She worried about him running into hunters by mistake and getting hit by an arrow.

She meant well with her concerns, but she couldn’t help feeling that Valentin, finding cabin life restrictive and stifling, might leave someday.

That worry grew with each passing day. 

Occasionally, when he disappeared from view, Aila’s heart pounded rapidly and she couldn’t focus on anything. When she couldn’t see him, she went looking, and only calmed down a little once Valentin came into sight.

It was a bond she had barely formed. If Valentin left, no one would appear again to be Aila’s friend. Then she’d be alone again.

When her thoughts flowed that way, she became terribly sad. She really hated that.

One day among those days, Aila had gone down to the village alone to sell herbs and just returned.

“Valentin!”

Her voice brimmed with excitement. It was the loudest and highest tone she had ever spoken.

In her small, pale hand was a fist-sized loaf of bread. She had bought it to give to Valentin, who had never eaten bread before.

Though it was low-quality rye bread made with stone dust mixed in and coarse wheat, she still wanted to give it to him.

Valentin would like it, right?

But Valentin, who she thought would be inside the cabin, was nowhere to be seen. He might have gone out for a walk, or gone to the lakeside to wash his face.

Those were about the only things to do nearby. Aila thoroughly searched the area, clutching the dark bread tightly in her hand.

Her feet in shabby yellow shoes busily went here and there throughout the forest.

Lakeside, checked.

Hill, checked.

Well, checked.

Cliff, checked.

Where did he go?

She couldn’t find any trace of him anywhere, like the months she had spent with Valentin were a lie. Aila felt a jolt of fear.

Her heart pounded anxiously and she unconsciously tightened her grip. The hard bread dented slightly in the shape of her fingers.

“I need to give this to Valentin.”

Aila, looking down at the misshapen bread, released her grip and tried hard to calm herself.

He wouldn’t have gone anywhere. He said there weren’t many beastfolk territories left in the western forest anymore, and he said he had no family to return to anyway. He was the one who suggested living together first.

She tried to soothe herself that way and continued searching the area. But until the sunset faded and the day grew dark, he didn’t appear.

The forest was especially quiet today. It truly felt like Aila was completely alone in this vast forest.

Valentin, where did you go? Why can’t I see you?

Please appear quickly.

Her blue eyes scanning the surroundings trembled finely. Her heart beat faster, accelerating, and she grew impatient. Her throat and nose stung, and before she realized it, her vision blurred white. Around the time she felt her cheeks were damp, water dripped onto her skirt.

She was staring blankly at the blue darkness that had descended on the ground.

A cheerful call came from nearby.

“Aila!”

Her ears opened wide. That sound traveled precisely through Aila’s eardrums.

It’s Valentin. It’s Valentin!

Aila quickly turned toward the direction of the sound. From a short distance away, he waved at Aila happily. In Valentin’s hand as he smiled brightly was a fish slightly larger than his palm.

“I caught a fish. Did I do well?”

Without even a moment to feel happy, Aila ran into Valentin’s arms and hugged him tightly. She could hear his chest’s warmth, his scent, and his breathing right there.

Then tears suddenly poured out without her realizing it.

Valentin seemed a bit flustered, but with the hand not holding the fish, he gently patted Aila’s back.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Sniff, n-no, sob, n-nothing.”

Aila shook her head while sniffling with her face buried in Valentin’s chest. She held on until her bangs rubbed against his clothes and became a mess. The strength in her arms wouldn’t release easily.

“Aila.”

The voice calling softly became quite serious. The low tone resonating in her ear felt pleasant. Only after receiving several more pats did Aila pull away.

When she lifted her chin slightly, Valentin’s face, about a span taller than her, came into view. His fresh green eyes, pleasant to see anytime, looked down at Aila.

“I thought you disappeared.”

“Why would I disappear?”

“Because beastfolk live deep in the west. I thought you went back there.”

“What are you talking about? We agreed to live here together.”

“Yeah. We did.”

“Then why did you think that? Did you forget? You’re silly, Aila.”

Valentin spoke playfully with a light laugh.

“I won’t leave you.”

His gaze looking straight at her was full of strength.

She felt sorry enough for misunderstanding Valentin even briefly. Aila’s chest felt heavy and she couldn’t give any answer. Not until he raised his hand and wiped away her tears.

“Let’s go back. I’ll grill the fish for you.”

His soothing voice was gentle. Valentin took Aila’s hand and walked toward the cabin. She could feel his consideration in his steps walking slowly to match her stride.

Even while walking forward, Aila turned her gaze to the side to look at Valentin.

His tilted forehead and sharply rising nose bridge boasted smooth lines even in the darkness. His glossy skin was elegant and radiant. She simply couldn’t take her eyes away.

Just watching quietly brought her peace.

Right, Valentin is right here. He said he won’t leave. He even caught a fish for her.

Valentin surely feels the same as my heart that ran to give him bread. He caught the fish with the same feelings.

So let’s believe his words that he won’t leave.

After repeating those spell-like words to herself several times, her heart became peaceful like magic. Aila put slight pressure on the hand she held. Then Valentin applied the same pressure.

Until they arrived at their nest, the two hands didn’t separate. They stayed tightly clasped.

Upon arriving at the cabin, Valentin skillfully brought several logs and lit a fire. He made an X-shape with branches, fixed it to the ground, and placed a long branch across the middle to prepare to cook the fish.

She had taught him just once before, but he learned quickly, perhaps having good work sense.

Aila drew water from the water container and brought two cylindrical wooden blocks to set down in front of the fire. They couldn’t really be called chairs, but the two sat side by side.

The fish cooked golden brown over the blazing log fire.

“Let’s eat while we wait.”

Aila shyly held out the rye bread she had brought so carefully and continued.

“I went down to the village earlier and bought it. You eat first.”

“So you were looking for me like that earlier to give me this.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“It looks interesting.”

Valentin examined the round rye bread curiously from all angles.

Aila hoped he would stop staring and take a bite quickly. Valentin took the bread and used his thumb and index finger to tear off a piece larger than one bite. Then instead of putting it in his own mouth, he popped it right into Aila’s mouth.

At the sudden invasion of bread, Aila unconsciously bit down on it. Unable to spit out the food, she chewed when Valentin smiled faintly and poked Aila’s cheek with his index finger.

“Aila’s hair is soft, but your cheeks are even softer.”

“…”

“Your cheeks are puffed up, so you look just like a fish.”

“…”

“But don’t worry, you’re cute. I won’t grill and eat you like this fish.”

“…Do beastfolk eat people too?”

Aila’s expression became quite serious after swallowing the food in her mouth. He definitely said he liked grass and tree bark. Did he have hidden eating habits?

She waited for Valentin’s answer with a tense heart, but what came back was laughter.

“Puhaha.”

Valentin threw his head back and laughed heartily.

“I can’t even joke in front of you.”

“You have to joke like a joke so I can understand!”

Embarrassed, Aila’s face turned red.

“I won’t grill and eat you, but I could devour you.”

A smile lingered on Valentin’s lips, so Aila thought he was joking again.

“Hurry and eat. I bought it for you to eat.”

Only then did Valentin take a bite of the bread.

“It’s good, right? It’s bread from Mrs. Weed’s bakery.”

“Yeah. It’s delicious.”

“Actually, white bread is much more delicious, but I haven’t tried it yet either.”

“Let’s buy white bread next time.”

‘White bread is expensive,’ Aila said to herself. Valentin seemed ignorant of worldly matters, but she didn’t want to explain such things deeply to him.

Worrying about money and fretting was enough with just Aila alone. She hoped Valentin’s daily life would be full of only fun things. She hoped life here would be enjoyable enough that he wouldn’t think of the western forest.

Valentin continued putting bread into Aila’s mouth.

On the surface, they took turns eating one bite at a time, but the bread pieces going into Aila’s mouth were twice as large as the pieces going into Valentin’s mouth. Valentin swallowed lightly, and Aila chewed and swallowed.