In the rented inn room, the curtains were drawn wide, allowing the gentle, warm sunlight from outside to flood the bedding, leaving one feeling refreshed and clear-headed.
They had originally agreed to go accept a quest and have a proper adventure during their limited time.
But Liam was too strong.
Half an hour ago, after the man had soothed her, he had gone out to buy some things.
Now, Celia was curled up deep under the covers, fast asleep.
But she was satisfied.
With a click, the closed bedroom door opened.
The tall, upright figure of the man leaned against the doorframe as he entered from outside.
His deep eyes glanced at the curled-up form on the bed.
"I'm back," he said slowly.
"Mmh..."
Disturbed by the noise, Celia whimpered softly, squirmed a couple of times to vent her displeasure, then pulled the covers down from over her head.
Seeing the familiar face, she became considerably more awake.
"Husband..."
"You're back so soon?"
But realizing the impropriety of her state, her face flushed red, and she hurriedly reached out a small hand to pull the quilt tightly around herself.
Her gaze accidentally swept over the floor [content removed for privacy], making her bury her face in the covers in sheer embarrassment.
Liam walked over slowly, crouched down, picked up the dress, and moved close to the girl who had curled into a ball.
A hint of laughter was in his voice.
"Come, I'll help you get dressed."
"We'll head out soon."
Celia's cheeks burned. She muttered softly, "Mmm, maybe... just leave it there for now.I can dress myself..."
The man was very close to her.
The sunlight happened to fall on his face, making every contour crystal clear.
It was still that ashen, cool, colorless [face].
She was the first to could not bear the silence and surrendered.
"Then, then..."
"Help me dress..."
The girl's small hands, which had been clutching the quilt in front of her, slowly loosened their grip, revealing her blushing face.
Those starry, misty eyes blinked repeatedly, unsure where to look.
"So well-behaved."
"Ah, and this too."
As if suddenly remembering, he made a grasping motion in the air, and the flower collar with its tied bow was in his hand.
Ever since she started wearing the flower collar, Liam's vigor had noticeably increased compared to usual.
But when sleeping, Celia had complained just once that it dug into her flesh and hurt, so he had taken it off for her without hesitation.
In human society, there was a custom of pets wearing collars to signify ownership [content removed for privacy regarding specific implications].
Liam put the collar on his beloved wife.
This way, he could avoid a repeat of the scene from this morning—being hit on by that youth.
The benefits didn't stop there.
Wearing the collar, it would be much easier for her to join the same adventurer party—after all, elves didn't have the qualification to become adventurers.
Moreover, in Liam's view, his wife was, from beginning to end, the treasure of his heart.
A collar wouldn't change that, but it could reduce unnecessary troubles.
Before their afternoon nap, the man had first taken her to the inn's hot spring for another bath.
Now, walking on the street, she felt thoroughly refreshed and comfortable.
Celia held onto one of her husband's arms.
The weight of the collar around her neck settled back onto her shoulders.
While it was an ordinary symbol of recognition and ownership for a pet [content removed for privacy regarding specific implications],
now that her husband had placed it on her, it felt different.
Embarrassing...
The crowd surged around them.
The constant stream of gazes felt like fine needles, pricking her all over and making her intensely uncomfortable.
She could only try her best to suppress the unease in her heart, striving to block out those stares and the noise alike.
But, strangely, since putting on the collar, her sense of security had inexplicably increased a great deal.
Earlier in the morning, she had been so scared she didn't even dare lift her head.
Now, she could occasionally look around at the surrounding shops.
Her gaze drifted downward.
Her small hand touched the bow on the collar; the ribbon felt soft, and the petals still carried a faint, fresh scent.
Celia formed a hypothesis.
Could it be... because this collar represents strong ownership that she feels so secure?
The man, seeing his cute wife beside him staring so intently at the collar on her own neck, couldn't resist teasing her.
"Do you like the collar that much?"
Celia, as if scalded, hurriedly pulled her hand back from the bow.
Her doll-like fair cheeks instantly grew hot, and she flusteredly explained, "Lord Liam... What are you saying? I, I was just... thinking the petals look pretty..."
"I see."
"You mean you want me to pick out a few more for you when we go back, so you can wear a different one every day?"
"No!"
The air was filled with the hubbub of voices and the fragrant smell of ale.
After a walk of a few minutes, the two arrived at the tavern.
Three metal quest boards stood on the other, more conspicuous side of the tavern.
There were no tables here, making the space seem open.
Celia gently tugged the man's sleeve and pointed to the first quest board.
"Lord Liam, can we take this one?"
[Rank 1, Quest: Hunt Three Goblins]
[Reward: Two Silver Coins.]
Liam smiled warmly, stroking the obedient girl's head.
He reached out and plucked the quest plaque off the board.
"My little Celia is particularly fixated on goblins, isn't she?"
"Mhm..."
"Then goblins it is. I did promise you this morning I'd take you to see what it's like."
Celia was happy.
She rubbed her head against the man's palm, letting out soft, contented hums.
Holding the quest plaque, they walked to the counter and handed it over.
Liam's expression was placid.
"Please mark it for us."
The receptionist hurriedly took it, not daring to delay in the slightest.
But when she saw the content of the quest, she let out a slight sound of surprise and couldn't help but ask, puzzled, "Sir Liam, you are a high-tier expert. Even a third-tier quest would be simple for you."
"But why are you only taking a first-tier quest? There are clearly better quests available..."
"Just taking my cute little one here for some training. Is that not allowed?"
"Well, it's not a problem..."
The baffled receptionist still completed the procedures and handed the processed plaque back to Liam.
In a small branch tavern like this, the receptionist's earnings weren't directly tied to the quality of quests adventurers took.
However, if she could attract a high-tier adventurer to use this branch, the Guild would indeed give her a staff bonus.
"Here you are. After the hunt, remember to store the corpses in the quest plaque. Then you can come to any Adventurers' Guild to claim the reward."
"Any Guild within the Kingdom of Silverdew will do."
Liam nodded, storing it in his pouch. Under the curious gazes of the other adventurers, he led Celia, about to leave the tavern.
"Oh, Sir, do you need a map? We can provide you with one here." — Guild rules stated that basic items like maps were complimentary for adventurers of a certain tier and above.
"Yes."
He turned back.