Chapter 45 - Chapter 33 - The Silence Is... A Stalker?

Author: wassup. Sorry I didn't upload for a long while. School did me dirty.

Anyways, for my webnovel readers, I made an announcement last time on Wattpad that if I aced even one of my exams, I'll release two chapters.

But as you guys can guess, unfortunately—not even one out of my seven subjects did I manage to get an ace. Though I came very close, one if not two of my subjects were one point away from being a perfect, so now I'm sulking.

As for the rest of my exams, mostly are three to four points—with the lowest being five wrong answers. So I think I did pretty well. Just need a lil more prep time.

Other than that, just like I said in the beginning, school did me dirty. It started shoving activities up my ass the moment we finished our exams and in the first week of August, we'll have another exam. Again. Kek.

∆∆∆∆

The final week of Alfia's physical rehabilitation brought a massive change to the daily routine inside the Hearth Mansion.

Her strength returned rapidly, but as her legs grew stronger, her presence beside Yuuya became completely permanent.

In her mind, her other self's warning had taken root like a personal insult.

"He might get tired of the silence, grow exhausted from carrying the weight alone, and simply walk away."

To a woman like Alfia, whose pride was as fierce as her magic, those words weren't a cautionary tale—they were a direct challenge. She refused to accept the idea that Yuuya would ever tire of her.

So, she chose to prove it.

The result of her silent crusade was a complete lack of personal space for Yuuya.

It became practically impossible to see him without Alfia standing or sitting right beside him.

If Yuuya went to the kitchen to brew a fresh pot of tea, the quiet rustle of her royal blue dress followed a step behind him. If he sat at the long dining table to polish the dark sheath of Kurotsuki, Alfia would take the seat directly next to him, her shoulder lightly brushing his as she closed the physical distance between them.

She didn't just stop at staying close, though. An intense territorial streak completely took over her behavior as well.

Anyone who tried to claim Yuuya's attention? They quickly found themselves facing a silent wall of pure intimidation.

One afternoon, Welf stepped into the living room, holding a newly forged breastplate.

"Hey, Yuuya, do you have a second to look at the placement of these leather straps? I'm having some second doubts, I'm hoping I could get your opinion."

Before Yuuya could even open his mouth to answer, the temperature in the room seemed to drop by ten degrees.

Alfia, who was sitting right next to Yuuya with a book in her lap, slowly lowered the pages. Her green and gray eyes locked onto the blacksmith.

She didn't utter a single syllable, but her unblinking, intensely sharp stare practically radiated a dangerous vibe.

Welf froze mid-step, a sudden drop of cold sweat rolling down the back of his neck. He looked from Alfia's freezing gaze to Yuuya's thoroughly helpless expression.

"Uh... you know what? It can wait. I'll just be in the workshop tinkering with the furnace." Welf mumbled quickly, backing out of the room with a nervous laugh.

Hestia faced the exact same thing.

Whenever the little goddess tried to run across the room to dive into a cheerful, affectionate hug toward her captain, Alfia would smoothly shift her position. She would place herself directly in Hestia's path, leveling a look that immediately forced the goddess to halt.

"Hey! Why are you always blocking the way, Alfia?" Hestia pouted loudly, crossing her arms. "Yuuya is my captain! I'm allowed to talk to him without getting stared down like a criminal!"

Alfia simply raised a single eyebrow, her lips sealed tight, her silent stance making it very clear that she wasn't moving an inch.

Lili and Haruhime weren't spared from the territorial treatment either.

When Haruhime timidly walked over to offer Yuuya a small plate of freshly baked snacks, Alfia's heterochromatic eyes tracked the fox girl's hands with such focus, that Haruhime's tail puffed up in anxiety. She quickly set the plate down and scurried back to the kitchen.

Mikoto quickly learned to keep her distance during their morning briefings, ensuring she only spoke to Yuuya from the completely opposite side of the large table to avoid the silent wrath of the former Hera Familia executive.

The only person who possessed a pass from her glare was Bell.

Whenever her nephew approached to talk about dungeon layouts or ask Yuuya for training advice, Alfia's sharp expression would instantly melt into a soft, relaxed warmth, allowing the two to talk without any interference.

Yuuya, for his part, was completely overwhelmed by the constant proximity.

He could feel the steady warmth of her presence every single hour of the day, and while he was still worried that her sudden clinginess was just a psychological dependence born from her trauma, his own feelings made it entirely impossible to push her away.

He simply adjusted his stride to accommodate her, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish smile whenever she glared someone out of the room.

Sitting at the far end of the dining table, Bell watched his aunt shadow Yuuya's movements across the room. A peaceful smile rested on the white haired boy's face.

Lili leaned closer to Bell, whispering quietly so she wouldn't draw the silver haired woman's attention.

"Master Bell, aren't you a bit worried? Lady Alfia looks like she is going to completely freeze the rest of the Familia if we even look at Captain Yuuya the wrong way. She's been acting so incredibly intense ever since she started walking around the mansion."

Bell chuckled softly, shaking his head as he kept his eyes on his aunt.

"Honestly, Lili? This is a really big relief for me."

Lili blinked in total confusion.

"A relief? How is this terrifying aura a relief?"

"You don't understand." Bell explained with a sheepish laugh, his mind briefly flashing back to the faint memories of his childhood in the hidden village.

He remembered the strict, short tempered aunt who wouldn't hesitate to use her physical strength or a gospel to blast him or anyone else straight through a wooden wall if they broke her rules or made too much noise.

Bell remembered when the silence is actually silencing people when she was in a truly bad mood. Sometimes, even when she feels like it.

Especially when it comes to Zeus.

"Compared to how she used to be back then, where she'd blast uncle Zald and grandpa into the walls just for being too loud or annoying, this is incredibly gentle." Bell said, his smile turning warm and genuine. "Seeing her just stay close to Yuuya-bro, eating pastries, and staring at people instead of throwing them through the ceiling... it's a huge refresh. I've never seen her look this peaceful before. It makes me really happy."

Lili looked back toward the couch, watching Alfia carefully smooth out a crumpled part of Yuuya's shirt with a quiet, focused devotion.

"Well... if you say so, Master Bell. Lili guesses it could be worse."

As the final evening of the rehabilitation week arrived, the quiet bustle of the mansion settled down.

Alfia stood firmly near the large window, her physical strength completely restored, her posture radiating the grace it formerly had.

She looked across the room at Yuuya, who was currently laughing at a joke Welf made, still standing right where she could see him.

Inside her mind, Alfia directed a proud, victorious thought toward her subconscious.

'See?' Alfia claimed silently, her internal voice filled with a stubborn certainty. 'He is not tired of me. He has not walked away, nor has he complained about my presence for a single second. Your warnings were nothing but foolish, empty nonsense.'

Her other self didn't offer a retort or an argument. Instead, a soft, deeply amused chuckle echoed gently through the corners of Alfia's mind, full of a lazy, knowing satisfaction that left the stubborn mage to enjoy the quiet victory she had built for herself.

∆∆∆∆

The morning light filled the bedroom, but the mood inside was far from peaceful.

Yuuya stood by the edge of the mattress, rubbing the small of his back with a groan.

His muscles felt tight, and a dull ache throbbed near his shoulders. Sleeping on a blanket on the hard wooden floor for a week was starting to take a toll on him.

"You cannot keep sleeping in my room and using my bed forever, Alfia." Yuuya said, his voice mixed with frustration and exhaustion. "I am a grown man. I am tired of waking up with a stiff neck, and I really miss my bed."

Alfia sat propped up against the pillows, her long silver hair falling neatly over her shoulders. Her royal blue bodice was straight, and her green and gray eyes looked completely calm as she stared back at him.

She didn't look bothered by his complaints at all.

"If the floor causes you so much discomfort, the solution is simple." Alfia shot back, her tone smooth and casual. "You can just get on the bed and sleep beside me. The mattress is large enough for two people."

Yuuya froze, his hand dropping from his back. His face flushed a slight pink, and he quickly looked away toward the wardrobe.

He was twenty eight years old, and he knew his own feelings too well. Sharing a bed with the woman he likes—especially when he was still worried she was only relying on him because of her past trauma—was a line he simply refused to cross.

"I cannot do that." Yuuya said firmly, trying to keep his voice steady. "That is completely out of the question."

Inside Alfia's mind, the soft, teasing hum of her inner thoughts immediately flared up.

'Just tell him the truth.' Her other self whispered, the voice dripping with an honest, eager warmth. 'Tell him you do not want him sleeping on the cold floor. Tell him you want him right next to you on this bed. Why must you keep hiding it?'

Alfia's cheeks warmed up ever so slightly under her pale skin. She tightened her jaw, forcing her expression to remain cool and unbothered.

'Silence.' Alfia snapped back at her inner voice, pushing the thought away with all her willpower.

She cleared her throat quietly, looking back at Yuuya with her usual stubborn gaze.

If he refused to share the mattress, she would simply find another way to keep him within her sight.

"Fine." Alfia stated, crossing her arms over her chest. "If your pride prevents you from sharing a mattress, you can simply get another bed. Place it directly beside this one. That way, our beds will be side by side, and you will no longer have a reason to complain about the floor."

Yuuya opened his mouth to argue, a deep frown forming on his brow. He wanted to tell her that putting two separate adult beds right next to each other in a single room was ridiculous.

It was a bizarre setup that made no sense for a normal household. But as he thought about it, he paused. If they did that, he would get his mattress back, he wouldn't have to sleep on the hard floor, and Alfia wouldn't feel abandoned in the room.

He rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a long sigh.

"I mean... technically, that fixes the floor problem. But Alfia, that is just not how things work—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the wooden front door of the mansion burst open downstairs. A loud, dragging sound echoed up the hallway, followed by the clatter of equipment being dropped onto the floorboards.

Yuuya and Alfia exchanged a quick look before heading out of the room.

They walked down the stairs and entered the main living area, where the rest of the Hestia Familia had just arrived from their dungeon session.

Welf and Mikoto were leaning against the wall, breathing heavily with their armor covered in dust. Haruhime was frantically looking for clean towels, her ears drooping with worry. In the center of the room, Lili was unbuckling her massive backpack, letting it fall to the floor with a loud thud.

And then there was Bell.

The boy was slumped entirely in a wooden chair, looking like he had just been run over by a massive horde of minotaurs. His light armor was deeply cracked, his clothes were torn in multiple places, and his face was covered in soot and scrapes.

He looked completely exhausted, his head tilted back as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

Yuuya walked closer, his dark eyes sweeping over the messy group.

"What in the world happened to you guys down there?"

Lili wiped a layer of sweat from her forehead, letting out a loud, dramatic sigh as she pointed a finger at Bell.

"You can blame Master Bell for this, Captain Yuuya! He decided to do something completely reckless today."

Bell let out a weak, sheepish chuckle, though he didn't have the energy to move his arms.

"Sorry, Lili..."

"Since Master Bell has been sitting at the peak of Level 3 for a while now, his stats were holding him back from growing." Lili explained, her voice a mix of lingering anger and deep respect. "So, without telling any of us until we reached the floor, he decided to fight the Goliath on the seventeenth floor completely by himself. A Level 4 Monster Rex, entirely alone!"

Welf grunted, nodding his head as he unclasped his gauntlets.

"It was a total madhouse, Yuuya. We just stood at the edge of the room watching him dodge those massive fists. The kid fought like a demon."

"He succeeded." Mikoto added, a proud smile breaking through her fatigue. "He defeated the Monster Rex without our help. We are completely certain that once Lady Hestia performs his status update tonight, his excelia will break through the boundary. Bell will officially be a Level 4 adventurer."

"Uh huh. So why are you guys looking like you guys fought the Goliath as well?" Asked Yuuya curiously.

"You could say... we got caught in the crossfire." Replied Welf.

Yuuya just gave a look of pity in response. But as he processes what he just heard, a wave of genuine surprise washing over his features. He looked at Bell's bruised but smiling face, his mind instantly racing through the knowledge of his past life.

In the original timeline, Bell wasn't supposed to achieve Level 4 until after the entire conflict with the Xenos was finished. That event was still four months away.

By soloing the Goliath right now, Bell had completely shattered the original order of his growth, jumping ahead of schedule by a massive margin.

But as the initial shock faded, a sense of calm settled behind Yuuya's ribs.

He remembered the specific rules the system had laid down during his grace period. The world would always ensure the main events remained the same, even if the paths, choices, and timing shifted. The destination was fixed, but the journey was allowed to adapt.

(Author: in simpler terms, if Bell becomes strong, the opponents he would face in the future would also become stronger.)

A relaxed, confident smirk returned to Yuuya's face. He walked over and patted Bell's uninjured shoulder, causing the boy to wince slightly but grin.

"A Level 4 Monster Rex all by yourself, huh?" Yuuya joked lightly, his tone full of approval. "Not bad, kid. You're starting to catch up. Just make sure you don't make Lili cry next time you decide to play the hero."

"I won't." Bell muttered tiredly, his eyes shining with relief.

Beside Yuuya, Alfia stood perfectly still, her green and gray eyes softening as she looked down at her nephew's messy appearance. There was no disapproval in her gaze, only a quiet, deep sense of pride that she chose to keep to herself.

The evening sun threw long, orange shadows across the living room of the Hearth Mansion. Bell had already gone upstairs to rest, while the others go do their own thing leaving Yuuya and Alfia sitting at the main table.

The quiet was broken by a knocking at the front door.

Before Yuuya could get up, the door swung open. Hermes stepped inside, his feathered hat tilted forward and a thick folder tucked firmly under his arm. The usual playful grin on his face was replaced by a calm, professional look.

"Good evening, everyone." Hermes said, closing the door softly behind him. He walked over to the table and set the folder down with a dull thud. "I bring official news from the Guild and the divine chambers of Ouranos. The process is completely finished. Alfia's name has been legally cleared."

Yuuya leaned forward, looking at the documents peeking out of the folder.

"That was surprisingly fast. I expected the Guild to drag their feet for months."

"It was much easier than we expected." Hermes explained, taking a seat across from them. He tilted his hat back, looking directly at Alfia. "Seven years ago, during the final days of the Great Feud, you didn't actually kill anyone. You didn't strike down any combatants, and you didn't harm a single non-combatant. You fought, yes, but you didn't take lives. Because there was no blood on your hands from that era, Ouranos was able to push the paperwork through without any legal walls."

Hermes reached into his cloak and pulled out a fresh copy of the Orario newspaper, sliding it across the wooden table. The front page displayed a large, official announcement from the Guild, detailing the revision of historical records regarding the Silence of Hera.

"We had the news published in the Guild bulletins and the morning papers today." Hermes said, crossing his legs. "As you can imagine, the public opinion is quite a mixed bag right now."

Yuuya picked up the paper, scanning the text.

"How bad is it?"

"Some people are still furious." Hermes replied simply. "They see the name Evilus and immediately feel the old anger, regardless of the details. Others don't really mind it, they trust the Guild's sudden correction. But the vast majority of the citizens simply do not care. To them, it changes absolutely nothing because Alfia is still dead. They see it as a meaningless political gesture for a ghost."

Alfia remained perfectly still, her green and gray eyes fixed on the newspaper. Her expression didn't change, but her fingers tightened slightly against the fabric of her royal blue dress.

"There is one major catch, however." Hermes continued, his voice dropping to a serious whisper. "Though Ouranos and I have cleared your name in the eyes of the law, we did not announce that you are alive. We completely left out the fact that the Silence of Hera is currently sitting inside the Hestia Familia manor."

Yuuya looked up from the paper, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

"You kept her survival a secret."

"For now, yes." Hermes nodded. "Dropping the news that a Hera Familia executive is suddenly alive and well would cause a panic in the streets. The city isn't ready for that just yet. So, for the time being, the public still believes Alfia fell to her death seven years ago. Ouranos and I are leaving that final task entirely up to you, Yuuya. How and when you choose to reintroduce her to the world is your responsibility."

Yuuya let out a slow, steady breath, turning his gaze toward Alfia. The weight of the secret was heavy, but he felt a strange sense of relief that they had time to figure it out together.

Across the city, inside the grand, towering walls of the Twilight Manor, a completely different conversation was taking place.

Finn sat behind his large mahogany desk, staring intently at the official Guild report in his hands. Across from him, Riveria stood by the window, her arms crossed as she stared out at the evening sky, while Gareth sat in a nearby wooden chair, grunting as he read his own copy of the morning paper.

"So, our old suspicions were right all along." Finn said softly, setting the paper down. A calm, knowing smile touched his lips. "The Guild archives finally confirm it."

Gareth shook his head, a rough chuckle escaping his thick beard.

"I knew it. Back during the Great Feud, she didn't act a lick like the rest of those Evilus madmen. Zald and the others were tearing the streets apart, but Alfia only showed up on the very last day. She fought one battle, stood like a wall, and didn't take a single life."

"She was always a terrible villain." Riveria spoke up, her voice filled with a quiet, lingering emotion. She turned away from the window, looking at her fellow executives. "For seven years, we wondered why she chose to join that crusade. It never matched the woman we knew. She was the proudest mage of the Hera Familia. To see her ally with monsters felt wrong."

"She wasn't trying to destroy Orario." Finn explained, his eyes shining with clarity. "She was acting. She and Zald purposefully turned themselves into villains, using their own reputations to force our generation to grow. They wanted to become a mountain that we had to climb over to get stronger. They sacrificed their names to give the city a future."

Riveria closed her eyes, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.

"She threw herself into the darkness just to be our stepping stone. Knowing Alfia, she probably carried that entire burden without ever expecting anyone to understand."

Meanwhile, in a quiet, secluded corner of the Hostess of Fertility, Ryuu stood near the back alley door, holding a crumpled piece of the evening newspaper.

The tavern was loud with the sounds of hungry adventurers, but Ryuu felt entirely isolated in the dim hallway. Her eyes traced the printed words describing Alfia's cleared record.

Ryuu had never hated Alfia.

Even seven years ago, when the silver haired mage had aligned herself with the forces of Evilus, Ryuu had only felt disagreement with Alfia's methods.

She had realized long ago that the remnants of the Zeus and Hera Familia were merely pushing the world forward through a brutal trial.

But as Ryuu looked down at the paper, a familiar, sharp pang of regret pierced her chest.

Her mind flashed back to the eighteenth floor. She remembered the intense heat of the flames, the deafening roar of the battle, and the final moment when Alfia stood at the edge of the deep, dark abyss of the Great Chasm.

Ryuu had reached out, her hand desperately trying to close the space between her and Alfia, but she had been too weak, too slow. She had watched Alfia let herself fall straight into the depths below.

"I was right there..." Ryuu whispered to herself, her fingers trembling slightly against the paper.

Besides other things, her only lingering regret from that entire dark era wasn't the political chaos or the destruction. It was the simple, painful truth that she hadn't been strong enough to save Alfia from herself. She hadn't been able to stop the mage from throwing her life away in that burning pit.

Ryuu swallowed the lump in her throat, folding the newspaper carefully and tucking it into her apron.

Like the rest of Orario, she remained entirely unaware that the woman she mourned was currently sitting in a quiet living room just a few streets away, finally learning how to breathe again.

Back to the Hearth Manor, after Hermes left the mansion, the silence returned to the living room.

The newspaper remained on the wooden table, the bold ink of the Guild's announcement staring up at them.

Yuuya looked over at Alfia, who was staring quietly at the paper.

"How do you feel about it?" He asked softly, breaking the quiet. "The fact that the law officially says you aren't a criminal anymore."

Alfia closed her eyes, letting out a faint breath.

"It changes nothing for me." She replied, her voice cool and even. "I did what I had to do seven years ago. I did not care for the praise of the masses then, and I do not care for their forgiveness now. The opinions of strangers in the streets mean absolutely nothing to me."

"I figured you'd say that." Yuuya said with a slight smile. He leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. "But for Bell, and for the people who actually knew you—like Riveria and the others—it matters. It gives them closure. And for us, it means we don't have to worry about the Guild knocking on our door with an arrest warrant."

Alfia turned her green and gray eyes toward him, observing his relaxed posture.

"Hermes said the public still believes I am dead. He left the choice of revealing the truth to you."

"Yeah." Yuuya nodded, his expression turning thoughtful and serious. "And I'm going to take my time with it. There's no rush to throw you back into the spotlight. Orario is a loud, chaotic place. Right now, you need to focus on fully recovering and just enjoying a normal life. We'll handle the public when you are ready, and not a moment sooner."

Alfia looked at him for a long moment, her strict gaze softening just a fraction. She didn't say thank you—her pride wouldn't allow it, even though she had said the words before—but the tense line of her shoulders relaxed completely.

Later that evening, Yuuya managed to get another wooden bed frame and a mattress moved up to his room.

Welf had helped him carry it up the stairs, throwing Yuuya a highly amused, knowing smirk the entire time, though the blacksmith wisely kept his mouth shut.

The room was rearranged exactly as Alfia had suggested. The two separate beds were pushed right against each other, side by side, perfectly filling the space against the far wall.

It looked like one massive, single sleeping area, divided only by the thin seam where the two mattresses met.

When the lamps were finally blown out, the room became dark, save for the pale moonlight filtering through the window curtains.

Yuuya lay on his back on his own mattress, staring up at the dark ceiling. After spending a long time on the hard floor, the soft support of his actual bed felt incredible. His body is completely relaxed, and within minutes, the exhaustion of the past few days caught up to him.

Yuuya was naturally a very deep sleeper. Once he drifted off, it took a great deal of noise to wake him.

Or perhaps, it was simpler.

Maybe, the reason why he can sleep so soundly is because of the familiar, quiet scent of the room and the knowledge that Alfia was right beside him made him feel incredibly safe. He didn't need to keep his guard up. He didn't need to listen for danger. He simply closed his eyes and sank into a peaceful sleep, lying completely flat on his back, totally oblivious and defenseless to the world.

On the adjacent mattress, Alfia remained wide awake.

She lay on her side, her silver hair spilling across her white pillow. Her eyes were adjusted to the darkness, and she watched the steady, slow rise and fall of Yuuya's chest. The space between them was only a few inches wide, a tiny gap separating their blankets.

She wanted to be absolutely certain he was asleep before she did anything.

"Yuuya." She called out in a low, quiet whisper.

There was no response.

"Yuuya."

She called out again, a bit firmer and louder this time. Yet, the steady rhythm of his breathing didn't change.

She waited a few seconds before attempting again. Then, she spoke a bit more louder this time, her voice carrying a sharp, commanding edge.

"Yuuya. Wake up. If you do not answer me right now, I am going to cook breakfast for the entire mansion tomorrow morning."

It was a terrible threat.

Alfia knew absolutely nothing about cooking, and her attempts would undoubtedly end in a blackened, ruined kitchen and completely inedible food. It was the ultimate test to see if he was faking.

(She had accepted her own clumsiness and instead of sulking over it, she's weaponizing it xd.)

But Yuuya didn't move an inch. A soft, tiny sigh escaped his lips as he remained completely fast asleep.

A small, genuine smile touched Alfia's lips. He was completely at her mercy, entirely vulnerable.

Slowly, carefully, she slipped one of her pale hands out from beneath her blanket. She reached across the small gap between the beds, her fingers moving through the cool air until she reached his face. With just the tip of her index finger, she gently poked his cheek.

His skin was warm, a sharp contrast to her usually cool fingers. She pressed slightly, watching the soft give of his cheek before pulling her hand back. It was a silly, childish urge, but seeing him so completely relaxed around her brought a strange warmth to her chest.

'Oh, look at you.' Her other self suddenly spoke up, the internal voice echoing inside her mind with a teasing warmth. 'Just a simple poke? After all that grand talking about how he will never get tired of you? You are finally right next to him, and you are acting like a shy little girl.'

Alfia's eyebrows twitched in annoyance.

'Be quiet.' She thought back sharply.

'Why should I?' The inner voice coaxed, its tone becoming softer, more tempting, pulling at the deep desires Alfia tried so hard to hide. 'Look at how peacefully he sleeps. He trusts you completely. He isn't guarding himself at all because he knows you are here to protect him. Go on. Move closer. Put your arms around him and hold him. You know you want to feel his warmth.'

Alfia's face flushed a crimson in the darkness of the room. Her heart began to beat a little faster against her ribs.

'That is... that is unnecessary. I am merely observing his sleep.'

'You are a liar.' Her other self laughed gently, beckoning her forward. 'You spent a whole week clinging to him because you were terrified he would leave. Now there is nothing separating you. Stop being so incredibly stubborn and just hug him.'

The words lingered in her mind, heavy and impossible to ignore.

Alfia stared at Yuuya's face, her green and gray eyes tracing the sharp lines of his jaw and the relaxed expression he wore.

The temptation was overwhelming.

She wanted to feel his heartbeat. She wanted the reassurance that he was right here, alive, whole, and completely hers.

Overcoming her own pride, Alfia slowly shifted her body.

She slid across the seam where the two mattresses met, abandoning her own bed entirely. She moved with silent grace, ensuring her blanket didn't make a single rustling sound.

She settled down right next to him, the heat radiating from his body instantly washing over her. She hesitated for a single second, her breath catching in her throat, before she carefully extended her arm.

She placed it gently across his chest, pulling herself closer until she was pressed firmly against his side. She leaned her head forward, resting her cheek right against his shoulder, burying her face into the familiar warmth of his shirt.

Yuuya didn't wake up. The sudden weight on his chest only caused him to let out a deep, comfortable murmur, his body naturally shifting a fraction of an inch closer to her to absorb her coolness.

Alfia held her breath, waiting to see if he would open his eyes. When his breathing remained slow and deep, she finally let out the breath she was holding. She tightened her arm around him, holding him securely against her.

The solidness of his body beneath her touch completely silenced the lingering doubts in her mind. Her other self didn't say another word, satisfied with the victory.

In the quiet, dark room, wrapped completely in Yuuya's warmth, Alfia finally closed her eyes, letting herself fall into a deep, peaceful sleep of her own.

∆∆∆∆

The morning sun streamed through the bedroom window, painting the floorboards in warm light.

Yuuya blinked his eyes open, letting out a long stretch. For the first time in over a week, his back didn't ache, and his neck felt completely fine. Having his own mattress back was a massive blessing.

He shifted his head, his dark eyes adjusting to the bright room.

On the other side of the combined sleeping space, Alfia was already out of bed. She stood quietly, carefully folding her blanket into a neat square.

Her movements were precise, but as Yuuya watched her, he noticed something unusual. A faint, unmistakable trace of pink was painted across her pale cheeks.

Yuuya sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked at her closely, his brow furrowing with sudden concern.

"Alfia? Are you alright? Your face is a bit red. Are you feeling sick, or do you have a fever acting up?"

Alfia flinched.

Her shoulders stiffened for a split second, and she immediately averted her green and gray eyes, looking out the window instead of meeting his gaze.

"I am completely fine." She said quickly, her voice slightly tighter than usual. "The morning sun is simply hitting the glass at an odd angle, making the room warmer than it should be. Do not fuss over nothing."

Yuuya blinked, a bit confused by her defensive tone, but he didn't push the matter.

"Alright, if you say so. Just let me know if you need to rest."

As he slipped out of bed to head to the washroom, Alfia secretly let out a quiet breath she had been holding.

Her heart was still thumping a bit fast against her ribs. Looking down at the neatly folded blanket, a wave of complicated feelings washed over her.

Deep down, she felt a distinct pang of guilt.

She had completely taken advantage of him while he was fast asleep and totally defenseless. It felt like a childish, forbidden act—like a young child sneaking into the kitchen pantry to eat sugar behind her parents' backs after being told no.

The only difference was that she hadn't been caught.

Yuuya was completely oblivious to the fact that she had abandoned her own mattress entirely, crossed the boundary between their beds, and spent the entire night holding onto him like a lifeline.

It was a completely naughty, inappropriate thing for a dignified lady of her standing to do.

Yet, as she stared at the empty space where they had slept side by side, a different thought completely took over her mind.

The realization that she could do this again tonight, and the night after that, and every single night moving forward, completely crushed any lingering sense of guilt.

The comfort of his warmth and the certainty that he was right there next to her was far too intoxicating to give up.

A small, hidden smile touched her lips. She had found a loophole, and she fully intended to keep using it.

A full month passed by in a blur of daily routines and training sessions.

It had now been two months since Yuuya had descended to the seventy-floor to drag Alfia back to the land of the living.

Her physical recovery was completely finished, and her former strength had mostly returned.

But along with her health, her behavior had taken yet another turn.

She was still incredibly territorial when it came to Yuuya yes. The freezing glares she leveled at anyone who tried to take his attention away hadn't faded at all. If anything, they had become a permanent rule of the mansion.

But over the last few weeks, a new trait had emerged on her face.

Smugness.

Whenever she walked down the hallways or sat next to Yuuya at the dining table, her posture radiated this quiet confidence.

Her lips would often curve into a subtle, knowing smirk whenever Yuuya did something kind for her or checked in on her comfort.

The nightly secret routine had completely altered her mindset for the better or worse—definitely the latter for anyone who isn't named Bell or Yuuya.

In her mind, she had already claimed him.

Every single night, he belonged to her, and that secret knowledge gave her an immense sense of security and pride.

Yuuya was hers, and hers alone, and she didn't care if the rest of the world didn't know it yet.

The rest of the Familia, of course, noticed the change immediately.

They couldn't help but see the quiet triumph oozing from the silver haired woman.

Especially her smugness.

Lili, Welf, and Mikoto often exchanged nervous glances across the dinner table, wondering what exactly had happened to make the terrifying former Hera Familia executive look so pleased with herself.

But while the subordinates chose to keep their distance, someone else was feeling incredibly bold.

Hestia.

Hestia had been riding a massive wave of confidence lately.

Ever since Bell had achieved Level 4 after his solo victory against the Goliath, the little goddess felt completely unstoppable.

Her Familia was growing stronger by the day, her status in the city was rising, and she was feeling particularly mischievous.

Seeing Alfia walk around the mansion with that superior, smug look on her face finally pushed Hestia to act.

She decided it was time to poke the bear.

During a lively dinner, the table was filled with bowls of savory stew, fresh bread, and the loud chatter of the familia.

Yuuya sat near the center, enjoying his meal, while Alfia sat directly to his right, her shoulder lightly brushing his as usual.

Hestia set her spoon down with a deliberate clatter.

She leaned forward across the wooden table, a highly amused, wicked grin spreading across her face as her eyes locked onto Alfia.

"Say, Alfia..." Hestia started, her tone dripping with mock curiosity. "I've been meaning to ask you something. You've been looking awfully pleased with yourself lately. And you're always sticking to my captain like glue. Are you two secretly in a relationship or something? Because from where I'm sitting, you look like a smug cat that just stole a whole bowl of cream."

The entire table instantly went dead silent. Welf choked slightly on his drink, while Bell nervously lowered his bread, his eyes widening in panic.

Alfia didn't miss a beat.

She set her teacup down with perfect elegance, her green and gray eyes turning cool as she looked at the goddess. Her pride, as always, acted as her immediate shield.

"Do not speak of such absurdities, Goddess." Alfia replied, her voice smooth and completely devoid of emotion. "Yuuya is simply my caretaker and my companion. There is no such foolish relationship between us. I suggest you focus on your own plate instead of inventing fairy tales."

It was exactly the response Hestia had been waiting for.

A spark flashed in the little goddess's eyes. Since Alfia's pride had forced her to deny any official claim over Yuuya in front of everyone, she had completely walked right into Hestia's trap.

"Oh? Is that really true?" Hestia purred, her smile widening into a triumphant grin. "No relationship at all? Well, in that case..."

Before anyone could realize what she was doing, Hestia hopped off her chair.

She bounced around the long table, slid right up to Yuuya's left side, and threw her arms tightly around his torso. She leaned her head against his shoulder, looking up at him with a look of exaggerated affection.

"In that case, I don't have to hold back at all!" Hestia cheered loudly. She squeezed his arm tightly against her chest, letting out a cheerful sigh. "Oh, darling~ You've been working so incredibly hard for the Familia lately!"

Yuuya froze mid bite, his dark eyes widening in horror. A cold sweat immediately broke out across his forehead.

He didn't even dare to turn his head to look to his right, because he could already feel the temperature in the entire dining room plummeting straight into a frozen abyss.

A sharp, terrifying cracking sound echoed through the silence. Everyone looked over to see that the handle of the teacup cracked slightly in Alfia's hand under the sudden pressure of her grip.

Her green and gray eyes had narrowed, her glare locking onto Hestia's hands with enough murderous intent to make the dungeon nervous.

The smug confidence she had worn all day instantly vanished, replaced by a dark, possessive fury that she was desperately trying to keep under control.

Hestia, completely ignoring the dangerous aura radiating from Alfia right across from her, pressed her advantage even further.

She looked up at Yuuya, her voice turning incredibly sweet and dramatic.

"You know, darling, you and I haven't had any proper quality time to bond lately." Hestia said, her fingers tracing a small pattern on his sleeve. "As your goddess, and since you were my very first dear child, I think it's high time we fix that. So, I've already made up my mind!"

Hestia stood up straight, crossing her arms proudly as she delivered the final blow.

"Tomorrow morning, darling and I are going out on an official date in the city! Just the two of us. No third parties, no interruptions, and absolutely no tag alongs. It will be an exclusive day for a goddess and her beloved captain. And most importantly..." Hestia turned her gaze directly toward Alfia, her grin turning incredibly smug and challenging. "...there is an absolute rule for this trip. No silver haired people are allowed to come with us. Not even a single step."

Yuuya sat completely stiff, his fork hovering inches from his plate. He didn't dare move a single muscle.

He felt like if he did something, and it wasn't the correct move, he'll immediately be disintegrated.

Inside Alfia's mind, the initial shock of Hestia's trap quickly gave way to a frantic, mocking voice.

'See? I told you so!' Her other self shouted, the internal voice practically throwing its hands up in exasperation. 'This is the exact consequence of your ridiculous, stubborn pride! You just had to look dignified in front of everyone. You just had to deny him. Now look what you did. You left the door wide open, and now the little goddess thinks he is completely claimable!'

Alfia's jaw tightened so hard her teeth ached.

'Be quiet.' She thought back, her internal voice trembling with a mixture of embarrassment and rising irritation. 'I simply stated the truth to keep the peace. I will not engage in a childish squabble with a deity.'

'Oh, really?' Her other self fired back, its tone sharp and biting. 'Well, while you are busy being a dignified lady, someone else is going to swoop in and take your place. Say goodbye to your quiet nights, Alfia. If she takes him on a date, she might just decide to move into his room next!'

Alfia's left eye twitched. She stared at Hestia's arms, which were wrapped firmly around Yuuya's bicep.

Hestia seeing this, just squeezed tighter, leaning her head against Yuuya's shoulder with a cheerful, deliberate sigh.

The sight of the small goddess invading Yuuya's personal space caused a sudden, violent spark to flip inside Alfia's mind.

The mocking voice of her other self instantly went dead silent.

The mockery vanished, replaced by a sudden wave of intense possessiveness that caught even Alfia off guard.

The inner voice didn't sound amused anymore.

It sounded absolutely furious.

'Wait...' Her other self whispered, its tone dropping into a dark, dangerous hiss. 'Why is her hand on his sleeve? Why is she leaning her head there? That is our shoulder. That is the chest we rest against every night. That warmth belongs to us.'

Alfia didn't argue.

For the first time since her awakening, she and her inner self were in agreement.

'You know what? Forget what I said about your pride.' Her other self growled, completely abandoning any sense of patience. 'On second thought... go ahead. Blast that annoying little goddess straight through the dining room wall. Blast her! Blast the damn hag right now! Just clear her out of our sight!'

Alfia slowly let go of her teacup.

Across the table, Welf and Mikoto simultaneously slid a few inches away in their chairs, their instincts as screaming at them to find immediate cover. Preferably, get their asses out of the room immediately.

Bell looked like he wanted nothing more than to drown himself in his bowl of stew.

He did say recently that he was fine seeing Alfia like this, but not to the point she's about to bring the second coming of Dark Age.

Back to Alfia, she slowly turned her head. Her green and gray eyes met Hestia's triumphant gaze, her aura trying to intimidate the little goddess with the best of it's ability.

"A... date." Alfia spoke, her voice incredibly low, smooth, and dangerously calm. The temperature in the room dropped so low that Yuuya swears he just saw his own breath misting in the air.

"That's right!" Hestia squeaked out, her voice trembling slightly under the pressure, though she stubbornly refused to let go of Yuuya's arm. "A date! Just the two of us! And I already said the main rule. No silver haired people allowed!"

Alfia slowly stood up from her chair.

Her tall, slender frame cast a long, imposing shadow across the dining table. She didn't raise her voice, but every single word she uttered carried the weight of a decree.

"You are a deity, Goddess Hestia." Alfia said. "Yet you behave like a petulant child throwing a tantrum for attention. Yuuya is the captain of this Familia, not a toy for you to paraded around the streets to satisfy your whims."

"I'm his goddess! I can bond with my children however I want!" Hestia countered, hiding behind Yuuya's shoulder as she pouted.

Alfia took a single slow step around the corner of the table.

"If he wishes to accompany you out of a misplaced sense of duty, I cannot physically chain him to this mansion." Alfia said, her gaze shifting down to Yuuya. Her eyes softened for a fraction of a second, carrying a silent warning that pleaded with him to say no, before she looked back at Hestia. "However... do not mistake my companionship for absence, Goddess. You may take him for the day. But remember exactly who he returns to when the sun goes down."

Yuuya choked on his own saliva, his face burning a bright, sudden red at her incredibly suggestive phrasing.

He looked up at Alfia, completely helpless, wanting to explain that nothing scandalous was happening at night, but the terrifying look on her face told him that opening his mouth right now would only make the execution swifter.

Alfia turned on her heel, the royal blue fabric of her dress swirling gracefully around her ankles. She didn't spare another glance for anyone else at the table as she walked toward the stairs.

"I am retiring to our room for the evening." Alfia announced coldly, her voice echoing down from the hallway. "Do not be late, Yuuya. The floor is exceptionally cold tonight, and I expect my companion to be exactly where he belongs. That is of course, if you prefer sleeping on the floor instead."

With a soft click of the door upstairs, her presence finally lifted from the dining room.

The entire table let out a massive, collective gasp, everyone finally breathing normally again.

Welf wiped a layer of cold sweat from his forehead, letting out a weak laugh.

"Man... Yuuya, I love you like a brother, but I am so glad I am not in your shoes tomorrow."

"Master Bell..." Lili whispered, her hands shaking as she picked up her fork. "Lili thinks Captain Yuuya might not survive the weekend."

Bell could only nod in silence, throwing his captain a look of pity.

Yuuya slowly pried Hestia's arms off his sleeve, rubbing his temples as a headache began to form behind his eyes.

He was aware that he still had to go up to that bedroom tonight and face a grumpy Alfia.

"Goddess... why..." Yuuya muttered weakly into his hands, while Hestia simply puffed out her chest, completely victorious despite nearly being blasted into a wall.

∆∆∆∆

The bedroom was quiet, lit only by the pale, silver glow of the moon shining through the glass window and a lamp.

The two beds sat tight against each other, only separated by a small soace. But tonight, the divide between them felt like an open canyon.

Alfia sat squarely in the center of her mattress.

Her posture straight, her legs tucked beneath her, and her back turned entirely toward Yuuya's side of the room.

She held a book open in her lap, her eyes staring fixedly at the printed text.

But she wasn't reading.

She hadn't turned a single page in the last twenty minutes. Instead, her jaw was set tight, and her lips were moving in a tiny, silent rhythm as she muttered insults into the empty air of the dark room.

"Dummy... an idiot." She whispered under her breath, her voice barely a thread of sound. "A complete blockhead."

Yuuya walked into the room after finishing up his nightly rounds down the hall.

The moment he stepped inside, the tension in the air hit him like a wall.

He looked over at her rigid, silent back and let out a long, tired sigh.

He walked over to his side of the bed, the mattress shifting slightly under his weight as he sat down on the edge.

"Alfia, come on..." Yuuya said softly, his voice full of a helpless, pleading calm. "You know exactly what Goddess Hestia was doing down there. She was just trying to get under your skin because she was feeling proud about Bell. I couldn't just grab my own goddess and throw her out the window in front of everyone."

Alfia didn't move. She didn't even tilt her head. She kept her back completely flat to him, her fingers gripping the edges of her book a little tighter.

Yuuya rubbed the back of his neck, leaning forward a bit to try and catch her profile in the dim light.

"Look at me for a second, please? I really didn't have a choice in the matter. It's just a simple walk through the city tomorrow to keep her happy, and then it'll be over. There's really no reason for you to be this upset with me."

Hearing his persistent voice, Alfia's patience finally snapped.

She whipped her head around, her long silver hair flying over her shoulder as her green and gray eyes locked onto his face. Alfia simply glared at Yuuya, her gaze full irritation that made Yuuya instantly hold his breath.

She stared at his worried dark eyes for three long seconds, listening to the final echo of his explanation.

Then, without uttering a single word of forgiveness or understanding, she let out a loud, incredibly haughty.

"Hmph!"

With a sharp twist of her shoulders, she snapped her head back around, turning her back to him once more and shutting him out completely.

Yuuya stared at her stubborn back, his shoulders drooping in total defeat.

He realized there was absolutely no reasoning with her tonight. When a woman like the Silence of Hera decided to give you the silent treatment personally, there was no winning the argument.

He let out one last sigh, running a hand through his hair.

"Alright... I am really, truly sorry, Alfia." Yuuya muttered quietly, pulling his legs up onto his mattress. "I'll make it up to you later. Goodnight."

He lay flat on his back, pulling his blanket up to his chest. The exhaustion of the day, his duties as the captain of the familia—which is just a lesser crueller term for paperwork—the stress from the dinner ordeal, and the safety of the room took over almost instantly.

Within a few short minutes, his muscles went entirely slack, his breathing slowed down into a steady rhythm, and he fell fast asleep, completely oblivious to the world around him.

He is back to being a complete log.

Behind him, Alfia listened to the sudden change in his breathing.

The fact that he had fallen asleep so quickly only made her feel even more irritated.

'He really is an idiot.' She thought bitterly, her mind racing back to the events at the dinner table. 'A total dummy.'

'I completely agree.' Her other self chimed in, the internal voice echoing inside her head with a deeply frustrated sigh. 'He just sat there. He let that little goddess cling to his arm, and he didn't do a single thing to reject her. He didn't push her away, and he didn't say no.'

Alfia's chest tightened with a strange sharp ache as her inner voice continued to lay out the cold reality of tomorrow.

'And now, because of his utter foolishness, he is actually going to walk out that front door with her tomorrow morning.' Her other self whispered, the voice dripping with a bitter, burning jealousy. 'He is going to go on a date. He is going to spend hours walking through the crowded streets, focusing all of his attention on another girl. A girl that isn't us. And we cannot even follow him because of that ridiculous rule. We will be stuck here, entirely alone in this mansion, while he is out there smiling and talking with someone else.'

The thought of Yuuya spending his day with Hestia, completely out of her sight, filled Alfia with a possessive anger.

She hated the idea of another person claiming his time.

She hated the fact that she was being left behind.

Wanting to vent some of her frustration, Alfia slowly turned her head around. She fully intended to level another murderous glare at him, even if he was asleep, just to satisfy her own burning temper.

But the moment her eyes found his face, her anger stumbled.

Yuuya was lying completely flat on his back, his face entirely relaxed in the pale moonlight.

He looked incredibly peaceful, completely devoid of the stress and worry he had carried during dinner.

He didn't have a single guard up. He was totally vulnerable, sleeping deeply because he felt safe with her right beside him.

Seeing him look so soft and defenseless immediately triggered her nightly instinct.

Her body naturally wanted to move. She wanted to slide across the seam of the mattresses, tuck herself under his blanket, and wrap her arms around him until the uncomfortable ache in her chest went away.

But her pride flared up, stopping her in her tracks.

'No.' Alfia told herself firmly, her jaw tightening. 'Absolutely not. I am supposed to be angry to him tonight. He was foolish, and he ignored my warnings. If I simply crawl over and hug him now, it will be like I am rewarding his terrible behavior. I must stay on my side of the bed.'

She began to turn her head back toward the wall, determined to maintain her dignified stance.

'But it felt incredibly comfortable though...' Her other self suddenly whispered back.

'Wha— I thought you were angry at him too?'

'That was the past me. The me from a few seconds ago and the me now is totally different.'

'That doesn't even make any sense.'

'Details.' Her other self whispered, the voice turning incredibly soft, coaxing, and deeply tempting. 'Are you really going to punish yourself just to prove a point to a sleeping man? He won't even know you are keeping your distance. He is a deep sleeper, he feels nothing right now.'

Alfia paused, her green and gray eyes lingering on the small gap between their blankets.

'Think about it.' Her inner voice beckoned, pulling at her deep craving for comfort. 'Tomorrow is going to be a miserable, lonely day for you anyway. You are going to be furious all day long while he is gone. Why deny yourself the only comfort you have tonight? His warmth is so incredibly sweet and comfortable. You know exactly how good it feels to rest your head against his shoulder. Just go to him.'

Alfia sat frozen in the center of her bed, caught in a fierce battle between her immense, stubborn dignity and the overwhelming desire to feel his heartbeat against her cheek.

She was furious with him, yet she wanted him closer than ever.

Slowly, her stubborn pride began to crumble under the weight of her loneliness. She let out a tiny, defeated sigh through her nose.

Abandoning her own mattress entirely, Alfia slid across the divide between the two beds. She moved with silence, her blanket trailing behind her as she crept into his space.

She slipped into the side of his bed, the radiating heat from his body instantly washing over her cool skin.

She was still angry, so she decided she wouldn't be gentle about it.

With a firm movement, she threw her arm across his chest and pulled herself tightly against his side. She dug her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, gripping him possessively, as if she were physically clamping down on something that belonged to her and her alone. She buried her face directly into the crook of his neck, letting his familiar, clean scent completely fill her senses.

Yuuya didn't wake up from the sudden movement. He merely let out a low, comfortable grunt, his body instinctively turning a fraction of an inch to accommodate her shape, his natural warmth enveloping her completely.

Holding him in a tight lock, Alfia finally closed her heterochromatic eyes. She was still going to be furious with him in the morning, but for tonight, wrapped completely in his comfort, she allowed herself to fall into a deep sleep.

∆∆∆∆

The morning sun arrived far too quickly for Alfia's liking. Unfortunately.

When the bright light finally forced its way through the bedroom curtains, she had already slid back onto her side of the combined bed, pretending she had spent the entire night there.

But the transition from the cozy warmth of Yuuya's side to the cold reality of the morning did absolutely nothing to fix her foul mood.

Downstairs in the main hall, the air was thick with tension.

Hestia was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet near the front door. She had dressed up for the occasion, her eyes sparkling with a victorious, mischievous light.

Beside her, Yuuya stood looking like a man marching toward a firing squad.

He had tended his clothes for the tenth time, his dark eyes shifting nervously toward the staircase where Alfia was slowly descending.

Alfia stood on the bottom step, her arms crossed firmly over her chest. Her royal blue dress rustled softly, but her posture is radiating nothing even remotely close to softness.

She didn't say a word. She simply stared at Yuuya with a completely unamused and disapproving gaze.

She is not enjoying the sight.

Yuuya swallowed hard, offering a helpless, apologetic smile.

"Well... we're heading out now, Alfia. There's plenty of food in the pantry, and Bell and the others will be around if you need anything. Try to... take it easy today, alright?"

Alfia didn't blink. Her green and gray eyes remained locked on him, radiating a cold, silent fury that could have frozen a boiling lake.

"Hmph."

With a snap of her chin, Alfia whipped her head away, completely refusing to look at his face a second longer.

"Come on, darling! We're losing daylight!" Hestia cheered loudly, intentionally loud enough to echo through the hallway.

She grabbed Yuuya's arm and practically dragged him out the front door, slamming it shut behind them.

The moment the click of the lock echoed through the house, the remaining members of the Hestia Familia—who had been hiding in the kitchen doorway—slowly crept into the hall.

Bell, Lili, Welf, Mikoto, and Haruhime stood in a neat row, staring at Alfia's back. The silver haired woman hadn't moved an inch from the bottom step.

The silence she was radiating was so heavy that Haruhime's fox ears flattened entirely against her head, and Welf slowly reached up to rub his own neck, feeling a sudden chill.

At that moment, an unspoken agreement passed between the five of them in an instant. No words were spoken, no signals were given, but their eyes communicated with perfect, frantic clarity: We need to leave. Right. Now.

Staying in this mansion with a brooding, jealous, and completely territorial Level 7 mage was a death wish.

If she decided to vent her frustration, the walls of the Hearth Mansion wouldn't stand a chance.

The dungeon wasn't just a place to work today. It was a sanctuary.

Welf was the first to break the silence, his voice a cautious whisper as he looked at Bell.

"Hey, Bell... didn't you say you wanted to test out your new Level 4 strength on some deeper floors today?"

"Y-Yes!" Bell squeaked out quickly, nodding his head so fast his white hair blurred. "In fact, I think we should go really deep. Maybe we can even camp out on the eighteenth floor for the night. You know, just to make sure we get a really good training session in!"

"Lili completely agrees with Master Bell!" The small prum chimed in, already lifting her massive backpack onto her shoulders with unnatural speed. "The safety of the eighteenth floor is exactly what the Familia needs today. We should leave immediately so we don't waste any time!"

Mikoto silently gripped the hilt of her sword, nodding in frantically in agreement, while Haruhime quickly grabbed a basket of traveling rations from the kitchen, her tail twitching in anxiety.

(They would be doing a picnic there lol xD)

Without waiting for a response, the group scrambled toward the front door. As they passed the staircase, they each offered a hurried, incredibly polite bow to the silent silver haired woman.

"Have a wonderful day, mom! We'll be back tomorrow!" Bell yelled over his shoulder as Welf practically threw the front door open.

Within three seconds, the five of them had sprinted out of the house, the front door slamming shut—though quietly, afraid they might make her explode from the sudden loud sound—for the second time that morning.

The sudden emptiness of the mansion felt incredibly loud.

Alfia slowly let her arms drop to her sides. She turned her head, her heterochromatic eyes scanning the completely vacant living room and the quiet kitchen.

They had all fled.

They had literally chosen to risk their lives in the depths of the dungeon rather than spend a single afternoon in the same house as her.

'Well, look at that.' Her other self spoke up, the internal voice echoing inside her mind with a long, drawn out sigh. 'They ran away. Every single one of them. Now you are entirely on your own.'

Alfia walked over to the large couch in the living room, sitting down with grace, though her fingers dug deeply into the fabric of the cushion.

'Let them go. I prefer the quiet anyway. It is much better than listening to their constant chattering.'

'Are you sure about that?' Her other self teased, the voice turning a bit heavy and somber. 'Because right now, the house is quiet, but Yuuya is out there in the city. He is walking through the bright streets, laughing at that little goddess's jokes, and letting her lead him wherever she wants. And you are sitting here in the dark, completely alone.'

Alfia bit her lower lip, staring blankly at the cold fireplace. Her inner self was right. The silence of the mansion didn't feel peaceful today. It felt incredibly lonely, empty, and irritating.

She had a full, long day ahead of her, and absolutely nothing to look forward to until the sun went down.

Deciding that if she didn't do anything, she might just level the entire manor—Alfia suddenly stood up in the middle of the living room. For a few moments, all that she does is stare at the front door.

She had claimed she wanted quiet, but now that she had it, the emptiness felt incredibly irritating.

With nothing to do, she turned around and walked back up the stairs.

Her boots made soft thuds against the wood until she reached the bedroom. She pushed the door open and looked at the combined beds.

The sheets were neat, and the room was filled with the bright morning light. She walked over to her side, intending to pick up her book again, but she stopped. Her eyes immediately drifted across the small seam where the two mattresses met, landing directly on Yuuya's bed.

Her pride flared up for a second, telling her to stay on her own side. But the burning irritation in her chest was far too strong. Giving up on her dignity entirely, Alfia climbed onto Yuuya's mattress.

'Erebus, Zald—you two better be not watching from Tenkai.' Thought Alfia, sending an imaginary glare at the heavens above.

With that, she crawled over to the center of his bed, reached out, and pulled his pillow into her arms. She clutched it tightly against her chest, burying her face into the fabric. She closed her eyes, breathing in deeply, desperately trying to catch any trace of his scent or his warmth that might have lingered behind.

At first, the action worked. The faint, clean scent of him calmed the frantic storm inside her mind. Her shoulders relaxed a fraction, and she squeezed the soft cushion closer, letting herself imagine that he was still lying right next to her.

But the relief didn't last.

Ten minutes. That was exactly how long she lasted. Ten minutes was the limit of her endurance.

Slowly, the comforting weight in her arms began to change. Because it was just an object and not the actual person, the pillow didn't offer any real warmth. It felt hollow. The fabric grew hot against her skin, and the lack of a real heartbeat beneath her cheek only made her realize how empty the room truly was.

'Look at you.' Her other self muttered, the internal voice sounding deeply unimpressed. 'The great Silence of Hera, reduced to hugging a piece of cloth in the middle of the day because someone's goddess took her man out for a walk. This is truly pathetic.'

Alfia didn't even argue back. She kept her eyes closed, but her jaw tightened.

With a sharp, frustrated movement, Alfia threw the pillow across the mattress. It bounced off the sheets and tumbled onto the floor, completely abandoned.

She sat up, her silver hair falling wildly over her shoulders as she stared at the empty wall.

She absolutely refused to spend the rest of the day doing nothing.

The fact that Yuuya's silhouette was not within her field of vision is driving her nuts.

She couldn't stand the thought of him walking around the city, entirely unprotected from Hestia's annoying antics. If she stayed in this room for another hour, her temper would likely explode and take the entire building with it.

'If you cannot stay here, the solution is obvious.' Her other self whispered, a sudden, dark spark of excitement returning to the voice. 'Why are we sitting here starving when the target is out in the open? Go find him.'

Alfia stood up from the bed, her green and gray eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.

'I am merely ensuring the safety of our captain.' She told herself, using the excuse to shield what remained of her pride. 'If the goddess gets him into trouble, the Familia will suffer.'

'Of course.' Her inner voice laughed, entirely satisfied. 'Whatever helps you sleep better at night. Now, get moving.'

Alfia walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out the long dark cloak Yuuya had given her. She slipped her arms through the fabric, pulling the deep hood far over her face. She adjusted the material carefully, ensuring the shadow completely concealed her distinct silver hair and her heterochromatic eyes.

To anyone in the streets, she would look like nothing more than a quiet, mysterious traveler.

She didn't grab any weapons. She didn't need them. Not that she uses a weapon in the first place. Her magic was more than enough to handle any scenario anyways.

Turning on her heel, Alfia walked out of the bedroom and marched down the stairs. She opened the front door of the Hearth Mansion, stepping out into the bright, bustling streets of Orario. The air was warm, and the sounds of the city washed over her, but her focus was entirely locked.

She was going to find him, and absolutely no one was going to stop her.

The midday sun beat down on the cobblestone streets of Orario, but beneath the shadow of her cloak, Alfia felt entirely cold.

She walked through the bustling crowds of the market district, keeping her head low. Every few steps, she carefully adjusted the rim of her hood, ensuring not a single strand of her silver hair slipped out into the light.

She moved with a quiet grace, slipping between groups of laughing adventurers and busy merchants without making a sound.

To the rest of the city, she was just an anonymous traveler.

But to herself, the reality of what she was doing was completely humiliating.

She had become a stalker.

The absurdity of the situation pressed heavily against her pride.

She was the Silence of Hera, a woman whose name once made even the most influential people in the world tremble with fear.

She was a first-class adventurer who had lived her entire life guided by strict discipline, cold logic, and unyielding dignity.

She had never once bowed to anyone, nor had she ever wasted her time on trivial, foolish pursuits.

Yet here she was, hiding behind a large wooden fruit stall, peering around a stack of red apples just to keep a twenty eight year old man in her sight.

If any of her old Familia members could see her right now, they would probably think she had completely lost her mind.

She had never expected—not in her wildest dreams or her deepest nightmares—that she would ever lower herself to following a man through the dirty streets of the city like a lovesick teenager.

It's undignified.

It's pathetic.

It's a complete stain on her reputation.

'How the mighty has fallen.' Her other self whispered, the internal voice filled with a mocking amusement that offered absolutely no comfort. 'The legendary Alfia, hiding behind a crate of produce. If Riveria looks out her window right now, she would either die from the shock or die of laughter. Is this truly what remains of our grand dignity?'

Alfia gripped the edges of her cloak tightly.

'Be quiet.' She snapped back in her mind, her jaw clenching tightly. 'I am simply monitoring the situation. The goddess is reckless. If she drags him into a dangerous territory or draws the wrong kind of attention, his safety could be compromised.'

'Keep telling yourself that.' Her other self laughed quietly, the tone turning sharper, cutting straight through her excuses. 'But we both know that is a lie. You don't care about the goddess's antics. You are simply green with envy.'

The word hit Alfia like a physical blow.

Envy.

She hated the word, but as her green and gray eyes scanned the crowd ahead, she couldn't deny the burning, suffocating heat flaring up beneath her ribs.

A few yards down the street, Yuuya was walking at a slow, patient pace. He wore his usual dark shirt, his tall, broad frame standing out easily among the shorter citizens. And right beside him, completely attached to his left arm, was Hestia.

The little goddess was wearing a massive, radiant smile, pointing excitedly toward a colorful display of hair ornaments at a nearby shop. She laughed at something Yuuya said, leaning her weight heavily against his side as they moved together.

Seeing the physical closeness between them made Alfia's blood boil. A deep, bitter jealousy twisted tightly in her stomach, completely overwhelming her sense of shame.

That spot right next to him did not belong to the goddess. It didn't belong to anyone else in this city.

It belonged to her.

For the past two months, Yuuya had been a constant presence.

He was the one who had descended into the deepest, darkest depths of the world just to pull her soul back.

He was the one who had stayed awake for days, carefully tending to her health and carrying her when her legs were too weak to support her own weight.

He had given her his room, his bed, and his undivided attention without a single word of complaint.

Every single night, when the rest of the world went dark, she was the one who crossed the distance between their mattresses to absorb his comfort.

She knew the exact rhythm of his heartbeat.

She knew the steady, calming warmth of his shoulder.

He had built a safe, quiet haven just for her, and she had grown entirely dependent on it.

To see another woman—even if it was his own goddess—carelessly stepping into that space and claiming his attention was completely intolerable.

Alfia felt a possessive urge tearing at her chest. She wanted to walk right through the crowd, rip Hestia away from his arm, and stand exactly where she belonged—right by his side, with his dark eyes focused entirely on her and no one else.

"He is mine." Alfia muttered under her breath, the words slipping past her lips before she could even think about it in a low, dangerous whisper that remained hidden beneath her hood.

'Then stop hiding in the shadows and go take him.' Her other self urged, the voice completely dropping its teasing tone, turning into a dark, demanding growl that matched Alfia's own fury. 'Look at how she smiles. She thinks she won. She thinks she can just have him for the day because you were too proud to speak up. Unacceptable.'

Alfia took a slow, deep breath, forcing the icy pressure of her aura to remain tightly coiled inside her body. She didn't step out from behind the stall just yet.

Her pride was heavily damaged, but she knows better. If she caused a massive scene in the middle of the market district, it would only distress Yuuya and ruin the secret peace they had built together.

But as she watched Yuuya offer Hestia a polite, gentle smile, Alfia's green and gray eyes narrowed once more.

She adjusted her cloak one more time, her boots scraping lightly against the cobblestones as she stepped back into the crowd.

She would play the role of the shadow for now. But she was going to watch every single movement, every single smile, and every single touch. And the moment this ridiculous date was over, she would make absolutely sure Yuuya understood exactly who he belonged to.

The afternoon rolled on, and the market district grew even more crowded. The scent of roasted meats, sweet pastries, and fresh fruits filled the warm air.

Yuuya walked down the main cobblestone path, keeping his pace slow so Hestia could keep up.

The little goddess was still attached to his left arm, her hands locked around his elbow as she happily steered him toward the center of the district.

Despite the bright sunshine and the cheerful atmosphere, Yuuya could not shake a deeply unsettling feeling.

Every few seconds, the hairs on the back of his neck would stand straight up. A cold, phantom chill kept running down his spine, a sensation he only felt back when he fought Udaeus.

He glanced over his shoulder, his dark eyes scanning the crowd of shoppers and adventurers. He didn't see anything unusual—just the normal hustle and bustle of Orario.

"Is something wrong, darling?" Hestia asked, tilting her head up to look at him. She pouted slightly, squeezing his arm. "You keep looking behind us. You're supposed to be focused entirely on me today!"

"It's nothing." Yuuya muttered, rubbing the back of his neck with a forced, reassuring smile. "Just a bit of a habit from the dungeon, I guess. Don't worry about it."

In reality, his survival instincts were screaming at him. He knew exactly what—or rather, who—was causing that pressure, even if he couldn't see her.

A few dozen paces behind them, sitting at a small outdoor table of a busy café, a lone figure watched their every move.

Alfia sat perfectly still, her dark cloak draped completely over her tall frame. A half empty cup of bitter black tea sat on the wooden table in front of her, completely forgotten.

Beneath the shadow of her hood, her green and gray eyes were locked onto Yuuya's back like a pair of aiming crosshairs.

Every time Hestia leaned her weight against him, Alfia's fingers would twitch beneath her cloak.

'Look at him.' Her other self whispered inside her mind, the voice practically dripping with a dangerous, mocking heat. 'He smiled at her. Did you see that? That was a genuine, polite smile. He isn't even trying to escape. He is actually enjoying himself.'

'He is being polite because she is his deity.' Alfia countered sharply in her thoughts, though the burning sensation in her chest was growing heavier by the minute. 'Yuuya has a strong sense of duty. He would never disrespect his goddess in public, regardless of how annoying she behaves.'

'Keep making excuses.' Her inner voice sneered. 'But look what she is doing now. She is leading him toward that sweet shop. The one with the long lines. She is going to make him buy her a treat, and then she is going to do something disgusting and affectionate.'

Alfia didn't reply. She slowly stood up from the café table, leaving a few coins behind without a word. She blended back into the crowd, her movements completely silent as she trailed the pair toward a popular outdoor crepe stall.

Hestia dragged Yuuya right up to the front of the stall, pointing excitedly at the menu.

"Oh! Look, Yuuya! They have the special seasonal fruit crepes with extra whipped cream! You have to buy one with me!"

"Alright, alright." Yuuya laughed softly, pulling out his pouch of valis. "One special fruit crepe, please."

The vendor quickly assembled the treat, handing over a large, neatly folded crepe overflowing with red strawberries, sweet syrup, and thick white cream. Hestia took it with both hands, her eyes shining with pure delight.

Instead of taking a bite herself, she turned around to face Yuuya. She lifted the crepe up toward his face, a deeply mischievous, romantic smirk spreading across her face.

"Here, darling! You paid for it, so you get the very first bite!" Hestia said, her voice intentionally loud and sweet. She stepped closer, lifting her heels. "Open wide! Say ahh~"

Yuuya's heart instantly skipped a beat, but not out of romance. It was pure terror. He looked at the crepe, then looked around the crowded square. The phantom pressure in the air had suddenly spiked so heavily that the nearby carriage horses began to whine in panic, shifting their hooves uneasily on the cobblestones.

"Uh... Goddess, that's really not necessary." Yuuya stammered, backing up a step, his hands raised in surrender. "You can just eat it. I'm really not hungry—"

"Don't be shy, darling!" Hestia insisted, taking another step forward to close the distance. "Just take a bite!"

Behind a nearby stone pillar, Alfia's entire body went completely rigid.

The sight of the little goddess trying to feed Yuuya a sweet treat in the middle of a public square completely shattered the final remnants of her restraint.

The secret, intimate routine they shared every single night—where she was the only one allowed to be close to him, to taste sweet things near him, and to hold him—felt entirely violated.

'That is it.' Her other self growled, the inner voice completely dropping its playful tone, replaced by a possessive fury. 'I cannot watch this pathetic display for another second. If her mouth touches him, or if he takes that bite, I am going to tear this entire square apart. Blast her. Blast her right now!'

Alfia's left hand gripped the stone of the pillar. A microscopic fracture immediately spider webbed through the rock under the force of her grip.

A tiny, almost imperceptible ripple of her actual Level 7 aura leaked out into the immediate surroundings.

Instantly, the temperature in the square seemed to drop by several degrees. A sudden, freezing gust of wind swept through the paths, causing the banners above the shops to snap violently.

(She's so jealous that it's starting to change the weather xd)

Several flocks of birds sitting on the nearby rooftops suddenly launched into the sky all at once, fleeing the area in terror. They do not, want to deal with whatever's coming next.

The citizens walking nearby paused, shivering suddenly as a strange, instinctual fear gripped their chests, though none of them knew why.

Yuuya felt the sudden spike in pressure and immediately recognized the source. His eyes darted toward the stone pillar a few yards away, locking onto the dark, cloaked silhouette standing perfectly still in the shadows.

He swallowed hard, a cold sweat breaking out across his face. He knew that if he took a single bite of that crepe right now, the entire market district was going to become a war zone.

Before Yuuya could find a way to break the tension or push the crepe away, Hestia's eyes suddenly lit up with a brand new spark.

"Oh! I completely forgot!" Hestia gasped, clapping her hands together. The sweet treat was lowered instantly as she spun around, her long twin tails tossing through the air. "The specialized garment shop near the North Main Street has a limited sale on new armor polishes today! Welf mentioned it last week, and I promised I would check it out for the Familia budget! Come on, darling, we have to move fast before they close the doors!"

Without giving Yuuya a single second to reply, Hestia tightly grabbed his elbow once more and aggressively dragged him away from the crepe stall, heading straight toward the crowded northern district.

Yuuya let out a massive, silent breath of relief, his shoulders dropping as he was pulled into the moving crowd. He quickly cast one final glance over his shoulder toward the stone pillar. The dark, cloaked figure had already stepped out of the shadow, her posture stiff, before she smoothly melted back into the sea of citizens to continue her hunt.

For the rest of the afternoon, Hestia remained completely oblivious to Alfia who was tracking their every move. She pulled Yuuya from one shop to another, checking out fabrics, browsing through street vendor displays, and pointing at the various sights of Orario.

To anyone else, it looked like a perfectly normal, cheerful outing between a goddess and her captain.

But for Yuuya, the entire day was an exercise in mental exhaustion.

Every single time Hestia laughed too loudly, stood a bit too close, or touched his arm, he could feel those green and gray eyes drilling a hole straight through the back of his skull from behind various walls, trees, and market awnings.

Alfia was maintaining a perfect lock on his silhouette, never losing him for even a second.

Eventually, the bright blue sky began to fade. The sun dipped low beneath the outer walls of the city. The magical street lamps of Orario began to flicker to life one by one.

Hestia finally stopped near a quiet fountain, letting out a long, content sigh as she stretched her arms above her head.

"Wow, today went by so fast. My feet are killing me, but I had so much fun with you today, Yuuya."

"Yeah." Yuuya said, offering a genuine, tired smile as he stretched his own stiff shoulders. "It was good to get out of the mansion for a bit, Goddess."

"Well, the sun is completely down now, so I guess our official date is officially over." Hestia said, a small, sleepy pout forming on her face as she looked toward the direction of their home. "Let's head back to the manor. I bet the others are already making dinner."

In the deep shadow of an alleyway just a few yards away, the cloaked figure shifted.

Alfia listened to the words, her heterochromatic eyes narrowing beneath her hood. The date was over.

The boundary had reached its end, and Yuuya was finally returning to where he belonged.

Recognizing that she needed to beat them back to the mansion to preserve what was left of her dignity, Alfia didn't waste a single moment.

She turned away from the main street, pulling her cloak tight around her frame. Using her incredible agility and speed, she sprinted through the quiet back alleys of the city, bypassing the crowded main paths entirely.

She moved fast, her heart pounding with a frantic need to ensure she was sitting exactly where she was supposed to be before they ever opened the front door.

A half hour later, the wooden front door of the Hearth Mansion clicked open.

Yuuya walked inside first, his boots clicking softly against the floorboards, with Hestia following right behind him. The entire house was completely quiet and dark, save for a single magical lamp burning dimly in the center of the main living room.

As they had expected, Bell and the others were nowhere to be found, likely camping out safely on the eighteenth floor of the dungeon to avoid the immediate aftermath of the day.

Yuuya turned his eyes toward the large couch near the cold fireplace.

Alfia was sitting precisely in the center of the cushions. Her dark cloak was nowhere to be seen, having been hastily stowed away upstairs. She wore her royal blue dress, her long silver hair falling perfectly over her shoulders without a single strand out of place.

A book rested open in her lap, and she was staring quietly at the pages, her posture radiating that of a flawless, elegant grace of a high born noblewoman.

She looked completely calm, thoroughly relaxed, and entirely indifferent—as if she had spent the entire afternoon reading in total isolation.

"We're back." Yuuya called out softly, rubbing the back of his neck as he walked into the living room.

Alfia didn't look up immediately. She slowly turned a page of her book, her green and gray eyes remaining fixed on the text for a few seconds before she finally raised her head. She leveled a cool, unamused look at the two of them.

"So I see." Alfia replied, her voice smooth, level, and entirely devoid of the frantic energy she had used to sprint across the city just minutes prior. "You took an exceptionally long time to complete a simple walk through the market, Yuuya."

"Oh, stop complaining, Alfia!" Hestia puffed out her chest, crossing her arms with a triumphant grin as she marched toward the stairs. "I told you I was going to keep him all day, and I did! Now if you'll excuse me, I am exhausted from our wonderful date, and I am going straight to bed. Goodnight, darling!"

With a cheerful wave, Hestia trotted up the wooden stairs, her bedroom door clicking shut a few moments later.

The silence returned to the living room, leaving Yuuya and Alfia completely alone under the dim light of the lamp.

Yuuya walked over to the edge of the couch, standing just a few feet away from her. He looked down at her calm face, his dark eyes carrying a tired, knowing expression. He had felt her presence every single hour of the day, and he knew exactly what she had done, but seeing her sit there pretending to be entirely innocent was almost amusing.

"You know..." Yuuya said quietly, his tone dropping into a low, private whisper. "For someone who claimed they preferred the quiet of the mansion, you sure spent a lot of time hiding behind stone pillars and fruit stalls today."

Alfia's fingers stiffened against the pages of her book. A trace of pink colored the tips of her ears, but she stubbornly refused to break her character. She closed the book with a firm snap, standing up from the couch to face him directly, her green and gray eyes flashing with that familiar, possessive heat.

"I have absolutely no idea what ridiculous fabrications you are speaking of." Alfia stated coldly, her chin lifting with an unyielding sense of pride. She turned on her heel, her dress swirling around her ankles as she marched toward the staircase. "The air in this living room is becoming thoroughly irritating. I am returning to our room. We're gonna have... one long talk. Do not make me wait, Yuuya."

Yuuya watched her foot rest on the first wooden step, her back turned on him. He can't deny it, but he did feel a bit threatened when he heard they'll have a long talk. Mainly because he felt like she is just as unforgiving as Eina when it comes to lecturing him.

Regardless, he knew she was trying to retreat to the bedroom to nurse her wounded pride, but he refused to let the day end on such a tense note. He had spent hours feeling her gaze from the shadows of the city, and more than anything, he wanted to clear the air between them.

"Alfia, wait." Yuuya said, his voice soft but firm enough to make her pause.

She did not turn around, but she stopped moving up the stairs. Her silver hair caught the faint light of the magical lamp.

"Hestia is already fast asleep, and Bell and the others won't be back from the eighteenth floor until tomorrow." Yuuya continued, walking over to the base of the staircase. "The house is completely empty, and we haven't eaten properly. Let me fix us some dinner. Just the two of them."

A quiet ripple passed through Alfia's shoulders. Her green and gray eyes drifted toward the dark kitchen. Her pride urged her to reject the offer, to climb the stairs and show him that the Silence of Hera could not be swayed by a simple meal. But inside her mind, her other self was already singing a completely different tune.

'How delightful.' Her inner voice purred, the tone full of a lazy, triumphant satisfaction. 'He is begging for your attention now. He knows he did wrong, and he wants to make it up to you. Do not be a fool, Alfia. The goddess is unconscious downstairs, the children are gone, and you can finally have him all to yourself.'

Alfia gripped the wooden banister, forcing her face to remain cool as she slowly turned around on the step. She looked down at Yuuya's earnest, tired dark eyes.

"I suppose..." Alfia began, her voice smooth and deliberate. "It would be a waste to let the kitchen go unused. If you insist on preparing something, I will allow you to accompany me."

A genuine, relieved smile broke across Yuuya's face.

"Thanks. Have a seat at the table. I'll heat up the stew Welf left in the icebox and slice some fresh bread."

The dinner that followed was the quietest the Hearth Mansion had experienced in weeks. Without Hestia's loud cheering or the constant chatter of the younger Familia members, the dining room felt incredibly peaceful.

Yuuya set down two bowls of beef stew and a plate of crusty bread, sitting right across from her.

As they ate, the pressure that had followed Yuuya all afternoon completely dissolved. Alfia ate with her usual manners, but her movements were no longer stiff.

Every time Yuuya reached across the table to pass her the water pitcher or offered her the softest piece of the bread, her green and gray eyes would track his hands with a quiet, calm intensity.

She was no longer hiding behind stone pillars. She didn't have to watch another woman cling to his arms. He was sitting right in front of her, focusing his entire attention on her needs, checking to make sure the food was to her liking. The jealousy that had ruined her afternoon was completely replaced by a smug, quiet victory. Hestia had claimed his daylight hours, but the quiet of the night belonged entirely to her.

An hour later, the dinner dishes were washed and dried, and the lamps downstairs were completely extinguished.

The bedroom was cool and dark, painted in the light of the midnight moon. Yuuya lay flat on his back on his mattress, his blanket pulled up to his shoulders.

The mental exhaustion of being tracked by a Level 7 mage while being dragged around by a goddess had completely drained his energy. The moment his head hit his actual pillow, his body went entirely slack. Within minutes, his breathing slowed. He fell into a deep, defenseless sleep, totally safe in the knowledge that the mansion was secure.

On the adjacent mattress, Alfia lay on her side, her silver hair spilling across her pillow like silk.

She waited in the darkness, her heterochromatic eyes fixed on the outline of his face. She listened intently, tracking the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest.

"Yuuya." She whispered into the quiet room.

No response came. Yuuya didn't even stir.

A deep, profound wave of contentment washed over Alfia's chest, far sweeter than any victory she had ever achieved on a battlefield. The frustrating, hollow weight of the pillow she had hugged earlier that morning was completely forgotten.

The real thing was right here, just a few inches away.

'He's back...' Her other self whispered, the internal voice sounding incredibly soft, happy, and warm. 'No more goddesses. No more crowds. He came right back to this room, just like I told you he would. He belongs right here.'

Alfia didn't argue with her inner voice tonight. A small, soft smile touched her lips in the dark.

'Yes...' She thought back, her mind filled with a calm certainty. 'He is here.'

Slowly, carefully, Alfia slipped out from beneath her own blanket. She slid across the thin seam where the two beds met, leaving her own mattress completely behind.

She moved like a shadow, creeping into the radiant warmth that naturally poured from Yuuya's body.

She settled down right against his left side. With a deliberate, possessive movement, she threw her arm over his broad chest, her fingers curling into the soft fabric of his shirt. She pulled herself forward until she was pressed firmly against him, burying her face directly into the crook of his neck.

She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with his familiar, clean scent, letting the steady heat of his skin melt away the last lingering remnants of her daytime anger.

Yuuya didn't wake up from the sudden weight on his chest. Instead, he let out a low, comfortable murmur, his body naturally shifting a fraction of an inch to pull her even closer against him, his large frame unconsciously shielding her from the cool night air.

Alfia tightened her hold on him, her heart beating in sync with his rhythm. She felt completely secure, entirely satisfied, and thoroughly victorious.

Let the little goddess have her silly daytime walks. Every night, Yuuya would always return to this exact space, wrapped securely in her arms.

With her mind completely at peace, the Silence of Hera finally closed her eyes, letting herself sink into a deep, dreamless sleep right beside the man she refused to let go.

∆∆∆∆

Author: 3~5 more chapters before season 2 ends.