CHAPTER 267: PROMISE OF ETERNITY ( 267 )

In the Beastkin Kingdom.

Royal Palace — Princess Ellyna’s Bedroom.

A soft breeze flowed in from the open window, carrying the scent of blooming herbs from the royal garden below.

Princess Ellyna lay lazily on her grand bed, surrounded by silk cushions.

Her long tail swayed slowly, rhythmically, as she curled slightly around a small bundle of fabric—

Hazuki’s clothes.

Ones she had "borrowed" before he left.

She sniffed it gently, her cheeks faintly flushed.

"Mmm~ still smells like him... even after all this time~"

She hugged it close, rolling once across the bed with a soft sigh.

"I wonder what Uncle is doing right now~" she muttered with a grin. "Probably getting lost again..."

Then her smile widened, smug.

"Tehe~ it’s not like he could touch any other girl."

She pressed a finger to her lips. "Lucky me~"

Her fingers brushed over the necklace he gave her.

She held it gently, eyes softening.

"I wonder what he’s been doing lately... and if Ridan’s still watching him like I asked."

Her ears twitched slightly, then flicked back in satisfaction.

"Ridan better not mess with him too much... but Uncle needs a little push sometimes."

She giggled quietly, rolling back onto her side as her tail curled lovingly around the necklace.

"Princess~"

A soft voice echoed faintly

Her ears perked up.

"Ellyn?" the voice continued, gentle and hopeful. "Is Ridan here?"

Ellyn blinked, then sighed.

"...No. He’s not."

A pause.

"Mm... I thought I could finally see him," the voice said, tinged with sadness. "After a thousand years of waiting..."

Ellyn gently stroked the necklace, voice low.

"I don’t think he remembers you, anyway."

"No~" the spirit girl replied, with a soft yet unwavering tone. "I will make sure he remembers."

There was a flicker of emotion in the voice—quiet pain, tucked behind stubborn hope.

"And... I want to ask."

Ellyn tilted her head, listening carefully.

"Why did he suddenly disappear... all those years ago?"

"You’re really... faithful to Ridan," Ellyn murmured, gently brushing her fingers along the necklace.

"Mm..." came the soft reply.

"You searched for him for over fifty years..."

Ellyn’s voice was low, almost a whisper.

"Even when you were still human. You never gave up."

"Mm..."

"And then... you used that forbidden skill."

There was a pause.

"To bind your soul, just so you could wait again. Another thousand years."

The silence after that was heavy...

"I just..." Syaria’s voice trembled "want to know why he suddenly disappeared. That’s all."

Ellyn’s gaze softened.

"Do you really think Ridan will tell the truth?"

A beat passed.

"...I don’t know," Syaria replied quietly.

"But I want to hear it. From him. Even if it hurts. Even if it’s something I didn’t want to know..."

She paused again, and this time her voice was smaller.

"All I ever wanted... was to hear it from his own lips."

Ellyn gently clutched the necklace, holding it closer to her heart.

"...I hope you get your answer."

Knock knock.

"Princess?"

Ellyn jumped slightly, ears twitching in surprise.

"Ah—Faria!" she called out, scrambling to hide Hazuki’s shirt beneath one of her pillows.

A muffled sigh came from behind the door.

"Are you sniffing the human’s clothes again today, Princess?"

Ellyn froze.

"N-No...!" she stuttered, face red, tail twitching.

Faria opened the door with her usual graceful stride, hands on her hips. She glanced around the room—and sighed again as she spotted the suspicious pillow mound.

She facepalmed. "I don’t even know how you managed to steal his shirt."

Ellyn looked away, cheeks puffed. "...I have my ways."

"Clearly."

Faria walked further in, arms crossed. "Anyway, Princess—your father, the King, has requested your presence in the throne room."

Ellyn blinked. "Eh? Right now?"

"Yes. He said, ’No disguise, no excuses.’"

Ellyn let out a small groan and flopped back on her bed.

"Can I pretend to be asleep?"

"No."

Ellyn huffed, grabbed a nearby ribbon, and began tying up her hair. "Ugh... fine."

She closed her eyes.

"Absolute Eye—activate."

A faint glow shimmered over her body.

Her childish form shifted, In seconds, Princess Ellyna stood tall, her adult form radiating quiet nobility and beauty.

She walked gracefully to her wardrobe and picked out one of her finest gowns—a regal white and silver dress with elegant sapphire embroidery along the hem. The fabric shimmered with subtle enchantments, and a light cape hung from her shoulders, flowing like silk in the breeze.

As she finished adjusting it, Faria stood by the door with her usual composed posture.

"Princess... your hair."

Ellyna groaned again, rolling her eyes.

She moved to the mirror and began brushing her hair properly.

Faria smiled faintly. "You’ve grown, Princess. You’re already an adult in every way that matters."

Ellyna paused.

Faria continued, gently, "Soon you’ll be seventeen. And another year after that..."

She gave a soft nod.

"...you’ll be of marriageable age—for Sir Hazuki."

Ellyna smiled at her reflection—bright, soft, a little shy.

"I know."

Inside Ellyna’s mind...

"By this world’s standard... I’m already of marriageable age."

Her Absolute Eye had shown her enough.

She could see more than people realized—history, truth, and even fragments of someone’s origin.

She knew Hazuki wasn’t from this world.

She knew in his world, the standard for marriage was different. Older. Stricter. Slower.

But even so... she knew men.

Especially nobles of this world.

They didn’t care about age if it suited them.

If the girl was beautiful, they would propose—no, force a marriage. Or throw money at the family until it became an offer no one could refuse.

And there were no strict laws preventing it here.

As long as it ended in marriage, anything before was simply... ignored. Even expected.

To commoners, it was normal. To the nobles, it was strategy.

But Ellyna smiled.

Because she was different.

She didn’t belong to them.

She didn’t need a noble’s name or a royal arrangement.

She already had something more powerful than any title, contract, or dowry.

She had Hazuki.

And more importantly—

She had his Pinky Promise.

An oath.

Not just a childish gesture.

Not in this world.

Here, the Pinky Promise was sacred.

A divine-binding vow.

Unbreakable.

No man—no matter how rich, how strong, or how high their status—could dare touch her.

Not even a kiss.

Not even by force.

Because everyone knew:

A Pinky Promise wasn’t just a promise.

It was a sacred oath.

And if made between a couple—it lasted until death.

Just like a real marriage.

Faithful. Eternal. Untouched.

Till death do them part.

( End Of Chapter )