As soon as Jiwoo’s house site was decided, it was rapidly constructed. Growing the tree did not take long, and everyone in the village dropped by at least once, leaving gifts as a housewarming gesture. Receiving these gifts took up an entire day.

Some brought decorative items to adorn the rooms, while others, considering Jiwoo’s inability to use magic, gifted simple spells.

The floors were made of flat wood for easy walking, and some areas were covered with soft grass. Vines entwined around the ceiling, floors, and pillars, adding to the harmony of the place.

One particularly fascinating feature was the small budding flowers scattered inside, which emitted light when treated in a certain way. They shone in the dark but felt as hard as stone to the touch. One of the grooms-to-be had taught a spell to easily turn them on and off.

Among these, Jiwoo was captivated by a white light pillar in the center of the living room. It branched out at the top, resembling a bare tree.

The plants all grew at a suitable distance around this pillar.

The top of the pillar was connected to the ceiling, revealing a clear view of the sky. The sky, which was already blue, seemed ready to spill stars.

“What is this? It’s so beautiful…”

“It’s the root of our Ellandos.”

Lanceil, who stayed late to help with the organization, answered.

“Does everyone have this in their homes?”

“No, only in your place. It’s usually in the female’s house. Through it, you can hear the sounds of Ellandos, even when you’re away.”

“Can you hear it too?”

Lanceil shook his head.

“The men can’t. That’s why there’s a significant difference in stability between groups with and without a female.”

It made sense.

It would have been more difficult to understand without seeing a female.

“I can’t hear it though…”

“That’s okay. You can still communicate by touching it.”

Jiwoo was troubled by this issue, but Lanceil spoke of it nonchalantly while diligently continuing his work.

“Should all these go here?”

“Yes. Ah, there are quite a few gifts…”

“There are still some groups waiting for the treatment of their Ellandos. You might have missed them while resting. They probably plan to stay here until the wedding. They want to congratulate you.”

Congratulate.

The children of Ellandos, who didn’t usually take kindly to outsiders, were accepting Jiwoo as a member of their society. But Jiwoo…

The bird perched on her shoulder emitted only warmth and was weightless. Yet, the responsibility it symbolized weighed heavily on her.

After hesitating, Jiwoo finally spoke with her gaze fixed on the white tree roots.

“Lanceil, do you think I can adapt well and live here? Honestly, I….never expected to marry someone from another race.”

“Were there only humans in your homeland?”

“There were people who looked a bit different, but yes… Only humans.”

“I’ve heard there were something called ‘elves’.”

“But only in stories.”

When Jiwoo looked at him, his ears fluttered. Clearly revealed that he belonged to another race. It seemed a bit more… different from what she had expected. She realized such small differences would continue to appear in the future.

“It seems people here are afraid I might regret this, thinking that I am a changing being and you all are unchanging.”

“Well. Do you think so?”

Lanceil chuckled softly and comfortably settled into a chair. He tapped his knees and spread his arms, and Jiwoo, understanding his gesture, responded.

“Do you remember when we first met?”

“Ah… Yes.”

Holding Jiwoo’s waist as she sat on his lap, Lanceil tenderly kissed her forehead.

“When we first met, I was somewhat rough with you. Does that mean, as an unchanging being, I haven’t changed?”

“….Not exactly.”

“El Ragneil might seem withdrawn to humans. I also thought so for a long time. But is it really?”

It was unusual for the typically straightforward Lanceil to speak in circles.

“I really enjoy how these guys become so amusing.”

“What’s amusing?”

His hands that were scarred and rough from years of tough work for the group, gently brushed through Jiwoo’s hair.

“An expressionless one who used to listen only to the sound of trees suddenly laughs innocently, the one who always weighed pros and cons in his head selflessly takes on unnecessary tasks, a bold one becomes timid, a smart one turns foolish… It’s really amusing. You know why, right?”

It was clear whom he referred to and who he implied as the cause.

“The reason we’re said to be unchanging is that there’s never been a reason to change. It’s true we live leisurely over long years. But if one returned from the brink of death unchanged, that would be a truly isolated and stagnant life.”

They had all experienced life-altering events. Their precious trees became sick, they crossed continents, nearly killed a brother, yet were redeemed…

Yes, that’s right. They had already undergone a change.

To still continue to be wary of those who had accepted her who was an outsider. To fail to coordinate the differences due to their varied races and not learn more to accommodate them in the future, would be betraying their intentions.

“I told you, didn’t I? From the moment you saved my life, I belong to you. Don’t you believe that?”

“No, I believe it…”

Jiwoo closed her eyes and smiled.

Finally, her wavering heart felt like it had found its path. All her previous worries seemed no more than illusions.

“We too live ordinary lives, fear death, love, and feel jealousy. We’re just beings who borrow a small piece of this land to live on.”

“It’s just like where I originally lived.”

“Yes… It won’t be different.”

If one thinks it’s different, it will be. If one thinks it’s the same, it will be the same.

In fact, it’s quite simple, yet like many problems, the more complicated one thinks, the more complicated it becomes.

“So, you’ll be fine too.”

“Yes.”

Lanceil gently stroked Jiwoo’s cheek. She moved her head, rubbing her cheek against his rough palm.

“Jiwoo.”

“Lanceil.”

“…El.”

Jiwoo laughed at his words, which were timid yet bold.

“I know what you mean.”

It took a bit more courage to speak.

“Sweetheart.”

“Darling.”

“My, my Love…”

“…”

“…”

It was clearly the moment for them to exchange a kiss as their breaths mingled. But too shy to start, they just stared at each other for a long time until a whining voice broke the silence.

“When are you going to do it?”

“Hurry up and do it.”

“I’m getting cramps in my legs waiting here.”

Jiwoo hopped off Lanceil’s lap in surprise.

Outside the window, at the source of the noise, a group had gathered eagerly watching Lanceil and Jiwoo’s tender moment.

“Why, why, why are you here?”

The thought of being watched all this while, when they had felt so ticklish alone, was utterly embarrassing.

Tevon grinned, showing his teeth.

“Look at that. Playing coy, but this is quite a spectacle.”

“……”

Unable to make any excuse, Lanceil just sadly laid his red ears flat and covered his face with his hands.

“Kuhm.”

Callan cleared his throat.

“We thought you might not know how to spend the night with us from now on, so we decided we should tell you.”

At this, Lanceil slowly raised his head.

“So, you just came to interfere. I could have told her myself.”

“Interfere? What a misunderstanding. Why would I interfere? I was asking to join.”

“If you’re going to do it, you should have done it quickly.”

While Callan and Tevon were teasing Lanceil, someone hugged Jiwoo from behind.

Without realizing it, she leaned back comfortably into the embrace.

__