"Yes, yes... my bad!" Scarlett said, scratching the back of her head with a nervous laugh.
She looked back at the group. "Now, this big guy is Baron, and this is Arpeus. People call him the Demon Merchant; he's got a lot of businesses going on here, haha..."
Then she pointed at Cryptus. "This little skeleton guy is Cryptus. Don't underestimate him because of his size—he's actually the master of both Baron and Arpeus, and also the head of the petrolling police."
As Scarlett praised him, Cryptus's skeletal cheeks seemed to flush a faint white. He looked away shyly. "You flatter me!"
Scarlett's gaze swept across the rest of the group as she introduced them one by one.
"You already know Xao and Li Feng, so there's no need for an introduction!" she added. But as she said that, a cold panic began to creep into her chest. Because now, only Reiza and Lunatic were left.
She couldn't help but gulp, her throat suddenly dry as sand. She didn't need to breathe or drink or eat. She was resistant to temperature, so she never sweated unless in intercourse. But right now, a thin layer of sweat formed on her forehead. She looked at Irish with a dry, awkward laugh.
"T-this... this is Lunatic," she started, her voice trembling, "and she is Reiza!" Scarlett began to stutter uncontrollably.
Irish's innocent, wide-eyed pupils made it even harder to get the words out. She just looked between Lunatic, Reiza, and Scarlett, waiting patiently for Scarlett to finish her sentence.
"Umm... They...!" Scarlett hesitated, the words catching in her throat.
"They are your other two partners, right?" Irish added suddenly, her voice soft and clear.
Scarlett almost jumped out of her skin. Her heart leaped into her throat. "You know?"
"I kind of expected it," Irish said with a calm, gentle smile. "I got the smell of two women on you last time, and it clearly matches with them!"
Irish looked towards Lunatic and Reiza and nodded with a polite, warm smile. "Hope we can get along!"
"I thought she'd be jealous or make a scene, but she's surprisingly nice!", Lunatic thought in surprise, nodding back with a genuine smile of her own.
Reiza was also stunned. "She's trying to make a good impression in front of wife," she thought. "It's not like I'm being jealous or anything, but this is clearly... cheating!", The thought was a sharp pang in her chest.
But the most shocked person of all was Scarlett. She was having doubts about herself and feeling incredibly guilty for judging Irish so poorly.
"Was I just overthinking it? Judging Irish so easily? How bad of me!" She shook her head, blaming herself. She realized with a wave of relief that it had all been just in her head.
"Let's go and take a look around while we make our way to the palace!" Scarlett said, her voice finally steady again.
"Yes, let's go!" everyone said in unison, their cheerful voices echoing in the festive night air.
They stepped into the lively streets of DreadHaven. Lanterns of different colors floated above the roads, painting the air with soft hues of red, gold, and blue. The smell of roasted meat, sweet cakes, and spicy soup drifted through the cool night breeze.
Merchants called out from their stalls, showing off jewelry, masks, and strange trinkets that sparkled under the moonlight. Children ran past holding glowing sticks, laughing as they weaved between the crowds.
Though the festival was bright and full of life, traces of the city's youth were still visible. Many shops stood empty, their wooden doors half-built or their signs missing. Patches of wild grass grew in places where houses were yet to be made.
The line of shops was uneven, a mix of old and new, which slightly broke the city's beauty. But even with its flaws, there was something charming about it—like a dream still being shaped.
It hadn't been even two years since DreadHaven was rebuilt with the help of the Gwarga. The people were still learning to adjust. The city's laws were new and sometimes unclear, and though the guards worked hard, many systems were still unsteady.
Education too was a challenge—more than half the population couldn't read or write. It would take years, maybe even decades, before everything ran as smoothly as an established kingdom. But even so, the progress they had made in such a short time felt like a miracle.
As they walked, Aoto's eyes caught sight of the red-light district glowing faintly in the distance. For a moment, his lips curved slightly as a mischievous thought passed through his mind.
"Let's go to that restaurant," Ingrassia said suddenly, pointing at a big building with bright lanterns hanging at its entrance. "The food smells amazing from here!"
"You guys go ahead. I've got… something to do," Aoto said, rubbing his palms together and trying to hide his grin.
Scarlett turned around sharply, eyeing him with suspicion. "You're not going anywhere," she said, grabbing the back of his shirt before he could take another step. "You're eating with us!"
"Hey! Let me tell you something...let me tell you something!" Aoto protested, but she dragged him toward the restaurant anyway.
Inside, the place was warm and full of chatter. The tables were round, made of polished wood, and the smell of freshly cooked dishes filled the air.
Monsters with horns and glowing eyes sat beside humans and demons, all chatting together over mugs of ale and bowls of soup regarding their work or other topic. It was strange yet heartwarming to see so many different beings sharing one place peacefully.
They ordered a variety of dishes—spicy noodles, biriyani, grilled beast meat, honey cakes, and a strange glowing drink that crackled slightly when poured.
Scarlett's eyes widened when she tasted it. "I put special attention into food criteria and now it is definitely worth it!" she said, her face lighting up.
After finishing their meal, they continued wandering through the streets.
Musicians played soft tunes on strange instruments while acrobats performed in open squares. A group of children released glowing lanterns into the night sky, and for a moment, everyone stopped to watch them rise higher and higher, like tiny stars being born.
Even the demons and monsters walking beside them seemed calmer, their eyes reflecting the light of the lanterns.
After almost three whole hours, they had enjoyed everything the festival had to offer. The atmosphere, the food, the fireworks.
But what truly shocked scarlett was how peaceful it had been the entire time. Neither Irish, nor Lunatic, nor even Reiza caused any kind of trouble. It felt almost unreal.
News about Irish's arrival had already spread throughout DreadHaven. Wherever they walked, people waved, smiled, and even bowed slightly in respect. Many came forward just to catch a glimpse of her, whispering her name with admiration and curiosity.
By the time they reached the royal palace, exhaustion was written all over Aoto, Chiyoko, Ingrassia, and Richard's faces. Their feet ached from all the walking, and even the festive air couldn't hide the tiredness in their steps.
Irish, however, still looked energetic, her extremely dark blue eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight as if she could go on for hours more.
Richard walked a little behind the group, his eyes thoughtful. The weight of what had happened a few weeks ago still hung over him, like a faint shadow he couldn't shake off.
But he was trying his best to enjoy the night as a new start, not wanting to ruin the happy mood for everyone else. It felt like he had become more mature.
As they reached the grand gates of the royal palace, Scarlett stepped ahead and raised her hand, stopping everyone. The guards bowed respectfully as the gates opened slowly, revealing the beautifully lit courtyard inside. Without saying anything, Scarlett turned her head toward Cryptus and gave him a small look.
Cryptus immediately understood and ran inside the palace. A few moments later, he returned carrying something long wrapped carefully in a red cloth. He handed it to Scarlett with both hands.
Scarlett took a deep breath, turned toward Irish, and smiled warmly. "This is for you," she said softly. "A gift… and also a sincere apology for keeping you away for so long."
Irish blinked in surprise, her expression softening. Scarlett gently removed the red cloth, revealing a sword with a dark blue blade covered in elegant ancient patterns. The metal shimmered faintly under the moonlight. Its design was almost identical to Ingrassia's golden-white sword—both once treasures of the legendary Hero Viktor.
Irish's eyes widened in awe. "It's beautiful…" she whispered, running her fingers over the markings. Then, without hesitation, she leaned forward and hugged Scarlett tightly, her lips meeting Scarlett's in a sudden kiss.
"I just love you so much, honey!" Irish said with a bright smile, her voice full of emotion.
Scarlett's face turned pink in an instant. The kiss wasn't the problem—it was the dozens of people around them watching. "Cough...I-I… love you too," she stammered, smiling shyly.
Before Scarlett could even recover, Reiza suddenly spoke, "I-i love you too!" she said quickly and kissed Scarlett too, her face glowing with excitement.
Then, Lunatic stepped forward, her eyes sparkling mischievously. "I don't even need to say it," she purred in a sultry tone before kissing Scarlett as well.
Now Scarlett's face was completely red, her thoughts spinning. She didn't even know where to look. The crowd mix of soldiers, servants, and her friends all stared in silence—some shocked, some laughing quietly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Irish, terrified that she might be angry. Irish was glaring at Reiza and Lunatic, her dark blue eyes sharp enough to pierce steel.
Scarlett swallowed nervously. But then, Irish's expression suddenly changed—she smiled, though her smile was a bit too calm to be normal.
"It's good to hear that…" Irish said sweetly, her tone light.
Scarlett let out a deep breath, a wave of relief washing over her. "This really might be the best day ever," she thought, her lips curling into a small smile.
Then she noticed Aoto standing off to the side, watching her with a grin that was way too wide to be innocent. His eyes were full of mischief, and he raised his eyebrows as if silently teasing her about all the kisses she'd just received.
Scarlett's eye twitched. "This guy…" she muttered, trying hard not to lose her temper. Her hand itched to smack him, but she held it back, forcing a stiff smile instead.