"Damn it, Little White! Are you trying to scare me to death?!" Sophie clutched her chest, her heart still pounding after spotting the small figure perched on her bed. She raised a hand threateningly but didn't strike—partly because she couldn't bear to, and partly because she knew better than to provoke his magic.
"Why aren't you with Charles? What are you doing here?" Ever since entering the human world, Little White had been inseparable from Charles. Not that he didn't want to stay with Sophie—she was the one who refused, simply because he could talk… in a *man's* voice. He'd long given up on making her "take responsibility." As long as she was happy, he didn't care who she ended up with.
"Don't you want to know who Amanda is? You've probably guessed where he's from, right?" Little White studied Sophie's shifting expression with interest. "But Sophie shouldn't know Amanda. He was already gone when you arrived. Did something else happen today?"
"Just spit it out. I know you're dying to tell me," Sophie muttered, conflicted. Even though she knew Amanda wasn't *him*, she wasn't eager to hear about his love story with another girl—even if that girl was the original owner of her body.
"Amanda is a few years older than Kalina and me. We grew up together." Sophie had a hard time picturing this tiny creature and the tall, striking Amanda as childhood playmates.
"None of us ever met Kalina's mother. The three elders raised her. Amanda is the eldest elder's son, so the three of us were always together. Kalina and Amanda were even closer than she was with me, her bonded beast."
"Since Kalina had no parents, the other children bullied her—even though she was the Saintess. Maybe because all the adults adored her. The jealousy nearly got her killed once."
"Some kids waited until Amanda was gone, then cornered Kalina and me. Neither of us knew magic back then. They threw Kalina into the water, and she almost drowned. The second elder saved her. The bullies were punished, but when Amanda found out, he beat them up himself."
"After that, no one dared touch her."
"As they grew older, Kalina and Amanda's magical talents surpassed everyone else's. The way they looked at each other… it was full of love. When Kalina sneaked out of the barrier, Amanda covered for her. And those snacks you found? Most were things Kalina made for *him*."
"Amanda loves food too, so Kalina became an amazing cook. They were soulmates. If not for the accident that sent Kalina away, they would've married when Amanda returned. I overheard them discussing how to tell the elders before he left."
"Maybe I've been too harsh on Amanda. He's innocent in all this," Sophie murmured.
Seeing his job done, Little White hopped off the bed and slipped out.
"Enough overthinking. Tomorrow's problem for tomorrow's me." Sophie drifted into sleep—hopefully dreamless.
---
The next morning, Amanda became *Magic Doll*'s first customer. Following orders, the staff bombarded him with enthusiastic recommendations.
"Sir, this is our latest product—very stylish!""Sir, how about this—""Sir, this one—" Their relentless cheer strained Amanda's smile. *Who knew smiling could be so exhausting?*
From the balcony, Sophie watched the familiar stranger below. Her heart had settled. That life was over. Even if they couldn't be lovers, she wished him happiness.
"Mr. Amanda, care to join me upstairs?"
His head snapped up. Finally, the face he'd longed for. But the embrace he expected never came.
Sophie led him to the VIP room, serving homemade pastries. She planned to come clean—well, mostly. She wouldn't mention being from another world, just that she wasn't *his* Kalina. How he took it wasn't her problem.
Amanda, however, assumed she was just angry. *Why deny who she is? Did I fail her when she needed me? What forced her to leave the tribe—leave* me*?*
But he wouldn't give up. Not when her bonded beast, Bridget—now "Little White"—was right here. She *was* Kalina. She'd forgive him eventually. Time meant nothing to him. He could wait.
---
Amanda became *Magic Doll*'s most loyal customer. His temporary home overflowed with trinkets… and his savings dwindled to three gold coins.
*If only I'd hoarded more human money.* Back then, coins were just clutter. Now? He needed a job.
Resolved, he returned to *Magic Doll*.
"Claude, where's your boss?" Amanda smiled at the counter. He knew Claude and his wife, Eve, were close to Kalina.
Claude grinned back. He liked Amanda, despite the unspoken rivalry. The man's devotion was obvious—he bought useless items just to see Sophie. (The "double pricing" rule had been quietly dropped.)
"Probably still asleep." Claude glanced outside. The sun wasn't even high yet.
"Uncle Amanda!" A pink blur launched itself at him. Amanda caught the little girl, spinning her before setting her down.
"Elsa, up so early?" He booped her nose.
"Early? The sun's up! Even Charles is awake!" She pouted, then brightened. "Uncle Amanda, I'm *hungry*. Mommy won't cook. Will you?"
With a chuckle, he led her to the second-floor kitchen. Clearly, this wasn't his first time cooking for the kids.
As he worked, memories surfaced—Kalina cooking for him, his occasional attempts earning her praise. Watching her enjoy his creations had been his greatest joy.
Now, he cooked for *this* Kalina, who devoured everything. The children adored him, especially Elsa and Charles, who watched with starry eyes.
"They're not mine and Kalina's… but if she loves them, so do I."
"You're here *again*?" A snide voice came from the doorway.
**Will Amanda's patience win her over—or will the past keep them apart?**