Luna paced back and forth like a restless pup on the bed, tail flapping behind her in wild irritation.

"Princess… where is Master?" She whined, dragging out every word like it personally hurt her to speak without Aiden's chest to cling to.

Lysandra didn't even look up. "I have absolutely no idea."

Luna froze, then stomped her foot. "But I wanna cuddle with Master! I didn't even get my morning cuddles! Where is he?!"

"Luna," Lysandra sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I just told you—I don't know."

"But why don't you knooow?!" Luna complained louder, flopping face-first onto the nearest pillow like a drama queen. "He always tells me where he's going! Always! Except today! Why today?!"

"Because he probably wanted peace," Lysandra muttered under her breath.

Luna shot up immediately. "What did you say?!"

"Nothing," Lysandra lied, extremely unconvincingly.

Luna narrowed her eyes. "Hmph. You're hiding something. I can sniff it."

"I assure you," Lysandra said dryly, "I am hiding nothing except my growing headache."

Luna groaned and hugged a pillow, "Ughhh… I miss Master… I wanna hold him… I wanna nap on him… I wanna—"

"Yes, yes, we ALL know what you want," Lysandra cut in sharply.

Luna suddenly stopped mid-roll, blinking. "Wait… where's Leona?"

Lysandra finally looked up. "Good question."

"…And Ivy?" Luna added, tilting her head.

Another pause.

Lysandra stared at her. "…You're telling me you don't know where either of them are?"

"I mean… no?" Luna shrugged.

"You lost TWO children?!" Lysandra shot to her feet. "Luna!"

"Hey! They're not children!" Luna protested. "Well… Ivy kinda acts like one… and Leona is literally a kid… okay maybe they ARE children but still—! They just wander around!"

Lysandra's eye twitched. "Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful."

Luna pouted, hugging a pillow like it was some emotional support object. "Can't believe Master left me… and the kids are gone… and everything sucks…"

Lysandra crossed her arms, frustrated. "If they're with Sir Aiden, they are safe. Obviously."

Luna perked slightly. "Yeah… Master is strong."

"But," Lysandra snapped, her voice rising, "he SHOULD HAVE TOLD US BEFORE LEAVING!"

Luna flinched so hard her tail puffed up like a terrified cat's. "S-Scary…"

Lysandra took a deep breath, trying—failing—to calm down. "Honestly… sometimes he is impossible."

Luna nodded repeatedly, still shaken. "Y-Yeah… but also… can we not yell? My ears are sensitive…"

Lysandra groaned, sinking into a chair. "If he doesn't come back soon, I'm going to—"

Luna jumped in. "Hug him?!"

"No."

"Cuddle him?!"

"No."

"Kiss him?!"

"No!"

Luna gasped. "You're evil."

Lysandra buried her face in her hands. "I need a break."

Luna sighed dramatically. "I need Master…"

And thus, both women sank into mutual suffering.

Arisha pushed the door open with a soft click and stepped inside, sword in her right hand.

The moment she saw Luna sulking on the bed and Lysandra rubbing her temples like she was holding back a full-blown explosion, Arisha froze.

"Um… what… happened?" She asked, blinking.

Luna immediately pointed at Lysandra. "She's being scary again!"

Lysandra groaned. "I was not being scary. I was just saying Sir Aiden should've told us before disappearing!"

Arisha tilted her head. "Sir left without a word?"

"Yup!" Luna puffed her cheeks. "And I wanted cuddles… stupid Master…"

Lysandra muttered under her breath, "He even took Leona and Ivy."

Arisha listened for three seconds—then burst into giggles, her laugh soft and adorable.

She walked in, left her sword im the corner and sat on the bed beside Luna, still shaking with little chuckles.

"You two… honestly…" She said, wiping her eyes.

Before anything else could be said, the door opened again.

Thristle stepped inside, eyes mischevious as ever. "What's with the noise? I could hear Luna whining from the hall."

Luna huffed. "I wasn't whining!"

"You totally were," Lysandra muttered.

Arisha raised her hand like a schoolgirl. "She was."

Thristle blinked. "Okay… so what's going on?"

Arisha perked up and explained everything in one breath. "Sir Aiden left, didn't tell anyone, Luna's upset because no cuddles, Lysandra's angry because no warning and he took Leona and Ivy with him."

Thristle stared for a moment, then smirked—slow and wicked.

She walked right up to Lysandra, leaned down until their noses almost touched, and murmured, "Lyse… what if Leona found another new mummy?"

Lysandra didn't even blink. "What's new in that?"

Thristle's confident smile died instantly. "…Why are you so damn accepting?"

Lysandra sighed. "As long as he stays with us, he can have as many wives as he wants."

Arisha nodded immediately. "Mm. True."

Luna raised her hand. "Yeah, Master can do whatever."

Thristle stared at all of them… then threw her hands up. "Fine, fine! I was just joking anyway."

Lysandra rolled her eyes. "Your jokes are terrible."

"Not as terrible as My King's disappearing act," Thristle shot back.

Arisha giggled again. "He really should stop vanishing…"

Luna mumbled, "Yeah… next time I'm biting him."

All three girls stared at her.

"What?" Luna shrugged. "He deserves it."

---

Aiden found her in the kitchen, standing over a pot, hair slightly messy from rushing.

She was stirring something with full focus—until she turned and saw him leaning against the doorway like he owned the place.

Edda froze.

Then blushed.

Hard.

"W-What are you doing here?" she asked, voice jumping an octave as she straightened her back like she'd been caught doing something illegal.

Aiden shrugged, strolling in like he lived there. "What? I can't visit the beautiful owner's kitchen?"

Edda nearly dropped the ladle. "S-Stop saying things like that… I'm cooking."

"That's why I came," Aiden said, leaning beside her, close enough for her breath to stutter. "Wanted to see where the magic happens."

"Cooking isn't magic…"

"It is when you do it."

She almost choked on air.

"Young Heart—"

He grinned, eyes dropping to her hands, then back to her face. "Besides… I wanted to see you."

Her cheeks went crimson instantly. "Y-You… you can't just say things like that casually…"

"But I'm not being casual," he murmured, stepping closer. "I meant every word."

Edda turned away, trying to hide her smile, but he saw it—clearly.

And she remembered.

That tiny moment in the hall.

Aiden kneeling with Liri… promising he would take care of them.

Promise he didn't know she'd heard.

Her chest tightened at the memory; warmth spread through her ribs, making her hands shake faintly as she stirred the pot.

Aiden tapped her shoulder lightly. "You're smiling again."

"I—Shut up."

He laughed. "That's the 'found a secret cake' smile Liri was talking about."

Her whole face burned. "Stop teasing me—"

"If I stop teasing you," He said softly, "you'll miss me."

She looked like she might melt on the spot. "I won't…"

"Liar."

"Y-Young Heart…!"

He leaned closer, voice dropping to a whisper beside her ear. "You know, Edda… I really am interested in something here."

She swallowed. "W-What now…?"

"This house."

"My… house?"

"Mm." Aiden nodded, eyes locked on her as he stole another step closer. "I want to buy it."

Her brain shut down. "Eh…?"

"But," he added, grin widening, "I want the beautiful owner included."

Edda slammed the ladle down. "WHAT—?!"

He just smirked. "What? It's a good deal."

Her face was a shade of red no vegetable could imitate. "Young Heart… don't… don't joke like that…"

"Who said I'm joking?"

She shook her head quickly, trying to hide behind her hands. "What could you possibly find so… so beautiful about this old body?"

Aiden didn't answer.

Not with words.

He stepped right into her space, hands sliding around her waist before she could flee.

She gasped when he pulled her in—tight—her chest pressing firmly against him.

"Y-Young Heart—!"

"You really don't get it, do you?" He murmured, eyes locked on hers.

Her breath hitched.

"You're beautiful," He said. "Not because of your body—though trust me, that part isn't exactly losing points—"

"Young Heart!"

"—but because you're strong. You raised Liri alone. You work nonstop. You smile even when you're tired. And you still try your best every damn day."

Her fingers curled into his shirt.

"You think that's not beautiful?" He whispered. "You think I wouldn't want someone like you?"

Her eyes trembled, lips parting, breath shaky.

"Young Heart… I… I don't…"

"Don't what?" He asked gently.

"I don't know how to handle this…"

"Then don't think."

He tilted her chin up.

Her breath caught.

And Aiden kissed her.

Edda stiffened for half a second—then melted, clutching his back, dragging him closer as she kissed him back like she'd been starved for it.

The pot bubbled behind them.

Neither cared.

Her fingers curled tighter. His hand slid up her back, holding her firmly—steadying her when her knees nearly gave out.

When they finally broke apart, Edda's forehead pressed against his, breath trembling.

"Young Heart," she whispered, voice barely a sound, "you're going to ruin me…"

He smirked softly. "That's the plan."

Edda barely had the strength to stand after that kiss. Her hands stayed pressed against Aiden's chest for a moment longer, like her body hadn't caught up with her mind.

He brushed a thumb along her cheek, voice low and casual—dangerously casual.

"After we eat," he said, "I'm taking you to meet my wives."

Edda's eyes shot wide. "Wh–WHAT?! Young Heart, you can't just— you can't just drop something like that!"

He smirked. "Why not?"

"B-Because—" she stuttered, flustered beyond saving, "w-will they even accept me…? A widow like me… older… and—"

Aiden gently tapped her nose. "They'll accept you."

Edda blinked, breath shaky. "Just like that?"

"Just like that." He leaned in, lips grazing her ear. "They'll take you as their own. Trust me."

Her entire body heated up again. "Young Heart… you're making it really hard to breathe here…"

"Good," He whispered. "Means I'm doing it right."

She nudged him weakly. "Stop saying things like that—"

"If I stop, you'll miss me."

"I will not—"

"Liar."

Her face went red instantly. "Young Heart!"

He laughed under his breath, clearly enjoying every second of her falling apart.

"Relax," he said. "You're mine now. And my girls? They'll love you."

"I'm not— I'm not ready for that…" She murmured, hiding half her face behind her hand.

Aiden slipped his fingers under her chin and lifted it gently. "Then I'll be right there beside you."

Before she could protest again, he kissed her—slow, warm, and just deep enough to turn her thoughts into complete static. She clutched his shirt, kissing back before she even realized it.

When he finally pulled away, she gasped a soft breath she didn't know she'd been holding.

"I'm waiting for the food," He said with a grin, stepping back. "Don't make me starve, Edda."

"S-Stop teasing me and go sit down!" She snapped, cheeks burning, voice cracking.

"Make it tasty," He teased. "I need energy for later."

"YOUNG HEART!"

He left the kitchen laughing.

Edda stood there, face red, heart thumping so loud she swore the pot could hear it. Then she slowly let out a shaky breath and smiled—small, soft, helpless.

"Idiot…" She whispered, but there was no heat in the word.

She picked up the ladle and started stirring again, shoulders relaxed in a way they hadn't been in years.

Her thoughts drifted—quiet, a little guilty.

"…I'm sorry," She murmured under her breath.

Her late husband's name brushing her mind.

"I'm… moving on. I want to live again. Please… forgive me."

Her hand paused.

Then she smiled faintly.

And she kept cooking—this time with a warmth she hadn't felt in a very, very long time.

---

END OF CHAPTER : 156 : WHERE DID HE GO?

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