32. Epilogue

"Over there." I point at the table in the center of the ballroom. There are beings dancing in the front of the ballroom, which is better for us to be serving food.

"Sure." Zil lifts the big rectangular container of curry with fishballs, showing off his strength.

I could have done that myself, but he insisted on helping with that.

"The two of you!" I shout at the new staff we got. They are rolling in the small cart with more food to refill the containers.

There is jingling music and everyone is here to chill and enjoy the party. Maybe I should relax some.

Zil comes back to me with a wide grin. "You have no idea how happy I am."

I let out a relaxed sigh. "Are you sure about that? I thought you've been hoping to get in touch with uzains, any one of them."

He shrugs. "I do, but I want to be happy with you."

"I thought having a restaurant in a space station is as far away as possible from that."

"But I get to meet a lot of beings. Maybe one day, I'll meet a uzain."

"Probably not, though. Uzains don't pay for anything, so..."

Both of us laugh.

He pats my shoulder. "I think I'm learning a lot here. Even if we find them, or they find us, I'll be here with you."

I hug him. Even though there are others around, I don't care. This is a party hosted by the space station for merchants and their prized guests, which makes for a good time to just enjoy ourselves.

And earn a handsome amount of money.

It has been a while since we came back here. My stall is still around, my staff were worried about me. They knew how to order stock and my account has been good, so... While it didn't feel perfectly fine, everything was still going along.

Now, they are here with me, responsible for the catering for this event scene. And we have a restaurant now, not just a stall.

It took a bit to make up our minds and decided to come here instead of waiting on that space station. I have better footing here and it is better than meandering our way back there. Hopefully, it won't affect the chance of meeting other uzains.

"Evening."

I turn around to Nelutho and Nataly. "Hi, so glad to see both of you!"

Maybe I should toast with them, but I don't have a glass of anything with me. They are the guests and have nice champagne glasses in their hands.

"Here." Zil shows up by my side with his glass and one for me.

The four of us toast and I take a sip of my drink. My cheeks get hot. Maybe it is the alcohol.

Nelutho asks, "Business good?"

I nod. "Thanks a lot for your help. We are expecting even more growth in the coming year."

Nataly grins. "That's amazing. I'm so happy for you. How about Zil? Did the uzains look for you?"

Zil sighs. I squeeze his hand. "We aren't sure. Maybe they looked where they left us behind, but since we are here, I'm not sure."

Zil takes another sip of his drink. "I'm not sure whether they are actively looking for me. But after giving it some thought, maybe isn't bad to be doing something else while I wait. I enjoy my time with Hazel and that's the most important for me."

Someone else calls Nelutho, so the two of them go there, leaving Zil and me alone.

Now, the food on the table is all refilled and we'll have some time before we have to take care of the job. Zil wraps an arm around me, holding me to his side.

He says, "It is... a bit too unreal."

"Yeah, I suppose you've grown to like how I scream at you in the kitchen."

He huffs and rolls his eyes. "Come on. You're almost a different being in the kitchen."

I snuggle with him, enjoying his warmth. "But you love that. Sometimes, you want to have someone to shout at you."

"Who knows?" He strokes my side as we watch beings dancing. If we weren't in the kitchen staff's clothes, maybe we would join them.

"Are you really fine with how the other uzains..."

His hand on my side twitches. Maybe he cares after all. If only I knew how to help. Nelutho and Nataly have no clue either. They asked around for us and tried to get in touch with a single uzain battleship, but they are such isolated ones who don't work with being they know that... It didn't work out well.

He shrugs. "I think it is fate. Maybe I'm not for a life on a battleship after all. I just wish I could run into Vrek again. He was my training partner and on another ship. I thought I stood a chance of seeing him again on the base camp, but... Maybe that has to wait."

"Maybe they are looking for you. The universe is so massive." I hope I said the right thing that will help him feel better.

Since both of us have no clue, our bet on whether they are looking or aren't looking is as good as blind guesses, probably equal chances. Probably.

He lets out a dry laugh. "Who knows? Maybe they are looking for me, starting from that space station, but headed in the wrong direction."

"Oh... I hope not."

"Yeah... Now that I've settled with you, I'm not sure whether I want to be back on a battleship. I'm not going to part ways with you even if it is for a brief period. I'm going to be with my mate, always."

He always knows what to say to melt me. It feels like I can melt into something sticky and stick with him forever.

"I love you too, and I may die if we have to separate."

"Don't die. I don't allow that to happen."

"Sure." I hug him again before we head toward the kitchen. It is time to check with the crew and make sure they are working well and everything is fine.

"And... Don't worry about me. I've figured it out. I just want to be with you."

"I want you to be happy and do what you like, too."

"It's okay, I make sure I do you enough."

Fuck...

I look around, hoping the music will cover his words. "Come on, there are others around."

"They are far away, don't worry." He winks with a handsome smirk. "I mean, maybe I can learn something here and if I have a chance to go back, I can share what I've learned and beings I get to know."

"Yeah, you really have to teach them, especially with food. I can't imagine letting the warriors eat such bad stuff."

"Fine, fine. I know my mate makes the best food ever."

"Maybe that's the reason you love me so much and can't stand separating from me even for a bit."

"Oh, you love to have control over me, huh?"

"Well, if you are going to torture me over that later..."

"Is pleasure torturing?"

I smack his chest. "Shut up."

"Fine, fine." With the way he smirks, I doubt it means the night will be smooth. Maybe he is going to tease me with that annoying cock again.

Sadly, I love him a bit too much to hate him.