Reed stirred, shifting against the hard wooden floor.
His entire body ached from a night of uncomfortable sleep, but at least it had been quiet.
No sudden pranks.
No fox-girl related disasters.
No misunderstandings.
For once, it seemed like he had peace.
Maybe—just maybe—Mielle had come to her senses.
Maybe she had realized that living here was a terrible idea.
Maybe she had already left.
The thought was so comforting that Reed actually allowed himself to relax.
Until he noticed something.
The bed above him was empty.
Mielle was gone.
Reed blinked.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his face.
That's strange.
For someone who had invaded his home with the force of a natural disaster, she was suspiciously missing.
His ears strained for any sound.
Nothing.
It was eerily quiet.
Too quiet.
A bad feeling settled in his gut.
Reed pulled himself to his feet, glancing toward the door.
Then he heard it.
A soft rustling.
Followed by the distinct sound of furniture shifting.
His entire body tensed.
Slowly, he moved toward the door, carefully pushing it open.
The sight that greeted him made his brain short-circuit.
His home.
His simple, quiet, modest home.
Was gone.
Or rather—
It had been completely transformed.
The once plain wooden furniture was now covered in soft cushions, delicate fabrics, and decorative trinkets.
A large, ornate rug covered the floor, its luxurious texture completely out of place.
The walls, which had been bare just yesterday, were now adorned with hanging tapestries embroidered with fox motifs.
His kitchen shelves—which once held simple wooden plates and metal utensils—were now stocked with colorful ceramic bowls, delicate teacups, and even glassware.
And worst of all—
A set of women's clothes hung neatly near the fireplace.
Reed's stomach dropped.
This wasn't just a prank.
This wasn't just a playful rearrangement.
This was an occupation.
A hostile takeover.
His house—**his last sanctuary—**had been turned into Mielle's domain.
As he stood there, completely frozen in horror, a familiar cheerful voice called out from the side.
"Morning, Reed~"
His soul left his body.
Slowly, he turned.
Mielle stood by the kitchen counter, humming softly as she prepared tea, her golden tail swaying happily.
Her fluffy ears perked up as she glanced over at him, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips.
Reed's eye twitched violently.
"...What. Did. You. Do."
Mielle tilted her head innocently.
"Hmm~? What do you mean?"
Reed gestured wildly.
"THIS. ALL OF THIS."
She blinked.
Then, glancing around, she let out a small hum.
"Oh, you mean our home?"
His entire body locked up.
"THIS IS NOT 'OUR' HOME!"
Mielle pouted.
"Reed, that's so mean~ I worked so hard to make this place comfortable for us!"
"FOR US?!"
She nodded happily.
"Yep! It was way too empty before. Now it finally feels like a proper home."
His breathing quickened.
"Mielle."
"Yes~?"
"Where. Is. My. Stuff."
She tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"Don't worry! I put your things in a safe place."
His stomach churned.
"Define 'safe.'"
She smiled sweetly.
"Let's just say… they're still in the house. Somewhere."
His head pounded.
"That's not reassuring!"
Mielle giggled, twirling a strand of her golden hair.
"You're overreacting~"
"OVERREACTING?!"
She gestured at the room.
"Come on! Doesn't it feel cozier now? It's got charm! Personality!"
"It's got YOU ALL OVER IT!"
"Aw, I knew you'd notice~"
Reed gripped the edge of the table, inhaling sharply.
Okay.
Stay calm.
If he snapped now, she'd just enjoy it more.
Instead, he straightened his posture, put on his most level-headed voice, and said—
"Get rid of it."
Mielle blinked.
Then tilted her head, ears twitching.
"…Get rid of what?"
"ALL OF IT."
Her eyes widened, as if he had just said something incomprehensible.
"But, Reed! This is our home."
"STOP SAYING 'OUR'!"
She laughed softly, shaking her head.
"You'll get used to it~"
Reed buried his face in his hands.
This wasn't just his home anymore.
He had lost.
Again.
And it was only the beginning.
---
Reed took a deep breath.
Alright.
Stay calm.
This was his house.
His sanctuary.
There was no way he was just going to let this happen.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and grabbed the nearest item—a fancy embroidered pillow with golden fox motifs.
He ripped it off the couch and marched toward the door.
Mielle watched in amusement, sipping her tea.
"Hmm? What are you doing?"
Reed didn't answer.
He opened the door and threw the pillow outside.
Then he grabbed the next closest thing—a silk-covered blanket draped over the back of a chair.
That, too, was thrown out.
Then a decorative lamp.
Then a small stuffed fox doll that he was pretty sure wasn't his.
By the time he grabbed a luxurious throw rug, he heard a soft sigh behind him.
"Reed, Reed, Reed…"
Mielle set her teacup down, shaking her head.
"You're making such a mess~"
Reed gritted his teeth.
"You. Made the mess."
"I made improvements."
"No. You turned my house into a fox shrine!"
Mielle giggled. "Well, it is a little fox-themed~"
Reed slammed a hand against the table.
"GET. RID. OF. IT."
Mielle tilted her head. "No~"
His eye twitched violently.
"MIELLE!"
She let out a small yawn, stretching lazily.
"Ahhh, I'd love to help, but…" She smiled sweetly. "I'm still moving in."
Reed's soul nearly left his body.
"YOU ARE NOT MOVING IN."
A knock at the door.
Reed froze.
Mielle perked up.
"Ooooh~ A visitor~"
Before he could stop her, she waltzed over and pulled the door open.
"Morning!" she greeted sweetly.
Reed prayed to every deity that it wasn't who he thought it was.
It was.
A villager stood at the doorstep, grinning ear to ear.
"Reed! I heard the good news!"
Reed stared blankly.
"...What news."
The villager chuckled.
"You finally accepted your new life, huh? About time!"
His soul left his body for the second time that morning.
Mielle beamed.
"Oh, he's still getting used to it~ But don't worry! He's adjusting well."
Reed wanted to throw himself into the river.
"NO. I AM NOT."
The villager patted his shoulder.
"Hang in there, son. You'll get used to marriage life soon enough."
Reed felt his soul die for the third time.
Mielle sighed dreamily.
"Ahh~ Our peaceful life together~"
"STOP ENCOURAGING THEM!"
Mielle laughed, stepping aside.
"Anyway, Reed's busy helping me redecorate, so we'll catch up later!"
Before he could protest, she shut the door in the villager's face.
Then, turning back to Reed, she flashed a mischievous grin.
"So~" she purred. "Where were we?"
Reed buried his face in his hands.
This wasn't just his home anymore.
He had lost.
Again.
And it was only the beginning.
---
Reed exhaled slowly.
Okay.
He wasn't going to let her win.
This was his home.
His last sanctuary.
And if she thought she could just take over, she had another thing coming.
Mielle watched curiously as he took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and then—
Ripped down the nearest tapestry.
He didn't stop there.
With quick, deliberate movements, he began undoing everything she had changed.
The fancy cushions? Tossed into a pile.
The soft rug? Rolled up and shoved toward the door.
The small decorative fox figurine on the table? Launched into a corner.
Mielle gasped dramatically. "Reed! My decorations!"
He didn't look at her.
"If you can put them up, I can take them down."
Mielle smirked, crossing her arms.
"Ohhh~ so this is war?"
Reed stacked another pile of unwanted decor near the door.
"This is me reclaiming my house."
She hummed. "Mmm, nope. Feels like war."
Without another word, she picked up the rug he had just rolled up—
And unrolled it back into place.
Reed froze.
Mielle smiled sweetly.
"Go on~"
His eye twitched.
Fine.
He grabbed the rug again—rolled it up, shoved it to the door.
Mielle waited five seconds—
Then casually walked over and unrolled it again.
They locked eyes.
A silent battle of wills began.
Reed grabbed the rug again.
Mielle unrolled it again.
Reed threw it across the room.
Mielle retrieved it, unrolling it even slower this time, smiling the whole time.
Reed grabbed a different decoration.
A silk-covered cushion.
Threw it toward the door.
Mielle, still smiling, picked it up and gently fluffed it before placing it back.
His hands clenched into fists.
She was doing this on purpose.
She wasn't even arguing.
Just calmly undoing all of his work.
Like a smug, mischievous cat playing with its prey.
His breath came out slow, controlled.
"Are you going to stop?"
Mielle tilted her head, ears twitching.
"Hmm~ probably not~"
His eye twitched harder.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
She giggled, twirling a strand of golden hair.
"Immensely."
Reed rubbed his face aggressively.
"I hate you."
"You love me~"
"I DO NOT."
A knock at the door.
Reed froze.
Mielle perked up.
"Ooooh~ Another visitor~"
Before he could stop her, she waltzed over and pulled the door open.
Standing outside was another villager—this time, an elderly woman with a warm smile.
She took one look inside the house, nodded approvingly, and smiled at Reed.
"Ah, finally settling in, I see!"
Reed's soul collapsed into itself.
He opened his mouth to protest—
But the woman kept going.
"It's a good thing you've got such a lovely wife to take care of the house~ It looks so much cozier now!"
His brain exploded.
"SHE'S NOT MY WIFE!"
The woman ignored him entirely, turning to Mielle.
"You must have worked so hard, dear! Don't worry, I'll be sure to spread the word—Reed has finally embraced his new life!"
Mielle smiled sweetly.
"Oh, he's still adjusting, but he's getting there~"
Reed gripped the nearest chair for support.
"NO, I AM NOT."
The woman chuckled.
"Ah, young men. Always in denial at first! But don't worry, dear—he'll come around soon enough."
Reed felt his existence unravel.
"THAT'S NOT HOW THIS WORKS!"
The woman patted his arm.
"Take good care of her, Reed. She's a keeper."
Then, before he could say another word, she walked off.
Reed stood in absolute horror.
Mielle slowly shut the door behind her.
Then turned back to Reed, smirking.
"Where were we?"
Reed collapsed into a chair, staring blankly at the ceiling.
This was it.
His house was gone.
His dignity was gone.
His reputation was beyond repair.
Mielle had won.
She slowly walked over, bending slightly so their eyes met.
"You look like a man who just lost everything~"
"I DID."
Mielle giggled, reaching out to pat his head.
"There, there~ You'll get used to it."
Reed buried his face in his hands.
This was only the beginning.
---
Reed took a deep breath.
Alright.
One final attempt.
He wasn't just going to let this happen.
This was his home.
He squared his shoulders, narrowed his eyes, and declared:
"I refuse to live with you."
Mielle, sitting comfortably in his chair, sipped her tea.
"Oh?" she murmured, tail flicking behind her. "That's interesting. Because you already are."
Reed gritted his teeth.
"Not for long."
With quick, aggressive movements, he grabbed a stack of pillows she had added to the room and shoved them toward the door.
Then, he turned toward the new decorative lamp she had brought in—one that was unnecessarily fancy—and picked it up.
Mielle tilted her head.
"You're really working hard, huh?"
"You bet I am."
Mielle giggled, resting her chin in her palm.
"Must be tiring, undoing all my hard work~"
Reed's eye twitched.
"I wouldn't call it hard work. I'd call it reclaiming my property."
She gasped, feigning hurt. "Reed! That's so rude!"
"You broke into my house, redecorated it, and stole my bed. I think I'm allowed to be rude."
Mielle grinned. "Oh? So you admit it's our home now?"
"IT'S NOT."
He gestured aggressively at the fox-themed decor.
"Where did you even GET this stuff?!"
Mielle hummed. "Various places~"
Reed froze.
"…Various?"
She took another sip of tea, smiling sweetly.
"Let's just say… I had some spare inventory."
Reed's soul cracked.
"You stole this, didn't you?"
Mielle gasps dramatically. "Reed! I would never steal from you!"
"YOU DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION."
She giggled, setting her tea down.
"Alright, alright~ I'll make you a deal."
Reed crossed his arms. "Not interested."
"You haven't even heard it yet~"
He narrowed his eyes. "Fine. What?"
Mielle leaned forward slightly, golden eyes glinting.
"I'll let you remove three things. That's it."
Reed blinked. "…Excuse me?"
"You want your home back, right? You can choose three things to remove, and I'll allow it."
His jaw clenched.
"That's not how this works."
She tilted her head. "Are you sure?"
Her smile widened.
"Because~ if you don't accept the deal, I might feel the need to… expand the decor."
Reed's heart stopped.
"…Expand?"
Mielle nodded, smirking.
"I was thinking of adding a giant fox statue by the fireplace. Maybe even a matching bedspread."
Reed felt his body shake.
"You wouldn't dare."
Mielle grinned. "Try me."
He stared at her.
She stared back, completely calm, patient, confident.
Reed knew when he was outmatched.
Slowly, through gritted teeth, he muttered:
"Fine. Three things."
Mielle beamed. "Yay~! Now, choose wisely!"
Reed looked around, calculating.
If he could only remove three things, then—
His eyes locked onto the giant, elaborate fox tapestry hanging above the fireplace.
"That. That goes first."
Mielle pouted.
"But it's so elegant~"
"OUT."
With a sigh, Mielle stood up, casually rolling the tapestry off the wall.
"There. One down~"
Reed exhaled.
Alright. Progress.
His next target—
He pointed to the fancy cushions stacked on the couch.
"These. Gone."
Mielle let out a soft hum, nodding.
"Hmm~ Alright. That's two."
She carefully picked up the cushions and stacked them by the door.
Reed nodded to himself.
One left.
The most important one.
"That," he declared, pointing at the ornate golden lamp.
Mielle pouted dramatically.
"Aw, but it gives such nice lighting~"
"IT DOESN'T BELONG HERE."
She sighed but moved it toward the door.
"Alright, alright~ You got your three. Happy now?"
Reed exhaled deeply.
A small victory.
Not a full win.
But still—
"Now I just need to move everything else back—"
Mielle perked up.
"Oh, no, no~ That wasn't part of the deal."
Reed stared at her.
"What."
"You got to remove three things. That's it."
His entire body locked up.
"…You're joking."
She smiled, shaking her head.
"Not at all~"
Reed gripped the edge of the table, inhaling sharply.
This was it.
His last stand.
His final chance to reclaim his home.
And he had already lost.
Mielle tilted her head, ears twitching.
"You look like you're about to cry."
Reed buried his face in his hands.
"This isn't fair…"
Mielle giggled, standing up and patting his head.
"There, there~ You'll get used to it."
His entire body slumped forward in defeat.
It was over.
She had won.
Again.
Mielle twirled a strand of hair, watching him with a victorious glint in her eyes.
"Now, now, don't look so devastated~ You still have half of your house left."
Reed glared at her.
"For now."
She giggled. "We'll see~"
He groaned, rubbing his temples.
"I hate this. I hate everything."
Mielle leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands.
"Aw, you love it."
"I DO NOT."
She beamed.
"Welcome to our home, Reed~"
Reed collapsed onto the couch, face down.
---
Reed exhaled heavily, running a hand through his messy white hair.
He had lost.
Mielle had invaded his home.
He could throw a fit, keep yelling, or try one last desperate stand—
But it wouldn't change anything.
She had already won.
"...Fine," he muttered.
Mielle, lounging comfortably in the chair across from him, perked up.
"Fine~?"
"You can stay."
Her golden eyes sparkled.
"Well, well~ Look who's finally accepted reality."
"Don't get too excited," Reed muttered. "There are conditions."
Mielle leaned forward slightly, resting her chin in her hands.
"Ooooh~ Conditions? How bold."
"First—no stealing."
Mielle gasped, pressing a hand to her chest.
"Reed! I'm offended."
"You're literally an SSS+ ranked thief."
She grinned.
"Ah~ You say it like it's a bad thing."
"It is."
"Debatable~"
Reed ignored her smug expression, crossing his arms.
"Which brings me to my next point…"
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Why are you even here?"
Mielle blinked, tilting her head slightly.
"Hmm?"
"You're not just some random pickpocket." Reed's voice was calm, measured. "You could be anywhere. Doing anything."
Mielle was silent.
"You don't need to be in some quiet rural village, living in someone else's house, doing—" he gestured vaguely, "—whatever this is."
Mielle stared at him, her expression unreadable.
The playful spark in her golden eyes had dimmed slightly.
For the first time since she arrived, she wasn't teasing, laughing, or making things worse.
She was just… quiet.
Then, after a moment, she murmured,
"…Maybe I do."
Reed stiffened.
He had expected a snarky comeback.
A deflection.
Another round of teasing.
But not this.
Mielle leaned back slightly, staring at the flickering lantern light.
"Maybe," she said softly, "I just wanted… to take a break."
Reed frowned.
A break?
That wasn't an answer.
Not for someone like her.
Mielle wasn't just a wandering adventurer.
She was famous.
A top-tier rogue, one of the highest-ranked adventurers in the world.
People like her didn't just… "take a break."
Reed studied her carefully.
Her usual smug confidence was still there—her relaxed posture, her subtle smirk—
But something about it felt…
Off.
It wasn't just an act.
She was hiding something.
After a long pause, he finally muttered, "That's it?"
Mielle closed her eyes briefly.
"That's all you get for now~"
There it was.
The deflection.
Reed exhaled slowly, watching her.
Even now, when she was right in front of him, she still felt just out of reach.
Like a shadow slipping through his fingers.
She was here, invading his life, causing chaos—
And yet, he had no idea why.
"…Not my problem," he muttered eventually.
Mielle opened one eye, smiling faintly.
"Such a cold response~ You're so mean, Reed."
He ignored her, crossing his arms again.
"Let me make one thing clear."
His voice was firm, steady.
"I let you stay, but I want a peaceful life."
Mielle tilted her head slightly, amused.
"Define 'peaceful.'"
"No guild nonsense. No stealing. No chaos."
Mielle's smile widened slightly.
"…I can try."
Reed narrowed his eyes.
"That didn't sound promising."
She giggled.
"Relax, relax~ I'll be good."
"Doubt."
Mielle laughed softly.
"Reed, Reed, Reed… You act so serious, but deep down, you like it~"
Reed stared at her, unamused.
"Like what?"
She smiled, golden eyes glinting.
"This~"
She gestured to the room.
To his ruined, decorated house.
To his stolen bed.
To the sheer absurdity of the last 24 hours.
Reed inhaled slowly.
Then exhaled.
And then—
"Nope. I hate it."
Mielle pouted dramatically.
"You're so heartless~ How could you say that after everything we've shared?"
Reed rubbed his temples.
"We. Shared. Nothing."
Mielle's tail flicked playfully.
"Hmm~? That's not what the villagers think~"
Reed wanted to scream.
Mielle let out a soft, victorious giggle, stretching her arms above her head.
"Anyway~ I'm tired. Let's go to bed."
She started walking toward his bedroom.
Reed immediately blocked the doorway.
"Not happening."
Mielle smiled innocently.
"Aw, but Reed~"
Her voice dropped to a whisper, teasingly sweet.
"If you really wanted to share a bed, you could just say so~"
Reed physically flinched.
"NO."
Mielle burst into laughter, shoving him lightly aside as she waltzed past him.
"Fine, fine~ I'll behave."
She hopped onto his bed, making herself comfortable.
Reed stared blankly.
"...You're still taking the bed."
She smiled.
"Obviously~"
His eye twitched.
"...I hate my life."
Mielle sighed happily, pulling the blanket over herself.
"Goodnight, Reed~"
Reed grumbled, grabbing his blanket from the floor.
As he finally started to drift off, a single thought crossed his mind.
This is going to be my life from now on, isn't it?
---
The room was dim, lit only by the flickering lantern near the window.
The soft hum of crickets filled the night air, blending with the occasional creak of the wooden walls.
Reed lay on the floor, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
Above him, Mielle was comfortably nestled in his bed, tail curled over the blankets.
For once, she wasn't talking.
She wasn't teasing.
She was just silent.
It was… strange.
Reed wasn't sure if he liked it.
For a while, they just laid there, neither of them speaking.
Then, Mielle's voice broke the quiet.
"Hey, Reed?"
Her tone was softer than usual.
Reed blinked, shifting slightly.
"…Yeah?"
"Have you ever thought about what comes after?"
Reed frowned. "After… what?"
She was quiet for a moment.
"Everything."
Reed turned his head slightly, glancing toward her silhouette in the dim light.
"You mean… after adventuring?"
Mielle let out a small hum, her golden eyes half-lidded.
"Yeah. After all of that. After the fighting, after the danger… what happens when it's over?"
Reed hesitated.
It wasn't a question he had ever seriously considered.
For years, he had been stuck as an F-rank adventurer, barely scraping by.
The idea of "after" had never been something he needed to think about.
But for someone like her—an SSS+ ranked adventurer, one of the strongest in the world—
It was probably a terrifying thought.
He exhaled, rolling onto his side.
"You're asking the wrong guy."
Mielle let out a soft laugh.
"Yeah, I figured."
Reed narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You don't seem like the type to worry about that kind of thing."
Mielle turned onto her back, staring at the ceiling.
"Maybe I didn't before."
Her voice was quieter now.
"But lately… I've been wondering."
Reed frowned.
Something about this conversation felt… odd.
She wasn't teasing.
She wasn't playing around.
She was actually thinking about this.
"...And that's why you're here?"
Mielle's tail flicked lazily against the blanket.
"Maybe."
Reed exhaled.
"That's not an answer."
She smiled faintly.
"It's all you get~"
Reed rolled his eyes.
Of course.
Even when she was being honest, she had to be cryptic about it.
Still…
Something about the way she said it made his chest feel a little tight.
Silence settled again.
Then—
"Hey, Reed?"
Her voice was softer now.
"…Yeah?"
She turned onto her side, facing him.
"If I told you the real reason I'm here… what would you do?"
Reed's breath caught for a second.
That was—
That was way too serious.
His brain scrambled for an answer.
"I'd… listen, I guess."
Mielle stared at him.
For a moment, it almost felt like she was actually going to say it.
Like she was going to drop the teasing, the games, the nonsense—
And just tell him the truth.
His heart pounded for some reason.
Then, Mielle let out a slow, soft sigh.
She smiled.
"Then maybe I should keep it a secret a little longer~"
Reed immediately regretted everything.
His face burned.
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT?"
Mielle laughed, burying her face into the blanket.
"You should've seen your face! You were actually nervous!"
"I WASN'T NERVOUS!"
"Awww~ Was your heart racing? So cute~"
Reed turned away aggressively.
"Go to sleep, Mielle."
Mielle giggled, her tail brushing against his arm.
"Sweet dreams, Reed~"
Reed buried his face into his pillow.
He hated her.
He absolutely, 100%, hated her.
…And yet, somewhere deep in the back of his mind—
He couldn't stop thinking about what she almost said.
---
End Of Chapter 3