Hazuki gave Ellyn a light pat on the head, still treating her as though she were just a stubborn child.

"Alright, alright… let's pay for the dresses you picked." He glanced back at the pile she had chosen, brow raised. "But really, Ellyn. Are you sure about this one? And that one too? They're way too big for a kid like you."

Ellyn puffed her cheeks, crossing her arms. "Yes. Just pay it already."

Hazuki let out a resigned chuckle.

"Yes, yes…"

He counted out the coins and handed them over. Once the payment was made and the dresses were neatly packed into a bundle, he took the bag with one hand and motioned toward the door with the other.

"Alright then. Let's go." He stepped out slowly, Ellyn clinging to his side with a small smile on her lips, her tail swaying lightly.

Hazuki sighed, adjusting the bag of clothes in his hand. "Now… let's go see this house you insisted on renting for a whole year."

"Mm! Let's go!" Ellyn answered cheerfully, her ears perked up in excitement.

Hazuki raised his voice, scanning the air. "Ridan! Ridan!"

A familiar irritated grunt came from above. "What!? Don't you see I'm busy here!?"

"Yeah, yeah, busy, busy," Hazuki replied with a smirk. "Now quit floating around and do your job, GPS. Show us the way to this house."

Ridan floated down from above, Syaria still wrapped around his arm like a stubborn vine, her cheeks puffed in mock protest every time he tried to shake her off.

"Oi, Lolizuki! Don't call me GPS! I'm an ancient spirit! The greatest wizard of my age!"

Ridan barked, puffing his cloudy chest with pride.

Hazuki waved lazily with one hand, the other steadying the bundle of dresses.

"Yeah, yeah. Ancient spirit, greatest wizard, best puffball in the sky, whatever you say. Just guide us already before I start asking random dwarves on the street."

"You dare compare me to a signpost!?" Ridan snapped, but his grin crept back just as fast.

"Fine! Follow me, slow human. And for the love of mana, don't drop your bride's lingerie in front of everyone. People will think you're some hopeless pervert."

Hazuki sighed, ignoring him. "Ellyn, hold on tight. If we get lost, it's this floating idiot's fault."

"Mhm~" Ellyn hummed softly, leaning in closer from his shoulder. Her cheek brushed the top of his head, and her tail swayed lazily behind.

While drifting through the air with Syaria glued to his side, Ridan's smirk stretched wider, his cloudy form curling smugly.

Heh… I can't wait to see Hazuki's face when he finally finds out little Ellyn isn't so little anymore.

Oho~ tonight's gonna be loud. Bet the whole block will hear her scream.

His thoughts rolled with wicked amusement.

Well, that's good. At least the girl knows what she's doing.

The pinky promise's curse would've been cruel if Hazuki ended up chained down without release. This way, both of 'em win. A man like him shouldn't have to suffer.

He chuckled inwardly, eyes glinting.

Still, this is new. Back in my time, no beastkin ever tangled like that with humans.

Sure, a wolfkin with a foxkin, or lionfolk with their own pride, but a human with a catgirl princess? Hoo boy… this is gonna rattle a few cages.

Ridan folded his cloudy arms, floating higher as his grin turned sharp. Tomorrow morning, I wanna see it. Will Hazuki look broken? Or will he finally grin like the lucky bastard he is. Getting what only he can, bound tight by oath and body?

Ridan chuckled low, the sound rolling like static thunder in the evening sky as Syaria clung to his side. His cloudy form twisted, peering down at Hazuki and Ellyn walking hand in hand toward the edge of town.

Woo boy~ this night's gonna be fun.

That catgirl's tail swaying like that… she already made up her mind. Just a matter of how she drops the truth bomb on him.

His grin sharpened, mischievous. How will she say it? With a pout? With tears? Or maybe she'll just throw herself at him until Hazuki finally realizes… the brat's no brat at all.

"Heh… poor fool doesn't even know the truth. Royal blood. Grown woman. His pinky-promised bride all along."

Ridan floated a little lower, eyes gleaming.

"Once the seal is finalized, once their bodies connect… Hazuki won't be able to run even if he wanted to."

Syaria gave him a sideways look. "You sound way too happy about this… how can you be so sure about this?"

"Hey~ I've been following this guy for nearly a year now."

Ridan said with a smug tone. "And I've seen plenty. There was this one time he stood in front of a massive brothel, just… staring. Anyone else would've gone inside, no hesitation. But him? He clenched his fists, swallowed his urge, and walked away."

"Because he was afraid. Not of people. Not of shame. Afraid of a damn lightning bolt dropping from the heavens—divine punishment for breaking that pinky oath."

"And that's not all,"

Ridan added, leaning in closer, lowering his voice like he was telling a forbidden secret.

"Back in Macia Town, he almost scored with the caretaker of the orphanage. She wanted him. Bad. If it weren't for that pinky promise…." He snorted, shaking his cloudy head with amusement. "He would've had her. But instead, he rejected it. Said he already had a fiancée."

Syaria blinked at him, her grip tightening on his cloudy arm. "Wait… seriously? He turned down a woman because of that?"

Ridan tilted his head back, floating along lazily above Hazuki and Ellyn.

"Heh, of course. That's Hazuki for you. Stupidly stubborn once he decides on something. The pinky promise isn't just some oath. It's carved deep into him. Even when temptation's right there, he walks away."

Syaria's brows furrowed, but her lips curved into a small smile. "So… you mean to say, once he learns the truth about her…"

"Oh-ho~" Ridan cut her off with a smug grin, his eyes gleaming mischievously. "He's gonna dive in without hesitation. Tonight, when she finally tells him she's an adult, there's no going back. Hazuki's the type, once bound, he won't ever let her go. And she knows it."

Syaria let out a slow breath, a shiver running down her spine. "So that's why she smiles like that…"

Ridan smirked wider. "Exactly. And when the seal of that promise becomes more than just words, hoo boy~ Hazuki won't know what hit him."