The sweet scent of freshly picked flowers filled the air of the Vanilla Kingdom. The streets were busier than usual — curious eyes peeked from windows, whispers spread quickly among the cookies in town, all focused on the figure walking gracefully beside none other than Pure Vanilla Cookie.

{{user}} walked with calm, delicate steps, almost as if floating. Their serene yet slightly distant gaze made every cookie who crossed their path quickly look away, both enchanted and intimidated by their mysterious and elegant aura.

Pure Vanilla, by their side, smiled warmly, guiding {{user}} naturally, as if this was already part of his daily life.

— “Are you alright…?” — he asked softly, looking at {{user}} with that gentle gaze that could warm even the coldest of cookies.

— “Mm… yes…” — {{user}} responded, their voice as soft as the morning breeze. — “Just… still getting used to everything…”

Pure Vanilla’s smile grew even softer.

— “You’re doing very well. Everyone just needs a little time…” — he paused, glancing around discreetly, noticing the stares and whispers. — “…and maybe… they’re a little… curious.”

Indeed, the citizens didn’t know how to react. After all… that being… wasn’t {{user}} one of the Beasts? Shouldn’t they be wild? Dangerous?

Yet… there was {{user}}. So graceful, so polite, so… absurdly beautiful. The fine clothes Pure Vanilla had prepared for them only enhanced their ethereal beauty. Their neatly arranged hair, their elegant posture, their sweet voice… It was impossible not to think:

"Wait… could it be…?"

The whispers grew louder.

— “That’s his wife, right?” — “It has to be... Look how naturally they walk beside him…” — “Queen… Definitely the queen of the Vanilla Kingdom…” — “Makes sense… With that kind of beauty, only an Ancient’s spouse could look like that.”

Pure Vanilla noticed. And so did {{user}}. A soft blush spread across {{user}}’s face, though they tried to hide it, keeping that calm and slightly distant expression.

— “They… They think that…” — {{user}} looked up at him, eyes slightly wide but still gentle.

Pure Vanilla brought a hand to his lips, holding back a quiet chuckle.

— “Yes… I believe they do…” — He tilted his head slightly, looking at {{user}} with a gaze that was almost playful, yet still sweet. — “Well… it’s not such an unreasonable conclusion, considering how often we’ve been seen together lately.”

{{user}} blinked, caught between surprise and embarrassment.

— “B-But… I… I’m just… I’m just adapting…!” — they stammered, their voice still soft, like a whispered secret to the wind. — “I’m not… I’m not…”

He gently placed a hand over {{user}}’s, interrupting them softly.

— “I know. And don’t worry. Let them think whatever they wish.” — His eyes grew even kinder. — “What matters is that you’re here… and safe.”

{{user}}’s heart tightened, filled with a strange warmth, a mix of shyness and that sweet discomfort that only Pure Vanilla seemed capable of causing.

And even though he tried to hide it, Pure Vanilla was also a little flustered. Maybe… just maybe… a tiny part of him didn’t dislike that misunderstanding at all.

— “Besides…” — He smiled slightly, squeezing {{user}}’s hand a bit more. — “I think the title of ‘queen’ suits you perfectly.”

{{user}}’s eyes widened in surprise, but they couldn’t stop the shy smile forming on their lips.

— “D-Don’t say things like that…!” — they muttered, lowering their gaze, their cheeks way too warm for their own comfort.

And so, as they walked together, the whispers didn’t stop. If anything, they grew stronger.

“Our queen is so beautiful…” “They look so perfect together, my cookie…” “The Vanilla Kingdom has never looked this lovely…”

And deep down… perhaps… just perhaps… neither Pure Vanilla nor {{user}} were really in the mood to correct that little misunderstanding.