*Phew~ It’s so good to finally continue our two-person adventure.*

Inside a dragon-drawn carriage rumbling down a wide road, Larry patted his chest, still shaken. "Seriously, that was terrifying."

Alicia smirked. "Heh. A harem’s every man’s fantasy. When a brilliant woman offers to be your *second*, you react like that? What’s wrong—can’t perform?"

"*Fantasy* my ass! She looked like she wanted to devour me whole! I’d rather not rot in Danga as a corporate slave!"

...

It had started after Larry once again shattered Daisy’s expectations. Her dormant heart stirred anew. She’d even begun "counseling" Alicia—not to break them up, but to persuade her to *share* Larry. Daisy only needed to be the official wife; privately, Larry could belong entirely to Alicia. The sheer self-sacrifice stunned them both. Beyond awe, Larry felt deep dread. He admired Daisy’s spirit but couldn’t stand people like her. He’d firmly reaffirmed his devotion to Alicia, rushed through the handover, and fled with her.

...

*Back in my past life, I’d have despised this guy,* Alicia thought, *rejecting a free harem like that.* She felt sudden weight on her shoulder. Glancing sideways, she saw Larry using it as a pillow, eyes half-closed with exhaustion.

"Tired?" Her voice softened, no teasing this time.

"Mm. Spent all night briefing Daisy—personnel, plans, everything. *Yawn.*"

"Since when are you this weak? It’s just one all-nighter."

"This is the *first* you’ve seen. Building that base in a month wasn’t just skill—it drained me. I’ve pulled *several* all-nighters."

Alicia paused. "Why push so hard?"

"Just... had this feeling you’d be back soon. Wanted to surprise you." He nuzzled her arm. "Gonna nap now."

"Don’t sleep like that—it’ll dig into your neck." Her heart warmed. She gently lifted his head onto her lap, stroking his cheek. "Go to sleep."

Cradled by her soft thigh, Larry slipped into deep, unguarded slumber. Alicia leaned against the carriage wall, gazing silently at the horizon. Their destination: the royal capital. Though Daisy’s rebellion plan was set, one truth remained buried—her parents’ murder. Overwhelmed by managing Larry’s newly built faction, Daisy had no energy to dig deeper. Uninterested in base-building tropes and desperate to escape, Alicia and Larry volunteered. As adventurers, they weren’t *supposed* to meddle in state affairs anyway. Mika stayed behind to comfort Daisy—her gentle presence a balm for old wounds.

After Larry fell asleep, the carriage fell silent. Only the creaking wheels broke the stillness. *So quiet now. Was this really the same lively cabin moments ago?* Alicia rarely spoke unless with close friends. She found peace watching landscapes flow past like a river—could stare for hours. Left alone, she’d stay home forever, venturing out only for essentials, just like her past life.

It wasn’t that she disliked adventure. She adapted easily—*when dragged along*. But she’d never *choose* to drag Larry across the world like this.

*Sigh.* Her gaze drifted to Larry’s face. *When will you ever be yourself again?*

*I’ve become you. You’ve become me.*

"*Seriously*," she whispered, gently straightening his messy hair before poking his cheek, "my patience has limits. You’d better find yourself before I snap."

...

"Are you *certain* they’ll take this route?"

Unseen by Alicia and Larry, their carriage had been marked before departure. Richard—the guard who’d failed Bruno—watched from the shadows. Bloodshot eyes and deep purple bags marred his once-handsome face. With King Garp’s full backing, he’d hunted Alicia relentlessly. After torturing underground smugglers for intel, he’d raced here. Showing her portrait everywhere, he’d finally learned from soldiers that Alicia was allied with Daisy—and that a hidden base existed here. Panicked, he’d tried hunting the base, but Larry’s spiderweb network—built with counter-surveillance tactics from his *previous world*—was impenetrable. Trained operatives cut compromised threads instantly.

Blocked, Richard tightened surveillance on black-market transport dealers. Alicia and Larry, unaware of the threat, walked right into his trap. Richard delayed his move; this mission involved secrets too dark for public eyes. After tracing their route, he ambushed the road with elite troops.

"I’d never lie to you, sir!" The carriage owner knelt, trembling. Richard held his family hostage—any mistake meant their ruin.

Richard turned to a general beside him, voice icy. "Everything set?"

"Yes, but sir—isn’t this overkill? Just a pair of lovebirds—"

"*Lovebirds* who left your soldiers unconscious for *seven hours*!" Richard snarled. "This mission is critical! One slip, and the King executes us all! *Not a single mistake!*"

"Y-yes, sir!" The chastened general scrambled off.

Richard’s bloodshot eyes locked onto the road ahead. He hissed into the wind:

"*Your blood will wash away my shame.*"