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It was like a fleeting breeze brushing past my face.

To buy myself some time to collect my thoughts, I opened my mouth to ask again.

“Did I hear that correctly, did you just say you’d marry me?”

“You heard it right. With things as they are, maybe I should just marry you, Theo-kun.”

It was as casual as saying, ‘Since I’ve already washed my face, I might as well wash my hair.’

It’s hard to discern sincerity from such a lighthearted attitude.

Even though I knew she was half-joking, the other half seemed serious, which left me a little confused.

For a moment, I almost responded with, “That’s ridiculous,” but I managed to compose myself with Calm Thinking.

Feigning composure, I asked.

“And what made you think of that?”

“Fairies live long lives. Throughout that time, they experience many things. But even so, I’ve never been married.”

“I see.”

“I see? What kind of reaction is that? Are you saying it makes sense that I’ve never been married?”

Stella suddenly burst out in anger, as if I’d pressed a button. It seemed she had misunderstood my response.

She quickly started explaining, even though I hadn’t asked.

“I’ve had plenty of chances, you know. I’ve been set up for meetings, and there were people who pursued me because they liked me. I could’ve gotten married. It’s not that I couldn’t, I just didn’t.”

There was a significant difference between not doing something and being unable to do it. Was Stella trying to emphasize that she was a capable and attractive woman?

So I started wondering.

“Then why didn’t you get married?”

I had heard that love and marriage among fairies were quite free. Relationships and breakups were lighthearted.

Like the wind mingling with the branches—staying briefly, then parting without any lingering attachments, leaving even a sense of freshness.

Because of this, it wasn’t uncommon for older elves to have been married more times than one could count on their fingers.

Why not? Elves, whether male or female, were blessed with stunning appearances and the wisdom and refinement that come with long lives. They’re always in high demand as marriage partners.

Stella spoke up.

“At the time, no one really caught my eye. And there were just so many things I wanted to do. The world was vast, and I thought there were countless things I hadn’t tried yet.”

With that, Stella murmured softly, “I suppose it’s hard for someone like Theo-kun, who hasn’t even lived half a century yet, to understand.”

As she said, it was quite hard to grasp. But while I couldn’t understand it emotionally, I could intellectually interpret what Stella wanted to say.

Marriage was a kind of contract.

It’s like a three-legged race where two people get tied together. When Stella was younger, she probably disliked the idea of binding her steps to someone else’s.

She wanted to walk freely at her own pace.

She was the complete opposite of someone like me, who longed for a family and a sense of belonging. That’s why it was surprising that Stella, even jokingly, mentioned marriage now.

Just as I found myself growing more curious about the reason, she continued.

“The world was filled with adventures. There were so many fun things. But at some point, all the friends I laughed with would hold their families’ hands and go home.”

Seeing her friends go home hand in hand with their loved ones—she probably experienced this with the adventure club and as a capable adventurer.

Indeed.

Unlike Stella, who belongs to a long-lived species and leads an extended life, most of her companions were likely human.

While Stella continued to chase endless adventures, her comrades would have gotten married, had children, and gradually aged within the safety of stable homes.

I’ve had a somewhat similar experience.

In my early childhood.

When the kids I played with at the playground would hold their mother’s hands and leave one by one after sunset.

Mere moments before, the noisy playground was full of life, but after everyone scattered back to their families, only eerie stillness remained. That desolate silence was unforgettable.

Stella, who had lived for a long time, must have experienced this countless times, and she will likely continue to experience it.

In a way, it was understandable that she broke her own values ​​and became interested in marriage.

When you’ve been alone for long enough, it’s only natural to start wanting someone by your side.

“I don’t know what I want to do anymore. There used to be so many things I wanted to do, like stars in the sky. But now, when I close my eyes, it’s just dark.”

“So, you’re considering marriage as the final adventure?”

At my question, Stella scratched the back of her head.

“Well, there are several reasons. When I’m with Theo-kun, it feels like I’m on a new kind of adventure after a long time.”

“Wandering beyond the wall is certainly an adventure.”

“No, that’s not exactly what I meant…. Ugh, never mind! Let’s just sleep! If you want to grow taller, you need to sleep more!”

Stella gave me a hearty slap on the back and went inside the cabin.

Left alone, I felt a strange sense of warmth. To think that Stella and I would share such a serious conversation.

For a fleeting moment, a mischievous thought crossed my mind, ‘Maybe I could ask if I could touch her boobs soon?’ But it disappeared just as quickly, like a shooting star.

* * *

━We’re playing hide-and-seek. Close your eyes and count to a hundred. Remember I taught you how to count to a hundred last time, right? Hmm? And don’t you dare peek while you’re counting, or you’ll be in trouble.

I nodded at the woman’s soft voice. Though her tone was gentle, her face was more serious than usual.

Counting to a hundred was easy anyway.

I had kept it a secret, but I could actually count up to a thousand. Should I surprise her by counting to a thousand this time?