Gardenia’s Heart

The sound of footsteps echoed from all directions. Wooden carts filled with construction materials creaked over the stone streets, pulled by horses or pushed by workers. Artisans displayed their goods at street stalls while the rhythmic pounding of hammers resonated through the air.

Amidst the bustling crowd, two young women walked happily, their steps light.

”You look really happy, Lily.”

With her purple hair hidden beneath a black cloak, Nia tightened her grip on the interlocked fingers of the woman beside her.

”Of course I’m happy! I’m on a date with my wife, after all.”

The silver-haired girl’s smile was partially concealed by the hood of her black cloak, but her radiant energy was impossible to suppress.

After spending the past few days training and recovering their strength, the girls had finally decided it was time to leave. However, wanting to spend their last day in the city together, Lily and Nia set out for a leisurely stroll.

Effortlessly navigating the crowded, maze-like streets of Caligo, Lily practically skipped with joy, stealing frequent glances at Nia walking beside her. Since their marriage, they had rarely had the chance to go out together without some objective in mind. Simply going out to enjoy themselves—especially with Nia by her side—made this the perfect day for Lily.

Nia couldn’t help but feel her face heat up at Lily’s boundless joy. She barely managed to stifle the small giggles escaping her lips as she tightened her hold, not only interlacing their fingers but wrapping her arms around Lily’s as well.

”Lily gets this happy just from going out with me?”

Looking at Nia, who asked timidly with her cheeks pressed against her arm, Lily’s lips curved into an even bigger smile.

”Just being with you already makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Getting to go out like this with you is simply wonderful~”

Seeing Nia’s face turn as red as a beet, Lily pulled her even closer before guiding her through the crowd.

”It’s so crowded...” Nia murmured, now tucked under Lily’s cloak, clinging to her even more tightly.

Despite having just endured a period of chaos, Caligo was already rebuilding, and most businesses had resumed operations. This resilience showcased the strength of the city’s people. Many students from the Mage Academy, who had previously been seen helping reconstruct the school, were now using magic to repair homes and buildings. Meanwhile, guards who had not sided with Velmont worked to keep the crowds away from the most damaged areas.

As they emerged from the narrow streets into a plaza connecting several districts, Lily spotted two familiar figures crossing at that exact moment.

The moment the small girl’s eyes landed on her, even with most of her face obscured by the hood, she rushed forward with boundless energy.

”Miss! Miss!”

Lily caught the little girl as she ran toward her, carefully lifting her off the ground so their eyes were level. She immediately remembered the time she and Nia had sought out Oliver to claim their payment, only to end up helping resolve a conflict at the scene.

”Good morning, Colette.”

Running her hand gently through the girl’s hair, Lily studied her closely. Colette’s radiant smile showed no trace of the fear she had felt just the other day.

Chasing after her, a middle-aged woman hurried toward them, carrying a bag filled with notebooks and pencils.

”You can’t just run off like that, Colette! What if you got lost? Mommy would be so worried!”

As she approached, the woman finally got a clear look at the person her daughter had run to. The moment her eyes locked onto Lily’s, she hesitated, taking a small step back.

Lily didn’t blame her for the change in expression. Though she had been one of the people who helped save them, her anger at seeing that thug harm Colette had been overwhelming. She hadn’t been able to hold back, and her actions had likely left a lasting impression in the woman’s memory.

”Miss...”

However, contrary to Lily’s expectations, the woman took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed deeply.

”I didn’t get the chance to say this before, but I have to say it now. Thank you so much for saving my daughter!”

Seeing the woman bowing in gratitude, Lily couldn’t help but shift her expression slightly.

”M-Ma’am, please don’t worry about it. I only did what was right.”

Lily, who had never been good at handling gratitude, struggled to come up with an appropriate response.

At the same time her mother was expressing her thanks, Colette tugged repeatedly at Lily’s hood, trying to get her attention.

”The lady with the pretty ears said I’ll be able to study too!” the little girl said excitedly, her eyes shining with anticipation.

Relieved that the girl’s words had stopped the woman from thanking her further, Lily glanced at the bag filled with school supplies she was carrying. Her thoughts drifted back to a conversation she’d had with Abelia and Selene a few days prior.

Now that they had access to significantly more funding and resources—and with the academy needing to be rebuilt—Abelia had concluded that expanding education to include young children would be an excellent course of action.

With Caligo now serving as Abelia’s first official territory and home to the people she truly considered family, investing in ways to support the population was crucial. Demonstrating that, unlike Velmont Sunshard, Prince Oliver was someone the people could trust would foster vital connections—especially as the struggle for the throne intensified.

”Miss, listen!” Clapping her hands together to get Lily’s attention once more, Colette leaned in close and covered her mouth with one hand as she whispered. ”I’m keeping our promise! I’ll never tell anyone about the lady’s amazing magic!”

”Thank you.” Hearing the little girl happily declare her promise, Lily couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

She carefully set Colette back down and watched as she ran back to take her mother’s hand, her curious eyes still studying Lily.

”Did the lady come out for a stroll too?”

At the question, Lily carefully reached under her hood. Peeking out from beneath it, a purple-haired girl gazed at the mother and daughter.

”I’m here with my wife.”

As both the woman and the little girl stared in awe at Nia’s breathtaking beauty, Lily’s smile grew even wider.

”Isn’t she beautiful? She’s the most beautiful woman in the world! I love her so much! I’m so lucky, don’t you think?”

Pulling Nia even closer, Lily continued showering her with endless compliments, not leaving Colette or her mother a single second to respond.

With her cheeks growing redder with each new compliment, Nia could no longer keep her face exposed and quickly hid it under the cloak again.

Finding this reaction incredibly adorable, Lily decided it was time to move on and bid farewell to the two.

”Eat well so you can grow up strong and healthy, okay?” Lily said to Colette, waving before heading forward once more.

”Yes!”

The energetic response reached Lily just as she was already a few steps away from the mother and daughter.

”Lily really gets along well with children.”

Still hidden beneath the cloak, Nia pressed her face firmly against the side of her wife’s body.

”She’s still small, but she’ll grow a lot now that she has a stable environment.”

Just as she had done with the little girl, Lily lifted Nia into her arms. However, this time, she carried her like a princess. Bringing her lips subtly close to her wife’s ear—who had been caught off guard—she spoke softly, ensuring that the warmth of her breath complemented her words.

”Besides, she might even be one of our baby’s friends in the future, you know?”

The moment Lily said those words, she felt all the tentacles wrapped around her body heat up and tighten against her skin. Nia’s face, already flushed, turned so red it seemed like she was about to catch fire.

”Y-Yes...” Using both hands to cover her face, Nia peeked at Lily between her fingers, murmuring.

Placing a gentle kiss on her flustered wife, Lily turned her gaze to the streets of Caligo. Since the time Nia could remain outside her body was limited, she knew there was no time to waste. With a spring in her step, Lily finally arrived at her destination.

The two-story building before her looked like a discreet yet elegant establishment. Its façade featured a solid wooden door adorned with iron details. Large glass windows, though marked by several small cracks, remained intact enough to reveal the luxurious fabrics and clothing displayed inside.

”You managed to escape having me pick out an outfit for you before, but not this time~”

Stepping inside with Nia still in her arms, Lily eagerly took in the shop’s interior. The walls were lined with dark wood, preventing the biting cold and excessive moisture from the mist from damaging the fine fabrics. Inside, various shelves were arranged along the aisles, showcasing dazzling dresses.

”Good morning, ladies. How may I assist you?”

Emerging from behind the counter, a young woman—no older than twenty—approached Lily.

Although the shop was one of the most popular in town, the chaos of recent events had shifted the population’s priorities elsewhere, leaving them with almost no customers that week. Even though the two newcomers wore long cloaks that concealed most of their bodies, making them appear somewhat suspicious, the shopkeeper was eager to welcome her first customers of the day and greeted them with a bright smile.

However, not even years of working in retail could have prepared her for what she was about to hear from one of the young women before her.

”I’d like to see your finest collection of dresses and everyday outfits. And if it’s not too much trouble, I’d also like to reserve the store.”

Extending her hands forward, the silver-haired girl placed a small green insignia into the shopkeeper’s palm.

Blinking several times, the young woman stared at the intricately carved dragon and began to tremble.

There was no way she wouldn’t recognize it—this token represented the city’s newest lord.

”My apologies for the delay! Of course, please allow me to guide you to our finest selections!”

Bowing with record speed, the woman hurried to the front entrance, locked the door, and drew the curtains before rushing back to lead the pair further into the shop.

Watching the energetic shopkeeper, Lily placed a soft kiss on Nia’s forehead, silently thanking her for remembering to bring the insignia—it certainly made navigating unfamiliar places much easier.

Practically skipping through the aisles, Lily noticed how the prices on the items increased as she moved deeper into the shop and up to the second floor. Even though everything was marked for payment in gold, she knew money wouldn’t be an issue this time.

Despite telling Selene that she didn’t need financial compensation since she had claimed half of the Leviathan’s body, the rabbit-eared girl had firmly insisted that Lily deserved a share of the profit from selling the monster’s remains. In the end, even after saying that just a little would be enough, Lily now carried over two hundred gold coins in her pouch.

”Is there anything in particular that you have in mind?”

The shopkeeper asked, rubbing her cold, sweating hands together in a desperate attempt to keep herself from trembling.

”We’ll look around on our own for now. If I need anything, I’ll call you,” Lily replied, watching the shopkeeper nod and head downstairs without saying anything else.

With a smile on her face, Lily began exploring the store, searching for various outfits she thought would suit Nia. The tentacles around her, acting as makeshift hangers, started collecting so many different pieces of clothing that they resembled a massive wardrobe.

Once she had gathered what seemed like a good selection, Lily walked toward what she assumed was the fitting room and placed the clothes inside. The small room was modest, featuring a mirror and a cushioned bench to sit on. Heavy curtains separated the fitting area from the main store, providing a private space where customers could change and try on clothes without being disturbed.

”Alright, I’ll leave the clothes here. Try on whichever you—!?” Before Lily could finish speaking and step away, a hand grasped hers, refusing to let go.

Caught off guard, she turned to look at Nia. Her wife’s cheeks were flushed, and the hand that wasn’t holding Lily’s was covering her face.

”Lily...” Nia’s rosy lips moved softly as her crimson eyes locked onto the person beside her. ”I want you to dress me.”

The words that struggled to leave her lips carried no embarrassment—only the deep need to express her desires in a way that perfectly conveyed her feelings.

Nia realized immediately just how effective her words were when Lily moved behind her in silence, positioning her in front of the mirror before sliding her hand down her back to undo her dress.

First, with a gentle motion, she removed the choker around Nia’s neck. Then, bringing her hands to the top of her shoulder blades, Lily slowly unzipped the dress, revealing the soft pink skin of Nia’s back.

Her hand returned to Nia’s neck, fingers tracing along the strap of her black bra. Since Nia usually dissolved her clothing, Lily had never seen this incredibly alluring piece of lingerie before. Smiling, she moved both hands to gently cup the base of Nia’s breasts before unfastening the clasp that held the garment in place.

”Mnmm...” Nia let out a soft moan, her lips pressing together as shivers ran through her body.

Each of Lily’s touches felt like a reminder of how precious she was. She was merely changing clothes, yet the way Lily’s hands moved filled her with a mix of happiness and warmth, making her feel breathless—even though she didn’t need to breathe.

As her bra slipped away, two pink nipples were exposed. Keeping her gaze fixed on the mirror, Nia watched as Lily traced slow, delicate circles around her areolas with her fingertips, coaxing her nipples into hardness.

”Mhnn... Aaah...” Nia couldn’t suppress the pleased sounds that escaped her lips.

”Nia is making some rather indecent noises...” Lily whispered directly into her ear, resting her chin on her shoulder. Her warm breath sent shivers through the metamorph’s entire body.

Slowly, Lily brought three fingers of her left hand to Nia’s lips, sliding them inside to brush against her tongue.

”You can’t, Nia. Even though I reserved the entire building, we can’t risk anyone hearing you. Your voice is for me alone—I won’t let anyone else hear these sounds you make ever again.”

While Lily continued to take off her clothes, Nia looked at herself in the mirror, her lips and tongue wrapping around her beloved’s fingers without any shame or hesitation.

“Good girl~” Lily’s words were sweet, and Nia’s face grew hotter as her desire for her beloved grew stronger.

When the sleeves of her dress were removed, Nia didn’t waste a second before bringing both hands to the one in her mouth. She pressed her palm against Lily’s and guided the fingers deeper into her mouth.

Whether it was the thumb, index finger, pinky, or ring finger, she found herself staring as she sucked on each one. For some reason, not only seeing Lily’s expression but also her own while doing it seemed to encourage her to go further.

Her moans no longer escaped. After focusing entirely on licking and kissing those strangely incredibly pleasurable fingers, Nia didn’t even notice she was already naked.

“L-Li... Mhnm… Hnng... Li...ly... Mhnnm”

Nia couldn’t understand—she was just holding her beloved’s fingers in her mouth, so she wondered how she had already reached her limit.

When her legs began to tremble, she knew the orgasm was about to flood her mind. She prepared for her love juice to dirty the floor of the shop, but the moment she reached her climax, a soft mouth had already covered her vagina.

With her body leaning forward, Nia was now licking Lily’s fingers while the girl drank every last drop of the love juice that poured out of her like a flood.

“So delicious~” With a big smile on her face, Lily stood up after drinking every last drop. Her stomach completely full of her wife’s love. “There, there.”

Removing her fingers from Nia’s mouth, Lily sat down on the chair and pulled her naked wife onto her lap. The lingering waves of pleasure that had overwhelmed Nia’s mind finally seemed to settle. When her tearful eyes met Lily’s, she collapsed against her with a small, contented smile.

Holding the hand she had been sucking on just moments ago, Nia brought it to her chest, pressing it firmly against her heart. Lily’s fingers were now warm and wet, coated with saliva from the tips of her nails down to the base. Faint bite marks ran along each one—a physical testament to just how much Nia had savored every second.

”I love you, Lily,” Nia murmured shyly, snuggling as close as possible in her wife’s lap.

”I love you too, Nia.” Pressing several kisses onto her wife’s nape, Lily let Nia embrace her left hand while she continued dressing her with the help of her purple tentacles.

Lily handled Nia as if she were the most precious treasure, carefully considering every possible outfit combination. It seemed like every piece of clothing only enhanced her natural beauty, making it nearly impossible for Lily to contain her excitement as she continued her work.

After several minutes, she finally achieved the result she had envisioned. Guiding Nia to look at the mirror, she watched as her wife’s crimson eyes widened the moment she took in her reflection.

The outfit radiated a perfect balance between aristocratic elegance and commanding authority. A deep purple fabric dominated the ensemble, its tailored fit accentuated by two parallel rows of silver and gold buttons that enhanced the flawless structure of the attire.

A high collar supported a black ribbon, matching the velvety gloves that covered both hands. The wide, flowing skirt, also black, fell gracefully just above her knees.

Since they were within the mist, nearly all luxury dresses were designed to provide warmth. The long, slightly voluminous sleeves ended at her wrists, and the interior lining of the outfit prevented body heat from escaping. Her high boots, trimmed with ice fox fur, ensured proper insulation against the cold.

The ensemble exuded an aura fit for both a commanding officer and a noble lady.

As Nia admired the outfit with sparkling eyes, she quickly spun around to face Lily, overflowing with excitement.

”Do I look beautiful, Lily?”

”The most beautiful in the world!”

The moment she heard those words, not even a second passed before the metamorph threw her arms around Lily.

Unlike Lily, who preferred wearing the same set of clothes—whether it was her cardigan or maid outfit—Nia, though she never said it outright, loved trying out different outfits every day.

”I’m so happy, thank you!”

Though Nia could create clothing with her own ”material,” her designs were limited to what she had seen or could imagine. Coming to a store for inspiration was something Lily had wanted to do for a long time—to help Nia even more.

Since taking advantage of the store without paying wasn’t something Lily felt right about, she still planned to purchase the clothes, even though Nia would later absorb them to study their structure and improve the comfort of the outfits they already wore.

”Let me fix your hair a little.”

Lifting Nia from her lap and settling her beside her on the chair, Lily picked up a small comb she had grabbed earlier and began gently brushing through Nia’s hair with care and tenderness.

Her silky strands, free of split ends, were smooth and pleasant to the touch. With each stroke of the comb, Nia trembled slightly at the comforting sensation.

”Nia, your purple hair is so beautiful,” Lily said, tilting her head as she smiled.

Lily loved every part of Nia, and more than anyone, she knew how important it was to always remind her of that. When she heard Nia’s joyful laughter in response, she knew she had succeeded.

”You know, back when I was in that village, I never bothered fixing my hair or anything like that. I didn’t care about how I dressed or carried myself because there was no one I wanted to look pretty for.”

Even missing an arm and an eye, Lily knew that anyone would still consider her beautiful. However, lost in loneliness and burdened by fragmented, distorted memories of her time in captivity, she had never found the determination to care about anything beyond the sheer struggle of staying alive.

”But now, having you by my side, I always want to be the best version of myself. I want you to feel happy walking beside me, to be someone you can proudly declare to the world as your wife without any shame.”

As soon as Lily finished speaking, small hands gently grasped hers. Turning to face Nia, she saw a serious yet tender expression on her wife’s face.

”I know Lily will keep thinking this way and striving for it no matter what I say, so at the very least, I want to make one thing clear.”

Settling back onto Lily’s lap, Nia pressed her forehead against hers, wrapping her arms around Lily’s neck.

”As long as Lily is happy, I don’t care about anyone else’s opinion. Those who don’t treat you with the respect you deserve aren’t even worth my glance. If anyone in this world—no matter who they are—dares to mistreat you, I will make sure they pay for what they’ve done. That is my duty as your wife, and nothing will ever change that.”

Nia spoke with unwavering confidence, not a single hint of hesitation in her voice. Lily knew—Nia would never lie. She would love her regardless of what anyone else thought, and nothing could make Lily happier than that.

”Thank you.”

Hugging the girl now dressed in deep purple, Lily felt Nia leaning in, her lips brushing close to her ear.

”We still have some time. I want Lily to try as many outfits as she likes.”

As those words left Nia’s lips, Lily caught sight of the playful way her wife’s fingers traced along her hand—this time guiding it toward her inner thigh.

With a teasing smile and passion burning even brighter from their conversation, Lily turned Nia around, pressing her back against her own chest before whispering in a sultry tone:

”Then let your beloved wife help you take this one off before we try the next.”