After nearly an hour of slow walking, warm food, stolen fruit, and quiet company, the sun had dipped low behind the stone ridges surrounding the dwarven town.
The streets were quieter now. Lanterns began to glow softly on wooden poles. The sky was painted in faded orange.
Hazuki stopped at a corner, glancing around the narrow paths branching off the main road.
Then, without warning, he looked up at Ellyn.
And smiled.
A rare one.
Not tired. Not forced.
Just… genuine.
"Ellyn?"
She blinked, caught off guard. "Y-yes?"
"We're going to find an inn," he said simply, still smiling. "Probably rent two rooms."
"Why two rooms?" Ellyn asked, tilting her head down to look at him.
Hazuki didn't look up. "Hmm? You're a girl."
Ellyn pouted instantly. "I'm still a kid."
"Yeah… but still."
"No!" she huffed, tightening her legs slightly around his shoulders. "We're engaged. I'm not going to sleep alone in some other room."
