In the quietly lit streets outside Featherwhale, a cloaked figure tightly embraced a white-haired youth. His eyes were gentle, resting on the smaller figure's head.
The night was slightly cold. But the girl in his arms was so warm. Her slender arms wrapped around his back seemed so fragile. Even though he knew better than to judge her by appearance.
The girl in his arms was a blademaster, a researcher, a saint. Even back in his world, in terms of politics, economy, or even raw power, Amethely was presumably more powerful than he was, considering how much of this world was rejecting his powers.
Casting all that aside, he was simply a person. He was someone who realized he had a sweet tooth, someone who realized there were more than a few colors, and someone who realized that his loved ones liked him for what he was—even before meeting the love of his life.
Looking back at it. He might've fallen in love at first sight with a clumsy girl who wore her heart on her sleeve—he had assumed the moment was but fleeting; yet, carried away by a new philosophy, thus accepted the new colors.
In the end, he'd fallen hard. He loves her, the lover, the saint, the researcher, the blademaster… they were all her.
As for Amethely, she had a feeling his hands were stained, but to what extent? She learned he was a tortured soul, then a utilitarian nihilist—aspects of him screamed 'tool'. And yet, he got back up and looked at the world once again.
Amethely had fallen in love at first sight at that park as well, but after learning more about him, she admired him, falling harder. He was recovering; she wanted to be by his side, make him smile, laugh, blush—not as a healer of the Order, but as Amethely. There was no greater joy than to see the people she loves happy and to be happy with them; that was her wish—a wish she would make sure to come true.
At the time, she didn't know why or how—she was simply attracted to him at that moment. But the more she pondered on the way back to the monastery. The answer was quite simple. He saw her. He was a bit stoic but in a warm way, observant, adorable in his own way, and oddly familiar with tying hair.
She hadn't thought their relationship would progress this fast; they were strangers, then friends clumsily courting one another. In just six days, after their first meeting at the park, after the banquet, and after a day together at the monastery. They became lovers at the fourth reunion inside… A military base.
As impulsive as it was, neither regretted it. Amethely fell in love not just for love's sake—she had plenty of those chances, and so did Alum. Yet, at that moment, and at their reunion at the banquet. As they embraced, both knew—I want to be by his/her side, they thought in that moment.
"—Hey, why are you here?" Alum finally spoke up.
Amethely took a deep breath. "I simply wanted to see you. But I also have work at the borders," she replied.
"Mm? Did you sneak in? I don't see you covering up your identity except for the cloak."
Amethely giggled adorably. "I walked in. Nnn…" She looked up, then poked her chin, tilting her head. "I was detained, but once I got to the guard post, the issue was resolved once the mana slate read my family emblem."
"…" Alum looked at her, eyes wide. "So… they just know you're here?"
"Nn!" Amethely nodded, but then winked. "But, it's not like the Order will look for me. They know I'll be boarding an airship; therefore, nobody should've checked where I am—probably."
"…Sorry to say this, Ame, but… High-profile entries get pinged."
"…" Amethely froze. "R-really…?" she murmured, looking down as she leaned her forehead on his chest.
"It's not like they track you precisely. But a high profile like you entering a town does get pinged by the system—it doesn't simply log it like other profiles," he chuckled.
She looked at his face, fingers making a triangle. "Sir Rigeld… caught…" she murmured.
"Oh? So he knows about it?" Alum voiced teasingly, already suspecting he did—who else but that old man would plant this in her head? He thought.
"Yes…"
Alum shrugged. "Mm… It's fine as long as he doesn't forward the information to the Order early. But, knowing him, neither of us should be in trouble," he reassured, patting her head.
Relieved, Amethely mushed into the comfort.
"Ehe~he~he… okay…"
Right… she thought as she was soothed.
It wasn't as though she forgot, but out of the four imperial powers. The military held the most, even though they barely enforce it, followed by the People's Council, the Light Order, then the imperial family, and the old nobles like the Ilis.
..
A few minutes later, the two of them headed to the front desk. The receptionist recognized him but grew suspicious of the person next to him. She could tell it was a woman with silver hair, but her eyes were hidden under a hood.
"Hello, Sir Ailz, how can I help?" the receptionist asked.
"I want to inform you she'll be staying in my room."
"I see… that will cost an additional 3090 Lech for two nights. Have you spoken with Ms. Nuli for this arrangement?" she inquired.
"No."
"Hmm, in that case. Is she another sibling?"
Alum lightly shook his head, "No, she's my fiancée," he said, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"I see, how lovely!" The receptionist placed her hands together.
"Hi…" Amethely gently voiced, soothing everyone's ears.
"Her name is Amethely Lisish, she's a little shy and…"
Alum leaned closer to the receptionist, looking around. Amethely revealed her face, causing the receptionist to rub her eyes. Alum flashed her a troubled look.
"As you can see, she looks very similar to the saint. Their names are similar too—my fiancée is very conscious of it, which is why we don't want attention, besides that, we wouldn't want to cause any misunderstandings for the saint and her fiancé…"
Amethely glanced at Alum with half-lidded eyes—he'd lied so naturally.
Seeing it in the corner of his eyes, Alum consciously avoided her gaze and focused on the receptionist.
"Sniffle…" the receptionist began to sob, wiping tears from her eyes. "I fully understand… sniffle… it must've really been tough, Ms. Amethely… in that case." She turned to Alum. "Sniffle, please have Ms. Nuli confirm this arrangement by morning, sniffle."
"Not necessary, we'll get it done within an hour…" Alum replied, then met Amethely's eyes.
—You made her cry, hereyes told him.
—I didn't think she'd get emotional… he'd reply.
..
The others were still drinking and having fun in the dining hall. Luna seemed to get along well with Lyn as they talked about books. Jua had fallen asleep cuddling Jan while Nuli and Turen continued to eat and drink with Keelen, Dalen, and Sarah.
Then, Alum and Amethely got into their line of sight. Luna froze, her eyes met Amethely's, then Alum's. She appeared just as confused as Alum was at the balcony.
—So you didn't know either… his eyes conveyed.
—No… Luna groaned inwardly.
A few hours ago, she'd sent her uncle a report just as he wanted. But she didn't think this would be the result.
On the other hand, as Amethely saw Luna, her eyes sparked—thank you for looking out for him! Her smile was so dazzling that Luna zoned out.
"Ailz, you're back," Turen said casually, then grinned. "So? Who is she?"
"This is my fiancée, Amethely," Alum warmly replied. "She has some business in the next town and stopped by, knowing I was here."
"Ooh, how lovely!" Nuli pressed her hands together.
Amethely removed the hood, smiling gracefully. "Hello," she said, her voice soothing, filled with warmth. "Thank you for taking care of Ailz for me."
With everyone frozen in place, Alum cleared his throat. "As you can see. Her looks and name are similar to the saint…"
"Oh, poor thing…" Nuli accidentally voiced a loud. "It must've been tough being mistaken for the saint…" she added.
Amethely received a bunch of sympathetic looks from the others—it was eating at her conscience; it started to hurt a little. But she managed to stay calm.
Alum heaved a tired sigh. "She was actually detained just before entering town after being mistaken for trying to impersonate the saint… but, please, treat her as you would any ordinary girl," he said, smiling, his eyes weary.
Amethely looked at him with half-lidded eyes again, catching it, Luna softly giggled.
"Sniffle…" Turen teared up. "I'm sorry for back then… my remarks… Sniffle…"
Nuli patted his back, "There, there, you couldn't have known she'd look so similar despite carrying the same first name." She then said, "Got it, we'll treat her like our dear Selene over there! Right, everyone?"
They all nodded.
Amethely was in disbelief—My fiancé is a con man! She exclaimed inwardly, yet mildly amused.
..
After Nuli went with them to the front desk to confirm the new arrangements, Alum and Amethely found themselves in his room.
"Looks comfy," Amethely said, looking around.
The room was dimly lit—scented candles burned on the desk. The bed was obviously not for two people, but neither was Alum's bed back in the base. Amethely unclipped the cloak, hanging it by the door.
"You'd better get changed," Alum remarked, seeing as she was in her saintly attire.
"…"
Amethely looked at him, then the floor, her eyes darted around the room as the tips of her index fingers repeatedly poked one another.
"Can I borrow your shirt?"
"Didn't you bring anything with you?" he asked, tilting his head as he lightly scratched his cheek.
"I did," she replied.
"…"
"…"
After a short silence, Alum chuckled. "You know… a new shirt doesn't have my scent," he teased, hugging her from behind as he rested his chin on her head, poking her on the cheek.
"I-I know that much…" she puffed her cheek, launching his finger away with a light protest. "It's just that… they'll be tight around the chest unbound."
—Ba-dump…
Alum's heart skipped, he released her and took out a shirt from the void storage ring. "Here…" He handed her a shirt, looking away; a hand rested on his neck.
Cute… Amethely thought, her heart skipped, causing her to clench her chest.
"O-okay… I'll get changed…" she said.
"M-mm… There's a bathroom right there," Alum pointed toward a door.
..
While Amethely was changed, he felt restless for some reason, pacing around. Then, when she finally came out, wearing only the shirt, he blanked out.
Amethely held her arm, the other hand holding the hem. "A-Al?" she nervously voiced, her tone slightly breathy.
Scratching his cheek and averting her eyes, he asked. "So… have you been trying to make me lay hands on you?"
"Y-Yesh…" Amethely answered, her face beet red.
"I see, so those massages… Pffts…" he softly chuckled.
—Poff!
Steam reeked from her head, followed by strange, kettle-like noises.
"I-I—I mean… I wanted to be a little bolder… and… it's nice when you touch me…" she confessed.
"Lewdie," Alum teased, deadpan.
"—!?" Amethely lunched herself at him, hitting his shoulder as she buried her face in his chest. "Meanie!" she exclaimed.
"I see… I thought I was imagining it and didn't know how to bring it up… sorry you had to be the one."
"Nnn… it's okay…"
"Thanks… so, how about a date after we both return to the capital?" he suggested. "Of course, to celebrate our first month, too. Sorry, I missed it."
Amethely looked up. "It's not only your fault, but it's mine too," she said. "I'm sorry…" she apologized, her voice sweet.
"We're even…" He kissed her head.
"Ehehe…" Amethely melted, she planted a kiss on his neck in return—Chu…
..
Just before heading to bed, Amethely checked up on Depth Cutter. But that wasn't it. Now that he knew she'd been trying to make him lay hands on her, he'd gotten very conscious. Amethely had requested to sit on his lap, had him remove the disguise amulet, and to hold her while she inspected the blade.
It really doesn't get more obvious than this… he thought.
The girl in his lap moved around, obviously teasing him, knowing how his body would react.
Meanwhile…
After a brief inspection, Amethely didn't want him to let go just yet; thus, she pretended to inspect it closer, shifting in his lap, feeling as he gradually stiffened. Her thighs unconsciously rubbed against one another as she became slightly damp—her heart rate spiked.
O-oh my—o my—o my?! D-Did I go too far??! She panicked inwardly.
But then, Alum moved her hair, revealing her nape, kissing it.
"Nnnh…" She accidentally let out a sensual moan.
She instantly covered her mouth, but as she turned toward him, locking eyes, he smiled teasingly.
"Ame… I want to lay my hands on you," he whispered in her ears, his voice deeper than usual.
"A-Are you… aroused…?" she meekly asked.
"I am…" he replied, fully honest.
"O-Okay… me… too…" Amethely stammered.
""…""
It became silent for a moment. They both leaned closer to the other's face, breaths ragged as they kissed, forgetting about time.
Alum carried her to bed. Amethely lay there, covering her mouth with an arm, blushing furiously with shaken eyes, her head between his hands.
"P-Please be gentle…" she mustered a soft whisper.
Alum looked her in the eyes, and his fingers ran through her hair.
"Mm, I'll be…" he replied gently.
Thus, the flickering candle continued to burn throughout the night as the lovers held one another dear, in body and in spirit.