The village was quiet in the evening, the warm glow of lanterns flickering against the cobblestone paths as the sun dipped behind the hills.
Reed walked at a steady pace toward his home, his mother and sister beside him, Yuna happily trailing along as if she hadn't just ruined his arrival.
His mind drifted as they walked.
It had been so long since he had taken this road—not as a warrior returning from battle, not as a hero summoned to defend the land—but just as himself.
A simple boy from a small village.
---
As they passed an old, sturdy oak tree near the center of town, Elise suddenly paused.
"Wait a minute…" She squinted at the tree trunk. "What's this?"
She stepped closer, brushing her fingers against the old, slightly worn carving on the bark.
Reed felt a strange sense of dread.
Yuna, meanwhile, grinned knowingly.
"Oh my~," she cooed. "So you've finally noticed, Elise-chan~?"
Elise tilted her head. "Wait. This is—"
She read the carving aloud.
"Reed & Yuna. Together Forever."
The world froze.
Reed felt his soul leave his body.
Elise slowly turned to him, eyes sparkling with pure, unfiltered amusement.
"Onii-chan…" Her voice was filled with dangerous glee. "What… is this?"
"I CAN EXPLAIN."
Yuna clasped her hands together, her green eyes twinkling with joy.
"Oh, it's a beautiful tale~!"
"IT IS NOT!"
Lilia, their mother, giggled. "Oh my, Reed. I had almost forgotten about this. Such a sweet memory~."
"STOP TAKING HER SIDE, MOM!"
Yuna happily continued.
"You see, dear Elise-chan, your Onii-chan was very, very dramatic as a child."
Elise snorted. "That checks out."
Reed groaned.
"Back then, he read so many hero stories—you know, those tales about noble knights and gallant warriors? And, one day, he decided he wanted to be just like them~."
Reed buried his face in his hands.
"Please… stop…"
Yuna ignored him, of course.
"So one day, after we spent the afternoon playing, your brother suddenly became very serious~."
She placed a hand on her heart, her voice turning overly dramatic.
"'Yuna!' he said, standing proudly in front of this very tree. 'A true knight chooses his princess! And I choose you!'"
Elise gasped in pure joy. "NO WAY."
Yuna nodded happily.
"Oh, but it gets better~. He even knelt down, took my hand, and declared—"
She cleared her throat, then perfectly mimicked an eight-year-old Reed's heroic tone.
"'One day, I shall be strong enough to protect you! And then, I will make you my wife!'"
Lilia sighed wistfully. "Oh, how romantic~."
"MOM, PLEASE!"
Elise, laughing so hard she had to clutch her stomach, pointed at Reed.
"OH GODS, ONII-CHAN! YOU WERE LITERALLY A SHOUJO PROTAGONIST!"
Reed wanted to die.
"I WAS EIGHT! I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER!"
Yuna smiled sweetly.
"But I knew, Reedy~. I knew the moment you said those words…"
She took a step closer, her tails swaying behind her, her voice full of soft amusement.
"That you were mine~."
Reed felt a headache forming.
"NO, I WAS JUST A DUMB KID!"
"Ufufu~. And yet, you carved it into a tree~."
Reed turned back to the carving, as if willing it to disappear.
Elise was crying from laughter.
"I can't—I CAN'T TAKE IT! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!"
Lilia nodded approvingly. "Reed, dear, you should honor your promise."
"MOM, STOP ENCOURAGING HER!"
Yuna, beaming with satisfaction, turned and gently took Lilia's hand.
"Dear Mother," she said smoothly, smiling like an angel. "Thank you for raising such a wonderful son. I promise to take care of him for life."
Lilia looked touched.
"Oh, Yuna, dear, I know you will~."
"STOP FORMING AN ALLIANCE!"
Yuna giggled. "But of course~. After all, I am his fiancée, am I not?"
Reed grabbed his head in agony.
"THIS IS NOT HOW THINGS WORK!"
Elise clapped him on the back.
"Too late, Onii-chan. Everyone already agrees."
Reed stared at them all in horror.
This was definitely not the peaceful return he had imagined.
---
By the time they reached the front of their home, Reed's soul had already taken irreparable damage from all the teasing.
Elise still looked way too amused.
Yuna, of course, was completely pleased with herself.
And his mother?
Lilia was already planning the wedding in her head.
Reed sighed deeply.
---
Dinner that night was warm, lively, and filled with laughter.
Even though Reed had faced legendary battles and impossible odds, sitting at the table with his family once again felt… different.
In a good way.
Until, of course, the conversation turned to his food shop plans.
"You're really expecting a peaceful business?" Elise smirked.
"…Yes?"
Lilia and Yuna exchanged knowing smiles.
Elise simply shook her head.
"Oh, Onii-chan… good luck."
Reed felt a chill.
Maybe… just maybe… this wouldn't be as peaceful as he thought.