Just like that, the night slipped by.

I can't even remember what I dreamt about. But hey—does it matter?

It was already morning, and I was up, sipping from a silver cup filled with freshly squeezed viper venom. The morning sun filtered in through the open windows, spilling golden light across the polished floors.

"Delicious," I muttered, savoring every drop.

On the windowsill, a plate of decapitated vipers had been neatly laid out, and Juniper was already munching away, its tails twitching with delight.

Scarlette? Frustratingly, still buried under the covers.

"Scar…" I called, trying to wake her. But there she was—her fiery red hair a tangled mess across her face.

"Come on, didn't you say it was my day off too?" she grumbled.

A complaint. How predictable.

But she was right. I did say that. Also, Scarlette was never a morning person.

I should've lied yesterday. Said I had meetings or some urgent paperwork that needed her. Anything to drag her out of bed today.

Juniper, ever the helpful sidekick, still perched on the window ledge, nudged its snout toward the market square in the center of town.

"You little fluffy genius!" I exclaimed, giving its head an overly aggressive pat. Juniper purred contentedly.

"Oh, Scarlette…" I called, crawling across the bed dramatically. "I'm going shopping. Alone. On our day off."

I waited.

"Shopping in the marketplace… all by myself. What am I going to buy?" I teased.

Still nothing.

"So many choices," I sighed. "Maybe I'll replace some of the palace furniture… something extravagant and hideous."

That did it.

"Don't buy anything stupid," she groaned—finally sitting up, her voice muffled by a pillow. There was sleep in her eyes, and a stray strand of curly red hair clung to her cheek.

And just like that, she was up.

Am I smart, or what?

When I turned, Scarlette was already dressed. A black tunic like a proper Dark Fairy, ash smeared on her face, her wild red hair untamed. Unrecognizable.

"Excuse me? Has anyone seen my Love Fairy wife around?" I asked, feigning shock—then burst out laughing.

"What?" she scoffed. "Isn't the point to be unrecognizable?"

Then she paused, giving me a look from head to toe.

"Did you really plan to go out dressed like royalty?" she smirked, pointing at my velvet robes. "I'll just direct all kingdom inquiries to you while I shop. Thanks, dear."

I frowned.

This woman. She always flips things back on me.

I tried to think of a clever comeback… but reality hit.

"You know what? You have a point," I admitted begrudgingly.

So I changed—swapping my black velvet royal robes for a red and white tunic. A Love Fairy's attire.

"Much better," she grinned.

"Please don't tell me we're using fake names too," I sighed.

"Charlotte and Ravos," she replied smugly. "You came up with them last time, remember? You introduced me as Charlotte—the Dark Fairy who wanted to be human. And you, Ravos—the Love Fairy."

Scarlette clipped a purple extension into her hair, completing the look. She really did seem more like a Dark Fairy now.

I couldn't believe the fake identities we once used in the old world were making a comeback.

But hey, I needed the day off. How else were we going to pull this off?

In this attire of red and white, I did look like a Love Fairy—and Scarlette, a convincing Dark one.

Talk about swapping identities. Necessary. Maybe even a little diabolical.

"So we're still a mixed Fairy couple?" Scarlette teased.

"Well… it's just a reflection of reality. Except that we get to switch races. Again." I replied with a shrug.

"What could possibly go wrong?" Scarlette grinned. "Not our first rodeo."

"Yes. Just like old times. Except we're not sneaking into some Light Fairy kingdom this time," I replied nonchalantly.

"Oh, those times, how can I forget?" she giggled like a schoolkid.

"Can we also be an eloping couple? Mix it up a little," she added, eyes twinkling.

I sighed. "Scar… speaking of things that could go wrong. Don't add anything to the story. You're terrible at improvising. Too many details to remember."

Scarlette pouted but didn't argue.

We made our way through the corridors and toward the palace gates. Scarlette was already bouncing with excitement—and truth be told, so was I.

"To the market to buy a fat pig!" I yelled, pointing into the air dramatically as we walked out of the palace.

The guards stared at each other, unsure of what to do.

"Excuse me sir, you are not supposed to be here." One guard came to stop me, but I gently shoved him aside, causing him to trip and fall.

"Excuse you, you are in my way," I replied instinctively and sarcastically, forgetting that I was already in disguise.

The guard looked up from the floor in confusion, then his eyes widened as realization dawned on him.

"Your Majesties… is that you? Both of you?" another one asked, doing a double take.

Scarlette nodded sheepishly.

"It's okay. Please guard the palace," she told them.

She then dashed to catch up with me.

"Hello! Ever heard of waiting?" she called out before kicking me on the butt.

"Ooh, Dark Fairy—so scary," I mocked as we made our way through the palace gates, heading for the market.

"What's scary is your disguise… How do you even look so harmless?" she scoffed.

"But I am a dainty pretty little Love Fairy Ravos," I mocked while batting my eyelids dramatically.

"Kiss me under the moonlight, Charlotte," I sighed, fluttering my lashes at her. "I want to hold your hand and whisper secrets about silk embroidery."

"I am definitely going to puke," she replied, teasing.