An Ordinary Day

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the heavy velvet curtains of the hotel room, casting a narrow, bright golden band of light across the carpet, within which dust motes danced silently.

Morning... well, no, it's obviously getting late.

Lowell woke up to a warm feeling and a familiar weight.

He opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was Frieren's long, moon-like silver hair, which was spread out somewhat messily across his chest. She was in a starfish position, no, more accurately, a more casual "slanted" position, with her upper body lying on top of him, her cheek pressed against his calf, one leg unceremoniously straddling his, and her other little foot right next to his cheek.

She was still wearing the same simple silver-white wedding dress she wore yesterday. After all, it was the wedding last night, and she stayed up quite late, so she went to sleep as soon as she got home.

Lowell blinked, adjusting to the light, and gently moved her shoulders, which were feeling a little numb from the pressure, before looking at her feet so close to hers.

"Um, thank you for the treat..."

The room was spacious and luxuriously decorated; it was a suite in the best hotel in the Royal Capital. After all, they didn't have a house in the Royal Capital of the Central Kingdom, so this temporary residence became their place to stay on their wedding night.

On the wall directly opposite the bed hangs a portrait clearly imprinted by a photo-recording spell—a wedding photo of him and Frieren taken yesterday in front of the church altar. Both of them in the picture have a gentle, sweet smile on their faces.

Besides these, there are many more.

"Hmm..."

Perhaps it was Lowell's slight movement, or perhaps it was the increasingly noisy city sounds outside the window, but Frieren let out a soft nasal sound, her long silver eyelashes trembled a few times, and she slowly opened her emerald green eyes.

She blinked her eyes, looking dazed, as if taking a moment to focus, then habitually looked towards the door, her voice heavy with sleepiness and a hint of confusion:

"Lupa... why isn't she here...?"

At this time in the past, Lupa would have already finished her morning exercise, brought breakfast, and prepared to help her get up, wash, and change.

Lowell chuckled softly upon hearing this, reaching out to tuck a playful strand of silver hair that had curled up behind her ear, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against her delicate skin.

"We're newlyweds," he reminded her, his tone tinged with a helpless indulgence, "Why would she come? This is our time."

"Oh..." Frieren didn't seem fully awake yet, but she barely understood the situation. She rubbed her eyes, sleepiness still lingering in her emerald pupils. "Is there any difference...?"

"Hmm," Lowell propped himself up on his arms, trying to sit up a little without disturbing her, and explained, "The difference is, as usual, this next trip... well, a month, I guess, will mostly be just the two of us. It'll be... a honeymoon?"

"Oh." Frieren didn't react much to the word, but simply adjusted her posture lazily in accordance with his movements.

"Come on," Lowell said, seeing her reluctant to get out of bed, knowing there was no way she'd do it herself. "I'll change your clothes. What do you want to eat? I'll go buy it."

"Bread," Frieren answered almost without thinking, her voice muffled from lying down, "And jam. And milk too."

"Apple jam or strawberry jam?" Lowell asked as he carefully began to unfasten the intricate clasps at the back of her wedding dress.

"Strawberry this time," Frieren mumbled.

"A lot of jam?"

"Add a lot."

"Okay," Lowell replied, finally unbuttoning the last button.

He gently helped her remove her wedding dress, revealing a soft white slip underneath. Then he took the white, gold-trimmed mage robe she usually wore, skillfully put it on her, and fastened the belt.

Throughout the process, Frieren cooperated by raising her hand, but her eyes remained half-closed, as if she could fall asleep again at any moment.

"Okay." Lowell straightened her collar and gently brushed aside the slightly messy silver hair from her forehead. "How about some more honey?"

"Okay." Frieren nodded, leaning against his shoulder and closing her eyes like a cat seeking warmth.

Lowell let her lean against him and sat quietly for a while. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, dancing on Frieren's silver hair. The room was quiet, with only the sound of their steady breathing.

After a moment, he gently patted her. "I'll go downstairs to buy breakfast, why don't you lie down a little longer?"

"Hmm..." Frieren responded vaguely, slowly shrinking back into the still-warm blankets, pulling them tighter, leaving only half her head sticking out.

Lowell smiled, got up to wash, changed into simple clothes, and tiptoed out the door.

The Royal Capital was already awakening, and the streets were filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread from the bakeries. Lowell quickly bought back some still-warm croissants, a small jar of thick strawberry jam, two bottles of fresh milk, and a small dish of glistening honey.

When he returned to the room, Frieren was already sitting up, hugging her knees on the bed, her eyes glazed over, clearly still half asleep. Hearing the door open, she looked up, her emerald green eyes following the food in his hand.

Lowell placed breakfast on the small table by the window, pulled out a chair, and held out his hand to her.

Frieren naturally offered him her hand, used it to get off the bed, and walked barefoot onto the soft carpet to sit down at the table.

Lowell opened the jam jar, scooped out a large spoonful of deep red strawberry jam with a wooden spoon, spread it evenly on the crisp croissant, and handed it to her. Then he poured her a glass of milk and pushed the honey dish next to her.

Frieren took the bread and ate it in small bites.

Lowell sat across from her, eating his own bread, his gaze fixed on her.

"What are you looking at?" Frieren noticed his gaze and looked up.

"Look at you."

Frieren blinked, said nothing, and continued eating her bread with her head down. Only the tip of her ear twitched slightly. Then she picked up a small spoon, scooped up a spoonful of honey, and put it directly into her mouth. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction, like a cat that had tasted sweetness.

After finishing breakfast, Frieren seemed fully awake. She walked to the window, opened it, and the cool morning breeze blew in, carrying the faint sounds of the street's hustle and bustle.

"What are we doing today?" she asked, seemingly having no idea what to do on their first day of marriage.

"I promised you yesterday, I'd buy you magic books, as many as I wanted," Lowell said, clearing away the dishes.

"Oh!" Frieren's eyes lit up instantly, all traces of her previous languor vanishing. "Let's go now!"

The two tidied up quickly and then went out.

Walking on the bustling streets of the Royal Capital, the sun shone warmly and a gentle breeze caressed our faces. It seemed no different from usual, yet there were subtle differences—for example, Lowell would very naturally take Frieren's hand, and Frieren would very habitually let him hold it, her slender fingers curled in his palm.

They strolled and wandered around as usual.

Frieren was particularly interested in shops related to magic, often lingering for a long time in front of a window displaying ancient scrolls or exotic minerals. Lowell would patiently stay by her side, occasionally offering advice when she was undecided, or decisively paying for anything she fancied.

Passing a candy store, Lowell stopped and bought a candy-coated nut snack. He picked one up and held it to Frieren's lips.

Frieren was looking down at a newly bought notebook about ancient runes when she smelled the sweet fragrance and instinctively opened her mouth to take it. Her tongue inadvertently brushed against his fingertips.

"Is it sweet?" Lowell asked, a slight damp warmth lingering on his fingertips.

"Hmm." Frieren nodded, her attention still on her notes, and gave a vague reply.

Lowell looked at her focused profile, smiled, and didn't disturb her any further. He simply wrapped up the remaining nuts and put them in his pocket, intending to wait until she finished reading before eating them.

They returned to the hotel in the evening.

As soon as Frieren entered, she nestled into the sofa, eager to continue studying her new book and the few "treasures" she had collected that day—a black stone with faint inscriptions that was said to slightly amplify magical perception, and a bunch of dried flowers that exuded a musty smell.

Lowell simply looked at her.

The room was quiet, with only the rustling of pages turning.

The setting sun bathed the room in a warm orange glow.

Frieren suddenly looked up from her book at Lowell and said something out of the blue:

"It seems no different from usual."

Lowell looked up from his paper at her and understood what she meant. He put down his pen, sat down beside her, and pulled her into his arms.

"Hmm," he responded softly, gently brushing his chin against her soft silver hair, "There's not much difference."

The same companionship, the same daily routine, the same her.

Frieren adjusted to a more comfortable position in his arms, her emerald eyes like two warm springs in the setting sun.

Lowell tightened his grip on her arm.

Outside the window, the lights of the Royal Capital lit up one after another, like scattered stars, silently illuminating the silhouettes of the couple huddled together inside the room.