4 Have a great first night!

[Civil Service Bureau]

Ziana gasped as the highly secured gates magically opened for them. The guards were all asleep at their posts, and she couldn't help but wonder if this creature had something to do with it. She just hoped he hadn't killed them out of frustration.

Zayden had no interest in heading to the parking lot and instead stopped right in front of the large, curved stairs. They got down and walked towards the main building. As they approached the office, Ziana noticed two men standing at the entrance. Her eyes then fell on the man lying on the floor and went wide in shock.

"Did you kill him?" Zayden casually asked them, but Ziana frowned. He sounded as if they were talking about some obnoxious rats rather than humans.

She turned to the man and was surprised by his formal attire. Gosh! Did they just murder a government official?

"No, he's just unconscious," one of them replied, and she breathed a sigh of relief. But when the man kicked the official out of the entrance as if he were some trash, she frowned in disdain. They really looked down on humans, and that made her uneasy.

"This is Xavier and Yael," Zayden introduced the two men.

Xavier, who had kicked the official earlier, curtly nodded, while Yael smiled and waved at her. She returned the gesture with a smile, grateful that at least someone was happy to see her.

"Let's go," Zayden announced, and the glass doors opened without ID scanning. Ziana followed them and looked around the place. Not a single person was here to save her tonight. Great! She thought as they walked towards the marriage registration office.

"Did you get all your papers?" Zayden inquired as they entered the room, and his men nodded. Turning to Xavier, he asked, "Where's the death certificate?"

Xavier opened his hand, and a file appeared out of thin air. He passed it on to Zayden, and Ziana blinked in surprise. Really? How did they do such things? She wondered as he flipped through the papers.

"Why is the date incorrect here?" He frowned, pointing at the date and looked at Xavier, who shrugged in response.

"Lady Winter thinks we might need to stay for over six months," Yael replied.

"Make it three months. I cannot stay longer," Zayden stated, shaking his head. Three months was already a big deal, and he was confident that it was enough to complete the mission. Moreover, he couldn't handle these earthlings, adapt to their lifestyle and live among them.

Hearing their conversation, Ziana couldn't help but sigh in resentment. Three months? Couldn't he die sooner and free her from this deal? She thought and sighed again.

"Why? Do you want me to stay longer?" Zayden questioned with a smirk. Even his brothers were curious, seeing the disappointment written all over her face.

"No!" Ziana shrieked, shaking her head in horror. "The earlier you leave, the better," she added.

Yael burst into laughter at her blunt answer, and even Xavier blinked in surprise. Zayden glanced at her and smiled, shaking his head. This girl was really straightforward!

"Let's get registered," Zayden said after reading all his official human documents.

They walked to the registration booth, and everything was printed perfectly. Ziana looked at the papers and sighed heavily.

"Sign!" Hearing his order, she mustered up the courage and signed it with a heavy heart. Oh well, it was only for three months, and it would pass in a blink. She tried to boost herself, but her heart was uneasy.

Taking the papers, Xavier examined their signatures and nodded, "I will have your certificates printed." Turning to Yael, he instructed, "Take a picture of them and bring it to me."

Yael nodded and proceeded to set up the camera that was in the corner. Zayden walked to the photo booth, and Ziana sighed before following him. They stood in front of the white screen as Yael got ready with his camera.

"Okay, move closer," Yael asked once he was done. He frowned when he saw Ziana stiffly standing a few inches away from her husband.

"Ziana, move closer!" he asked, looking through the lens.

Ziana slowly took a step but made sure that her shoulders didn't touch him. They barely knew each other, and it was mortifying to take a photo together.

Zayden suddenly grabbed her waist and pulled her closer. Looking down at her as she stiffened, he added, "I won't eat you. Relax!"

"Great!" Yael smiled and demanded, "Now, smile!"

Ziana forced herself to smile, but her body burned at his touch. She felt the heat rising in her cheeks as his hands lingered around her waist, making her stomach flutter with a mix of emotions. And she regretted wearing this damn cropped hoodie!

Click.

The moment Yael finished taking the picture, she pushed herself out of his grip and moved away. She turned around and looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"We need to go settle a few things," Zayden said. When she turned around to face him, he added, "You can wait in the car until then."

"Okay," Ziana nodded and quickly rushed out of the office.

Yael chuckled seeing her run out of the building. "I highly doubt if she can handle you for three more months."

"I'll be good this time," Zayden joked, looking at the picture on the camera.

"Oh, that's impossible," Yael laughed at his brother's remark. The last time he tried to be nice with a human, she died of a heart attack, and he genuinely wished for Ziana's well-being.

---

"Congratulations on your marriage," Yael smiled, approaching with a few bags in his hands as she waited by the car. "Sorry, we could only manage a few gifts," he added, placing them in the back seat.

Ziana was stunned by the brand names and quickly closed her drooling mouth. "No, no, these are more than enough. Thank you," she replied with a grateful smile.

Yael closed the door and stepped back as Zayden walked towards the driver's seat.

"Don't forget the validation. You'll need it for your legal powers here!" Yael playfully reminded him, earning a smack on the back of his head from Xavier.

"What? It's mandatory!" he grumbled, pouting. He then grinned at Ziana, who hadn't fully caught their conversation.

"Let's go!" Zayden disregarded him and took his seat. Ziana nodded and quickly hopped into the car.

"Oh yeah, have a great first night!" Yael quipped again, and Ziana's face flushed with concern.

Were they talking about...? And the word "mandatory" sent a shiver down her spine. She closed the door and nervously fastened her seatbelt.

No, they weren't in an actual marriage! They didn't need to do that thing, right? She thought as Zayden rolled up the windows and started the car.

In fact, that damn contract didn't mention anything about consummation, so it wasn't necessary! Right? Ziana pondered, nervously bowing to the two men as Yael excitedly waved at them.

As the car accelerated, she couldn't shake off a nagging thought. In the ancient world, consummating marriages was often mandatory. Did these creatures adhere to such archaic rules? Her mind spun with bizarre notions, compounded by her realization of Zayden's age.

Suddenly, Zayden's voice cut through her strange reverie, snapping her back to reality. "Is this your first time?" he asked, his words catching her off guard.

"N-No!" Ziana blurted out, her voice betraying a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"Then, can you ride it for me?" Zayden's casual words sent a shockwave of panic through her.

"HUH? NO!" She shrieked, her face drained of color.

How could he speak so casually about such matters with a complete stranger like her? Ziana's mind raced, her thoughts spiraling in an attempt to make sense of the situation.

Zayden laughed at her reaction, a warm chuckle that raised the tension in the car. Refocusing his attention on the road, he said, "Woah, calm down. I'm not skilled at driving these cars. So I was hoping you could ride it."

Relief washed over Ziana as she comprehended his words. Her wide-eyed confusion shifted into a sense of embarrassment, her cheeks flushing as realization struck her frantic mind.

Wait! He was talking about riding the... CAR?

Oh, trash! Ziana's embarrassment peaked, and she wished to dig a hole and bury herself.

Zayden glanced at her, confusion evident in his eyes, but then he smirked, understanding the cause of her embarrassment. He realized what had led her mind astray.

"Yael was just joking with you," he reassured her, his smile putting her somewhat at ease. Ziana felt like a ghost, still reeling from the embarrassment that lingered.

"We would never get involved romantically, so relax," he added, noticing the redness in her cheeks and the shame in her eyes.

Oh well, now that he had dispelled her absurd inner fears, Ziana truly wished she could dig into the car and bury herself.

---

Ziana impatiently waited to reach her home. Despite the air conditioning, she still felt the burning sensation of shame all over her body, but she tried to maintain a facade of normalcy. And as soon as the car stopped in front of her house, she quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and prepared to run away.

However, just as she opened the door, Zayden grabbed her wrist, causing her to jump in shock.

"Don't you think we're forgetting something?" he asked, his tone tinged with intrigue.

"Wh-what?" she managed to utter, her voice stammering while her hands desperately attempted to free from his grip.

Zayden's eyes flickered with a hint of suspicion, his mischievous demeanor only heightening to her unease. "Something that you humans do to validate your marriage?" he teased, feigning innocence.

Ziana's heart raced even faster as she met his gaze, her mind scrambling to comprehend his insinuation. "We don't do anything!" she blurted out, her voice betraying a mix of panic and apprehension.

A sly grin played on Zayden's lips as he feigned innocence. "I think you seal your marriage with a kiss, don't you?"

Ziana's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. But before she could muster a response, he swiftly unbuckled his seatbelt, and...