Yuuta wasn't scared of a lot in this new world. Dragons being on the top of the list and those were far and few in-between. His newest and arguably his biggest fear was sitting in a room with his fiance only a few feet down the hall from him. Slowing to a crawl as he built up the courage to turn the doorknob. Giving his mouth one last rub making sure it was blood-free from his much-needed afternoon snack.

He took one last deep breath before slowly creaking the door open. Ash and Laura instantly looked over giving a soft nod making him feel welcome. Ria was currently hugging a stout man that looked like an older Ash minus the bright blue eyes his were dark brown and a bit of a belly from taste testing his food over the years. He kept his slightly round face nicely shaven keeping a thick mustache. His face was weathered with age deep wrinkles on his forehead made him look more serious than he usually was. contradictory big smile lines helped shape his face showing just how much he enjoyed life even through the difficulties. He currently had Ria in a death grip. Yuuta heard quiet sobs coming from the two of them.

The scene was somber but filled with the hope of a family finally brought back together. "Sorry if I'm interrupting..." 'Dammit Yuuta of all the things to say. Hearing a new person's voice Amrick turned his head still holding onto his daughter tightly. The man silently appraised Yuuta looking him up and down.

Ria couldn't help herself instantly pulling away from her father, freeing herself and heading directly into Yuuta wrapping him in a tight hug. Yuuta didn't hesitate to hug her back as Ria quite literally wrapped herself around him like a koala. Her tears were back in full force as she sobbed into his neck only this time her bright smile filled the room.

Yuuta couldn't see her bright smile like the rest of them so he immediately went into panic mode. "What's wrong Ria? Dont cry ok everything is good, right?... Ria?" Calling her name as a giggle escaped her.

"Im ok Yuuta im just so happy....I can't stop crying!" She pulled away enough to see her tear and snot-covered face. Completely contrasting that was her usual bubbly smile that lit up her face. He couldn't help but start laughing as he took in the sight.

"Jeez, Ria you look like a little kid!" He laughed using his jacket to wipe around the mess on her face.

Amrik leaned over the table that separated him and Ash apart. "Do they always do that? Pretend like we dont exist" He asked with a small smile. It was Ash's Turn to laugh as he nodded his head in agreement.

"Yea but it only happens about every other minute!" Laura chimed in. Only knowing the two for a day and she could say that with confidence.

Yuuta finally remembered he was in a room with her father being this intimate with her daughter probably wasn't a great start to their first meeting. "Ria you should probably get off of me before your father kills me." He tried to not let his fear show in his words.

Ria of course laughed at him picking up on it immediately but she complied taking her place by his side. Amrik took this chance to stand up and finally greet the man who has been taking care of his daughter.

"You got some odd-looking hair boy. Never met anyone with blood-red eyes like you either definitely a weird looking fellow."

Ria gave a huff. "Dad! Be nice!" Yuuta only laughed at Her father's words while Ria tried to defend him.

"You're not wrong sir but I've grown to like my features better than looking like everyone else I suppose." He shot back.

Amrik's eyes narrowed his intensity sharpening. "Heard you're a lord too what you doing with a slave girl like my daughter. I'm sure you have girls falling into your lap what makes her so special." Ria tensed gripping Yuuta's hand tightly.

Yuuta tried to bite back the grimace forming on his face. "Well, firstly sir she's not a slave and hasn't been for most of the time I've known her so let's get that clear. Secondly. Yes, I am a lord but I've been with Ria long before that happened. I don't know how much she told you but me becoming a lord is a new development. I wasn't born into any nobility it was more of a reward for work I did as an adventurer.

And as for what makes her so special, the simple answer is everything. But if you need examples I have an endless amount. First off her kindness is what originally drew me in. Her ability to be kind even after everything she's been through. All the hardships, the grief, the sadness she still chooses to show this world that it won't take away what she so freely gives." He felt Ria bury her embarrassed face into his arm.

Amrik went to speak but Yuuta wasn't finished this was his moment to show him how much she meant to him and he wouldn't mess this up.

"Not to mention the way she cares for me loves me like nobody I've ever met. She can change my mood with a simple sentence or gesture. The way she can make me laugh with her stupid jokes or pull me from the darkness when she has to. Her heart is so big and she chooses to let me in it is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. So if anything you should be asking me what I did to deserve her I still ask myself that but she kinda hates it when I ask her so I keep it to myself now." He joked earning a punch to the chest by the bright red Ria.

"Then there's her beauty I think we can both agree she is an angel walking on earth. She is definitely the most beautiful woman I've ever met. So that's just a few points of her awesome being if you would like I could keep going." He asked pointedly still a little pissed he would say something like that about his daughter.

Amrick couldn't hold his smile in any longer letting a belly laugh escape him. "No, I think that's enough. Ria already knew I was gonna ask you something like that just had to see for myself. Ash and Ria did nothing but sing your praises so just had to be a little coarse to get an honest answer. Sorry if I offended, lord Yuuta." His smile faltered a little thinking he may have went a little overboard.

"As long as we're clear that I'm the one lucky to be with her and not the other way around it's forgiven and please call me Yuuta." Amrick gave a small nod before closing the distance between them.

"I don't know what to say other than thank you...You saved my little girl and that means more than I could ever say." His voice started to break as tried to continue.

She told me what happened to her and my wife..." He paused choking harder on his words the emotion pouring off him made everybody start to tear up.

Yuuta moved forward and hugged the man surprising everybody in the room. "It's ok I understand... " Yuuta tears start to fall down his cheeks. Just the thought of him being in Amricks place well he couldn't think of that without wanting to coil in on himself in despair. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her too./ If I knew what that man did when I found Ria his last breath would have been far more painful." Yuuta felt Ria wiggle her way into the hug followed by Ash and even Laura. The broken family slowly being glued back together. He relished in the feeling of something he thought he lost forever when he died. A new family.

The room was quiet for sometime before everyone broke apart from the group hug there wasn't a dry eye in the room at the moment. Amrik clapped his hand together loudly. "Know that's over it's time to celebrate! Follow me to the servant's quarters and I'll cook us up a lunch that will blow you away." With his words, the ambiance of the room lifted once again earning a cheerful nod from everyone.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

*******

Everybody was seated at a table in the servant's quarters eating the delicious meal Amrick had made. "Wow, this is amazing Amrick I see why everybody is after your cooking. It's literally melting in my mouth" Yuuta dug back into his steak. He could honestly say this was the best food he had eaten since coming to Estellis.

"Thanks my boy glad you can at least appreciate good cooking." That earned a chuckle from the group.

Ria hadn't left her dad's side all day even following him to the kitchen to help with lunch. He took a quick glance from his food and saw her content sigh. It made him unbelievably happy.

"So what did Lord Grexis want from you?" Laura asked still a little curious. Ria perked up at the question to hoping he didn't agree to anything too extreme.

Amrick looked at him questioningly as well. "You talked to Lord Grexis?"

"Yea how else would I get you out of this place." He snickered making Amrick gape at him while giving a confused nod.

"As for that." Yuuta opened his portal and pulling out the stack of papers he would have liked to forget about. "I was gonna wait but I figured you would be a good person to ask about this Laura."

She took the stack and only had to give a quick look before she realized what they were. "I heard rumors but I never knew it was this bad." Ash looked over her shoulder noticing her sudden change. Laura felt her stomach flip in disgust going through what felt like the endless stack of papers. Ash pulled her close trying to offer some comfort the best he could which she appreciated.

"What is it Yuuta?" Ria not being able to hold in her curiousness moved to look as well. Her being the kind soul immediately started to tear up at the well-drawn pictures of missing girls younger most younger than herself. Amrick moved to comfort his daughter but was outmaneuvered by Yuuta who knew this reaction was coming.

"Yuuta you have to stop them!" She yelled into his chest. Amrick no longer being able to stop himself grabbed the papers and let a dark sigh release as he finally figured out what was upsetting everybody.

"These poor girls..." Yuuta nodded agreeing.

"Of course Ria...you know I wouldn't just let this continue." She gave a small nod already knowing this.

"So Laura any ideas?" She was silent for a moment as she gave his question serious thought.

"Not off the top of my head but I can ask around see what I can dig up."

"Thanks for the help anything would be appreciated. I and Grexis think a high-level mage is involved so if you ask around maybe start with that?" She gave a nod already thinking about who she would interrogate first.

"Let's leave it at that for today...We should be celebrating Amricks freedom!" He tried changing the somber mood while grabbing the stack of papers and making them disappear.

Ria made an audible gasp while Ash's smile grew to unnatural size as he scooped Laura up in a bone-crushing hug. "Way to bury the lead on that one Yuuta!" He laughed.

Amrick was continued to be thrown through a loop first his daughter magically showed up in front of him. Then he finds out she's engaged to a lord. No to mention his son finally growing the balls to go after the girl he loved. Now he's a free man. 'What the hell is this day!' He silently screamed to himself.

"Ahh, I didn't mean to guess we just kinda get swept up in different things." He felt himself heat up from the embarrassment.

"Grexis was just keeping you here till I showed up so he could ask for my help so if anything I should apologize." That made Amrick laugh.

"No, no if what you showed me is why I was kept here then I'm more than ok with that. It's not like I was tortured or anything my accommodations were more than I had in Darthmound." Amrick didn't seem bothered by Yuuta's confession.

"Well then I guess everything's settled but to be honest I think we're gonna be here for a while so it might be good for you to stay here until we have a more solid plan. Grexis was fine with keeping you on as a cook and giving you a wage so that could work. Or we can get you set up at the Inn me and Ria are staying at." Yuuta didn't really think about what Amrick was gonna do when he was free so he just free balled some ideas at him.

"I think staying at the castle should be just fine for now that I'm free to leave when I want. I've enjoyed cooking for the castle and grown close to my kitchen staff. The real question is what we're going to do when you're ready to leave." Amrick let his anxiousness show he wasn't ready to lose his daughter so soon.

"Yea I haven't really thought about that either Laura cant leave the Dustless Sword Company...and I can't leave her." He gave her side a squeeze reassuring her he wasn't going anywhere. She wouldn't tell him but he knew that was weighing heavy on her mind. Laura scooted closer to him enjoying his embrace.

"Yuuta?" Ria asked her eyes tearing up.

"Well, I've been thinking about that actually. I have a simple solution to this as well if you all agree. Laura." He turned his attention to the captain and she gave a nod ready for his offer.

"I would like to hire your services for the foreseeable future. Right now for my personal use but once we head back to Yuart or most likely to the capital Referia I'll employ you as house Vermillions mercenary company if that's acceptable." Laura seemed to weigh her options before speaking.

"That sounds agreeable the only thing is payment needs to be discussed. As much as I would like for Ash to stay with his family I have 30 other members under my care. The merchant we're currently working for is paying us well so I would like for you to match that. I would be willing to accept a smaller cut along as it's enough for my company to be well fed and sheltered." Yuuta grinned he more or less assumed that was what she was gonna say. He picked up on her no-nonsense direct approach when it came to her company.

"Of course Laura, Shelter will be easy back in Hartford and as for now Grexis should be fine with you guys staying here on his land. As for payment whatever you see fit ill pay. But I would like to make one amendment whatever the merchant was paying you is the minimum but feel free to ask for more if needed." Yuuta gave a cheeky smirk making Ria giggle at him for being so serious.

"Very well I agree as long you actually give us something to do we're not gonna get paid to sit around and do nothing as much as Hutch would love that." She stood up reaching out for a handshake to finish the deal.

"As for Amrick obviously you can work here with Grexis like we agreed on. Once we're back in Hartford you'll obviously be the head cook in the castle or if you would like joining Laura's company and cook for them whichever you find more appealing. Though feel free to kick up your feet and laze around for as long as you want. Once me and Ria or officially married we will be family so as far as I'm concerned all of you can retire and do whatever you want with your time you'll all be filthy rich anyways." This made the room audible gasp.

"I'm not sure that's how that works Yuuta," Ash interjected.

"I'm a lord it works, however, I want it to." He started laughing at how stuck up he just sounded.

"Sorry didn't mean for that to come up as pretentious as it did but it still stands. My family is no longer with me all I have left Is Ria and Milly and I guess Emery if I have to say it." Making Ria smirk knowing he saw Emery as family no matter how much resistance he put up.

"So I know we just met but I consider all of you family and I'll do whatever I need to, to protect my family." His voice grew serious as he looked each one of them in their eyes making sure to get his point across.

Amrick let a deep laugh bellow out of him. "You really picked a good one Ria... I'm proud of you." Ria's brilliant smile flashed across her face at her father's praise.

"I told you, dad!" She said with her chin up proud that everybody was seeing just how great Yuuta was.

"Yea yea so you did. Anyways I would be honored to cook for you and your family Yuuta. Being close to Ria is all that matters to me now." Giving Ria's hand a firm squeeze making sure she knew he wasn't leaving her again.

"Great so now that's all taken care of I have a question that's been eating at me since I met you two," Yuuta couldn't keep it in any longer.

"Go ahead," Amrick responded.

"How come the two of you dont have any cat-like features?" That made the three of them laugh like they had heard that question a lot.

"Well, Yuuta I am actually mostly human with a small bit of Giant lineage in me. While Emi, Ria's mother was half Neko and half-human." Amrick started explaining until Ria jumped in.

"That's why I dont have a tail like my mom." She explained.

"Exactly and I took after my father not inheriting any of my mother's traits. No tail or cute ears for me, unfortunately." Ash gave a fake pout making Laura laugh before kissing it away."

"Yep Ria is a spitting image of her mother when she was younger minus the tail and Ash looks a lot like me but has his mother's bright blue eyes." They all seemed to enjoy getting the opportunity to talk about their late mother/wife.

"Ahh well, thanks for explaining, it was putting me through a loop. Feel free to tell me to no but if it's ok I would like to hear more about Emi. Ria has told me a lot about her but I would like to hear your stories if that's alright. I want to honor the best I can since I'm joining the family. It would be nice to hear more about her." Yuuta asked with a somber smile hoping they would be ok with it.

Amrick gave a happy nod "Of course Yuuta let me tell you about one of the greatest women I've ever met only second to my daughter of course." He gave a wink to Ria making her giggle as they settled into their seats. Ria taking her place Next to Yuuta snuggling up to him as they spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening reminiscing about Emi and the many stories they had of the woman they loved.