What a terrible day.
Felyn took the bottle of water handed to him by the shopkeeper and walked toward Daiyi.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted to Viloti.
Of course, he wasn’t thinking about how she looked in the changing room.
He had to admit, under Viloti’s relentless persistence, he’d done things he never would have imagined before.
Viloti was just... too special.
She wasn’t a client, so he couldn’t draw the line with a contract.
She didn’t know the truth, so he couldn’t just tell everything to her.
But that wasn’t an excuse.
Get it together!
Felyn slapped his own cheeks.
If this kept going, everything would spiral out of control. It wouldn’t just be irresponsible toward his clients—it would be irresponsible toward Viloti too.
From a distance, Felyn spotted Daiyi standing under a tree, as graceful as ever.
He started jogging in place, trying to make it look like he’d gone far to get the water.
Daiyi stood beneath the tree, raising her wrist to glance at her watch.
Felyn had been gone for twenty minutes. Where could he have gone?
“Miss Daiyi, here you go.”
Felyn suddenly appeared behind her, startling her slightly.
“Sorry it took a while. I went to get your favorite flavor. None of the nearby places had it, so I had to go a bit further.”
His heaving chest made it clear he’d jogged all the way back, and the sweat glistening on his face reflected the light of the street lamps.
“Thanks. Next time, you don’t need to go so far. I’m not that particular.”
Daiyi took the bottle, still warm from his hand.
“As long as it makes you happy, Miss Daiyi, a few extra steps are nothing.”
Felyn wiped his brow and gave her a gentle smile.
Daiyi pulled a handkerchief from her bag and handed it to him. “Wipe your sweat.”
“You’re so thoughtful, Miss Daiyi.”
Felyn opened the pocket he’d been hiding behind him. “I ended up buying that matching teddy bear sleepwear we saw earlier. You don’t have to pay for it—it’s just a small token from me. I feel really lucky to be your boyfriend, Miss Daiyi.”
Daiyi looked at the adorable pajamas in the bag, her expression turning slightly complicated.
Her lips twitched, and she pressed them together, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse. Her grip on the water bottle tightened.
“If we pass the inspection, we can keep this as a souvenir.”
Felyn folded the sleepwear neatly and put it back in the bag.
On the way back, Daiyi remained silent.
If we pass the inspection, will the contract between us no longer be necessary?
Originally, it was meant to be for her parents. But looking at it now, there was no way they would come to a place like this themselves—at most, they’d send someone to inspect.
If Bernice found nothing suspicious, then when she reported back, the goal of making her parents upset would be achieved.
After that, she could probably maintain the contract with Felyn for a few more months, just in case they decided to do a follow-up check. A few months later, it would be time for them to part ways.
But why did the thought of ending the contract suddenly feel… a little sad?
Daiyi snuck a glance at Felyn, who was asleep with his head leaning against the car window. Her gaze lingered on his peaceful profile, those dark green eyes appearing especially deep under the night sky.
The events of the day had clearly worn him out.
Streetlights flashed by outside, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow across his face.
His breathing was calm and even. He still held the bag with the teddy bear sleepwear tightly in his arms, unwilling to let go even in sleep.
The once clear boundaries had begun to blur in the quiet of the night.
The word separation suddenly felt difficult to say out loud.
Daiyi turned her head to look at the passing scenery outside the window.
Once the contract with Felyn ended, she would return to being alone again.
In the end, that was just her fate.
These days were nothing more than a brief interlude in her otherwise lonely life—bound to fade into memory.
So, for now, she would cherish this time—time that she might look back on again and again in the future.
Saturday Morning.
Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains into the room.
The morning breeze, carrying a slight chill, gently lifted the corner of the curtain.
The living room still held the tranquility of the previous night. On the coffee table sat two cups—one of them being Daiyi’s dedicated teacup for red tea.
A blanket lay neatly folded on the sofa, still showing the creases from Daiyi’s careful hands.
Daiyi sat in her usual spot, stirring her tea. The silver spoon lightly tapped against the cup, producing a soft clinking sound.
Today, she hadn’t tied up her hair. Her long, dark green hairs cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, giving her a touch of lazy elegance.
Felyn placed freshly toasted bread on the table, and the aroma quickly filled the room.
“Miss Daiyi, would you like jam or butter?”
He spoke while placing both options in front of her.
His movements were smooth and natural, as if he’d done this a thousand times before.
“Jam.”
Without realizing it, Daiyi had gotten used to mornings with Felyn. She had her own seat, her own utensils, and her own F—
Daiyi took small bites of her bread, stealing glances at the boy across the table.
This kind of morning had quietly become something precious.
“Miss Daiyi, I might need to head out later.”
“Alright. Is it to accompany a client?”
“No, I’m heading to the dungeon. I want to try my luck and see if I can observe any beasts—might help me pass the joint examination.”
“Hm? Isn’t that kind of observation class usually arranged by the school? Didn’t you go back then?”
Felyn nodded and swallowed a mouthful of bread.
“But analyzing a typical beast’s behavior in two days is really difficult. Unless someone helps drive the beasts to you—which usually takes a few major families working together.”
“Yeah, I know. I just want to try. I can’t sit around doing nothing. Even if I fail, at least I’ll know I gave it my all.”
Daiyi nodded without another word, but her mind was already formulating a plan.
“Miss Daiyi, I might not be back until after dinner. Don’t wait for me. I’ve already prepared the meals—they’re in the kitchen. Just use a sigil to heat them up when you’re ready.”
Today, Felyn had changed into a more mobile adventuring outfit. The dark short-sleeved top fit snugly, showing off his slender but toned arms.
His fitted pants and lightweight combat boots made him look especially sharp.
His smooth black hair slightly curled at the ends, framing his pale face and making it even more refined.
“When you get back, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Felyn’s lips twitched.
Why does that sound like a death flag? Am I really going to die in the dungeon today?
“Hm? Is something wrong?”
“No, I’m just curious what Miss Daiyi wants to tell me.”
Daiyi gently set her teacup down, unable to stop herself from studying the boy in front of her.
“Be careful. We’ll talk when you get back.”
“Alright, I’m heading out now.” Felyn waved and closed the door behind him.
At the same time, the Silafiel and Claude family teams from Seiwa City were also heading toward the dungeon.
After Felyn left, Daiyi stood by the window and watched his silhouette disappear around the street corner.
She returned to her room and pulled out her communication sigil.
“What is it, Young Lady?”
The voice on the other end was as mechanical as ever.
“Bernice, I’d like to ask a favor of you.”
(End of Chapter)