The transition from the mystical, mist-laden Forbidden Grove to the high-tech obsidian halls of the Imperial Palace was jarring, but nothing was more jarring for the palace staff than the man walking beside Riha. The "Cunning Fox" in his human form was a sight that stopped the gears of the empire. Guards dropped their spears, and maids nearly shattered porcelain trays. With his wild silver hair, sharp amber eyes, and a smirk that promised trouble, he looked like a god who had wandered into the wrong dimension.
The "Pet" Protocol
As Riha entered the main command center, Caspian, Lyra, and the Twins froze. They had seen many things—void monsters, cosmic princes, and ancient artifacts—but this silver-haired stranger possessed an aura that made the air vibrate with ancient magic.
"Riha..." Lyra whispered, her silver eyes wide. "Who is... I mean, is he your new boyfriend?"
The word "boyfriend" hit the room like a physical shock. The Fox man's smirk widened, his amber eyes dancing with mischief.
"No! Not at all!" Riha snapped, her face flushing with irritation. She gestured toward the man with a dismissive wave of her hand. "He's my pet. A stray I picked up in the woods."
The Fox man let out a sharp, indignant sneer. "Pet? You have a very strange way of describing someone who just shared a century-old nectar with you, little fox. And besides," he leaned in, his voice loud enough for the entire room to hear, "why can't I be your boyfriend? I'm certainly more handsome than that starlight-obsessed brother of yours."
"That is none of your concern!" Riha barked, pointing a finger at his chest. "You signed the contract, remember? We are officially bonded. That means you follow my rules, you stay in your place, and you stop talking about my brother."
He shrugged, unbothered. "Bonded is bonded. Officially, I'm yours. I suppose I can live with being a 'pet' for now, as long as the food is good."
Caspian cleared his throat, looking deeply uncomfortable. "Highness... if he's going to be staying here, what should we call him? Referring to him as 'The All-Known Spirit' is quite cringe in a professional environment."
Riha tapped her chin, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the silver-haired spirit. "Hmm. Let's call him... Old Geezer."
"Hey!" The Fox shouted, his silver hair practically bristling. "I am not that old! I am in my prime! Spirits don't age like you mortals!"
"Fine, fine," Riha rolled her eyes. "I'll call you Tinker. I chose that because you're a 'Thinker' who likes to play games, and also because the bells on your spirit-form make a 'tinkering' sound. It fits."
The Twins giggled, and even Caspian let out a huff of amusement. The Fox man—now Tinker—muttered something about "disrespectful youth" but finally sighed in defeat. "Tinker. Fine. It's better than Geezer."
Plans for the Frost
Riha turned her attention back to the map projected on the central table. "Listen up. I'm taking a vacation. I'm heading to the North, to the Frost Kingdom."
"A vacation?" Lyra asked, skeptical. "You haven't taken a day off since the Void seclusion. What's really in the North?"
"Peace and quiet," Riha lied smoothly, her mind flashing back to the upward-flowing waterfalls. "Lyra, you stay here and manage the internal affairs. Caspian, you are in charge of capital protection and the Steel Legion. Yin, Yang—keep the weapons factory running. Tinker, are you coming?"
The Fox spirit leaned against a pillar, crossing his arms. "Wherever the master goes, the bond follows. I'm coming. I've always wanted to see if the North is as cold as your heart."
"Perfect," Riha said, ignoring the jab. "We leave at dawn."
Girls' Talk and Blushing Truths
That evening, after a quiet dinner, Riha sat with Lyra in the private lounge. The atmosphere was somber. The absence of Nalani was a physical weight in the room.
"I miss her, Lyra," Riha whispered, staring into her tea. "I wonder if she's okay. The way she looked at me before she left... it wasn't Nalani."
Lyra reached out, squeezing Riha's hand. "She's strong, Riha. And Viperis, for all his creepiness, seemed genuinely devoted to her. We'll find a way to check on her soon."
To lighten the mood, Lyra nudged Riha with her shoulder. "So... Tinker. He's incredibly handsome, you know. And the way he looks at you? I think he likes you."
Riha groaned, leaning her head back. "He is not my type, Lyra. We do nothing but fight. He's more like an annoying, overgrown doggie than a man. He's just a pet I have to keep on a leash so he doesn't burn down the forest."
Lyra laughed, a bright, genuine sound. "An annoying doggie? I'm sure he'd love to hear that." Suddenly, Riha's eyes sharpened, a mischievous glint appearing.
"Anyway, what about you and Caspian?" Riha teased, watching Lyra's face. "You two seemed very close during the ball. Hand-in-hand? Dancing for hours? Ah, you're blushing! It's true, isn't it?"
Lyra's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and looked at the floor. "We... we are officially dating, yes. He finally asked me after the Jubilee parade."
"Finally!" Riha cheered, hugging her friend. "I'm so happy for you. At least someone is getting a happy ending in this palace."
The Midnight Misunderstanding
After packing her bags for the North, Riha retreated to her chambers. She fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, the exhaustion of the week finally catching up to her.
In the middle of the night, she felt something warm and soft touch her hand. In her half-dreaming state, she thought it was a fluffy blanket. She reached out and patted it, drifting back into a comfortable haze. But then, the "blanket" moved.
Riha bolted upright, her crimson eyes snapping open. There, lying on the edge of her bed in his human form, was Tinker.
"You pervert!" Riha screamed, grabbing a pillow and haring it at his face. "What are you doing in my bed?!"
Tinker sat up, looking more annoyed than embarrassed. "Calm down, woman! It's a misunderstanding! I can't stay too far from my birth place—the grove—without feeling my energy drain. The only way I can survive outside is by staying close to my bonded master. The bond acts as a bridge. If I'm too far from you, I'll literally turn into dust."
Riha clutched her covers to her chest, glaring at him. "So you're telling me you have to sleep in my room?"
"Not in your bed, preferably," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "But in the same room, yes. Think of me as your doggie, remember? Dogs sleep at the foot of the bed."
"Don't compare yourself to a dog now that it's convenient!" Riha snapped. "You're a fox!"
Tinker sighed, lying back down on top of the covers at the very edge of the mattress. "Look, I'm not interested in you like that. You're far too prickly. I treat you like a big sister—a very loud, very violent big sister."
Riha paused, her anger cooling slightly. "A big sister? So I'm your 'Noona'?"
"Exactly. My bossy Noona."
Riha settled back into her pillows, still wary. "Fine. If we're siblings, tell me—who is your type? Since I'm clearly not it."
Tinker stared at the ceiling, his amber eyes reflecting the moonlight. "I like girls who are kind. Gentle. Lady-like. Someone who smells like flowers and speaks softly. Basically, the exact opposite of you."
Riha scoffed. "Fine by me. You'd bore me to tears."
"And you?" Tinker asked, turning his head to look at her. "What is the great Sovereign's type? If not a handsome spirit like me?"
Riha looked out the window toward the stars. For a moment, her tough exterior crumbled. "My type... is a guy who can fight beside me, not just protect me. He should have eyes that are deeper than the ocean, and a face as handsome as a beautiful moon-lotus. Someone who can make me cheerful even when I'm at my dullest. And... someone a bit more mature than me."
Tinker let out a long, theatrical sigh. "You're talking about Xaris. You're literally describing your brother."
"Shut your mouth and sleep!" Riha shouted, throwing a second pillow at him.
Tinker caught the pillow with a laugh and tucked it under his head. "Goodnight, Noona. Try not to dream of moon-lotuses too loudly."
Riha turned away from him, her heart thumping. As she closed her eyes, she couldn't help but think of the Star-Walker waiting in the distance. The North was just the beginning, and as she drifted back to sleep, she knew that with a Fox by her side and a Prince in her heart, the Galaxy Level didn't stand a chance.