Chapter 156. Epilogue: Always Like Newlyweds (2)

“I brought it as a gift for you. They say it’s well-tamed. It’s used to human hands, so try touching it.”

“A gift…?”

Ellen blinked in bewilderment. While she was no longer surprised by Enoch constantly bringing her gifts, she never expected him to bring a hamster as a present.

“And read this too. I’ve given the same to the maids who will take care of this little one.”

Ellen received what looked like a manual from Enoch with a dazed feeling. It contained detailed instructions on how to care for a hamster. Ellen read a few of them aloud.

“Bathing should be done with sand, not water, and as they’re territorial, only one per cage… So I can’t give it a friend.”

“It’s a creature that lives well alone without needing friends.”

“……”

Thinking that it sounded just like Enoch Bayern, Ellen slightly raised the corners of her mouth. Quickly noticing that her reaction was somewhat suspicious, Enoch raised one eyebrow.

“Why are you smiling?”

“No, it’s just… It reminds me of someone I know.”

“Who?”

“Ah, look at this. It’s climbed onto the log and is staring at me.”

Though her attempt to change the subject was blatant, Enoch decided to go along with it. For now, that is. He could always interrogate her about it later tonight when he tormented her.

“I heard hamsters have poor eyesight but very keen hearing and smell. This one seems to be observing me.”

Ellen said with fascination, pressing her face close to the glass cage. Enoch shifted his gaze to follow hers. Indeed, the tiny silk-furred creature was staring intently at Ellen.

“They say this one’s a bit special. Seems to understand human speech…”

“Really? Is it a spiritual beast like Lucy?”

“That cat is a spiritual beast?”

“Of course. Lucy is a genius cat. Don’t speak carelessly in front of Lucy. She understands everything.”

“……”

While Enoch had suspected that the cat was not ordinary, hearing it confirmed from Ellen’s mouth made him feel strange. Come to think of it, how old is that cat anyway?

“…That cat, it’s about twelve years old now?”

“Probably?”

“You don’t know its exact age?”

“A maid at the Lopez mansion brought her in when I was young. She was already an adult cat then…”

“That cat is like an elderly person in human years. Yet it’s still so lively?”

“Lucy is quite healthy.”

No, that’s beyond just being healthy. That cat is suspicious no matter how you look at it.

As Enoch’s suspicions deepened, Ellen placed a few nuts on her palm and opened the cage cover.

To avoid startling the small animal that was still staring at her, she slowly pushed her hand with the nuts into the cage.

The hamster stood still on its hind legs, watching what Ellen was doing. Then, as if realizing something, it flinched slightly before cautiously approaching and gently placing its tiny front paws on Ellen’s palm.

Those small front paws, and the hamster twitching its pink nose as it explored, were so cute that Ellen felt her heart might stop for a moment.

Thump thump. Watching the hamster with half expectation and half worry about whether it might bite, the creature carefully climbed onto Ellen’s palm. It was so light that she could barely feel its weight. And above all, it was incredibly soft.

“Oh my, it’s so cute. It climbed onto my palm. Can you see?”

Enoch chuckled as he watched Ellen fuss in a small voice, trying not to startle the hamster. You’re cuter than the hamster to me. He inwardly recited words that Ellen would call doting if she heard them.

“I wonder if I can touch it…?”

On Ellen’s palm, as she hesitated, the hamster picked up a large almond. It nibbled on it with its tiny front teeth to taste, and seeming to like it, immediately stuffed it into its cheek pouches.

Next came cashews, walnuts, and peanuts; it stored all the carefully selected nuts Ellen had provided in its cheek pouches, then turned to look at Ellen with its cheeks fully puffed out. Seeing that cute but comical appearance, Ellen couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ah.”

At that moment, the hamster started climbing up Ellen’s arm. Surprised, Ellen froze stiff and couldn’t move. The hamster climbed onto Ellen’s shoulder with surprising speed, and settled there as if it belonged there. Then it started eating the almond from its cheek pouches.

Suddenly becoming a resting place for the hamster, Ellen sent a plea for help to Enoch with an expression that said she didn’t know what to do. Enoch chuckled softly and said, “Just stay still for now.”

Ellen nodded solemnly and immediately stiffened like a wooden board, not moving at all. It was doubtful if she was even breathing.

“Why are you so tense over just a hamster?”

“But it’s so small. It’s so tiny… I really don’t know how to handle it.”

Seeing Ellen’s restlessness, Enoch smirked and slowly approached with an almond in his hand. As he placed the almond on his palm and held it out, the hamster sniffed and then hopped onto Enoch’s palm.

Then, after putting the almond in its cheek pouches, it started climbing up Enoch’s arm. Enoch let out an incredulous laugh.

“Despite its small size, it’s quick and fearless, just like Ellenore Bayern.”

Ellen retorted to Enoch’s words with bewilderment.

“I think it resembles you more. In the way that it gets along well without friends.”

“That’s not true. This little one can live well without a mate, but I can’t live without you.”

“……”

Unable to find words, Ellen just averted her gaze. Compared to his state of madness two years ago, Enoch had become much calmer now, but he was still persistently devoted to Ellen.

“We need to name this little one. Any ideas?”

Enoch asked as he sat on the sofa with the hamster on his shoulder. Ellen stared blankly at the unlikely combination of the tiny brown hamster and Enoch Bayern, her lips moving slightly.

“By the way, is it male or female?”

“Of course it’s female. I wouldn’t give you a male as a gift.”

“What does that have to do with anything…”

“One male, me, is enough by your side.”

Feeling that further conversation would be pointless, Ellen just nodded along. Let’s think of a name for the hamster.

“I think it would be nice to name it similar to Lucy. Although we can’t let the hamster and cat meet… How about ‘Ruri’?”

“Not bad. Name it as you like.”

In truth, Enoch didn’t seem to care much about the hamster’s name. Well, even Lucy, whom he’s known for three years, he still coldly calls ‘the cat’.

“Then… Ruri? From now on, your name is Ruri.”

As Ellen called out carefully, the hamster lifted its head as if it understood human speech. Ellen held out her hand to the hamster in amazement.

“Ruri, shall we go back to your home now?”

The hamster, Ruri, jumped onto Ellen’s palm without hesitation. It really seems to be a spiritual beast. Ellen chuckled as she took Ruri to the cage.

When she opened the cage cover and put Ruri inside, it scurried off and climbed onto the wheel.

Ellen laughed softly as she watched Ruri spinning the wheel at a speed so fast its feet were barely visible.

The encounter between Ruri and Lucy naturally took place while Ruri was safely inside the cage.

Ruri was moved to a larger cage than the one Enoch had brought, which was placed in the living room across from Ellen’s room.

Lucy discovered Ruri when she came to use the cat wheel placed in that living room.

Contrary to her worry that Lucy might show aggression towards Ruri, Lucy only stared at Ruri inside the cage, without pouncing or baring her teeth.

And Ruri didn’t seem particularly afraid of Lucy either, so they stared at each other for a long time with Ruri pressed against the glass of the cage.

The first encounter between the cat and the hamster took place in such a peaceful atmosphere.

Even so, Ellen didn’t plan to take Ruri out when Lucy was around.

It’s not that she didn’t trust Lucy, but just in case…

“Lucy, what do you think of your new friend? Her name is Ruri.”

“Meow.”

“You need to get along well. Understood?”

“Meooow.”

Hoping that the intelligent Lucy had understood her words, Ellen let out a sigh of relief. At least, Lucy didn’t seem to dislike Ruri, which was fortunate.

* * *

Before they knew it, the day to leave for their honeymoon had arrived.

It’s a bit strange to go on a honeymoon three years after getting married… but well, they did have a second wedding ceremony. Ellen boarded the travel carriage in high spirits. Their honeymoon destination was none other than Erinter.

It was a neighboring country she had wanted to visit at least once but hadn’t yet been to.

Soon after, the carriage departed, and Ellen looked out the window with excitement. Enoch, who had been staring at her from the side, asked casually.

“Don’t you feel frustrated sometimes?”

“About what?”

“With your magic, you could fly anywhere, but you have to use transportation to accommodate others.”

“Magic isn’t something to be used frivolously.”

Ellen hadn’t expected Enoch to be concerned about such things. She laughed helplessly and gently rested her head on his shoulder. Her sincere feelings were softly conveyed in her voice.

“And I enjoy this time riding in the carriage with you.”

“……”

Then, for some reason, Enoch, who had been silent, suddenly embraced Ellen tightly. As if he couldn’t control the overflowing emotions.