The manor had finally begun to feel alive.
Not just occupied.
Lived in.
Warm lanternlight painted the walls gold while quiet conversation drifted through the living room. Bags and books were scattered across tables, half-finished meals sat abandoned near the fireplace, and somewhere upstairs Sangui was probably terrorizing another piece of expensive furniture.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
it felt like home.
And seated directly across from me on our newly purchased couch was the granddaughter of the realm's greatest hero.
Still weird.
Satre sat with perfect posture, one leg crossed neatly over the other, silver-blonde hair cascading over her shoulders like flowing moonlight. Even relaxed, there was something intimidating about her. Not through force.
Through certainty.
Like she already knew how every conversation in the room would unfold before anyone spoke.
Honestly?
That made me nervous.
Not because she seemed dangerous.
But because being observed without understanding why always made my skin crawl.
Heroes didn't pass their titles down casually. If Satre carried the bloodline of the Suigin, then underneath that calm expression was someone terrifyingly capable.
"So," I said eventually, leaning back into the couch, "what's our first mission as an official party?"
Satre's violet eyes shifted toward me smoothly.
"We escort Princess Hera back to the Forest of Spirits."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Hera, who had remained unusually quiet near the fireplace until now, lowered her gaze toward her lap. Her hands tightened together weakly.
Ah.
So that was it.
Not homesickness.
Not awkward family drama.
Fear.
Real fear.
The kind that sat deep in your chest and refused to leave.
The room fell silent for a moment before Satre continued.
"A rebellion has formed within the Forest of Spirits. One of the noble houses has begun openly opposing the royal family."
Hera looked ashamed.
"The noble's son believes the royal family has weakened our people," she explained quietly. "He wants to restore slavery and reclaim the ancient spirit powers sealed beneath the forest."
Yura's ears flattened immediately.
"Slavery again…"
"There's more," Hera whispered. "One of the royal guards betrayed us. Information has been leaking for months."
So the kingdom was rotting from the inside.
Wonderful.
I rubbed the back of my neck before glancing around the room.
"Well… what do you all think? I'm leaving the final decision to the girls."
"I have no objections," Satre answered calmly. "At first glance, it appears to be a simple escort mission."
"At first glance?" I repeated suspiciously.
Her lips curved faintly.
"Nothing involving royalty is ever simple."
Fair point.
Yura and Shina exchanged one of their silent conversations again before both slowly walked over toward Hera.
"Well," Shina said softly, "it'd feel pretty cruel abandoning you after everything we've been through."
Yura nodded before wrapping her arms around Hera gently.
"We're with you."
And just like that—
Hera broke.
Tears spilled down her face instantly as months of bottled anxiety finally cracked apart.
"Thank you…" she whispered shakily. "I promise I'll repay all of you somehow."
I looked away slightly, pretending not to notice how emotional the room suddenly became.
…Honestly though?
It was nice.
Dangerous thought.
Very dangerous thought.
Leaning slightly closer toward Satre, I lowered my voice carefully.
"So this isn't the kingdom from your vision, right?"
"Hm?"
"The one where I apparently become king and get dragged into some terrifying political marriage situation."
Satre stared at me for three full seconds.
Then—
unexpectedly—
she laughed quietly.
"No," she said, amusement flickering across her expression. "Not this kingdom."
I visibly relaxed.
"Thank the gods."
Hera blinked.
"…Should I be offended?"
"Probably."
The room burst into laughter afterward, finally easing the tension.
Good.
Because now we could focus.
"Alright," I said while standing up and grabbing several sheets of paper from the table. "Let's discuss strategy."
Satre immediately looked interested.
"You already formed one?"
"Two actually."
Now everyone leaned forward.
I pointed toward the rough map spread across the table.
"Plan A is fast and aggressive."
I tapped two points on the map.
"We use the royal family as bait."
Hera blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"Not the real ones," I clarified quickly. "Illusions. Decoys. We create a fake royal escort using transformation magic and force the mole to expose themselves."
Satre's eyes sharpened immediately.
Interesting.
She liked it.
"If the traitor reports the movement," I continued, "the rebels attack what they think is the royal family. We isolate the mole, capture them alive, and trace the rebellion directly to its core leadership."
Yura nodded slowly.
"Risky…"
"But efficient," Satre finished.
"Exactly."
"And Plan B?" Shina asked.
I shrugged.
"We guard the real royals directly and investigate slowly from inside the kingdom."
"Which do you prefer?" Hera asked cautiously.
"Plan A."
"Why?"
I grinned slightly.
"Because if someone's trying to manipulate things from the shadows, I'd rather force them into the light."
Satre watched me carefully after that.
Not suspiciously.
Thoughtfully.
Like she was reevaluating something.
Interesting.
"I'll need time to prepare the illusion framework properly," she said eventually. "Complex deception magic isn't something we should rush."
"That's fine," I replied while stretching my arms overhead. "You girls can handle planning details. I'm taking a bath before my soul leaves my body."
"You spend way too much time bathing," Hera muttered.
"You spend too little time appreciating peace."
---
Steam filled the bathroom quietly.
I sank deeper into the water with a long sigh as warmth finally loosened the tension buried inside my muscles.
"…This might actually be heaven."
No monsters.
No assassins.
No collapsing dungeons.
Just silence.
Honestly?
I was beginning to understand why rich people became unbearable.
Peace was addictive.
I closed my eyes briefly, letting the warmth settle into my bones.
But eventually—
my thoughts drifted again.
The future Satre showed me.
That kingdom.
That crown.
Those people standing beside me.
It should've felt impossible.
Ridiculous even.
Yet…
for some reason…
a part of me wanted it.
Not power.
Not fame.
Just…
a place where everyone I cared about could smile without fear.
Dangerous dream.
Very dangerous.
---
Nearly an hour later, I returned to the living room with a towel draped around my shoulders.
The girls were still discussing logistics around the table.
"…Please tell me nobody started a war while I was gone."
"No promises," Yura replied immediately.
"Good to know."
Hera stood afterward, expression steadier now.
"We've decided. We'll proceed with your decoy plan."
Satre nodded.
"We leave at first light."
"Perfect," I replied. "Tomorrow I'll explain positioning and execution details."
Then I clapped my hands once loudly.
"But tonight?"
Everyone looked up.
"We relax."
Shina smiled immediately.
Yura lit additional lanterns around the room while Hera helped prepare tea.
Even Satre visibly relaxed slightly as the conversation shifted away from strategy and danger.
Kyoko curled near the fireplace lazily while Sangui sprawled dramatically across the floor like a defeated war hero.
Laughter slowly filled the manor afterward.
Not forced.
Not polite.
Real.
And as I sat there watching everyone together beneath the warm lanternlight—
something inside my chest eased quietly.
This wasn't just a party anymore.
Somewhere along the way—
without realizing it—
we had started becoming a family.