The setting was the Azure Balcony, the most expensive restaurant in the capital. Soft violin music played, and the view of the city lights was breathtaking.
Malric looked unusually stiff in a high-collared formal coat, while Jessica looked stunning in a deep emerald gown—though she still had a small bandage on her cheek from the goblin mine. Across from them, Robert and Marin looked like the picture-perfect noble couple, finally relaxed after their honeymoon.
"To a night without swords, spells, or shadow-assassins," Robert said, raising a crystal glass of sparkling cider.
"I’ll drink to that," Jessica laughed. "I still have cave dust in my hair."
The "Help" Arrives
The peace lasted exactly four minutes.
The kitchen doors burst open, and out marched Silica and Marley, dressed in oversized chef hats that kept flopping over their eyes. Behind them, Marek was balancing a tray of appetizers while trying (and failing) to look like a professional sommelier.
"Surprise!" Silica squealed, dropping a plate of what looked like glowing blue mushrooms onto the table. "The restaurant staff was too slow, so we took over the kitchen to make sure our favorite couples got the premium experience!"
Malric’s eye began to twitch. "Silica... tell me you didn't use 'Explosive Sage' in the seasoning."
"Only a little!" Marley chirped, adjusted her apron. "It adds a real pop to the flavor profile!"
The Main Course Mayhem
As the "chefs" retreated to the kitchen, a series of muffled booms echoed from behind the doors.
"Should we intervene?" Marin asked, her hand instinctively drifting toward the spot where her claymore usually hung.
"No," Robert sighed, rubbing his temples. "If we move, they'll think we aren't enjoying ourselves. Just... eat around the parts that are sparking."
The main course arrived: Dragon-Pepper Steak. Unfortunately, the "Dragon-Pepper" wasn't just a name. As soon as Marek lifted the silver lid, the steak let out a small puff of literal fire, singeing Malric’s perfectly groomed eyebrows.
"Marek!" Malric hissed.
"Hey, don't look at me!" Marek held up his hands. "Elsa told me the heat would 'enhance the romantic atmosphere.' She’s currently in the kitchen using ice magic to stop the stove from melting."
The Engagement Gift
Just as Jessica was about to take a bite of her (thankfully non-flaming) salad, she noticed the dressing was moving. Not sliding—moving.
"Is the vinaigrette... sentient?" she asked, poking a lettuce leaf with her fork.
Suddenly, the salad bowl erupted. Out popped a tiny, magical construct made of sugar and glass—a miniature replica of the goblin mine, complete with a tiny sugar-Malric kneeling before a tiny sugar-Jessica.
"It’s a commemorative dessert!" Silica shouted, poking her head out of the kitchen.
The tiny sugar-mine began to rumble. Because it was built by Silica and Marley, it didn't just look like the mine—it had the structural integrity of the mine.
BOOM.
The dessert "collapsed," sending powdered sugar and chocolate "rubble" flying across the table. Robert used a quick shadow-shield to protect the wine, but Malric and Jessica were instantly coated in a fine layer of white dust.
The Aftermath
The restaurant was silent. The other noble patrons were staring in horror. Silica, Marley, and Marek stood in a row, looking like guilty puppies.
Malric wiped a smudge of chocolate from his cheek. He looked at Jessica, who had a sugar-goblin stuck to her tiara. Then, he looked at Robert and Marin, who were trying—and failing—to hold back their laughter.
Slowly, Malric began to chuckle. Then Jessica broke into a full-on wheeze, and soon the entire table was howling.
"Well," Jessica gasped, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "It’s certainly better than the goblin mine."
"At least the food didn't try to kill us," Marin added, reaching over to pluck a chocolate shard from the table. "Mostly."
Robert smiled, looking at his friends—his family. "You know, I wouldn't have it any other way. A normal dinner would have been boring."
The Night Ends
As they walked home under the moonlight, covered in sugar and smelling like burnt peppers, the two couples felt closer than ever. But as they reached the estate, a Royal Messenger was waiting at the gates, his horse lathered in sweat.
"Lord Atten! Lady Montclair!" the messenger cried. "The King of the Sea has sent an urgent summons. The Tidal Rift has opened, and a dark mana is polluting the ocean. He requests the 'Chaos Team' immediately!"
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43Pdq4WdyE
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5776nn5bD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVJbyCdI9y
and then Add to home screen.