The marketplace still buzzed with evening warmth—the smell of grilled meat, sweet fruit, and wood smoke drifting lazily across the lively stalls.

Druvarn, once again back in his plush bear form, waddled happily between food vendors with Rue and Rina flanking him like two tiny guardians.

They didn't need money to buy anything in the village because the stall owners had nothing to ask for in exchange. Not yet, at least.

It was all preparation for when this place would officially be a city.

At that time, the usage of money would begin.

At least for those people who weren't from the inner district.

The inner district, where the first 200 people resided, was free. No one living there would need to buy or sell anything.

They would continue living as they were now, cooking in one place and helping each other out in one way or another.

Druvarn, however, didn't care about it. He held a skewer in each stubby paw.

The children each held a skewer, too.

And Druvarn somehow held a third one in his mouth.

It was a miracle he wasn't choking.

Rue giggled. "Druvarn, you're going to explode."

Rina nodded shyly. "Y-Yes… explode."

Druvarn ignored them, making muffled chewing noises of absolute bliss.

Then—

—shff—

Kael appeared beside them in a small ripple of space, coat fluttering like he'd stepped through a gentle curtain rather than bent reality.

Rue and Rina froze.

Just for one heartbeat.

Their eyes widened ever so slightly with... fear? Guilt? Or panic?

Because of the conversation they had some time ago about running away from the village.

But before one could blink, their expressions softened into the familiar warmth they always gave him.

"Big brother Kael!" Rue cheered, waving her skewer.

"B-big brother…" Rina murmured.

Kael's brows, however, knit for a moment.

No matter how fast the girls were at hiding their expressions, they couldn't fool Kael's eyes.

He saw their smile flicker.

It was just for a breath, but he saw it.

He didn't know about their memories awakening, unlike what the girls feared. Didn't even know the turmoil or the worry in their hearts.

All he saw was that tiny hesitation… which he misread in the simplest way.

"…Hmm. Have I not been giving you two enough attention?"

That's the conclusion he reached, believing the girls felt neglected, as he wasn't spending much time with them these days.

And before either girl could react—

"Oof—!"

They were gently scooped up, both lifted onto one of Kael's arms as easily as if they were feathers.

Rue ended up on his right, and Rina tucked close on his left, both squeaking in surprise.

Kael grinned. "There. Better?"

Rue instantly melted. "Yes!"

Rina hid her face in his shirt, tiny fingers curling into the fabric. "Mm-hmm…"

It was only then that Kael turned toward Druvarn, and so did the girls.

The bear blinked up at the group, one paw still clutching a half-eaten skewer.

"What?" He mumbled through the food. "What happened?"

"Druvarn," Kael said, already walking, "come with me."

The bear stared blankly. "Huh? Why?"

"Because you're done eating."

Druvarn looked at the three skewers he still had. "…No, I'm not."

Kael didn't stop walking.

Druvarn sighed, defeated, and followed—waddling after them like a sulking, overfed duck.

People laughed softly as the little procession passed through the streets, Kael occasionally stopping to buy the girls a sweet fruit, a little pastry, or something shiny they pointed at.

Rue squealed every time.

Rina quietly accepted each treat as if it were a priceless treasure.

Druvarn tried to steal her treats.

Kael flicked him on the head.

The villagers, who now knew that the plush bear was Druvarn, the same earth bear they once feared, laughed as they saw this side of him.

By the time they reached the house, the mood had become comfortably warm—simple, pleasant, filled with the sound of giggles and Druvarn's dramatic sighs of starvation.

Kael stepped inside first.

Selene sat on one side of the room, serene and composed.

Across from her, sipping tea…

Lyratheia.

Kael set the girls down gently.

Druvarn waddled in behind them, still in plush form. He made a beeline for one of the sofas, which was far too tall for him. He hopped.

Failed.

He hopped again.

Failed again.

Rue covered her mouth, giggling. Rina peeked over her sister's shoulder.

Kael sighed. "Just climb."

"I am climbing!"

On the third attempt, Druvarn finally pulled himself up with a triumphant grunt—only to look straight across the room and lock eyes with Lyratheia.

He froze.

Every single fiber of his plush body went rigid.

The half-dangling skewer in his paw dropped limply.

Lyratheia blinked once.

"…That's a nice look you have there, Druvarn."

Druvarn made a tiny noise that definitely wasn't dignified.

For one long, catastrophic second, Druvarn and Lyratheia merely stared at each other.

Her emerald eyes were calm, amused, and elegant.

His button-like plush eyes… held the silent scream of a plush toy witnessing the collapse of his reputation across five continents.

Rue nudged Rina. "Uh-oh…"

Rina whispered, "I-It's happening…"

Kael raised a brow. "What's happening?"

Before the girls could answer, Druvarn suddenly straightened up—as straight as a plush creature with stumpy legs could—and lifted one paw dramatically to his chest.

Then, in an overly formal tone, he began, "Greetings, mysterious lady whom I have absolutely never met in my entire life."

Kael blinked.

Rue and Rina blinked.

Selene's lips twitched.

Lyratheia stared at him in flat silence, lowering her teacup.

"…Druvarn."

"I-I think you are mistaken, noble stranger!" Druvarn said quickly, voice cracking. "My name is… Fluff—Flufflord Bearington the Third."

Kael squinted. "Flufflord—"

"Bearington the Third!" Druvarn repeated, louder, like volume made it plausible.

Rina hugged Rue's sleeve, whispering. "He's panicking…"

He absolutely was.

Druvarn coughed, puffed out his cotton-stuffed chest, and continued in the poshest voice imaginable.

"I am but a humble plush bear citizen. I know not of this 'Druvarn' character. Sounds… rugged. Handsome. Perhaps legendary. Not me, though! No relation."

Lyratheia set her cup down.

"I know it's you."

Druvarn raised both paws like a priest rejecting sin. "No. No, you see, you have the wrong bear. I am merely—merely a normal, law-abiding, highly dignified plush creature who has never—I repeat, never eaten twelve skewers of grilled meat in one sitting."

Kael turned slowly.

"…Druvarn."

"NOT DRUVARN!"

His voice cracked so hard that Rue had to bite her lip to stop giggling.

Selene, ever serene, folded her hands in her lap. "This is… surprisingly entertaining."

Lyratheia tilted her head. "You do realize I saw you shapeshift into that form earlier this year, right?"

Druvarn froze mid-denial, one paw still raised.

Then slowly… mechanically… he turned to Kael.

"…She saw."

Kael shrugged. "Seems so."

She didn't actually, but this was the only way to make Druvarn stop, so Kael played along with Lyratheia.

Druvarn, on the other hand, clutched his head dramatically.

"Oh no… Oh no, oh no, oh no—SHE SAW. She knows. If she knows, then she will know. And if she knows—then THAT MONKEY WILL KNOW!"

Rue asked, "Which monkey?"

Rina whispered, "Is it dangerous?"

Druvarn jabbed a paw upward at the heavens. "Dangerous?! That monkey will laugh for a thousand years! My reputation—my legacy—my very soul—RUINED!"

Lyratheia smirked lightly. "Druvarn, if you'd like, I can keep your… adorable little secret."

Druvarn gasped, paw pressed to his chest. "Adorable—?!"

Kael gave him a side glance. "She isn't wrong."

Druvarn pointed accusingly. "NOT HELPING."

Rue patted him on the head. "You're very cute, Druvarn."

"I AM A FEARSOME EARTH BEAR!" He shouted.

Rina whispered, "A… c-cute… one."

He groaned like a dying star.

Selene added gently, "I already predicted Lyratheia wouldn't tell anyone."

Druvarn's plush ears perked up. "Really?"

Not really. But she didn't say that. Instead—

"Yes."

—She lied, adding, "In fact, the future where she keeps it to herself… is the one with fewer disasters."

Lyratheia sighed tiredly. "I wasn't going to gossip in the first place…"

Druvarn sat down, tiny paws trembling with relief.

"Thank the gods… I can still walk with dignity."

Kael murmured, "You failed to climb the sofa earlier."

"THAT WAS A STRATEGIC MISCALCULATION."

Selene politely hid her smile behind her sleeve.

At that exact moment—

—step, step…

Lyra and Evethra entered from the kitchen, each carrying a tray of tea.

Evethra stopped mid-step. "…Lord Kael, why is Druvarn performing a seated meltdown?"

Lyra, with a raised brow, grinned. "Did his imaginary girlfriend reject him?"

Before Kael could answer—

Another door opened.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Alenia, who had been informed of a guest's arrival by a messenger sent by Selene, walked in, a folder of half-copied documents tucked under her arm, hair slightly messy from work.

She looked at the scene—

Kael was leaning back in his chair.

Selene serene.

Lyratheia was sipping tea like royalty.

Two kids giggling.

A plush bear on the sofa, which was dramatically recovering from trauma.

And she exhaled.

"…I see I arrived at the right time."

Very timely, to be exact.

Now, they could begin the real meeting.

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