“…Yes.”

“Let’s go back home and start planning the wedding. When do we leave?”

“Today, right now.”

“Alright. Do you have any friends to invite? I actually don’t have many.”

“Neither do I.”

“Okay, then let’s have the wedding with just the two of us. We’ll make our vows before a priest at the chapel and exchange rings. No flower girls, no attendants. All I need is you.”

Daisy smiled and touched Ruik’s cheek the way one would handle something truly precious.

So it was possible to feel as though your heart might burst from happiness. Ruik pulled Daisy close by the back and kissed her deeply as the realization settled over him.

*   *   *

After returning to the flower shop, Daisy stayed quite busy for a while.

She cleaned the house from top to bottom, sorted out the wilted flowers and pots, brought in new flowers and plants to prepare for reopening, and deflected her neighbors’ innocent questions about where she had been. By the time she came up for air, two weeks had already slipped by.

When those two weeks were up, she found the bed had been replaced with a larger one, and the blankets and sheets had been swapped out for soft new ones to match the bigger size.

On a day off after sleeping in that bed, Daisy took Ruik’s hand and went to have their wedding rings made.

“Don’t we need to get engagement rings too?”

“Apparently those are inherited. Honestly, I’m not sure myself.”

Daisy held up the silver ring she wore on a necklace around her neck.

“Then should I give this ring to you?”

“Do men receive engagement rings too?”

“I’m not sure. Mm, I’ll give it to you if you want it.”

Ruik smiled faintly.

“You’ve already given me a flower crown and a necklace. I’d feel bad taking more.”

“Speaking of which, what did you do with that dog collar?”

“I kept it. You gave it to me.”

Daisy laughed softly.

“I think it would still suit you well.”

“Hm, I’ll keep that in mind if that sort of thing is to your taste.”

“…Keep what in mind?”

Ruik smiled to himself. It seemed Daisy was in for another trying night.

Their wedding rings were decided on as simple platinum bands set with small diamonds. Once the rings were chosen, Ruik went on to order a matching set of earrings, a necklace, and a bracelet, and pressed them on Daisy despite her protests.

“I keep telling you, I won’t have any occasion to wear these.”

“I’m giving them because I want to. Don’t worry, I’m buying these with the money I earned working at the flower shop.”

With the money Ruik had accumulated, Daisy could have lived in comfort that would put an empress to shame. But Daisy had no desire to live that way, and Ruik respected that.

Of course, if Daisy ever changed her mind, he was fully prepared to go along with it. She was the center of his world.

After that, they went to a clothing shop. They decided to rent a dress and have it altered to fit. But for the veil alone, Daisy placed a custom order for one made of the finest handmade lace, adorned generously with pearls.

Daisy was surprised listening to Ruik explain the design to the shop owner, but she raised no objection.

“It was always my dream to wear a long, beautiful veil at my wedding. Of course, I’ll go and pick out the orange blossoms to trim it with myself.”

Daisy said that on the way back. Ruik smiled.

“I hope we can pass it down to our daughter someday.”

But at those words, the smile left his face. Daisy was walking and looking up at the evening sky, and she didn’t notice his expression go still.

But this was something that would have to be addressed sooner or later. Ruik opened his mouth.

“Daisy.”

“Yes?”

“Is it alright with you, having a child with my blood in them?”

“Is there a reason it wouldn’t be?”

“It’s just that, my child….”

“I know your family situation isn’t exactly what anyone would call normal.”

“No, it’s not that.”

Ruik felt his mouth go dry, and finally put into words the worry he had been carrying.

“My child, when they’re born, might not look human. They could be a wolf….”

“Ah, so you were worried I’d give birth to a puppy and faint on the spot?”

Put in Daisy’s words, it really did sound like nothing much to worry about. But to Ruik, it was a serious matter.

“…Yes. Think it over carefully, and if that’s not something you want, I can find some way to….”

“Mm, dear. But I think it might be a little late for that.”

“What?”

Daisy looked up at him with a sheepish smile.

“I stopped by the clinic on my way into town yesterday…. They said it’s been two months.”

“……”

Ruik was truly at a loss for words.

Daisy let out a small laugh at the sight of him standing there with his mind gone blank.

“…You’re laughing?”

“S, sorry. I was trying to find a better way to bring it up.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Mm, well, I understand what you’re worried about, but it doesn’t matter to me at all.”

And Daisy looked at him with a straight face.

“I fell in love with the person who used to be my dog. Did you really think it would be a problem now if I gave birth to a puppy?”

“…No, that’s not….”

“As long as they don’t live as short a life as a real dog, I’m genuinely fine.”

“That won’t happen. …They’ll be able to take human form too.”

“Then there’s no problem.”

It was strange. Every problem that had weighed on Ruik became simple and clear and easy the moment it passed through Daisy. No, it was because she was Daisy that she could take everything in and set it right like that. And that was why Ruik loved her.

Daisy squeezed Ruik’s hand where their fingers were linked.

“Don’t worry. I know life with you won’t be easy and there will be plenty of things I never expected, and I don’t know how I’ll react when those moments come, but as long as you’re there, I’ll be alright.”

“…Yes.”

Ruik squeezed her hand back.

They reached home before the sun had fully set. Before going inside, Daisy happened to glance at the shop next door and her eyes went wide.

“Oh, they’re doing construction.”

People were carrying boxes out of the single-story building that had been Malcolm’s weapons shop. They were clearing out the fixtures and fittings from inside.

“Ruik, just a moment.”

Daisy let go of Ruik’s hand and walked over to speak with the workers, exchanged a few words, and came back to Ruik.

The moment Daisy and Ruik stepped inside, they lit the oil lamp and put away the things they had bought.

“I’ll put the things away. Will you make dinner?”

“Sure. What do you feel like?”

“The potatoes we bought looked good.”

“Then let’s do potato quiche. You put things away, then go wash up.”

“Okay.”

The two split up the tasks and went their separate ways naturally.

By the time Daisy had neatly put everything away, gone into the bathroom, and come out clean from her shower, Ruik was sliding the quiche into the oven. The bechamel sauce he was still finishing reduced on the stovetop.

“Sit down. Want some tea?”

“No, I’m fine.”

Daisy sat in a chair at the dining table and looked at Ruik’s back as he cooked with an apron on.

The well-built muscles of his broad, lean back shifted with every movement he made, and she never tired of watching.

“What did the workers say earlier?”

Ruik asked out of the blue while she was in the middle of watching.

“They said the owner went missing and the lease expired, so the landlord told them to clear it out. The next tenant has already been decided.”

“What kind of shop?”

“A bakery. That’s good, isn’t it?”

Daisy smiled without any pretense.

Ruik opened the oven, took out the quiche, and set it on the table with a smile.

“It is. I hope it suits your taste.”

“It should be fine, more or less. Though lately I’m a little less sure.”

“Why?”

“I’ve gotten too used to your cooking. You’re just too good at it.”

Ruik cut the quiche and placed a slice on Daisy’s plate, then burst out laughing.

“My men say it gives them chills when they see me cook.”

“Why? You look really wonderful when you cook.”

“I’m honored you think so, ma’am.”

Ruik replied with a straight face, and the two of them burst out laughing at the same time, neither one first.

It would have been nice to have wine or champagne, but they skipped it since Daisy was pregnant. After finishing the meal, they washed the dishes together, and over cookies and tea for dessert, Daisy happened to glance out the window and saw stars.

“I’m happy.”

The words left Daisy’s mouth before she knew it.

“Likewise.”

Ruik agreed, quietly and happily.

Daisy and Ruik looked at each other. And again, neither one first, they smiled.

The full and quiet night, the first of countless more to come, passed gently by.

fin.