The shop had long since closed for the evening, yet its interior was filled with the rustling and clattering of boxes. The shop owner—an elf with a perpetually worried expression—was struggling desperately to carry the piles of luggage he had accumulated over many years. Every step he took wobbled dangerously, as though the entire structure of boxes might collapse and bury him alive.
Kazien watched the spectacle with a long, exhausted sigh.
He muttered under his breath, "He really insists on doing everything himself."
The elf staggered under the weight of yet another trunk. The moment he nearly tripped over a crate, Kazien stepped forward.
"I'll help you carry all your things," he said decisively.
Before the old man could protest, Kazien waved his hand. A ripple of transparent element shimmered in the air, and every single piece of luggage—every trunk, every sack, every magical artifact—vanished into a pocket of dimensional space.
The elf's eyes widened.
"Your storage dimension magic is so practical!" he exclaimed, half jealous and half amazed. "If only I had awakened the transparent element…"
Kazien smiled faintly. "Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses. Don't envy mine—just be grateful for yours. Now come on, we've got a villa to return to."
Virena, who stood observing from the doorway, still couldn't shake off her curiosity. Her brother had recruited this mysterious old man on a whim, and she suspected there was far more to him than he let on. The questions simmered quietly in her mind as the three of them left the shop behind and walked toward the villa nestled on the hill.
The atmosphere around the villa was peaceful—until their newest companion stopped dead in his tracks, mouth hanging open.
A herd of griffons lounged leisurely across the courtyard, grooming their wings, napping in the sun, or playfully shoving each other like a group of oversized house pets. The sight was so unexpected, so completely contrary to everything he knew about griffons, that he momentarily forgot how to breathe.
"Are those—griffons?" the elf whispered. "Griffons… relaxing?"
Kazien nodded casually.
"Have you tamed them?" the elf asked in disbelief.
"No!" Kazien replied. "They've sworn loyalty. They've agreed to become part of the Altavis family's fighting force."
The elf nearly choked on his own breath.
"You're joking! Griffons are ferocious monsters! Why would they submit to humans?"
"You're right," Kazien answered. "They only submit to those stronger than them. And even though they're monsters, they understand every language spoken by the races of the world. They're not mindless beasts."
The elf blinked rapidly. Everything he had ever been taught about griffons shattered into dust.
Kazien continued, "If a griffon attacks someone, always ask the griffons' side of the story next. Chances are, the person attacked them first."
"What do you mean?" the elf asked, confused.
Kazien gave him a pointed look. "If someone attacks you, what do you do?"
"Fight back, of course! Who wants to die a stupid death?"
"Exactly!" Kazien said. "Griffons react the same way. They remember aggression. The griffons you encountered likely retaliated because elves provoked them first."
The elf fell silent, a dawning understanding brightening his face. So that was why griffons had always been hostile toward his people.
Before he could dwell on the realization any further, the villa door burst open.
"My dear, you've—"
Alvin stepped out to greet them, his golden-yellow hair glimmering like moonlight. His smile, warm and welcoming, froze when he saw the elf. The elf, too, stiffened at the sight of Alvin.
Both spoke at the same time
"Why is there an elf here?"
"Why is there a high elf here?"
Virena's jaw dropped.
"K-Kazien… are you saying this old man really is an elf? And you knew the whole time?"
"Didn't I tell you?" Kazien replied. "He used illusion magic while we were still in his shop."
The old man swallowed hard and stepped forward.
"You... are you a member of the Latreess royal family?"
Alvin nodded gracefully.
"You are correct. I am Alvin Dass'el Latreess, son of Atlasion Dass'el Latreess and Queen Sylvina."
The old man immediately straightened his posture and saluted deeply.
Alvin waved his hands in panic.
"Don't salute me! I'm not royalty here. I'm just Kazien Altavis' prospective wife. If you want to salute someone, salute him."
The old man stared blankly.
"W-wait. Aren't you… a man? How did you become a man's wife as well?"
Alvin crossed his arms proudly. "Because Kazien love men and he also saved my life when I was dying. And I'm happy being his future wife."
"Then… how did you end up here? And what happened to His Majesty?"
Alvin's expression dimmed.
"My father teleported me away using random teleportation magic. I believe the Latreess Kingdom has been destroyed by the demons and dragons."
The villa fell silent. Shock rippled through every person in the courtyard, even Virena.
No wonder Alvin clung so tightly to Kazien. No wonder loyalty came so naturally to him. His entire world had already been reduced to ashes.
Alvin took a step closer to the old man. "If you truly value the family that accepted you, throw away your illusion magic. Be yourself."
"You… you don't use illusion magic when you go outside?" the old man asked timidly.
"Never," Alvin replied. "I am proud of who I am. Why should I hide it?"
The words struck the elf harder than a physical blow. His shoulders slumped. His fingers trembled as he reached for the necklace around his neck—the source of his illusion.
And in one swift motion, he ripped it off and crushed it beneath his heel.
The air shimmered.
The frail old man disappeared.
Standing in his place was a tall, strikingly handsome elf with long green hair cascading down his back like a waterfall of emerald silk. His youthful face glowed with natural charm, his eyes bright and sharp. Virena gasped so loudly it echoed off the villa walls.
Kazien burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Alvin, did you see his face? Your words didn't just slap him—they obliterated him! I was trying to keep his identity hidden, but he exposed himself in seconds!"
Alvin pouted. "My dear, don't laugh at him too much."
Kazien approached the now-revealed elf. "What's your name?"
"Sarias, young master," he answered respectfully.
Kazien frowned.
"Why so formal all of a sudden?"
"Because I intend to work under the Altavis family from today onward."
Kazien raised a brow. "Is it because of Alvin's presence that you trust us?"
Sarias nodded firmly. "And because you are His Highness Prince Alvin's future husband."
Virena clapped her hands. "Enough talking out here. Let's go inside!"
The group entered the villa, where the others stared in shock at the new face among them. Another elf—after all this time. But Selena's gaze lingered more intensely than the rest. Her eyes locked onto Sarias without blinking. Only Kazien noticed.
Is she… interested in him?
Kazien smirked to himself.
"Sarias," he said suddenly, "come with me. There's something I want to confirm."
Sarias obediently followed him into a private room.
"What does Kazien want to confirm?" William whispered.
Alvin sighed. "Sarias' gender."
"What's wrong with his gender?" Selena asked.
"Elves… naturally don't have one," Alvin said calmly.
Selena's head snapped toward Sarias' direction.
"How did you become male then?"
"That was Kazien's decision," Alvin replied through the sofa. "I originally wanted to become a woman. But he refused and requested I become a man."
"That's not what I meant!" Selena huffed. "How do elves change gender?"
"Oh. In that case, there are two methods," Alvin said as though discussing the weather. "The first is when we fall in love—we transform into the gender our hearts resonate with. The second is through personal desire. But the second method requires us to see and touch someone's genitals first. Just like I had to hold and see Kazien's genitals before becoming a man."
Everyone in the living room froze in horror.
William silently prayed to every deity. Selena's soul momentarily left her body.
Then the door opened, and Kazien stepped out.
Everyone shouted at once—
"WHAT IS HIS GENDER!?"
Kazien jumped.
"Calm down! He doesn't have a gender yet. Honestly, I don't even know what to call elves who haven't chosen one."
"We call them sine ese," Alvin said politely.
"Oh. So that's what you call yourselves before choosing gender?"
Alvin nodded.
Sarias then bowed slightly. "Young master… forgive my boldness, but… are you truly certain you wish to marry His Majesty as he is?"
Kazien wrapped an arm around Alvin's waist.
"Of course. If he turned into a woman, I wouldn't accept him—even if he crawled on the ground and begged."
Sarias blinked. "What is your reason for choosing him as a man, young master?"
Kazien smiled softly—a rare, genuine smile.