Ellyn's ears shot straight up the moment she heard her name. She twisted on Hazuki's shoulder, and her eyes went wide.

Ah… Faria is coming!

She tugged Hazuki's hair hard. "Run!! Run!!!"

"Eh?" Hazuki blinked, confused, looking up at her. "Why?"

"Just run!!"

Hazuki turned his head, trying to figure out what she was so worked up about, until he spotted Faria weaving through the crowd at a sprint.

"Hmm? Your mother's here. Isn't that a good thing?" Hazuki tilted his head.

"Run!!! Uuuu!!!" Ellyn's face flushed, her tail puffing up in panic.

"Nope… why do we need to run from your mother?"

"Mou!!! Hazuki!!" She bonked his head with her knuckles, puffing her cheeks.

She wasn't scared. She was panicking for one simple reason, if Faria was here, that meant her little freedom in this dwarven town was about to end.

Hazuki turned around, still biting into his meat skewer, the juices dripping down as Ellyn sat perched on his shoulder, arms crossed, cheeks puffed.

"Dumbzuki!" she muttered.

"Eh? What did I do now?" Hazuki mumbled around his food, genuinely lost.

Before he could get an answer, Faria appeared, gasping, breathless, but smiling through the tears welling in her eyes. She stopped right in front of them, her gaze instantly locking onto Ellyn.

Hazuki straightened and gave a small, polite bow. "Ah… Ellyn's mother…"

"Hazuki…" Faria whispered, her voice trembling as she looked up at Ellyn, safe and sound.

"Ellyn!! I'm so glad you're safe…"

Ellyn froze, guilt flashing in her eyes, but Hazuki calmly spoke, still holding the skewer in hand.

"Sorry for not sending her back home sooner. I was planning to escort her back to Pawston tomorrow, but she insist on wanted to hang out more."

Faria's lips quivered, and then she lowered herself without hesitation. Her knees hit the ground as she bowed deeply.

"Thank you… Thank you… for saving her… Thank you."

Hazuki's eyes widened in shock. He dropped the skewer, crouched down immediately in front of her.

"Please don't kneel like that," he said softly. "You don't need to."

Hazuki glanced at Faria, then tilted his head up at Ellyn, still perched on his shoulder.

"Ellyn? Your mother's… a knight?" he asked, brow raised.

Ellyn stiffened. Faria froze. Her knights awkwardly looked in every direction except at him.

Faria forced a calm smile, brushing off the dust from her knees. "Ah… no," she said smoothly.

"Since I made a request from Pawston's adventurer guild, these people are just an escort party. The road to here is dangerous, so I needed protection."

Hazuki squinted slightly.

"…I see," Hazuki said, scratching his cheek.

His eyes narrowing slightly as he scanned their gear. The polished armor gleamed under the sunlight, the kind that wasn't just for show. It was expensive, well beyond what a normal escort party would have.

"That armor…" Hazuki muttered. "Looks pretty high quality. I don't think most adventurers can afford something like that."

Faria's smile stiffened for a moment, but she quickly straightened her back, trying to keep her voice calm. "Ah… this is a Rank A+ adventurer party," she said carefully.

"I specifically requested only top-tier escorts from the guild."

Hazuki raised an eyebrow, not entirely buying it. "Really?"

He glanced up at Ellyn, still perched on his shoulder.

"Ellyn… didn't you say your family was just a regular one when we met back in the human town?"

Ellyn froze, her tail stiffening.

Hazuki tapped his chin again and looked back at the knights. "And… hiring A+ rank adventurers isn't exactly cheap."

One of the knights let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ah… since Miss, uh.....Mrs. Faria is, um, a distant relative, we kinda… help each other out, you know? Small favor, small payment. That kind of thing."

Hazuki stared at them a little longer, clearly trying to piece things together… then just shrugged.

"Hmm. Okay then."

Ellyn let out a quiet exhale of relief, her ears drooping slightly in the aftermath of her panic. The knights exchanged small, awkward glances.

Ridan floated lazily above the cobblestone path, hands folded behind his back and a mischievous grin plastered on his face. He nudged Syaria with his elbow, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Look at that dumb partner of mine," he snickered, watching Hazuki chat casually with Ellyn and Faria. "Hehehe… still doesn't know Ellyn's a princess."

Syaria crossed her tiny arms, floating beside him with a sharp glare. "You can't tell him," she warned, voice low and firm.

"This isn't something you can mess around with."

Ridan tilted his head slightly, still grinning like a fox who'd found fresh prey.

"Of course I know~ It's not my secret to tell. It's up to the princess herself if she wants him to find out."

Then his grin widened, eyes narrowing with wicked delight.

"Ohhh~ but I can't wait to see his face when he does. The look on dumbzuki's face will be priceless~"

Syaria sighed, pressing her palm to her face. "You're impossible."

Ridan chuckled under his breath, floating in slow circles above her. "Hehehe… that's why you like me, right~?"

Syaria's glare sharpened. "…Shut up, Ridan."

Ridan kept his eyes on Hazuki and Ellyn from afar, the usual grin still tugging at his lips… until it slowly faded into something more serious.

He turned to Syaria, his floating form steady for once. "You remember what those two said, right?" he asked quietly.

Syaria lowered her head, her small hands fidgeting as she stared at the ground. Her shoulders trembled a little before she looked back up at him.

Tears welled up in her eyes, her lower lip quivering. Then, without warning, she shot forward and wrapped her tiny arms around Ridan, hugging him tight.

"I don't want to leave you," she sobbed, her voice cracking.

"Giiihhh!!" Ridan yelped, flailing as he tried to pry her off. "O-oi! Don't cling like a slime!"

But Syaria only squeezed tighter, burying her face against him.

Ridan let out a long breath, shoulders sagging. "…We don't have a choice, and you know that."

Syaria only sobbed harder, her little body shaking.

For once, Ridan just floated there, letting her cling to him, letting her cry.

"It won't take long, you know," Ridan said quietly, his eyes fixed on Syaria as her small form shook against him.

"Mmm…" Syaria sniffled, her voice still thick with sobs.

"But… still…" she whispered, clinging even tighter.

Ridan let out a slow exhale.

"You've been searching for me for a thousand years," he said, his tone casual but soft.

"And now we finally found each other. I think…" he paused, gently patting her back, "you can wait another one or two years, right?"

Syaria's shoulders trembled. She didn't answer right away, just pressed her forehead against his chest. Then, after a few shaky breaths, she gave a tiny nod.

"…Mm," she murmured. "I'll wait."

Ridan's expression softened for a brief moment. "Good girl," he said quietly, a faint grin slipping back onto his face.

"After all this, I'm not going anywhere."

Syaria wiped her tears with her small hands, still hugging him, as if memorizing the warmth of this moment.

( End Of Chapter )

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