After the kiss.
Ellyn looked up at him with a pure, gentle smile. Her golden eyes shone, and her face looked soft and beautiful, making Hazuki's chest feel tight.
"I'm… I'm sorry…" Hazuki said softly.
Ellyn tilted her head. "Hmm? Why?"
"For kissing you."
"Hmm? We're engaged and will get married anyway. What's the problem? We're already bound by the pinky promise oath." Her smile widened.
"I don't think it's a problem at all."
Hazuki's eyes softened, but he hesitated. "…Are you really okay with me?"
Her ears twitched, and she tilted her head again. "Hmm? Why do you ask that?"
"You know… I'm human," he said quietly but honestly.
"And?" Ellyn leaned closer, her tail swaying behind her as she rested her chin on his shoulder.
"I'm lucky to have a human husband anyway. It's rare for our kinds to marry outside our race."
Hazuki's hand moved, brushing gently against Ellyn's soft ear.
"Ne~ Hazuki~" Ellyn's voice was soft and almost playful, but warm, making his heart beat faster.
Hazuki froze for a moment, feeling her ear tremble under his touch.
"…Sorry. Was that… uncomfortable?"
Ellyn leaned closer, her cheek brushing his chest as her tail swayed lazily. "Mm-mm. It feels… nice."
Hazuki swallowed, his thumb rubbing the edge of her ear again.
Slowly, as if drawn by instinct, Hazuki's other hand moved down to her tail, brushing along its soft fur and giving it a light stroke.
"—!" Ellyn's body jolted, golden eyes wide and cheeks flushed.
"H..Hazuki!" she squeaked in a high-pitched voice. "At least tell me before you touch my tail!"
Hazuki blinked, pulling his hand back a little, his own face flushed. "Eh? D-Does it hurt?"
She shook her head quickly, lips in a pout, ears twitching. "No… it doesn't hurt. It just… surprised me. Nobody ever just touches a tail like that…"
Her tail flicked once, curled a little, then swished again, showing her embarrassment.
Hazuki rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, the other hand still on her ear. "Ah… s-sorry. I just… wanted to know what it felt like."
Ellyn's pout lingered, but her eyes softened as she whispered, "…Baka Hazuki."
Meanwhile, in the Beastkin Kingdom.
The throne room was tense.
King Lioness sat with his hand pressed to the bridge of his nose, looking heavy. For more than four days, their daughter had vanished.
Ellyna.
The memory of that halfling envoy's sudden teleportation burned in his mind. To capture her right under their noses was like a declaration of war.
"Your Majesty…" one of the generals began carefully, but his voice shook.
Another officer shifted uneasily, while the royal advisers stayed quiet. The air felt heavy, heavier than just the princess's disappearance.
Because the envoys who should have brought answers… were now corpses.
The first body had been found in his cell, with no poison or wounds. Then another, and another. Every envoy they locked away for questioning was found dead and cold, as if something had silenced them before the truth could come out.
Queen Meira's voice broke the silence.
"Dear…" Her words trembled, though she tried to stay calm. "We've searched every corner of our lands. Every officer, every assassin, every scout you sent… and still nothing."
King Lioness lowered his hand, frustration in his eyes. He said nothing.
The officers bowed their heads, powerless.
Their only princess, the heir to the Beastkin Kingdom, had vanished without a trace.
And the silence of the halfling envoys only deepened the mystery.
King Lioness's jaw tightened as his thoughts grew darker.
It wasn't just the Human King Aswand watching Ellyna anymore. Whispers from his spies showed that several nobles in their Beastkin Kingdom were moving in secret, and now even Halfling nobles were watching her.
Do they already know? About her ability?
His hand tightened on the throne's armrest.
The pinky promise oath was absolute. Anyone who tried to touch her would face divine punishment. That should have been enough to keep her safe.
Unless…
Unless their goal wasn't her, but her partner.
The human boy. Hazuki.
If they captured Ellyna, they would only need to kill him. If the oath broke, she would be vulnerable again.
King Lioness breathed out hard, fury burning in his eyes. "Idiots…" he muttered. "Fools who dare to play with what they don't understand."
Hazuki… this was no ordinary man. The guild master's report, plus his own secret investigators, had confirmed it. That boy stood alone against two rift gates full of monsters in Macia. He fought through the chaos and closed them.
And more than that.
Three demons.
He had killed three demons who caused the rifts.
All by himself.
King Lioness's fist clenched on the throne's arm. "To think those nobles believe they can erase a partner like that." His teeth ground together. "What stupidity."
"Any word from the units we sent to the dwarven or elven borders?" King Lioness finally asked, his deep voice breaking the tense silence.
The royal advisor bowed low. "Not yet, my lord. The journey itself takes two to three days just to reach the first border. But rest assured, I've ordered them to send royal letters of assistance. Once approved, our units will be allowed to extend their search into the Dwarven Kingdom as well."
Lioness's gaze narrowed slightly. "…And Faria?"
The advisor straightened. "Miss Faria immediately assembled her special knight squad the moment Princess Ellyna was taken. She has already deployed her best to track her."
A heavy sigh escaped the king, his hand brushing across his forehead. "That girl… she worries more about Ellyna than her own life."
Queen Meira, who had been silent beside him, finally spoke with a soft firmness. "Dear… she has cared for Ellyna since she was a child. From the moment our daughter could walk, Faria was there. Of course she worries."
Lioness closed his eyes for a moment, the weight of her words settling over him. Faria's loyalty was unquestionable. Perhaps even stronger than some of his own generals.
"Let us pray she finds something," he muttered, though his heart remained restless.
"Let's hope everything is good," King Lioness finally said, his voice low. "And let's hope… when Ellyna was teleported, she landed somewhere safe." Latest content published on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Silence followed, heavy and uncertain.
The king leaned back slightly on the throne, his thoughts tightening like chains around his heart.
The first time she was taken, fate itself had intervened. That human… by chance or miracle… had been there. The kidnappers never stood a chance, their plan ended in ruin.
Lioness exhaled slowly, eyes lowering.
Perhaps another miracle will happen. Perhaps, somewhere, Ellyna is safe.
For a long moment, the chamber stayed quiet.