Vesper walked like she was escaping a crime scene, which was fitting, because the Request Ceremony felt like one.
She kept my hand in hers, not tight, not possessive, just steady. Like she was reminding my body that it was allowed to be a person and not a prize on a stage.
Elise followed two steps behind, tether chain loose, eyes sharp, jaw tired.
"Door open," Elise reminded.
"Door open," Vesper repeated quickly. "We get it. We are not doing anything that would make the paladin explode."
Elise said flatly, "Good."
We slipped away from the square into a quieter street, one of the rare ones where the lanterns weren't shaped like lips and the signs didn't demand romance like a tax.
Vesper glanced back once, like she expected a pack of hungry girls to leap from the rooftops.
I whispered, "They're going to follow."
Vesper whispered back, "They always follow. Lustra doesn't let a man breathe without a permit."
My Consent Candle glowed softly, like it was tired too.
NOTICE: ESCAPE DATE ACTIVE
BOUNDARY: NO KISS
BOUNDARY: NO TOUCHING UNLESS OFFERED
BOUNDARY: NO CROWD
Vesper nodded at the candle like it was a coworker.
"Okay," she said. "Step one. Find a place with no cheering."
"Does that exist," I asked.
Vesper grinned. "It exists if you're willing to break minor laws."
Elise's eyes narrowed. "No laws."
Vesper lifted her free hand. "Fine. No laws. Only creative routes."
She led us into a narrow alley that smelled like rain and clean stone. At the end was a small door with a simple wooden sign.
SILENCE TEA.
NO CHANTING.
NO FLIRT TAX.
NO QUESTIONS LIKE WHO DO YOU LIKE MOST.
I stopped.
"That's," I whispered, "perfect."
Vesper's grin turned proud. "I know the city's secret corners. I'm a professional nuisance."
Elise scanned the street, then the roofline, then the window above the shop. She looked like she could smell gossip.
"Go," Elise said. "I'll stand outside. Door open."
Vesper nodded quickly and pushed the door open.
A bell chimed inside, not Yuki's bell, just a normal shop bell that didn't sound like doom.
The tea shop was small. Warm. Quiet. Candlelight that didn't judge. Soft music. No banners. No bracket boards. No snack shaped like lips.
There were two tables. One was occupied by an old man reading a book with the expression of someone who had retired from romance.
Vesper guided me to the far table near the window. The door stayed open, just like promised, and I could see Elise's silhouette outside like a tall threat.
Vesper sat down and immediately took a deep breath like she'd been underwater all day.
Then she stared at me.
And smiled.
Not the thief grin. Not the dungeon grin. A smaller one. A real one.
"You look less doomed in here," she said.
I exhaled. "I feel less doomed."
Vesper leaned back in her chair and tapped the table.
"Okay," she said. "Escape date. Thirty minutes. No kiss. No touching unless you offer. That means I will not do the thing where I casually invade your space and pretend it's normal."
I blinked. "That's very responsible."
Vesper nodded solemnly. "I'm learning. If I don't learn, Elise kills me."
Outside, Elise's head turned slightly like she heard her name through the air.
Vesper lowered her voice. "She's terrifying."
"She's saving my life," I whispered.
Vesper nodded. "Both can be true."
A tea server approached, calm, quiet, dressed like the concept of peace.
"What would you like," the server asked.
Vesper didn't even look at the menu.
"Something that makes him breathe," she said.
The server nodded like that was a normal order. "Mint and honey."
I blinked. "That exists."
"In this shop," Vesper whispered, "yes."
The server left.
Silence settled between us. Not awkward silence. Real silence.
I felt my shoulders drop for the first time in days.
Vesper watched me relax and her eyes softened again.
"See," she whispered. "You were holding your breath like you were waiting for someone to ask for your mouth."
My cheeks warmed.
"You're not supposed to say it like that," I muttered.
Vesper grinned. "I'm not supposed to do anything. That's my job."
I stared out the window at Elise standing outside like a statue.
Then I looked back at Vesper.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
Vesper blinked. "For what."
"For not making me perform," I said. "For asking like I'm a person."
Vesper's grin faded into something smaller.
"Yeah," she murmured. "I meant that. Down there."
The tea arrived. Two cups. Steam rising like calm magic.
I took a sip and almost cried from how normal it tasted.
Vesper sipped hers and sighed.
"So," Vesper said, trying to bring her jokes back, "how does it feel to have a dungeon certify your kiss as exceptional."
I choked on my tea.
Vesper laughed quietly, hand covering her mouth.
"Sorry," she said. "I had to. It's insane. The city is insane. You are insane."
I coughed. "I didn't ask for an exceptional rating."
Vesper leaned forward slightly, keeping her hands on her side of the table.
"Ren," she said, voice low, playful, "your mouth is a public resource now. You're basically infrastructure."
I groaned. "Stop."
Vesper smiled. "I will stop. But only because you said stop."
I exhaled, half laughing, half suffering.
Then I noticed her heart-key charm hanging from her belt, glinting in the candlelight.
"That key," I said. "Is it real."
Vesper's grin returned. "It's real. It opens small doors in old parts of the city."
I raised my eyebrows. "Like what."
Vesper's eyes sparkled. "Like rooftops. Like maintenance hallways. Like places where nobody can chant your name unless they want to fall off a building."
I stared at her.
"That," I said, "is the most romantic thing you've said."
Vesper froze.
Her cheeks warmed.
She sat back fast like romance was a trap.
"I did not mean it romantically," she snapped.
I smiled slightly. "Sure."
Vesper glared at her tea like it betrayed her.
Then her eyes flicked up to mine, quick, sharp.
"You're going to pick someone eventually," she said, like she hated the sentence. "Right."
I hesitated.
Vesper lifted a finger. "Don't get deep. I can't handle deep. Keep it simple."
I nodded. "Simple. Yes. Eventually."
Vesper's expression tightened. "And it's going to be one of them. The serious ones. The ones who can do paperwork without crying."
I snorted. "I can do paperwork without crying."
Vesper's eyes narrowed. "Liar."
I laughed softly.
Vesper's gaze softened.
"Okay," she murmured. "Then here's my thief advice."
I leaned in slightly. "Yeah."
Vesper spoke softly, almost gentle.
"Pick the one who makes you feel less hunted," she said. "Pick the one who makes your body unclench."
My chest warmed, because she understood it too well for someone who pretended to be only jokes.
I whispered, "That's you right now."
Vesper froze again.
Her cheeks warmed again.
She looked offended by the compliment, like Valeria.
"No," she snapped. "I'm a wildcard. I'm not safe. I'm literally the girl who dropped you through a floor."
"That was the dungeon," I said.
Vesper pointed at herself. "I was holding the map. I'm still guilty."
I smiled. "Still safer than the stage."
Vesper stared at me for a second, mouth slightly open, like she didn't know what to do when someone chose her calm.
Then her eyes flicked to my mouth again, just for half a heartbeat, and she immediately looked away like she'd been burned.
"I hate your face," she muttered.
I blinked. "My face."
Vesper nodded, voice muffled. "It makes me do sincerity."
My cheeks warmed.
Before I could reply, the door bell chimed.
Someone entered the shop.
The air shifted.
I didn't even have to turn to know.
Freya's voice whispered, loud enough to be a whisper in public.
"Wow. Cute tea shop. Private table. Door open. Paladin outside. So responsible."
I turned slowly.
Freya stood in the doorway wearing a hooded cloak like a cartoon spy. Behind her was Sofia, also hooded, looking deeply annoyed to be disguised. Behind Sofia was Charlotte with a hood that somehow looked elegant. Behind Charlotte was Kaori, panicking in a hood too big for her. Behind Kaori was Rika, hood bouncing like it was alive.
And behind them, like a final boss that refused to admit she was here, Valeria stood outside the door, arms crossed, not entering, face red, pretending she was just passing by the tea shop at midnight for security reasons.
The old man reading his book didn't even look up. He'd seen everything.
Vesper stared at the doorway, horrified.
"They found us," Vesper whispered.
I whispered back, "They always do."
Elise's voice came from outside, sharp.
"Stop," Elise said.
Freya put on an innocent smile. "We are customers."
Elise said flatly, "You are stalking."
Sofia smirked. "We're observing."
Elise's tone didn't change. "Leave."
Charlotte smiled politely. "We would like tea."
Elise's eyes narrowed. "You can have tea somewhere else."
Rika raised her hand. "We filed a claim."
Yuki's voice echoed from the street like she'd been summoned by paperwork.
"No you didn't," Yuki called.
Rika pouted. "I tried."
Freya leaned against the door frame, grin sharp.
"Ren," Freya said sweetly, "are you enjoying your escape date."
I took a breath.
I looked at Vesper, who looked ready to jump out the window.
Then I looked at Freya and kept my voice calm.
"Yes," I said. "And I want it to stay quiet."
Freya's grin softened for a fraction, like she respected the boundary even if she hated it.
Sofia's smirk sharpened with approval.
Charlotte's eyes warmed slightly.
Kaori looked relieved.
Rika looked personally wounded by the concept of quiet.
Freya sighed dramatically. "Fine. We won't chant."
Elise snapped, "No being here at all."
Freya pouted. "Paladin is mean."
Valeria muttered from outside, "Good."
Everyone turned toward Valeria.
Valeria froze.
She glared at the ground like it betrayed her.
"I'm not here," Valeria snapped.
Freya grinned. "She's here."
Valeria hissed, "Shut up."
Vesper leaned close to me and whispered, "Your harem is a natural disaster."
I whispered back, "And I'm the evacuation route."
Then I did something that surprised everyone, including me.
I stood up.
I kept my voice calm.
"Freya. Sofia. Charlotte. Kaori. Rika," I said. "Go home. Not because I hate you. Because I asked for quiet. And you're breaking it."
The room went still.
Even the old man paused his page turn.
Freya blinked, then smiled, softer.
"Okay," she said. "That was… hot."
Elise made a tired sound.
Sofia smirked like she was proud.
Charlotte nodded politely.
Kaori whispered, "Okay."
Rika pouted so hard her hood almost fell off. "Fine."
They backed out, one by one, still watching me like I was a myth.
Freya lingered at the doorway and pointed at Vesper.
"Wildcard," Freya said, smiling. "Don't get cocky."
Vesper lifted her hands. "I'm terrified, not cocky."
Freya laughed and left.
The door bell chimed again as it closed.
Silence returned, shaky but real.
Vesper exhaled like she'd been holding her breath the whole time.
"You just dismissed them," Vesper whispered.
I sat back down. "Yeah."
Vesper stared at me like I'd done magic.
"That was extremely attractive," she blurted.
Then she froze.
Then she slapped her own cheek lightly like she was trying to reset herself.
"I didn't mean it like that," she snapped.
I smiled, small. "Sure."
Vesper's cheeks warmed again.
Outside, Valeria was still there, pretending she wasn't.
I could see her silhouette through the window.
Arms crossed. Head turned away. Guarding the street like it was her duty.
Vesper noticed too.
"She followed," Vesper whispered.
I whispered, "She's not going to admit it."
Vesper grinned, wicked again.
"Want to ruin her," Vesper whispered.
I blinked. "What."
Vesper tapped her heart-key charm and leaned closer, voice low and playful.
"I can take you out the back," she whispered. "Rooftop route. Quiet. No crowds. Door open, technically, because it's a roof."
I stared at her.
That was such a Vesper solution.
And also, unfortunately, incredibly tempting.
I glanced at the Consent Candle.
It glowed steady.
No kiss. No touching unless offered. Quiet.
I nodded slowly.
"Yes," I whispered. "Do it."
Vesper's grin returned, bright and proud.
"Okay," she whispered. "May I take your hand again."
I held my hand out.
"Yes," I said.
Vesper took it gently.
Then she leaned in close, eyes bright, and whispered like a promise and a joke at the same time.
"Let's escape again, hero. But this time, without the dungeon judging our mouths."
My cheeks warmed.
We slipped out the back door of Silence Tea, into the narrow service alley, and up a hidden stairwell that smelled like dust and freedom.
And outside, Valeria's silhouette shifted, like she realized we were moving.
Like she might follow.
Like she might pretend she wasn't.