New World with Four Husbands

Coco entered the house, the tension in the air thick and suffocating.

A stifling atmosphere clung to the room, filling the space with an uneasy feeling, and she could almost sense the emotional storm brewing between the four mediators present in the room.

Something had happened, and she could tell.

Even if they did not say anything, she could tell within the way the four of them avoided eye contact, the way their conversations were hushed and strained before it died down when Zaque opened the door, the way glances were stolen and hastily averted.

Coco chose to ignore it, not wanting to be caught in the fight between them.

Coco moved silently through the house, her footsteps light and soft against the wooden floorboards, her grip on the basket tightening.

She made sure to stop by the market to buy something for them because she doesn't want to come over without offering something— peace offering, if she must say, just in case Alhai decides to jump at her for agreeing to take Quizen with her.

She made her way to the dining table, her expression calm and composed, giving no hint of the tension she could feel in the air.

She pulled out a chair, took a seat at the table, beside Quizen, and placed the basket on the floor beside her right leg, her actions slow and deliberate, like she was prolonging what was about to happen.

The silence hung heavy in the air, the tension almost choking her, but Coco refused to acknowledge it, refusing to let the emotions of others affect her.

With her taking a seat beside Quizen, Zaque took it upon himself to move towards the kitchen.

He came back to the table with a cup and the teapot, his footsteps quiet on the floorboards as he slid beside Coco, clearing his throat.

Zaque silently set a teacup in front of Coco, the clink of porcelain on wood breaking the silence.

He poured tea into the cup, the liquid sloshing against the sides, the sound echoing in the tense environment, as the tea flowed from the pot, the liquid filling the cup, the steam rising lazily in the air.

Zaque worked without looking at her, his actions careful, his gaze averted from her face.

Coco watched as Zaque poured her tea, her eyes following the movement of his hand as he poured the steaming liquid into the cup.

Her gaze lingered on the way his fingers gripped the teapot a little too tight than usual, the subtle flex of his muscles beneath his shirt's sleeves, like he doesn't want to be found out.

Her eyes shifted away from Zaque and looked at the other three around the table, then she turned back to Zaque and even though she was acutely aware of the tension hanging in the air, her attention completely focused on Zaque's actions.

She studied every little movement with quiet curiosity, the silence making the scene before her like a television show.

When Zaque finished pouring her cup a tea, he pulled the teapot away and straightened his posture, taking a step back from the table.

Coco acknowledged Zaque with a small smile, her eyes meeting his eyes for a brief moment before he quickly looked away, his eyebrows furrowing and cheeks tinting lightly with color.

Adorable. Coco thought to herself before she picked up the cup he had poured for her, her hand wrapped around the warm porcelain, the steam curling up from the tea.

She brought the cup to her lips, taking a small sip, the tea tasting of warmth and comfort.

Softly, the warmth of the tea spread across her body and she couldn't help, but murmur her gratitude, her words a mere whisper in the tense atmosphere. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Zaque said, walking away from the table and busying himself inside the kitchen.

Coco slowly set the cup down, the sound of porcelain clinking on wood once again breaking the tension in the room.

She cleared her throat softly, capturing the attention of the others as they glanced her way, their expressions strained with suppressed emotions, all eyes were on her.

The silence hung heavy as they waited for her to speak, the suspense almost killing them.

"I'm pretty sure that Zaque had filled you in with what happened, Alhai and Heiren?" She asked the second and third husbands, the corner of her lips curling up into a polite smile.

The only one who she is openly fond of is Zaque, out of the four of them, because he had always been reasonable with her— she's not fond of the fact that he likes her— so he is the only one she could smile on without forcing herself to smile.

With Alhai or Heiren though? She can't say the same thing she said about Zaque to them.

"You're planning on bringing Quizen along with you to the main city." Heiren answered, the sound of his voice is lighthearted, but has a matter-of-fact tone in it.

"That's right." Coco nodded her head and looked at Quizen, "I figured that Zaque would be lonely so I decided to just bring him along. I'm already planning on talking to Joachim to let Quizen off their schedule for a month or two."

"A month?" Heiren mumbled, his eyes widening slightly in shock, "That's too long."

"Well, yes, but only because that's how long it would take to get my hunter license." Coco hums, her finger circling around the rim of the tea cup.

Alhai, who was blankly staring at the wall behind Quizen, suddenly frowned deeply as Coco spoke, the sound of her voice triggering a wave of conflicting feelings within him.

He found himself grappling with a mix of emotions— confusion and resentment— swirling within him.

Despite his strong dislike for Coco, Alhai couldn't help but feel frustrated at her intended prolonged stay at the city, away from him or Heiren, alone with Zaque and Quizen.

He couldn't help, but wonder why he just couldn't go with her.