🐈🐈🐈
“LORD VIOL, I’m sorry about today.”
As soon as we returned to the mansion and I was alone with Lord Viol in our room, the first thing I did was apologize.
However, he tilted his head to one side as if he didn’t understand. “…Is there something you need to apologize for?”
“I was selfish, saying that I wanted to focus on work… And you ended up getting scolded. I’m really sorry.”
“Well, I didn’t think anything of it. Vellia was saying that, as the Archmage presiding over our guild, I should set an example for everyone and take my allotted leave, right? There was nothing you needed to apologize for, Seren. I’m the one who should reflect on my actions. I was… inconsiderate in many ways.”
“Goodness, no!”
“Well, perhaps we can share the blame equally between us? Either way, there’s no need to worry so much. The others helped me fix my mistake before it was even made, so… No more issues, right?”
Well, when he put it that way, he had a point. And now that he’d spoken so frankly, I’d run out of steam to keep apologizing.
“But more importantly… It was great how everyone congratulated us. For me, that was all I could have hoped for.” Lord Viol stretched, then lay down on his favorite sofa like some kind of irresistible force drew him in. He yawned softly. His eyes glazed over like he was fighting back sudden sleepiness.
Seeing him look so happy made me realize there was nothing to worry about.
Right. In the end, no harm was done. And if Lord Viol was happy with things, then maybe it wasn’t a big deal after all.
As I watched him with his eyes closed, looking so comfortable, a sense of happiness washed over me, and the guilty feelings I’d been wrestling with melted away.
Drawn to him, I went over to the sofa. Lord Viol looked so content. Like he was about to fall asleep any moment.
Eyes closed, lips slightly open, utterly serene and calm. In a tight-fitting black undershirt, he looked so relaxed… Almost exactly like Vi when he’s lolling around. A thought that made me grin.
“Hehe.” I chuckled, and Lord Viol’s eyes snapped open.
“…Did you just chuckle?”
The corners of his mouth quirked upwards in satisfaction. The sleepy look he gave me made my heart skip a few beats.
Sleepy Vi was adorable, but Lord Viol wasn’t just sleek and beautiful, he was… sexy. Which just made things a heck of a lot more inflammatory for me.
“Seeing you smile makes me happy.”
And seeing him smile made me feel happy, too. I took another instinctive step towards the sofa. Gently pushing Lord Viol’s legs aside, I sat next to him.
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
I leaned against Lord Viol’s leg, his raised knee, and pressed my cheek against it.
“…!”
Lord Viol’s knee twitched. I wrapped my arms around his knee and closed my eyes, leaning my weight against him.
“If everyone is congratulating me, and you’re happy, Lord Viol, then that’s all I need…”
“Really… Well, I’m glad.”
Stroking Vi’s soft fur is always soothing. But leaning against Lord Viol like this is so warm. It truly makes me feel at ease. We’ve only been married a few days, but it’s just so lovely to snuggle up against him like this and share time together.
Lord Viol shifted, and I opened my eyes… And as he sat up, our eyes met. He smiled softly, reached out, and gently stroked my hair.
That feels so good.
“I’m glad we got married.”
Now he cupped my cheek, stroking my face like I was a cat.
His hand felt so good that I wanted to fall asleep right there. I closed my eyes again… And then I heard him mutter, “Seren…”
When I opened my eyes, Lord Viol looked troubled.
“Lord Viol?”
“Don’t fall asleep. Not when I’ve just sat up.”
I giggled. “Sorry. I’m just so happy being with you like this.”
“Yes. I’m feeling sort of tired today… And being like this is soothing.”
“For me, too.”
Lord Viol gazed at me. And I gazed back. I felt like I was being sucked into those deep eyes. Black, like the night sky.
As I stared into the dark, twinkling depths of those beautiful eyes, Lord Viol’s soft lips touched mine.
“This is happiness.”
“It is…”
I couldn’t imagine a night any more perfect than this.