Pinky had hoped to leave town quietly.
He did not get his wish.
"HUSBAND!"
The shriek echoed across the market square. People stopped and stared. Pinky froze mid-step.
The green-haired elf sprinted toward him at full speed, arms outstretched, tears streaming down her face.
"I found you! I was so worried! You left without saying goodbye!"
Pinky ran.
He was fast. She was faster. Or at least, more determined.
She caught up to him at the edge of town, latching onto his arm like a barnacle. "Don't leave me! After what we shared last night, you can't just abandon me!"
Pinky gestured frantically. Nothing happened. We didn't do anything. Please let go.
"You're asking me to come with you?" Her eyes sparkled. "Oh, husband! Of course I will! I'll follow you anywhere!"
No. That was not what he said. That was not even close to what he said.
But she was already grabbing her things from somewhere, already falling into step beside him, already chattering about their future together.
Pinky had faced monsters. He had fought bandits. He had survived missions that would kill lesser knights.
He had no idea how to deal with this.
***
Days passed. Then weeks. Then months.
Lyriel would not leave.
Pinky tried everything. He gestured for her to go home. She interpreted it as him asking her to make dinner. He pointed at a nearby town. She thought he was showing her where they would honeymoon. He literally drew a picture of her walking away and him walking the opposite direction. She framed it and called it their first couple's portrait.
He gave up.
One morning, he hoisted his travel pack onto his back and noticed it was heavier than usual. Much heavier.
He looked up.
Lyriel sat on top of his pack, legs dangling, casual as could be.
"Onward, my husband!" she cheered. "Take me to adventure!"
Pinky stood there.
He was not an angry person. He had never been an angry person. But at that moment, something in him wanted to scream.
Instead, he just kept walking. With her on his back. Like some kind of bizarre piggyback ride.
At least she was light.
***
The incidents continued.
When Pinky fished at a stream, Lyriel appeared beside him in nothing but undergarments, inviting him to bathe together. He ignored her and continued fishing. She concluded that he was shy and decided to give him space. For about five minutes. Then she was back, this time completely naked, splashing around like a child.
Pinky caught a fish. He cooked the fish. He ate the fish. He pretended the naked elf didn't exist.
"He must be saving himself for marriage," Lyriel told herself. "How romantic."
One night, Pinky woke to find her wrapped around him.
He started to push her away. Then he stopped.
She was crying in her sleep. Small, quiet sobs. Her face twisted with pain.
"Don't... don't kick me again... I'll do better... please..."
Pinky lay still.
He didn't know what had happened to her. He didn't know why she was like this. But he understood pain. He understood loneliness.
He let her hold him until morning.
***
Then came the monster incident.
They had stopped near an old ruin. Lyriel wandered off while Pinky set up camp. She came back with a shiny stone clutched to her chest.
"Look what I found, husband! Jewelry! For our wedding!"
Pinky looked at the stone. His blood ran cold.
That was not jewelry. That was an egg. A monster egg.
The ground shook.
From the ruins, three massive creatures emerged. Insectoid. Armored. Eyes burning with rage at the theft of their offspring.
Pinky drew his sword.
What followed was the hardest fight he had faced since leaving the Knight Village. The monsters were strong. Fast. And very, very angry.
Lyriel hid behind a rock, egg still in hand, oblivious to the connection between her "jewelry" and the creatures trying to kill them.
When it was over, Pinky was bleeding from a dozen cuts. His armor was dented. His sword arm trembled with exhaustion.
Lyriel emerged from behind the rock and healed him.
"There you go, husband! Good as new!" She beamed at him. "You were so brave. I knew I chose well."
Pinky stared at her.
He took the egg from her hands and returned it to the ruins.
She didn't ask why.