P–r–i–n–c–e–s–s~"
"Mou! Even if I do get pregnant, at least it’ll be with Hazuki’s child!" Ellyn shot back, sticking out her tongue before stomping toward Hazuki’s room.
She opened the door, slipped inside, then peeked her head out one last ti, sticking her tongue out again at Faria before shutting it with a small thunk.
Faria just smiled, shaking her head with a soft chuckle.
At least now, she could see with her own eyes that Ellyna was safe, and that their Pinky Promise bond had already been fully sealed.
Her gaze drifted toward the moonlight outside, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"I wonder what kind of faces King Lioness and Queen ira will make," she murmured to herself, amusent flickering in her eyes. "When they find out their precious daughter has finally stepped into real adulthood."
That night.
Ellyn had returned to her true form, no disguise, no magic, just herself.
She lay on top of Hazuki, her arms wrapped around him tightly, cheek pressed against his chest as her tail swayed slowly behind her.
"Hazuki~" she whispered softly.
Hazuki smiled, gently running his fingers through her silky hair. Seeing her like this filled his chest with quiet warmth.
Beautiful. Cute.
He couldn’t help but think how lucky he was. In this strange world, after all the complaints, the bad luck, and the ridiculous things he’d gone through... sohow, he ended up with soone who loved him for who he was.
A girl who wasn’t just adorable, but his future wife, a beautiful catgirl who felt like she’d stepped right out of his old-world dreams.
Ellyn’s eyes glistened faintly as she looked up at him.
"Ellyn?"
"Tomorrow... I’m going back ho..." she whispered.
"Mm... I know..." Hazuki replied quietly.
"Why don’t... you co with ?"
Hazuki chuckled softly. "I will. But since I already took that special herb-gathering quest... and Ridan said it might be important to soone. I think I should finish the job first. I don’t like leaving things... half-done."
"After you’re done with your quest... you’ll co to , right?" Ellyn asked softly, moving closer, her golden eyes shimring as she gazed into Hazuki’s.
"Mm... I will, don’t worry," Hazuki replied, smiling gently. "First thing I’ll do is ask Ridan to teleport straight to Pawston. He’ll be sad being away from Syaria tomorrow, too."
"Tehe~ he’s always nearby to ruin our monts," Ellyn giggled, brushing her hair back. "But tonight... it looks like they’re both enjoying their ti, floating together on the lake~"
"Mm... yeah. Syaria will follow you, right? Ridan ntioned she’s staying with you."
"Mm~ since she’s bound to this necklace you gave ~" Ellyn lifted the small pendant hanging from her neck, smiling proudly.
Hazuki’s lips curved into a soft grin. "You still wear that?"
"Of course! It’s your gift to , rember?"
Hazuki smiled again, warm, quiet, and full of sothing he couldn’t quite put into words.
Slowly, the space between them faded. Their faces drew closer, breaths mingling softly under the dim light.
And then... their lips t.
( End Of Chapter )
User Comments
0 comments from readers