Supreme Spouse System.

Where Moonlight Guide.

{Under two moons softly high,

We roam free with spirit's cry;

Hands entwine in hushed vow,

Tonight is ours—here and now.}

The notes rolled in across the darkness like a curl of smoke. The people around them melted back into the noise of the world, until even the wind grew still, listening.

Nova felt the pain of it settle deep within her chest. She didn't talk—couldn't, really. It was the sort of song that sent silence into reverence.

Leon did not stir. He merely gazed at the singer with something awed in his eyes.

As the last note died, the silence lingered like a held breath. Then, gradually, warm applause swelled up from the seated crowd. Not raucous—just genuine. Gentle claps. Murmured thanks. A soft, holy thanks.

Nova applauded lightly, still under the spell. Leon joined her, the edges of his mouth curving.

He leaned in and whispered, "That was… perfect. Beautiful song."

Nova nodded minutely, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was."

The singer bowed graciously; hands clasped before crowed. "Thank you, dear hearts. May love find you all, and the moonlight guide your ways."

Couples came to him, one at a time, placing coins in the plain cloth pouch on the ground before him. They mostly left silver, though some left copper. The old man bowed to each, never tallying—only smiling as though each gift was wealth.

Leon stood up softly, smoothing his coat pant as he approached.

"Sir," he said with a smile.

Sir," he said genially. "Your voice has something unique. My partner and I." He turned back to Nova. ".We're thankful. That song resonated with something in us. We'll never forget it."

The old man cocked his head, a small smile beginning to form in his creased face. "Thank you, young man.

Leon pulled his storage ring out and pulled out a velvet pouch. Its soft ringing drew a few of the nearby people's attention. He didn't appear to notice.

"I believe songs like that are worth more than coin and anything," Leon said, "but… this is the best I can do now."

He offered the pouch to the singer.

The man's fingers shook as he took it, fingertips touching the velvet as if it would disappear. "This is… too much," he breathed.

Leon's golden eyes softened. "Not for a blessing."

The singer glanced from him to Nova, who had stood up to stand alongside Leon, her eyes warm.

The old man nodded, his voice low and rich with significance. "Then listen to me, both of you."

His eyes trapped theirs.

[May the moon always illuminate your union.

May every fight bring you closer—never shatter you.

And may your evenings be warm… and lit.]

Nova's mouth opened, but she had no words. Just a smile—a huge, soft grin that made Leon's chest hurt.

Leon bent his head in a shallow bow. "We'll take that blessing."

"Be careful, both of you," the singer whispered, her eyes following them as they walked away.

Hand in hand, they disappeared into the crowd again—moving as a matched flame, two beings with a spark between them that ignited the air.

The old man stood by the fountain, his gaze tracking them until they were engulfed by the lanterns and laughter. Then, with a deep breath, he unzipped the pouch completely. Gold flashed back at him—not a single coin, but enough to provide for his family for generations.

Elsewhere, Leon and Nova strolled in quiet rhythm with the night. Nova now held a puff of candy flock—light, pink, and faintly shimmering like enchanted cotton. Leon had one too. They brought them close and shared a bite, lips brushing for the briefest moment.

Leon smirked, leaning a little closer. "Your candy's sweet, but I'm pretty sure your lips are sweeter."

Nova raised an eyebrow, her pace slowing just a little. A flush rose onto her cheeks, but the soft smile playing on her lips betrayed her. "Gods… that was terrible," she said, racking her head. "Cheesy as sin."

Leon didn't blink. He regarded her with a layabout grin, eyes glinting. "Yeah, but it made you smile."

She glanced at him again—this time, lingering just a moment longer—then looked down, toying with the edge of her candy. "Still," she murmured, almost like she didn't mean for it to come out loud, "I liked it."

Leon's grin shifted—quieter now, softer. He didn't need to joke, not in this moment. "I'm glad," he said simply.

The group swirled around them, but it was all a blur—like the world had receded at the edges. They walked together under the floating lanterns, their footsteps slow and easy. Music wafted on the air, combining with the smell of spice and sugar, calming the night into something dreamlike.

Nova picked up a bite of her glimmering candy flock, then licked a bit of sweetness from her thumb. "I loved it," she said after a moment, her voice softer now. "Not only the market. Just. us. This entire night."

Leon shifted his head slightly, observing her. The light of the lantern illuminated her features in gold. She seemed different tonight—lighter more lovely, as if she'd shed some invisible armor.

"I did too," he replied, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Especially the part where I made it through the entire night without getting punched."

She gave him a sideways smile, her eyes teasing. "Don't let it go to your head."

He chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."

They halted by a street vendor who was roasting spiced meats over red embers. The pungent smell was irresistible. Leon paid a few coins and came back with two skewers—juicy, tender, still hot.

Nova popped hers back with a satisfied hum, already chewing on the first morsel. But as she turned to glance in a walking acrobat show, Leon moved in—leaning forward, he made a bold bite out of the remaining one on her stick.

Nova stopped in mid-stride.

She gazed down at her now-vacant stick… then slowly turned back to him.

"You ate my last meat bite."

Leon held up a finger, serious-faced. "Correction—I rescued you from a horrible destiny."

Nova's eyes became slits. "What horrible destiny?"

He leaned forward, voice falling into a pretend-whisper. "Getting obese."

She blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"

Leon chuckled, palms up in pretended surrender. "Not that you would, clearly. I'm just saying… it was an act of mercy. A heroic one."

Nova glared at him, unimpressed. "You're lucky I'm stuffed or I'd knock you on your butt."

He smiled, not a bit bothered. "You were too busy staring at the bracelet I gave you to pay attention anyway."

She threw up her hands, but raised her wrist anyway. The slender silver bracelet he'd purchased before glistened in the light of the lanterns, a teardrop crystal shining brightly at the center.

"It is pretty," she conceded. "Still convinced it could be cursed.

"I'd never curse you," he whispered, tilting forward just slightly. Leon cocked his head. "And if it is, it's only cursed to make you think of me and perhaps Seduce too."

Leon smiled, slow and smooth, his eyes resting on her as if she was the only thing that shone in all of Moonspire.

Nova smiled back at him with a faint warmth in her cheeks, but didn't say anything—just pulled another piece of candy into her mouth and let the silence develop comfortably between them.

They walked past a square where music burst around a circle of dancers spinning around. Women danced in flowing skirts that opened like flowers, and children raced through the spaces between them, laughing. Enchanted lights drifted overhead, pulsating to the beat.

A little girl near the edge of the square sold glowing glass roses from a wooden basket. Each flower was handcrafted; petals infused with faint mana that made them glow like moonlight.

Without hesitation, Leon stepped over and bought one.

Nova saw it too late. "Leon, don't—"

But he was already tucking the luminous rose behind her ear with a careful touch.

She stared at him. "You're ridiculous."

"You keep saying that."

"And yet, I'm still here."

Their eyes met again, and this time neither looked away. They both smiled.

The square faded behind them as they continued walking, slower now, closer than before. The sounds of the city faded into a soft hum. Above them, the twin moons of Moonspire shone full and bright, its silvery light illuminated on worn cobblestones as Leon and Nova strolled at the edges of Moonspire's great night market. The smells of grilled meat, sugar-glazed fruit, and incense smoke were still lingering, but the voices began to thin—vendors closing up shop, lanterns growing dim, music dying away into memory. Nova licked the last of her candyfloss, its rosy wisps stuck to her fingers like silk. She licked the sugar from her thumb and let out a gentle hum of happiness.

"I don't care what anyone says," she announced, her eyes shining in the warm lantern light, "this is the height of culinary brilliance."

Leon raised a brow, walking beside her with his hands folded lazily behind his head. "Really? Out of all the exotic things you've eaten, spun sugar on a stick takes the crown? What about the fire-roasted Red shark ribs from Blackwater Bay? Or that crystal honey cakes the old lady served us like it was holy?"

Nova gave a mock gasp, pretending to be scandalized. "Those were good," she admitted, then flicked her finger toward him with a sudden little gesture of disgust when he instinctively stepped back in mock offense.

"You realize I'm not going to forget that fried blue rooster incident anytime soon."

Leon chuckled beside her; hands folded behind his head. "You took one bite and nearly declared war on the vendor."

"Because it was soggy, Leon. Soggy! Who ruins a fried snack? And the sauce was missing too," she huffed, folding her arms with exaggerated offense.

Leon laughed again. "I never thought I'd see a battle aura like yours tied to food."

She narrowed her eyes. "Oh really? But a battle aura like me needs to eat good food, okay?"

Leon laughed, wagging his head. "I'm beginning to think you didn't come here on the date at all, but to judge every food stall in this city."

She shot him a sidelong glance, her eyes sparkling with playfulness. "And if I did, so what?"

Leon leaned forward slightly, a smile pulling at his lips. "Then I'm your fellow food critic for tonight."

Nova laughed, the sound light and real, ringing between them like the flash of mutual trickery.

Their laughter came easily, light, like the wind between the rooftops. Deep night enveloped them as they walked from the fountain, towards the periphery of the city.

Nova moved in closer, their shoulders bumping, still holding his hand. "It's quieter now."

They walked slowly along the declining boundaries of the market, where the lanterns became less common and the throngs dwindled to a breath. Moonspire's magnificent night had begun to sink into sleep, yet Nova's heart still pounded with the afterglow of it all—the laughter, the lights, the stolen glances. The feeling of being ordinary—and free.

Leon let out a sigh, golden eyes surveying the road before them. "It's coming on dark. Moonspire sleeps in, but not indefinitely. We need to head back before someone notices two prominent folks have gone missing from their mansion together like a love affair."

She nodded softly with a laugh, though the reluctance in her eyes was obvious. "You're right. Let's go."

They followed the winding path to the south, where the white walls of the outer palace rose in the distance, stone kissed silver by moonlight. Beyond lay the mansions waiting in stately stillness,.

They stepped away from the market's edge, towards the southern road upon which the royal outer mansions stood veiled behind trees and thoughtfully tended gardens. The noise of the crowd receded with each stride, taken over by the quiet of leaves brushing against the soft wind. A misty evening mist wound down the path, cool with the scent of dew.

Do you think they'll realize we were missing?" Nova said, spinning the candy stick around in her hand.

Leon's lips curled. "They'll realize eventually. Most likely in the midst of the morning drills chaos. But by then, we'll be newly showered and faking yawns like we slept all night."

She snickered softly. "You're dangerous."

"I'm charming."

"You think you're charming."

"Is that not the same thing?

Nova rolled her eyes but couldn't escape the smile playing at the corners of her mouth. His voice, the heat of him beside her—it all felt so natural. So infuriatingly easy. As they strolled, the silence between them wasn't empty. Rather, it was filled—full of unspoken things, of gentle memories already made, and of simmering feelings just starting to grow.

Nova looked over at Leon as he strolled alongside her—his white shirt untucked now, sleeves rolled up, his golden eyes slightly more contemplative than normal.

"I enjoyed myself," she said quietly.

Leon glanced over, his brow raised. "Only enjoyed?"

Nova grinned. "Okay, I'm enjoying myself. Still. But I'll deny it in public if you ever reveal that I told you that."

"I'll protect your secret with my life," Leon replied gravely. And then, with a flirting grin, he said, "But I might compose a melodramatic poem about it."

"You compose poetry?"

"No, but I'd learn just to bug you."

She playfully elbowed him, but her smile remained. Their footsteps fell into an awkward rhythm once again.

As the road turned into a more restricted passage bordered by great hedges, their pace came of its own accord. The final remnants of market light receded behind them, giving only the silvery glow of moon upon stone.

Then it occurred.

They both came to a halt.

The wind ceased. The rustling leaves were quiet. Even the sounds of distant laughter from the city were sucked into an unseen quiet.

Nova was immobile.

Leon stopped next to her without having to question why—she felt it too.

They shared a glance. No words, only understanding. Warriors. Instincts murmuring the same.

Something was amiss.

Nova's gaze narrowed as she searched the darkness. The alleyway before them appeared exactly as it had moments prior, but something felt wrong. The kind of quiet that wasn't vacant—but crowded with breath being held.

Leon's hand slid behind his back, fingers grazing the hilt of the concealed dagger beneath his clothing. His voice came low.

"Do you feel that?"