The dining room glowed with warmth from the low-hanging chandeliers, the polished table crowded with steaming dishes. There were roasted vegetables, thick cuts of seared steak, freshly baked rolls, and clinking gsses of sweetroot wine. Orsi sat at the head of the table, legs swinging just slightly off the floor. In front of him was a modest pte, one petite cut of steak, a careful scoop of vegetables, and half a roll. Just enough or else he’d be full until morning.

  To his left sat Julianna, regal even in her rexed state, slicing into her second steak with practiced grace. Across from her, Sylvia devoured her pte with the efficiency of a soldier back from war. Evelyn, quieter, more methodical, was halfway through her second steak as well. It was as if she was mentally dissecting the fvor profile. Orsi looked around at his towering family and snorted softly. “I feel like I’m dining with a pack of hungry dracos.”

  Julianna chuckled and dabbed the corner of her lips. “You always say that.”

  “Because it’s always true,” he replied, gesturing at the portion sizes on their ptes. “Is this dinner or a battlefield?”

  Sylvia grinned, mouth full. “Steak is a battle, Papa. You either dominate the pte, or you get left behind.”

  “That’s right,” Evelyn added, “Eat or be eaten.”

  “I don’t think that’s how it works,” Orsi said, amused.

  “Speaking of battles,” said Julianna, setting down her knife, “I got a letter from the Elven Court today.” Both daughters looked up. “We’re officially invited to the summer convergence and tournament,” she continued. “The Elven Lands are opening the gates next month. I thought it might be a good time for a vacation.”

  Orsi’s eyes lit up. “Really? We haven’t been there in years.”

  “Exactly,” Julianna said. “You need a break from the academy, and I’d like the girls to see more of their heritage.”

  Sylvia squinted at him. “Do they have training arenas?”

  “Plenty,” Julianna said. "You need not worry about those."

  Sylvia grinned at her mother's reponse.

  Evelyn tilted her head. “I could study their alchemy circles. Some of their mana weaving techniques are rare outside the Elven archives…”

  “Seems like the girls are interested,” Orsi said, munching on some peas. “That’s the spirit.” Just as he took a sip of his water cup, a sudden clink drew everyone’s attention. Sylvia and Evelyn had both spotted the st steak piece on the serving pte. Their forks hovered over it in a silent standoff.

  “…I saw it first,” Sylvia said, eyes narrowing.

  “You had more meat than I did,” Evelyn shot back.

  “You ate faster—that’s your fault.”

  “Girls,” Julianna said calmly, not looking up from her wine. “Do not make your father heal a fork injury at the dinner table.” Despite her warning, Orsi was already ughing at the scene.

  The two sisters lunged at the same time, their forks cshing like swords. The steak flew into the air, spun once, and nded neatly on Orsi’s pte. “Uh.” Orsi said, eyeing both of his daughters.

  “Papa,” Evelyn said slowly, “You choose. Who gets it?! Me or Sylvia?”

  “I know.” he said, using his knife to cut the steak in half. He then proceeded to give them their own piece. “There, happy?”

  Julianna ughed softly behind her hand as the girls cheered their father. “Honestly, I don’t know what’s more chaotic for us, fighting the demon lord, or parenting two half elves.”

  Orsi ughed. “At least the demon lord didn’t argue over leftovers.”

  ***

  The moonlight spilled gently through the tall windows of the master bedroom, casting silver lines across the polished stone walls and thick velvet curtains. The room was quiet, save for the faint crackle of the firepce and the creak of the canopy bed's wooden frame.

  Beneath the silken sheets, Orsi y wrapped snugly in Julianna’s arms. His much taller wife curled around him like he was her favorite plush doll. Her chin rested lightly atop his head, with her hair spilling over his shoulder in soft waves. Her arms, strong and smooth, were locked around his middle, one leg hooked over both of his as though daring the night to steal him away.

  Orsi, small even with pillows stacked beneath him, gave up the fight long ago. There was no escape from this nightly embrace. Not that he minded, though. It was warm.

  “Still can’t breathe,” he mumbled, voice muffled.

  “Don’t lie.” Julianna whispered against his hair, her voice smooth and soft with sleep. “You’re used to it.”

  He let out a half-hearted sigh and wiggled his toes. “One of these nights I’ll slip out and you’ll just be hugging a body pillow.”

  “I’d notice. The pillow doesn’t smell like you.” She nuzzled his head. “You smell like ink and tea leaves.”

  “Mmm?” Orsi replied, somewhat surprised at his wife’s response.

  They y in silence for a few moments, the hearth flickering gently.

  Then Julianna spoke again, her voice quieter. “Have you heard from Astrid or Salka tely?”

  Orsi thought to himself, caught off guard. It has truly been a long while until he had contact with their old party members. “Astrid’s still in the North with the Temple. She sends letters… sometimes.”

  “Mm, I suppose the Ministry has called Astrid and their Valkyries to assist the Temple more.” Julianna added, “And Salka?”

  “She keeps making headlines.” Orsi ughed. “The st one I read said she broke into a farm to rescue a misunderstood thunder wolf, whatever that is.”

  Julianna giggled. “She always was wild…as a Demon Princess should be.”

  “Yeah,” Orsi grinned,

  They both ughed quietly, the memory fresh and ridiculous even years ter. Then Julianna’s voice softened again, more thoughtful. “Our girls…they’re done with the Academy now. Both of them have top marks. Sylvia is talking about taking on mercenary work, while Evelyn’s getting letters from alchemical guilds n other kingdoms.” She sighed lightly. “They might move out soon.”

  Orsi tilted his head back a bit, enough to see her face. “Are you worried?”

  “I’m their mother,” she said simply. “I’ll always worry.”

  “They’re strong,” Orsi said, “They were raised by the legendary healer and the elf queen. If anyone can survive out there, it’s them.”

  Julianna smiled faintly, but it didn’t fully reach her eyes. Her fingers curled slightly around his waist. Then, after another pause, she asked quietly, “Is this the life you wanted, Orsi?”

  That question floated in the air like a ghost. He blinked up at the ceiling. The silence stretched. Was it? He’d fought gods, demons, and time itself. He’d been worshipped, forgotten, and dragged through the mud by history. Now he was here, wrapped in warmth, married to a queen, father to two brilliant daughters—just peace.

  “…Yeah,” he said, finally. At that response, Julianna pulled him closer, resting her face in his hair. The firepce started to dim as the wind hummed softly through the trees outside. And slowly, the Elf Queen and the Legendary Healer, wrapped in each other’s arms, drifted off to sleep.