Chapter 414: An Overly Worried Wife

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"R-Really?" Elisa asked, looking even more worried as she touched his face, searching for any sign that he was still unwell. "You’re really fine?"

He let her look, holding still as her fingers rested against his cheek. For once, he did not try to hurry the conversation along.

He gently held her hand and smiled at her. "I am. Don’t worry."

Elisa paused as she looked into his eyes, trying to determine whether he was telling the truth. She had been worried about him for quite some time, and even though he insisted that he was fine, she wanted to make sure he wasn’t pushing himself too hard.

"Then don’t scare me like that again," she said.

Riven’s smile faltered a little. She was not scolding him, but hearing her say it made him realize how frightened she must have been.

"I’ll try not to."

"You’ll try?"

"I don’t exactly plan on passing out."

That finally got a small laugh out of her. She shook her head, though she did not pull her hand away from his.

He was answering her properly now, at least. She could see him watching her, waiting to find out whether she believed him, and that helped more than his first reassurance had.

Elisa leaned closer to get another look at his face. Riven turned toward her at the same time, and she suddenly noticed how little space there was between them.

Neither said anything. Her hand was still in his, and for a moment she forgot what she had been about to ask.

For a brief moment, their lips were very close, but she grew flustered and quickly pulled away.

"A-Anyway! I’m starving... S-Shall we have breakfast, then?" she asked.

"Sure." Riven nodded, helping her into her wheelchair. "Let’s go."

Elisa was relieved that he did not tease her about how quickly she had changed the subject. She still avoided looking directly at him for a moment, but breakfast was something she could talk about without getting more flustered.

The morning got underway again as Riven started cooking breakfast for his wife and, well, everyone else who was awake and wanted something to eat too.

He had barely started before someone asked whether he was making enough for everyone. Riven glanced at what he had prepared, then reached for more ingredients.

Apparently, he was now.

Elisa watched him move around the kitchen, smiling whenever another request came his way. He complained about people asking for things before he had even finished cooking, but he still made sure there would be enough.

So much for a simple breakfast with his wife.

The house had become lively with so many people living there. Conversations were always happening somewhere, people were moving around, and someone always wanted something. Some, like Vladimir, preferred to keep to themselves, but Riven still pulled them into the group anyway... sometimes forcefully.

It wasn’t always easy to get everyone together, especially when some of them had rather unpleasant personalities, but Riven didn’t particularly mind. He preferred having everyone around to letting them spend their days isolated in their rooms.

Vladimir did not suddenly become sociable just because there was food on the table. He still looked as though he would rather be doing something else, but at least he was there.

Riven counted that as a success.

The conversation kept changing as people sat down. Someone brought up the trip, and before long they were talking about what to pack and what they wanted to do when they arrived.

Elisa joined in between bites. Riven finally sat down to eat as well, though he still had to get up whenever someone realized they needed something from the kitchen.

After breakfast, Riven told Elisa he was going to his Spirit Dungeon Realm. She decided to come with him and see what he did there.

"You want to watch?" he asked.

"Why not? You keep going there, and I’m curious."

Riven had mentioned it as part of his plans for the day. He had not expected her to take an interest so quickly.

"It’s mostly training," he said.

"Then I’ll watch you train."

Well, that had not discouraged her at all.

Elisa looked pleased with the idea, and he found himself trying to think of a reason to hesitate that would not make it sound as though he wanted to keep her away.

That was not the problem. He liked having her around.

It was just easier to do certain things when nobody was watching, especially someone whose opinion mattered to him. He glanced at her, wondering whether she would still look so interested once she saw what his training actually involved.

She was already waiting for him to lead the way.

He got a little flustered. Was he going to show her how he ate monsters and then practiced using the powers he gained? It felt like something he’d rather not show her. Although he knew Elisa wouldn’t necessarily mind, demonstrating some of his more unusual abilities in front of his wife was still somewhat embarrassing.

However...

"Heeey, how about we go to that lake first?" Daniela asked.

"I wanna go splish-splash." Carlos nodded. "I’ve seen bright, colorful fish there too...!"

Carlos was already looking toward the portal, as though mentioning the lake had settled where they were going. Daniela seemed just as pleased with the idea.

"We don’t have to spend the whole time watching Riven work," she said. "We can go look around first."

Elisa glanced between them. She had wanted to see what Riven did in his realm, but they made the lake sound like a good place to start.

"Are there really that many fish?"

Carlos nodded again, more eagerly this time.

That got a smile out of her. Apparently, she would have a very enthusiastic guide, whether she asked for one or not.

"Oh, really? A lake... I can’t feel anything from the hips down, but I wouldn’t mind going!" Elisa said. "Riven, are you coming?"

"Sure." He nodded as they all entered through the portal. "I need to get some things done first, but I’ll join you afterward, if that’s okay."

"Sure. See you there, then." Elisa nodded as Daniela and Carlos helped her toward the lake, taking turns pushing her wheelchair.

She looked back at him before they got too far.

"Don’t forget to come!"

"I won’t."

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