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It wasn't often False found herself the opportunity to travel outside the kingdom's walls, but when her king asked for her by name, she found very little reason to argue with the opportunity to visit a place she hadn't been in years.
It would be a long journey to get to False's childhood homeland, and she hoped she'd still be able to navigate the kingdom she once called home while King Ren dealt with his royal affairs.
“All ready, Ser False?” The King asked with a grin, sticking his head out from the carriage window with his crown tipped back as it couldn't quite fit.
False suppressed a chuckle at his antics and nodded, handing her luggage off to an attendant as she stepped into the carriage to sit across from him. “All ready. Have you remembered to pack everything you'll need? It gets hot this time of year, so I hope you packed some clothes you can wear comfortably.”
“A little heat could never stop the mighty King Ren!” He boasted with a goofy grin, and False let her eyes roll fondly knowing there were no prying gazes.
“Just as long as you don't drop dead.” False said with a flat tone, and for a moment worried she'd need to explain herself before Ren cracked a smile and snickered.
“I can always count on you to be upfront with me, hmm?” Ren smirked, and False felt her shoulders sag as she cracked a small grin of her own. “Are ye excited to see yer old stomping grounds?”
False shrugged, glancing out the window as the carriage lurched into starting down the tightly packed brick road leading away from the castle. “Haven't been back in years.”
Ren tilted his head at her curiously, but only shrugged when it became clear she had nothing more to say on her end. “Well then, it looks like this will be an opportunity for both of us to have a look around, what with our kingdoms finalizing trade talks.”
False hummed in acknowledgement but didn't verbalize a response, already getting swept up by memories she hadn't thought about in nearly a decade. Visions of brown hair, broken towers in overgrown fields, sticks in hands pretending to be swords and wands. She smiled softly as the warmth of her youth filled her mind, before dozing off to the King's quiet mumbles as he read aloud to himself from a worn book likely from his personal collection.
The next time she woke, she learned from the driver that they were only two days out from their destination, and sighed as she slumped back into her seat, sweating through her clothes even in her leather armor. King Ren didn't seem to be faring too well himself, so False reluctantly asked the driver to stop while they cooled off beside a river alongside the trail.
Ren let out a relieved sigh when his shoeless feet hit the cool running water, grinning as he rolled up the legs of his pants to wade deeper into the water. “Come on, my dude, the water's amazing!” He laughed, kicking some towards his knight for emphasis.
False stood with her hand to the hilt of her sword, glancing around for any sign of danger. When she neither saw nor heard any nearby, she shrugged and hurriedly tore away her stuffy armor, letting herself finally breathe in her plain undershirt and thin pants before tugging them up higher to join her King in the water.
“And you say it only gets hotter from here?” Ren wondered as they sat on matching rocks in the stream, rumps definitely damp though neither cared when the weather was so warm.
False nodded with a sigh. “One summer it was hot enough that our eggs cooked themselves before we even cracked them open.” She said, chuckling at Ren's wide eyes. “Nothing like your cool summers, my King.”
Ren nudged their shoulders. “Come on, Falsie. It's just us, you can drop the titles.”
“Just practicing.” She explained. “I don't think the Queen will find it appropriate for a knight to call out to their King so casually.”
Ren hummed. “You may be right. I've never met Queen Moon face to face, I'm not sure what to make of her.”
False looked at him quizzically. “But haven't you attended meetings with her before?”
“She always sends an advisor or a general, other rulers say she rarely attends meetings herself. Apparently my case is a special one, though I'm not sure why myself.” Ren said, moving his hands as he spoke like he did while reading aloud, which brought the smile back to False's face momentarily.
“Well whatever the reason, I'm glad you'll finally get a taste of weather you can't wear a cape in.” False said smugly, watching Ren grab at his long red cape with wide eyes despite it already being nestled in his lap to avoid touching the water.
“Me cape? Doth thou expect King Ren to last a day in this life without His cape?” He wailed theatrically, and False fought the temptation to nudge him into the river even as she giggled.
“You'll last without it. Trust me, you won't want to walk around in the sun with that on your back.” She said, holding up the side of it before Ren quickly snatched it back, to her amusement.
Ren eyed his cape with a deep-set frown until False sighed and stood. “Come on, King Pouty, let's get back to the carriage while we still have daylight.”
Ren huffed but stood regardless, taking her offered hand to help step out of the river before returning the favor by securing False's armor straps back in place.
They returned to the carriage before continuing on, this time sitting side by side in the cramped seat while Ren read aloud to her from his book. They started from the middle, where Ren had left off last, but False had heard this one enough times to know what happened before and what would happen next.
Ren had taught her to read with this book, so it brought a small smile to False's face to hear him read it yet again. She had grown up in a village where most children grew into trade through apprenticeships, so there hadn't been traditional schools to teach her to read or write like the children of Ren's kingdom were used to. She had been learning to be a blacksmith, all those years ago, carrying tools and materials with more weight than she herself had, something she detested as a child but learned to appreciate during her knight training.
She hadn't realized she'd zoned out until Ren called her name - likely not for the first time. She smiled apologetically and righted herself from resting her head on his arm before he rolled his eyes and grabbed her by the ear to tug her back.
“Are you nervous?” He repeated his question.
False sighed deeply. “What if it's not what I remember?”
Ren fussed with her hair, book rested closed on his lap. “Then make some new memories. I doubt this visit will be the last one we'll need to make.”
She glanced up at him and saw Ren smiling earnestly down at her. “You're too kind to be King.” She eventually relented, turning her gaze as he barked out a laugh.
“Tell that to the people of the villages, I'm sure they'd love to hear word of how I'm not a crazed fanatic of the arts.” He rested a hand to his chest with dramatic woe.
False snickered. “I'll tell them once that stops being true.” She teased, and was rewarded with a swift flick to the nose. She retaliated by nudging his crown to the side and laughed at Ren's resulting shriek of panic as he thought his crown would fall, hands coming up to clutch it while False laughed enough to feel her shoulders shake.
The rest of the journey passed fairly uneventfully, Ren reading and False keeping an eye out for potential danger, then taking very short stints of sleep while Ren read to her. It felt nice, like her early days of knighthood being assigned to Ren early into his kingly duties. Back when he taught her to read, to write, and she taught him to twirl daggers and properly hold a shield. Two young adults with no ideas of what responsibilities their shoulders would house in the future.
Though, she thought fondly, she didn’t mind the pressure as long as she got to spend so much time around her best friend. Not that she’d tell the other guards the true nature of her relationship to the King, or least of all, to Ren himself. He’d never let her forget the words, even in old age, granted she made it that far.
They pulled up to the gates of the castle - or rather, gateway, since the doors seemed to have been removed or maybe were never there to begin with. False glanced around, tempted to move closer before Ren moved to stick his head through the window just as the thought crossed her mind. She snickered, savoring what would surely be her last few moments of being off-duty before she’d be expected to act like a well-mannered personal guard of the King.
“King Ren Dog of Hermitland.” A man announced as the carriage driver opened the door to let Ren step out into the blistering sun False remembered.
“Queen Pearl Moon of The Empires.” The man said next, and False felt herself still completely in her movements just as she stepped one foot out the door.
“False?” Said a voice so new yet familiar it made her heart pound. Pearl’s eyes were as wide and curious as she’d remembered, hair braided back with a crown rested atop her head made of real metals, not the wood ones they’d forged together by the old tower they went to play. “It is! It’s you!” The Queen laughed, just as pretty sounding as she remembered, before bounding over and hugging her so hard they tumbled back into the carriage with Pearl landing on her chest.
False winced at the crown hitting her forehead as Pearl chuckled, pushing herself up as she moved it back onto her head with a grin that was entirely too close.
“I see the two of you, um, know each other?” Ren chuckled, confused.
False’s cheeks burned as she remembered where they were, taking Pearl by the shoulders and righting her before pushing onto her knees and helping Pearl - the Queen - stand as well. “We, er, grew up together.” she said after stepping out of the carriage and helping the Queen out as well, avoiding her gaze as she stared down at her old friend’s sandal-clad feet instead.
“We’re very good friends.” Pearl nodded, as if that was at all the same as what the other woman had said.
“Are you, now?” A new voice called, and Pearl smiled apologetically before walking over to a redhead clad in quite breathable looking armor, axe slung over one shoulder.
“False, King Ren, this is Ser Cleo, my top general.” Pearl introduced with a nod and a grin.
“We’ve met.” Ren bowed. “Wonderful to see you again, Ser Cleo.”
“Likewise, your highness.” The general bowed back.
“N- Nice to meet you.” False followed their leads and offered a bow, watching Ser Cleo’s eyes narrow when Pearl giggled at the display.
“Let me show you where the two of you will be staying during your visit. I’ve had the rooms made up in advance, so feel free to just set your things wherever you’d like.” Pearl explained, starting to walk towards the modestly sized castle and beckoning the others to follow.
“I’m onto you.” Ser Cleo muttered as she passed, taking one of Ren’s trunks with a polite smile as soon as she walked out of earshot.
“Wha-?”
“Ye comin, Ser False?” Ren turned to her with his head tilted, and False shook off her utter confusion before following after into the castle.
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Following Pearl to the castle meeting room was an odd mix of familiar and unknown, an uncomfortable mixture only made worse with the feeling of Ser Cleo’s eyes staring at her every step she took. What was her deal? She stopped just short of tumbling into the Queen, which only made Cleo huff in annoyance too quiet for the royals ahead of them to hear. She turned her head to look at the general, eyes glaring back and tongue sticking out in a move even she knew was childish.
“Everything alright, False?” Pearl asked, turning around as the guard quickly righted herself and nodded, spine straight and eyes trying not to get lost in her old friend’s. This wasn’t the time nor the place for that, after all. “Alright, let me know if that changes, okay? I’m always here if you need anything.” She offered with a grin.
“Right. Thank you P- Er, Queen Moon.” False answered stiffly.
Pearl giggled before glancing over to Ren and grinning his way. “Of course, that comfort extends to you, too, your highness.”
“How hospitable. The last ruler of the Empires I met was less…” He trailed off.
“A tad on the tyrannical side?” Pearl smirked knowingly.
Ren chuckled. “That’s definitely one way to put it.”
“He wasn’t all that. I mean, I beat him out for the throne on just my second try, after all.” She shrugged off her feat casually. “I certainly learned my lesson the first time, though.” She added, moving her hair aside to show part of a fading but still vivid scar between her shoulder blades that False couldn’t hide her wince at.
“That’s quite the trophy.” Ren laughed before rolling up his sleeve to show off one of his own, more faded scars as the two rulers began chatting about their various fights - though False knew firsthand that Ren only had a handful of stories to share himself.
“You can stop your staring at any time.” Ser Cleo muttered once the King and Queen were distracted.
False refused to look her way, already knowing she’d be met with another glare. “I have no idea what you mean.” She said, despite knowing her eyes kept catching on the bits of Pearl’s scar still visible between strands of hair.
“All I know is you best not distract my Queen. She’s been hard at work securing these trade deals, I can’t let her get sidetracked just because an old acquaintance showed up on her doorstep.” Cleo warned. “She’s the best ruler this kingdom has seen in a long time, even if she’s only been in charge for a few years now. We can’t have the people turn on her when she’s done more good than the past ten Kings.”
“I get it .” False snapped back quietly, tired of being scolded for baseless accusations. “I haven’t even done anything, I have no idea why you’re so caught up on this.”
“I have my reasons.” Ser Cleo shrugged, and for a moment False wondered if the topic was dropped, until she added, “But, I suppose I have been told to be nice to you.”
“Wonderful job you’ve been doing so far.” False rolled her eyes.
“Oh please, I think we both know I could do worse than spit a few words at you.” Cleo scoffed, gesturing to the axe over her shoulder.
“I’d like to see you put some proof to your threats.” False hummed, hiding a smirk at the twitch in the general’s frown.
“If you two are done squabbling, we’re here.” Pearl said, glancing over her shoulder with an amused smile as both women’s cheeks flushed at getting caught.
“We were, like, right in front of you, my dudes.” Ren added with a chuckle.
False stood beside Ren’s chair in the meeting room, chair facing Pearl sat in her own chair with Ser Cleo stood at her side.
“Cleo tells me your kingdom is interested in a share of access to our mines, is this correct?” Pearl began, reading from a piece of paper in her hand.
“That’s right.” Ren nodded. “Our wizards and doctors are running out of our supplies of their usual medicinal minerals, and it might be a few months or even a year before we’re able to finish the duplication ritual to replenish our stock.”
“And what are you willing to trade for this access?” Pearl asked, resting her chin in her fist against the table.
“Our kingdom has all manner of machinery we could supply your land with. I offer blueprints for machines to help speed up the harvesting process, allowing for your farmers to take more frequent breaks in their work to avoid injury and illness brought on by spending too much time out in the heat.” Ren offered, sliding forward a blueprint for an invention False had only seen a few times before, one powered by magic designed to pull crops from the ground and carry them along to their next destination.
Pearl eyed it for a moment before glancing to Cleo, who nodded a fraction before both looked back to Ren. “Tell me more.” She said, and False could feel Ren’s smile without the need to look his way.
Her eyes flickered over to Pearl to find the Queen already looking her way, quickly looking away only to be met by a narrowed glance from Cleo instead. Hopefully this meeting wouldn’t take too long.
_________________
By the time the meeting was over and False was dismissed to her room, she was feeling grateful for the extra pairs of pants and shirts she had brought at the prospect of an extended stay here in The Empires. A deal had been arranged: In trade for access to the kingdom’s mines, King Ren - and subsequently, False - had to stay to oversee the building of the inventions Ren had given Pearl blueprints to, since the machines had been invented by a friend of Ren so he would know how to do repairs if they broke on the test runs.
Pearl stopped by the third night, thankfully alone, bringing all of her favorite foods in a basket and a hairbrush tucked under her arm. It wasn’t hard to figure out what she wanted, and how could False refuse? She smiled slightly as she stepped aside to let her old friend in, clicking the door shut quietly after her while Pearl busied herself getting comfortable at the end of False’s bed.
“This feels like the good ol’ days.” Pearl hummed with a grin, biting into a still-steaming pastry likely snatched right from the castle kitchens.
False chuckled weakly, sitting on her knees behind the other girl and picking up the hairbrush from where it had landed on the mattress. She gently lifted strands of Pearl’s hair to brush, marveling at how it was still so soft, still felt so familiar in her hands, as if she had only gone days without the feelings and not years.
“Do you want me to do yours next?” Pearl’s voice broke her from her thoughts.
“Oh, er, that’s alright.” False shook her head and continued where her hands had stilled, counting brush strokes to distract herself from the gentle scent of Pearl’s hair, like honey and sunflowers and sunshine.
“Suit yourself. I’ve gotten better at styling hair while you were away.” Pearl shrugged, and though she said it so simply, it still sent a pang of guilt through False’s heart. She had never really given Pearl a reason for why she left, even when she had gone to say goodbye to her all those years ago, just a scrawny kid from one of the smaller villages in the kingdom, with calloused hands and chapped lips and dirty hair while Pearl was all that was soft and warm and beautiful.
“Another time, maybe.” False finally got out.
Pearl turned her head slightly to look at her, in them she saw warmth and loyalty and forgiveness, and False could have cried. “If you say so.” She said softly.
“Turn back around, I’m not finished.” False said, cheeks warm and eyes wet.
Pearl giggled and rolled her eyes but did as she was told, facing away from the guard once again but reaching back to hand her a cookie, baked just like Pearl’s mother would make for them.
“I missed you.” Pearl whispered, so quiet False wondered for a moment if she’d actually spoken.
“I missed you too.” She whispered back, and watched Pearl’s shoulders sag as the tension left her with an exhale.
_________________
Nearly a week into her stay, False was surprised when Cleo woke her up far too early with a knock on her door.
“Do you normally wake up so late?” Ser Cleo raised an eyebrow.
False rolled her eyes. “I’m off duty, aren’t I?” She sighed, rubbing at her eyes.
“If that’s your excuse.” Cleo shrugged, and False glanced up just to glare her way. “Anyway, I’ve been asked to show you around for the day. Royal orders.” She said, tone conveying just how much she would rather be spending her day doing anything else.
“Let me get dressed.” False said, and didn’t wait for a response before closing the door in the general’s face.
She soon emerged, clad in some of her cooler clothes to accommodate for the weather and her sword on her hip should she need it. “Alright, let’s go.” She said, putting more cheer than necessary into her voice and watching Cleo’s face scrunch in silent disgust.
Cleo showed her around the marketplace nearest the castle before guiding her out further, out past some rolling hills and fields rich with crops and finally to a place False still recognised despite the renovations.
“The old tower.” She said quietly, craning her neck to look up at it. The old, crumbling bricks had been replaced with fresh ones, a telescope peeking out from the window at the very top.
“It was one of her first acts as Queen, to have this place fixed up.” Cleo explained, leaning her hip against the side with her arms crossed. “She said it was an important place to her.”
“She did?” False turned her head to look at the general.
“She did. I want to know why.” Cleo said, her upfrontness surprising even when expected. “I want to know why she cares so much about you, why she put so much time and effort into building this back up when it would have been quicker and easier to let it fall.”
False rubbed her neck, feeling more than a little put on the spot. “Why do you care so much?” She asked slowly.
“Because I want to know why anyone would want to leave such a kind, understanding person behind without giving them a reason!” Cleo said angrily.
“I didn’t have a good reason!” False shot back.
“You could have at least told her that much.” Cleo rolled her eyes.
“I didn’t know what to say, I thought she’d be disappointed in me.” She said, hugging her arm as she looked away.
“Disappointed about what?” The other woman pushed.
“That I lost my apprenticeship!” False blurted, embarrassed. “They said I wasn’t cut out to be a blacksmith, that I was too slow, too clumsy, I just wasn’t a right fit. I was so humiliated, I just couldn’t stay. I didn’t want to see the look on Pearl’s face when she heard the news.”
For a moment, it looked like Cleo would retort, but then she just stared at her. “Pearl wouldn’t have been disappointed in you over something like that.” She said instead, voice kinder than False had heard before.
“I know.” False sighed, slumping down to the ground against the tower.
Cleo sat by her side. “That’s a really dumb secret to keep for so long.” She broke the silence.
False shoved her roughly. Cleo snorted and shoved her back.
“Are you going to tell Pearl?” She asked after a beat.
Cleo looked at her, thinking it over. ”No.” She decided. “But you should. ”
“I know.” False groaned.
“Man, it’s hard to hate you when you’re this pathetic.” Cleo teased, which earned her a glare. She stuck out her tongue, returning the gesture from their first argument.
“Shut up.” False rolled her eyes, but the venom was slowly draining from her voice.
“What, do you want me to be a jerk to you?” Cleo raised an eyebrow with an amused smirk.
“It feels weird when you aren't.” False joked, earning another shove. “Fine, I guess Pearl would probably like to see us get along. A little .”
“Getting along a little is something I can work with.” Cleo agreed.
False rolled her eyes and was promptly shoved hard enough to get a mouthful of dirt. “You little-!” She grinned, scrambling to sit up before tackling the redhead to the ground and–
Oh.
Well, Cleo was certainly pretty up close, huh?
“Getting up anytime soon?” Cleo asked with a raised brow.
False quickly moved off.
_________________
It didn't take long for False and Cleo to start getting along - a little - once the initial animosity had been dispelled. Sure, they still bickered and butt heads, but the venom was gone from their voices and the ice left their glares.
They had almost become…friends, oddly enough.
Almost.
Pearl seemed to welcome this change happily, excited to drag both of her friends around as she went about her day. With Ren spending most of his time in the workshop helping with the construction of the machines, he was guarded safely enough for False to consider this an extended vacation.
“I'm so glad you guys made up, I was worried I'd have to fight you to get you to stop.” Pearl chuckled one night as she worked a braid into False's hair, their routine more relaxed now that False had finally revealed her ‘big secret’ - though Pearl had forgiven her readily, going as far as to say being a knight suited her much better than being a blacksmith.
“Well, I'm glad it didn't come to that.” False snickered, knowing she'd be no match for Pearl in combat. Sure, she knew enough to protect herself and others, but she hadn't been in enough fights to hone in her abilities like Pearl had, unless she could count sparring with her fellow cadets.
“Aw, you don't wanna fight me?” Pearl asked, but the challenge was clear in her tone.
False glanced back at her to find Pearl grinning her way, waiting for her response. “Maybe tomorrow.” She agreed.
Pearl pulled her in for a hug from behind, and False felt her cheeks burn as she leaned back into the embrace. Pearl's chin perched on her shoulder, hair spraying together between them in a mix of brown and gold. The Queen turned her head to look at her, their noses brushing together, and False felt her breath hitch at just how close she had gotten.
Pearl's eyes drew her in, so bright and earnest and reflecting False's own.
“Am I interrupting something?” Cleo asked, suddenly appearing in the doorway with a basket full of snacks on her hip.
False jumped away from Pearl, face burning and heart racing. “No!” She said hurriedly.
The look on Cleo's face told her that she knew she'd interrupted something, but she shrugged and kicked the door shut gently anyway, walking over to sit beside Pearl on the bed as she bit into a powdered pastry.
False sighed, though she wasn't sure if it was out of relief or disappointment. She sat back down, a good space away from Pearl this time, and took a cookie from the basket for herself.
She felt Pearl’s gaze on her for the rest of the night, occasionally joined by Cleo’s, and couldn't help but feel like they were plotting something. She didn't particularly mind.
_________________
When the machines were built and tested, False knew her time in The Empires was nearly over. She packed away her things slowly, taking her time to make the moments stretch just a bit longer. A gentle knock on her open doorway sounded before False glanced up to see Ren smiling sympathetically at her.
“Not ready for our vacation to end?” He asked.
She nodded with a sigh. Ren held open his arms, and False easily fell into them, letting him squeeze her in a hug. She hadn’t realized how hard it would be to leave again, not when she’d made things right with Pearl and found a new friend in Cleo.
“I’ll take your things, you should go thank Queen Moon for her hospitality.” He encouraged, but his sly grin had her rolling her eyes despite her appreciative nod.
She walked through the halls she had briefly let feel familiar and into the throne room where she’d expected to find Pearl. When she wasn’t there, she began checking around the castle until she started to grow worried about the sun inching across the sky marking closer to when the carriage was set to depart.
She finally made her way up to the old tower, where Pearl and Cleo sat, waiting for her.
“I-” False began, but couldn’t think of the words.
Pearl stood, stepping closer and practically throwing herself at the shorter woman in a tight, warm hug. “Found us.” She said against her shoulder.
“Took me a while.” False admitted, chuckling.
“I’ll say.” Cleo smirked, holding out her arms as Pearl moved away to let her hug False next.
“I wanted to see you before I left.” False said.
Pearl and Cleo shared a look, cracking matching, mischievous grins. “About that.” Pearl mused.
Cleo pointed off down the hill, where Ren’s carriage was driving off. Ren stuck his head out and waved with a grin, mouthing sorry as he went.
“Looks like you missed your ride.” Pearl hummed, feigning shock.
“Guess you’ll have to wait for the next one.” Cleo shrugged.
False glanced between them. “You two…planned this.” She realized slowly.
“Ren helped.” Cleo nodded.
“We didn’t want you to go yet! Not before-” Pearl cut herself off.
“Before what?” False asked.
Cleo sighed. “Pearl messed up the delivery.” She complained fondly.
“I forgot how we planned to bring it up!” Pearl said defensively.
“Guys, guys.” False interrupted. “What is it?”
“We…” Pearl looked to Cleo.
“Wanted to ask you something.” Cleo finished.
“Something important.” Pearl added.
False looked back and forth between them. “Okay?” She smiled anxiously when neither elaborated. “What did you want to ask me?”
“False, would you, maybe, like to go out with us sometime?” Pearl grinned.
False blinked. “Like…like go out? ” She asked slowly, just to be sure.
“Obviously.” Cleo rolled her eyes with a smile. “Yes or no?”
“I mean- Yes! Yeah! Of course!” False grinned.
Pearl didn’t hesitate before leaning in close, hands cupping her cheeks, and False melted into the movement as their lips came crashing together for the first time. Pearl grinned into the kiss, pecking her lips over and over until False couldn’t count how many times she’d been kissed by the Queen.
“Lay off, when do I get a turn?” Cleo poked Pearl’s side playfully.
“Hey, I waited years for this, you’ve only been waiting a few weeks.” Pearl argued and kissed False again for good measure, not that False was complaining.
When Cleo eventually nudge Pearl aside and gave False a kiss of her own, False felt like melting all over again, hands tangling into Cleo’s wild red hair as Cleo’s arms circled her waist, heart hammering away and head reeling.
“I- How long?” She asked when Cleo pulled back, looking between them.
“Not sure, really. Since we were kids, I reckon.” Pearl shrugged, leaving False stunned until Cleo’s laugh broke her out of her stupor.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since you pushed me down, to be completely honest.” She answered easily.
“You what? ” Pearl exclaimed, and False laughed along with Cleo until her stomach ached, grinning impossibly wide.
She could absolutely get used to a few more days of this, and hopefully many more visits to come. She’d definitely owe Ren a handful of favors for this, but she didn’t care.