I ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED A DUNGEON

Felix double-checked the bag while going downstairs. Five or six perfumes in the same looking bottles. Five gold pieces. Around fifty silvers.

This much can easily clear all my debt. Repair the roof. And something better to eat than the butter bread.

Felix released a silent breath.

"Just out of curiosity," Felix said as they got to the ground floor, "if I hadn’t suggested to ask Dune, were you really going to throw that water ball at me?"

"Do you really expect me to let such a creature as yourself just walk off?" Hakimi went out through the door first.

Felix chose to respond with silence.

Outside, Dune stood where Felix had left her, looking at the upstairs window until she heard their steps. Her look dropped down and rested upon Felix once, his clothes wet slightly, his walk stiff.

"You’ve lost," she said.

"I didn’t. There was a misunderstanding. That is all," said Felix, holding up the bag. "I have what we came here for."

"We go back to the perfume man then," she said, nodding to herself and turning away from him without ever looking at Hakimi.

"Lady Dune," Hakimi cleared his throat. "Excuse me but I need you to answer a few of my questions."

Dune turned and sized him up for a moment. "The human who asked many questions before."

Hakimi glanced at Felix sideways.

Felix nodded subtly. I told you.

"My name is Hakimi Morrow," Hakimi said, standing a little straighter. "Morrow by birth and in the service of the kingdom of Rosia for countless generations and in service to Lady Diana Dietrich, daughter of Lord Osbel Dietrich, minister of Fillipo city."

"So that is why you have that fancy piece of metal on your hip," Felix said, grinning. "Not that useful apparently when you can’t pull it out."

"What did you say, you fool," Hakimi’s eyes went narrow at him.

"Ask the questions. We don’t have time to waste with a Nanny."

Hakimi scoffed and turned back to Dune. "Lady Dune could hold out your palms. I need to check your Numen flow while you answer my questions. In order to confirm that you’re not being influenced by anything."

"Yes." Dune held out her palms. "Ask, Hakimi."

Hakimi raised his hand above hers and focused on it. A small bead of water appeared in his hands and it fell into Dune’s hand. He let his Numen flow through his fingers, blending with the droplet and sinking into her hand.

He opened his eyes.

"It is true that you two were married this morning through some kind of ritual?"

"Yes."

"Is it true that he mistreats you badly?"

"Stop twisting my words," Felix interrupted him from behind.

Dune briefly looked at Felix and back at Hakimi. "He gave me a name, he brought me home and we now live together. He even gave me butter bread."

The expression on Hakimi’s face changed slightly. "Has he asked you to do something bad, or something you did not wish to do?"

"Felix told me to wait outside. I wanted to do the work together." She replied. "But I am weak."

"Has he ever hurt you?"

Dune gave it some thought. "He put his hand in my mouth to pull out the ore from my stomach. Felix says we need money."

Hakimi turned around.

Felix was staring up into the sky. "I can explain," he said without looking back.

Hakimi returned his attention to Dune. His voice softened slightly. "Do you wish to stay with him? If not, I can take you to a nice and much better place."

"Felix and I are bound forever," Dune replied. "I cannot exist without him."

"I see..." Hakimi slowly pulled his hand away. He had been reading her Numen flow the entire time. Not a single fluctuation. It was as calm as her expression, and as still as all of her answers.

There was nothing influencing her. She was simply speaking the truth.

"Thank you for your honesty, Lady Dune. I was wrong about your case."

"Okay," she replied flatly.

Hakimi remained silent for a brief moment, his demeanor seeming almost like an apology.

"I told you," Felix said and shook the bag. "Misunderstanding is solved. Let’s leave."

"Hold on."

Felix stopped. He slowly turned around. "What else do you need from us?"

Hakimi stared straight into the bag. "Two of those perfume bottles."

Felix looked into the bag, then at Hakimi, then into Hakimi’s hand that held the four gold coins.

How does he know what’s in there?

"Two," Felix said.

"Two."

Felix handed the two bottles and took the money, while still thinking about the sense of it.

Four gold coins suddenly filled his pocket.

"Thank you for the deal."

"All the rest back to the perfume man," Hakimi said, putting away the bottles. "That’s what the job is, isn’t it?" He started walking and then slowed down as he approached Felix and whispered. "I’ll be watching you."

He removed the dust from Felix’s shoulder with one hand and went ahead without even looking back.

Felix stood in the street and watched him leave.

"He’ll be watching," he whispered. "Doesn’t he have anything better to do."

The sun was already sitting low when they finally returned to the market district. Felix counted what he still had in his hands. Two silvers.

In total forty from the perfume man. Alam took thirty-five on the spot along with five silvers that never were a part of any deal Felix made. And two silvers he still had after purchasing the paper bag of bread and fruits that Dune was eating as though the food might vanish if she slowed down.

He looked at the bag. "You eat too much!"

"B#&#!" she exclaimed before swallowing. "You told me it was to eat!"

"That does not mean eat everything!"

The tavern was on the other side of the street. Felix slowed down.

"Listen very carefully."

"I listen all the time."

"After entering if anyone asks about you. Just say your name and tell them that Anthony sent you to me. Got that?"

"Yes. I will say my name and tell them Anthony sent me to you."

"Don’t mention anything about marriage rituals or dungeons. If anyone asks, just say I don’t know. I’m just doing what I was told by Anthony."

Dune went on a deep thought for a moment, "Are you Anthony?"

"No. No. I’m not Anthony. I’m Felix." Felix started to think he was the one insane here. "Just don’t tell anyone about your background. Keep your mouth closed. If anyone asks..."

"I will tell them I’m Dune. Anthony has sent me to you."

"Very good. You’re a very fast learner."

"I don’t know. I’m just doing what I was told by Anthony."

Felix looked at her, dumbfounded. "That’s—yes. Exactly that."

Even a five year old would look smarter than her.

He looked at her, the paper bag held against her chest, bread half gone, completely sincere.

"You’ll do fine," he said. "Just stay close to me inside."

Dune nodded, stepped in front of him, and bent down her head a little, lowering her chin towards her chest.

Felix looked at her confused at first. Then his eyes went to the street beside them, a kid and his mother passing on the opposite side, the kid’s hand swallowed up in hers as they headed home.

He remembered his grandfather doing this. The hand on the head after a long day, before eating dinner together. Felix had never admitted to liking it.

He raised his hand and patted her head.

"You’re doing good."