~The Enchanted Lake, the evening after the mock battle between Kristoffer and Mute~

Inside the hotel's luxurious dining hall sat four people around a circular table.

One of them was Kristoffer. The remaining three were Carl, Victor, and Fiona. Beside Kristoffer was an empty seat. Quill was yet to arrive. The other three were only answering Quill's invitation to a private dinner--which was obviously not going to be a mere consumption of food.

This meeting was between Quill and the four people who had one thing in common: Knowing the relationship of Quill, the leader of the Syndicate, and Lime, Rouen Kingdom's revered hero.

Although, it felt surreal that two new people joined them. Looking at Victor examining the expensive tableware, Kristoffer was unsure why Victor was among the invited. If it was Carl, he could understand. It was comprehensible that Quill would inform Carl because they came from the same Party, albeit it only being a shared dream.

Victor was only a recent addition to the list since he accidentally saw that. Victor did not seem too close with Quill either. Or was Victor an old acquaintance of her Hero Lime identity? Perhaps it was simply to collect an odd number of voters?

It would only be Kristoffer, Fiona, and Quill to gather together back in the day. Most of the time, it was related to running the town or deciding on a special occasion.

It was not too far from that tonight.

Earlier, Quill asked Kristoffer to whom would he like to be married in public.

Lime?

Quill?

Or to an identity that Kristoffer had not yet familiarized with, like the Queen of Albionne?

Kristoffer couldn't come up with a final answer. There were pros and cons for each choice. All of them were the same person, yet the character settings that Lime painstakingly provided and maintained for each identity couldn't be any more different. Since this would be a lifetime decision, Kristoffer requested more time to think.

At that moment, Quill suggested that they should instead hold a meeting.

Thus, this gathering ensued.

Kristoffer and Quill still had not informed the three of the purpose of this gathering.

Kristoffer kept a calm composure on the outside, yet his heart was beating faster than normal.

A meeting for Kristoffer? He couldn't fathom the thought. If it was up to Kristoffer, he would postpone the announcement, even though there were only three people to hear it tonight. And Kristoffer felt like Quill would honor that request had he voiced it. Ultimately, not wanting to reject Quill's very first suggestion as partners, Kristoffer agreed to this arrangement.

Kristoffer looked around the vast hall to calm his nerves, hoping that he could find a brief distraction. The entirety of the hotel was reserved for them tonight. Fortunately, the hotel did not have any clients for the whole day. That made it easy to reserve. Kristoffer couldn't say if that was fortunate of the hotel, though. Most of the town's visitors tended to acquire a room at the cheaper Eagle's Talon Inn. Even the wealthy and enigmatic who could afford a suite in the Enchanted Lake Hotel preferred the Syndicate-run inn as a form of good gesture before meeting with Quill.

That said, Quill made sure that the Enchanted Lake kept running as she had promised the Hotel Manager all those years ago. As to how she managed to do that, Kristoffer could only imagine her giving away cold cash to the hotel. Quill would also reroute the filthy rich to the Enchanted Lake if they planned to stay for more than a day. Not to mention she would also do her meetings in the hotel.

While Kristoffer was pondering about the hotel's financial stability, the food finally came.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The food was exquisite--good soup, and tons of meat and seafood cooked in various ways. On the table lay golden utensils, silver plates, something that would remind Kristoffer of his old home.

"It's been sixteen years since I left home. I wonder, how are my parents doing?"

Brushing that thought aside, Kristoffer made sure to enjoy the free food.

At least one other person did the same.

"Slow down, Grandma," Carl suggested to the old woman. "You'll choke."

When Fiona finally finished her meal, she stood up and inspected one of the paintings on the wall.

Just as when everyone stopped touching their plates, the dessert came.

Not long after, so did Quill.

Kristoffer stood up with the rest of the invitees as Quill entered the hall.

Quill's form was the tall one he saw earlier, still wearing her favorite gothic dress.

Looking at Quill, if her previous halfling form could be mistaken for a human child, then this current one definitely looked human. A charmingly sly woman.

Kristoffer was broken from his trance when a laugh rang across the hall.

"Done with her mourning period, Quill is now ready for a new man!" The Flame Tamer stated.

Kristoffer jumped at the old woman's voice. "How did she know that?"

Quill slid towards Fiona and cupped her wrinkly cheeks. "You spoiled the announcement, old lady."

"It's true anyway. Why does it matter if I said it first? And old lady? You're older than me!"

Quill shook Fiona's shoulders in mock(?) anger and the old woman immediately stopped Quill. "I think I'm gonna be sick," Fiona said.

"The two looked like they were having fun," Kristoffer thought.

"Either way, congratulations!" Fiona ruffled Quill's hair with one hand and raised a glass of grape wine towards Kristoffer.

Quill was smiling but her eyes were not. She looked like she wanted to throw the old lady down a cliff. But Kristoffer knew she wouldn't.

Quill instead threw her arms around Kristoffer and confirmed Fiona's guess. "Kristoffer and I are now engaged!"

Kristoffer smiled and waved awkwardly towards the guests.

Fiona invited the people for a toast and everyone clinked their glasses together.

The couple received happy greetings from both Carl and Fiona.

The atmosphere would have been entirely lively if not for a single person with a confused face. After staying silent for so long, Victor finally spoke. "That can't be the only reason you called us here, can it?" Victor asked Quill. "I mean, congratulations to you two, of course. I apologize for being perplexed about the matter of this gathering."

Quill smiled at Victor. "Forgive my mistake for not informing you about tonight's agenda given that it's a surprise."

It was a legit excuse. However, Kristoffer could not help but notice that Quill was enjoying seeing Victor nervous.

Victor had a reason to be anxious about being here. He implied that he was a spy this morning, and came the night he was suddenly summoned. Victor probably thought that he was going to be lynched.

Even though Kristoffer guaranteed Victor that Quill was trustworthy, he could not comprehend why Victor would suddenly risk his safety by disclosing his secret. He was probably that much confident with his skill to escape. Or perhaps he was just stupid.

Or... he was as gullible as a dog.

Kristoffer looked at Victor fondly. Gullible people tended to be trustworthy themselves.

"And to answer your question," Quill continued. "No, we have other important stuff to talk about."

"No! I didn't mean to be disrespectful by asking that question," Victor denied. "Such a happy moment is important, of course. In fact, I'm even alright if it's what we all talk about all night."

"Fufu, is that so?"

"Yes. That is so." Despite the cold weather, Victor was sweating a lot.

After a moment of silence with Quill and Victor staring at each other with a smile, the former waved the latter off. "I'm only messing with you. I'm aware you didn't mean to be rude."

Victor visibly deflated in relief.

"But you're correct. I called you all here to discuss something related to our engagement."

"Oh, oh, let me guess," Carl raised a hand. "You want me to be the best man."

"I was already thinking about it and wished granted." The two bumped their fists. "More than that, Kristoffer and I were mulling about something critical for the event."

Quill paused for suspense. "It was about which me should he marry."