The holographic screens glowed...

Bruce's: [Bonded To: Sophie Reign (Wife)]

And Sophie's: [Bonded To: Bruce Ackerman (Husband)]

Bruce huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he let the hologram flicker closed.

"Well… that escalated fast," he murmured. "Ten minutes ago I didn't even know the multiple features of this thing. Now I'm apparently married."

Sophie scoffed softly, brushing loose strands of hair behind her ear as her bracelet dimmed to standby.

"Relax. It's just a system category. It doesn't suddenly make me Mrs. Ackerman."

Bruce lifted a brow, smirking faintly. "Mrs. Ackerman, huh? Rolls off the tongue better than I expected."

Sophie narrowed her eyes in mock warning. "Don't get ideas."

"Too late. Already picturing Lily demanding I introduce my 'wife' properly." His grin widened. "She's going to grill you like a royal inspector."

Sophie groaned, dragging her palm down her face. "Wonderful. I'm already under in-law interrogation, just the imagination of cute little lily putting me through all that makes me want to burst out in laughter."

Bruce's shoulders shook with quiet amusement.

"Honestly?" he said. "She'll probably set you up with a checklist. Make sure I'm worthy of you."

Sophie snorted. "She can relax. I don't need a committee to understand what I already chose."

Her eyes met his again, steady, composed, with just the hint of a hidden warmth beneath.

Then she tilted her head, lips curving.

"But if the guild starts treating me like your actual wife because of this label, I'm making you explain it to them."

"I'd rather take on a dungeon boss," Bruce muttered. Then leaned in just enough for his forehead to brush hers. "So let's just keep this between us for now."

She nodded. "Just us, though I wouldn't mind if the world knows, infact it'll be better if the world is to know that I'm yours and you're mine."

A beat passed, soft and unhurried. Their bracelets pulsed once, subtle confirmation of the bond now finalized.

Bruce exhaled a quiet, amused breath. "Still… strange to see my name next to yours like that."

Sophie's smile turned small and thoughtful. "Strange. But not unwelcome."

He paused, enough to let that sink in, then tapped his bracelet with a light flick.

"I'm tempted to order something through this marketplace just to see if it shows up at my door."

Sophie perked a brow. "Careful. Last time someone tested it, a mana drone almost crashed through our window. Though while the Delivery system still needs work, the technology of the Thornes are miles beyond this world, even mana mobiles like the taxis and trains where invented by them."

Bruce gave her a deeply suspicious look. "And you tell me this after I bonded you as my 'wife'?"

"I didn't force you." She lifted both palms with faux innocence. "You tapped the icon. I merely followed."

Bruce shook his head, laughing under his breath. "Manipulated by UI design. That's low."

Sophie shrugged, eyes glimmering slightly.

"Maybe. But I like the way it looks."

He glanced down at the tag glowing faintly on the bracelet screen. "Yeah. Me too."

A tiny moment passed, comfortable, real, before Sophie clicked her bracelet fully off with a tap.

"Just to be clear…" she drawled, tilting her head, "if anyone asks, we deny everything."

Bruce lifted a hand solemnly. "Absolutely. We were never here. We never synced bracelets. And if someone sees our tags…"

"We blame software error," Sophie finished, deadpan.

This was obviously all jokes...

Their eyes met again.

And they burst into low, quiet laughter, not the loud kind, but the soft, shared kind that came from knowing the moment meant something, even if they pretended it didn't.

When it faded, Bruce reached for his shirt, movements slower than before, reluctant in the quiet way that didn't need words.

Sophie watched him. Calm, composed. But the fond curve of her lips lingered as though she already knew this wasn't any fleeting thing.

"Bruce?"

He looked up.

She tapped his bracelet lightly with her fingertip. "Call me when you reach home. Just so I know you made it alright."

His reply came lower than intended, something tender bleeding through the edges of his voice.

"I will."

Sophie walked beside him as they made their way down the stairs, the quiet hall swallowing their footsteps. Outside, the air was cool and clear, tinged with that faint silver hue only moonlight could cast. A half-moon hung over Reignland, bright and sharp against the velvet sky.

She lifted her wrist, speaking calmly:

"Bracelet… time."

A brief pulse of blue, and a tiny hologram flickered into existence just above her bracelet.

[ 8:09 PM ]

She smiled at Bruce, something gentle and knowing in her gaze.

"It's just past eight. Don't keep my cute Lily and Ash waiting too long."

Bruce's mouth curved in a soft smile.

Before he could answer, Sophie leaned in and brushed a light kiss against the corner of his lips, small, fleeting, but full of meaning.

"Goodbye, Bruce. I love you."

She turned to head back inside, but his hand caught her wrist, fingers warm and sure. With a slow, easy pull, he drew her back toward him. Sophie stumbled a half-step, surprised, but didn't resist. Her palm found his shoulder naturally, as though her body had chosen its place without thought.

His arms settled around her waist, firm and protective. He dipped closer, lips brushing the curve of her ear as he murmured:

"Bad girl, Sophie. What a bad girl you are... sending your boyfriend off without a proper kiss?"

His tone held playful reprimand, roughened by affection. Heat colored her cheeks immediately, and she hid her face against his shoulder for a beat before recovering.

Her breath swept lightly against his collar as she whispered, soft and sincere:

"Forgive me, Bruce. Let me give you a proper farewell this time."

...

A/N:

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