Morning, Carriage and Wolf

A light knocking against the inner wooden doors pulled Joash from sleep.

His thoughts dragged themselves reluctantly into focus as he registered a familiar voice - just conscious enough to name it.

Marek. The priest.

“Hello? Are you up?”

Joash rubbed at his eyes, staring up at the wooden ceiling. He became aware of the warmth of the blankets, the unnatural ambient heat of the magically enhanced room… and the soft weight of a tail draped over his leg.

And then it all came crashing back.

He’d been isekai’d.

He’d gotten married.

He’d had his first kiss.

And now-

He glanced to the other side of the bed.

He was sharing it with his wife.

Married. He was married. To a beautiful wolf-girl.

The thought looped endlessly in his half-awake mind, refusing to settle into anything resembling normalcy.

The knocking came again.

“Joash? Foebe? Are you there?”

With a groan, Joash pushed himself upright.

“Yeeauuup…”

Marek sounded relieved.

“Good. Are you dressed?”

Joash blinked.

Then flushed as the implication caught up to him.

“We are,” he called back, raising his voice slightly. “But Foebe’s still asleep.”

Beside him, Foebe groaned and rolled over.

“Not yet…”

Marek’s reply came muffled through the door.

“Well, I don’t mean to rush you, but you do have a very busy day ahead.”

Joash yawned.

“Okay… we’ll be with you in a moment.”

“I’ll be in the church,” Marek said. “The front door’s been unlocked.”

Soft footsteps faded away.

Joash stared at the door for a moment before turning back to Foebe. Her tail still rested comfortably over his leg. He reached out and gave her shoulder a gentle shake.

“Come on. You heard him.”

She groaned again.

“I don’t wanna…”

He frowned.

“Why not?”

Foebe rolled onto her back with a sigh. Her eyes opened and quickly found his. She smiled - but there was reluctance behind it.

“We have to meet royalty,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to.”

He paused.

“…I’m sorry. Royalty?”

She nodded.

“Yeah. They want to meet you. Wish us prosperity and all that.”

He shook his head slowly.

“Just who are you?”

She smiled weakly.

“I told you. I’m the last anaruhi.”

“Sure, but there has to be more to it than that,” he said. “Those wedding guests. None of them were normal people, were they?”

She shook her head.

“No. Most of them were nobles. Or higher.”

“Anyone even vaguely middle class?”

This time she smiled genuinely.

“I don’t know. I didn’t invite them.”

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I guess that means our lives are going to be under a spotlight.”

She blinked.

“Spotlight?”

Right. Earth phrase.

“Oh, sorry. It’s a big light that shines on one place. In this case, it means everyone’s going to be watching us.”

She nodded slowly.

“Yeah. That sounds about right.”

Then her expression softened.

“But once our honeymoon is over, we don’t have to stay out in the open. We can hide from the eyes. Live quietly. In a house of our own.”

Joash nodded. He still had more questions than answers - but clearly, now wasn’t the time.

He smiled.

“Then let’s get ready, shall we?”

Foebe nodded, returning the smile, her tail giving a small, content flick.

“Turn around, I'm going to get changed.”

They found the priest in the church, exactly where he’d said he would be. He looked up and smiled brightly as they entered.

“There you are! I see you found the clothes we bought for you.”

If Foebe hadn’t mentioned that tradition dictated fresh clothes would be waiting in the drawers, Joash would have walked out in his wedding suit. Instead, he now wore something that struck a perfect balance between commoner garb and noblewear - a fitted shirt and trousers made from elegant fabric that didn’t restrict his movement in the slightest.

Foebe, meanwhile, wore a light blue dress that stopped just above her knees, paired with a light brown hoodie that ended beneath her chest. The combination made her look absurdly soft. Squishable. Like something that demanded to be picked up and hugged.

Joash restrained himself and let her do the talking. He still had very little idea what was going on.

“We did. Thank you.”

Marek waved a dismissive hand.

“Don’t thank me. I had nothing to do with that.”

Foebe smiled anyway.

“Then thank you for everything else.”

He shrugged.

“It’s nothing. So, are we ready to go?”

Foebe nodded. Joash followed suit.

Marek clapped his hands together.

“Excellent! Then let’s be off. There’s a carriage waiting outside.”

And there was.

It was drawn by a large, horse-like animal that Foebe casually identified as a hoiho. The carriage itself was unmistakably meant for royalty - gold trim, plush leather interior, and a small cluster of servants waiting nearby, clearly sent from a palace.

So this was really happening.

Joash watched as Foebe was assisted inside, then accepted a helping hand himself before the door was closed behind them. Outside, Marek waved enthusiastically as the carriage began to roll forward.

“Goodbye! And good luck!”

Then he was gone.

The carriage jolted as it moved - clearly lacking any sort of suspension - and Joash turned to Foebe, who sat beside him, her tail curled neatly against her side.

“I’ve been meaning to ask,” he said. “What’s my last name now?”

She looked genuinely surprised.

“Did no one tell you? We were assigned one shortly after the ceremony. Fukurai.”

He blinked.

“Oh. No, no one told me.” Then he smiled. “But that’s a nice name. Joash and Foebe Fukurai.”

He nodded to himself.

“Yeah. I like that.”

She smiled.

“Me too.”

Then her expression softened, her ears drooping just slightly.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I’m still getting used to the idea of being a wife. Of… loving someone.”

Joash nodded. He understood. His feelings had arrived fully formed, all at once - but her world, her expectations, were different. He couldn’t ask more than she was ready to give.

And he didn’t need to.

Before he could respond, she placed a gentle hand over his, closing the space between them. Her eyes shimmered.

“But I’ll do my best. Okay?”

He smiled back at her.

“Don’t worry. I’ll always be here for you.”

Her smile widened, warm and fragile all at once.

“You have no idea how much that means to me.”

He blinked.

“What?”

She didn’t look away.

“Because I thought you were going to vanish,” she said softly. “And then I was going to vanish too. But that didn’t happen.”

She shifted closer until their shoulders nearly touched, her voice dropping to a whisper meant only for him.

“I don’t think I’ll struggle to learn to love you.”

His heart began to pound as her eyes fluttered closed and her lips puckered slightly. He leaned in, hesitant, and pressed his lips gently against hers.

When he pulled back, she was smiling.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to that.”

He blinked.

“Oh-”

She giggled.

“That’s a good thing. I like the way it makes my heart race.”

He chuckled softly.

“I feel the same way.”

They stayed like that, smiling at one another, as the carriage continued on its course toward the palace.