Chapter 103: Fake Marriage 2
I was sharing a bed with Yumi, a habit that had become a strange, comforting anchor in the chaotic sea of my new life. She was fast asleep, her small body curled into a ball, her silvery-white hair a stark, beautiful contrast against the dark, silken sheets of the guest room. I woke her gently, my own heart a heavy, reluctant drum in my chest.
"Yumi," I whispered, my voice a low, soft murmur in the pre-dawn quiet. "Time to wake up."
Her crimson, illusion-wrought eyes fluttered open, still heavy with sleep. "Ashy?" she mumbled, her voice a sleepy, contented purr.
"I have to go somewhere today," I said, my voice a little rougher than I intended. "I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll be back by the end of the day."
Her glowing eyes, which had been so soft and sleepy, immediately clouded over with a profound, heart-wrenching disappointment. "But... you promised," she whispered, her lower lip trembling. "You promised we would explore today."
"I know," I said, my own voice a quiet, regretful murmur. "And we will. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to a wonderful spot, a place you’ve only ever dreamed of."
Her expression shifted, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "A wonderful spot? Where?"
"I’ve heard of a place, high in the mountains," I said, my voice a low, conspiratorial whisper as I painted a picture for her, a fragile, hopeful promise. "A place where the wild dragons nest. They say there’s an old dragon-tamer there who will let you ride on the back of a young drake. We can soar through the sky, Yumi, and see the whole of the Dragon Kingdom from above, a glittering jewel in a sea of fire and stone."
Her eyes, which had been so full of a quiet, childish disappointment, now began to shine with a new, dawning excitement. "Really? We can really do that?"
"I promise," I said, my own voice a quiet, unbreakable vow. "Now, you wait here. I’ll send someone to look after you for the day."