Chapter 56: Hospitality

"I'm home."

The breeze from the opening door stirred the wind chime hanging at the entrance, setting it off with a soft ding-dong. Ailuka stepped into the foyer, casually hanging her bag on the wall.

"No need to take off your shoes—just come in."

“Huh? Really?”

“Well, you’re not wearing any to begin with, are you?”

“Heh... fair.”

Muen scratched the back of his head and didn’t argue. He simply stepped into the cozy little love nest of this newlywed couple.

A faint floral scent hung in the air. The decor didn’t scream celebration or anything typically associated with a wedding, but the way everything was arranged—furniture, shelves, small objects—felt natural and lived-in. Comforting, even.

“You two just got married, and your place already feels this homey?”

He ran a hand along a spotless bookshelf, his gaze eventually drifting to a white wall.

There, a framed painting hung.

It depicted a deeply tanned, middle-aged man grinning ear to ear, flashing stark white teeth. Beside him stood a reserved, modest-looking middle-aged woman.

“...Huh?”

Muen tilted his head, rubbing his chin. “Ailuka, the people in that painting... that’s not you, right?”

“Of course not.”

Ailuka walked over and gave the painting a glance.

“That’s a portrait of my parents. From their wedding.”

“Your parents?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Looking a bit sheepish, she scratched her cheek.

“It’s kinda embarrassing. I’ve been an adventurer for years now, and I’ve done alright. But for one reason or another, I never managed to save much. Certainly not enough to buy property in Beirlande where the housing prices are insane.

So for now, I’m still living with my parents.”

“Ohh, that makes sense,” Muen nodded solemnly.

Apparently, no matter the world, unaffordable housing was a universal constant.

“You understand? I thought you were some kind of rich guy.”

“Hah, you think a guy who can’t even afford clothes—just strutting around stark naked—is rich?”

He laughed it off, steering well clear of revealing his noble background.

“...Maybe,” Ailuka muttered, unreadable.

Whether she bought it or not, she didn’t press. As they chatted casually, she headed into the bedroom. When she emerged again, she had changed into comfortable house clothes, complete with a cute pink apron.

“Dinner’s going to take a while. Want something to drink first?”

“...Some coffee, if you’ve got it. I could use the caffeine.”

“Sure—oh, wait.”

Just as she was about to turn to the kitchen, Ailuka paused mid-step and looked a little embarrassed.

“I think... we don’t have any.”

“You don’t?”

Muen blinked, then gave her a suspicious look. “Don’t tell me the mice got to your coffee too?”

“What mice?!”

Ailuka scowled. “It’s just that—my parents never drink coffee. It keeps them up at night. So we probably never had any in the house to begin with.”

“Ah, I see. Then don’t worry about it. Just give me whatever you’ve got.”

“Well, there’s some black tea—”

“No! Water. Just give me plain water!”

“...Alright?”

She looked at him oddly—his expression had suddenly turned panic-stricken. With a furrowed brow and a scrunch of her nose, she headed into the kitchen.

Not long after, she returned carrying a cup of boiled water.

“By the way—your parents?” Muen asked as he took the cup, nodding a thank-you.

“I told you already. It’s the busy season.”

“Right now? But... isn’t this your honeymoon?”

“Exactly why it’s the busy season.”

Ailuka tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and sighed.

“Even if it’s your child getting married, harvesting wheat before the rains come takes priority.

Besides, it’s my wedding, not theirs.”

“Wow... That’s harsher than I expected.”

Muen let out a breath. He half-felt like composing a poem about the suffering of farmers, but decided against it. This wasn’t a xianxia setting—nobody here would be impressed by a recited verse.

“What about your husband? He out with them?”

The house was silent from top to bottom. Just the two of them.

“No,” Ailuka replied.

“He’s out handling something.”

“Oh... Well, I’m sure he’ll be back soon. It’s almost dinnertime. Hope he doesn’t misunderstand anything when he walks in and sees the two of us alone together, ha ha...”

“He won’t be back anytime soon.”

“...Huh?”

Muen’s smile froze.

“Wait—‘won’t be back anytime soon’? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Mm... it’s nothing big.”

Ailuka touched her cheek absentmindedly and sighed.

“I found a note from him in the kitchen. Said he’s got something to deal with, so he’ll be back late tonight. Dinner’s just going to be the two of us.”

“...Just the two of us?”

Muen’s eyes widened.

Something’s wrong.

Very wrong.

Newlyweds.

Husband gone.

Wife alone with a strange man in the house.

Dinner, then nightfall, spent together.

The setup was so trope-ridden it left him speechless.

*Newlywed Secret Meal *.avi?

“Uh... just the two of us, is that really... appropriate?”

Muen, who’d been chatting casually before, suddenly grew stiff. He nervously rubbed his hands together.

“Maybe I should excuse myself now? If any neighbors see us dining together, they might get the wrong idea...”

“Oh? You sound pretty guilty. Could it be... Mister Muen’s got something indecent in mind?”

Ailuka narrowed her eyes with a teasing smirk.

“Of course not! I just think it’d be better if—” Muen scratched his head, laughing awkwardly.

“Then it’s fine. Stay as long as you like. I wouldn’t be /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ so rude as to let a guest leave on an empty stomach. Besides...”

Her lips curled as she smiled with quiet pride.

“My relationship with him isn’t the kind of thing that gets shaken by a trivial misunderstanding.”

“Ah... right.”

Faced with her beaming expression, Muen blinked, then said without thinking,

“You and your husband... sounds like you really have something special.”

“Of course. I love him the most.”

As she spoke, her face flushed like a giddy teenager. A wife basking in her love, girlish and glowing.

“Oh my, listen to me going on like that... sorry, Mister Muen. I must sound shameless.”

“...N-No, it’s fine,” Muen replied, lips twitching.

God, she’s practically stuffing that dog food down my throat.

“A-Anyway, just make yourself at home, Muen. I’ll get the roast lamb started. Don’t overthink things. Just... don’t get any weird ideas.

Even though I know you’re a pervert.”

“That last part was completely unnecessary!”

“Now then—do look forward to it,” Ailuka said with a smile, heading into the kitchen.

****

“No sediment at the bottom.”

Muen held the cup of water up to the window light.

“Color’s clear.”

He sniffed it.

“Smells normal.”

He dipped his finger in and dabbed it on his skin.

Several minutes passed.

“...No reaction.”

“Seems like... it really is just a regular cup of water.”

After conducting every test he could think of, Muen finally reached a careful conclusion.

“No drugs. No weird additives.”

“As for Ailuka herself, nothing in her behavior contradicts her story. But...”

He turned to glance out the window.

Dusk had deepened.

The sky was still clear, scattered with early starlight.

The village was quiet—occasionally a bug chirped—but beyond that, nothing.

“...Something still feels off.”

I love you.