New World with Four Husbands

"Come on." Coco called out, grabbing the basket from Heiren's hand, "Let's go? Is everyone good to go?"

"Yes, Coco." Zaque answered as he walked down the stairs, his red hair flowing down his shoulders in a cascade of fiery strands.

As he moved, he reached up and quickly tied his hair at the nape of his neck, the smooth locks pulled back into a tight ponytail with the remaining strands framing his face in a curtain of crimson.

His gaze was focused ahead, his expression serious as he continued to make his way down the staircase, his footsteps light and steady.

"I'm done double checking the rooms upstairs." Zaque informed his wife as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, "I also locked the doors. Here's the key, Heiren."

Zaque tossed the keys towards the second husband and Heiren was quick to catch it mid-air.

"We'll go out first." Coco said, gripping the basket tightly, before she walked out of the house, the other mediators followed Coco and walked out of the house as well, the sound of their footsteps fading slightly.

The door was left open behind them, leaving Zaque alone inside.

The house fell into silence, the only sound the quiet ticking of the clock on the wall above the kitchen doorway, as Zaque looked around the empty house, a sense of peace settling over him, the quiet emptiness seemed to amplify every small sound, every creak of the floorboards and the occasional rustle of the wind against the window.

Wordlessly, Zaque cast one last glance around the room before he exited the house.

Zaque locked the door behind him, the sound of the lock clicking into place a quiet noise in the silence, a soft smile played on his lips, his gaze lingering on the door for a moment before turning away.

He started jogging after Coco and the others, his footsteps quick and light.

The afternoon air was cool against his skin despite the sun being still up, the breeze rustled through his hair as he ran, his heart raced with anticipation, the thrill of going on a journey with Coco filling him with energy.

Zaque caught up to Coco and the others, his footsteps slowing to a walk as he moved to stand beside her.

The air was silent between them, the only sound was the soft rustling of their clothes and the occasional crunch of leaves and stones getting crushed under their feet.

Coco cleared her throat, casting a glance at Zaque, "I have to pick up Lala and Konoha from my room. Would the four of you like to come with me or would you like me to drop all of you off at the gate first?"

"I want to go with you." Zaque answered before anyone else could speak, smiling.

"I'll go with you, too!" Quizen chimed in, walking on Coco's right and shooting a smile at her, "It's better to stay with you than be left alone with strangers."

"That's true.. Well, okay. Whatever you want, I guess." Coco mumbled before turning her head to look at Heiren and Alhai, "How about you two? Do you want me to drop you off at the gate? Don't worry, we will be quick."

"I'll come." Heiren said, not looking away from the path ahead of them, "I agree with Quizen, it's better to stay with you than be alone with strangers."

"Okay.." Coco drawled, slowly trailing off, "I'm assuming that Alhai wants to come, too?"

There was a short pause from behind her, then Heiren spoke up again. "Yes, he said that he will come, too. None of us wants to be left alone with strangers."

"Okay, boss. Your wish is my command." Coco said, a playful tone in her voice.

Her statement made the husbands' lips twitch up into a small smile, each of them sheltering a pleased and excited glint on their eyes, thrilled that they will be going with her— one way or another.

The walk towards the inn was a quick one and when they arrived, Coco made a beeline towards the second floor while Zaque and the others waited for her by the entryway of the pub, each of them hosting a friendly air around them.

It was rather an unusual sight to see the four of them together, but witnessing Coco change for the better was rather unusual, too.

The villagers inside the pub looked away from the mediators when they saw Coco walking towards the frame, each of them pleased to see that the daughter of Baroness Hughes is finally getting along with her husbands.

True to Coco's words, she didn't take long.

The five of them exited the Red Horse Inn and continued their way to the village gate, silent and relaxed, but she could feel their gaze on Konoha, then after a good minute of quietly observing, someone finally spoke up.

"I thought Konoha was another.. Lala." Heiren commented, his chocolatey irises staring at the white fluffy creature resting on Coco's arms.

"No." Coco hums and pats Konoha on the head, "But she's like Lala to me. You know? A companion and a family."

"Aww." The garden fairy cooed from her spot on Coco's head, a content and satisfied smile on her lips, "I didn't know that you consider us as your family, Coco."

Coco only smiled and didn't answer, opting to lead the husbands towards the village gate.

The husbands, on the other hand, felt a throb inside their chest upon hearing Coco's words— the insinuation of her statement has hit them harder than they would like to admit.

She doesn't see us as family? Zaque thought, the corner of his lips curling down.

"Coco!"

Zaque snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a familiar voice calling out to his wife, his gaze shifted from the ground to the woman waving outside the gate.

The five of them continued to walk and once they walked past the gate, the woman threw herself at Coco.