“This has turned into a lesson, hasn’t it? I could cast a powerful stealth spell to avoid us having to get into it with any other magical beasts…”
“You mean we can use stealth magic to bypass them completely?”
“To a certain extent. However, more powerful magical beasts have a keen sense of smell, so there is a chance they may notice us. I don’t want to put you in any danger on our honeymoon. This isn’t the time for hard training, after all.”
“Hmm, you’re right.” I wanted to explore a bit more, but what Lord Viol said was true. “I think we’d better head back.”
“Right. But, ah… Could you wait just a minute?” he asked.
“Sure. But why?”
“That magical beast is quite high-ranking, even among mid-level beasts. It might have dropped a high-quality magic stone. I’d like to try to get one while we’re here.”
“A magic stone…! I read that only very high-ranking magical beasts drop magic stones useful to humans… That beast must be very high-ranking indeed!” My excitement crept into my voice.
“It MIGHT have dropped one. I can’t say for sure unless I look.”
“That amazing golden mane… And it looked really strong. Though you defeated it so quickly, Lord Viol, it was hard to see how strong it really might have been.”
As we talked, Lord Viol cut open the beast’s heart and removed a sparkling red magic stone.
“This is quite special.” Lord Viol looked pleased, which was adorable to see.
The magic stone in his hand radiated a good deal of magical power. How surprising to find such a splendid specimen of a magic stone.
“You said that that beast was mid-level, right? And yet…it had such a magnificent magic stone inside it. Now I wonder how amazing high-level beasts must be,” I mused.
“It’s not easy to defeat them, though. And anyway, not all monsters drop powerful magic stones. The amount of magic power within them varies depending on the species, and even within a species, as well.”
“I see.”
I almost said, “I certainly learned something today!” again, but stopped myself.
“Whoops, the sun’s going down,” he said. “Let’s get out of this forest before it gets dark.”
I looked up at the sky through the gaps in the trees and noticed the sky was stained lightly with red.
I didn’t like the idea of flying at night through a forest populated by mid-level magical beasts, either. I took our cart skywards, high above the forest. Glancing down, I saw that we were still quite a ways away from the area where the magical energy seemed to be concentrated.
My heart raced at the thought that even more powerful magical beasts might be there.
“Well then, let’s head back.”
We picked up speed and headed back towards the village.
Lord Viol hugged me tightly from behind, nuzzling my neck. “My apologies. I dragged you on quite a journey today.”
His husky whisper surprised me.
“Don’t apologize! The forest was so beautiful and soothing, and then there was that thrilling encounter…! It’s been a while for that sort of thing. I had fun.”
“But it wasn’t very honeymooney, was it? I’m sorry.”
I really did have fun. Absolutely no complaints here. And having Lord Viol hug me from behind like this was more than okay with me.
Then, suddenly, I remembered something.
“Lord Viol?”
“Yes?”
“Maybe there is one thing you could do… A bit of a selfish request of mine…”
“What is it? Not that it matters. I’m always willing to indulge any request of yours, Seren, no matter how ‘selfish…’ In fact, I absolutely must insist on hearing it now.”
“Hehe, well, good. Okay then, I suppose I’ll let you indulge me, Lord Viol…!”
“Indulge…”
“Yes. I want to return to the inn and watch the sunset together… Holding nothing back… The ultimate indulgence.”
Ever since I was a child, I’ve been worrying about holding myself in check, and I’m not the best at relying on others to indulge my wishes. But what I want now is for Lord Viol to give me his smiles, his gentle touch, his embrace, and… maybe even his kiss.
“That’s what I want, too. Now we’re married… Or what I mean is… I’d like to indulge you as much as you want, whenever you want…”
“Right, but… At home, the servants are there… And even when it’s just us in the room, I feel embarrassed…”
“I can kind of understand that. It’s a bit embarrassing, that’s for sure.”
We arrived back at the inn before we were done talking. Once we entered our room, the afternoon sun was already pouring in through the window.
“The sunset is already starting…!”
“Yes… Beautiful colors.”
“It’s going to be a beautiful sunset tonight, too…”
I leaned out of the open window, and a fresh breeze blew in. My half-up hair swayed in the wind, and it felt so good. Like being enveloped by the sunset. Then, I felt a warm touch on my back.
“Lord Viol…”
Lord Viol was with me, gazing at the sunset from the same window as me. We both watched the sunset, which was redder than yesterday. Never once growing tired of it.
“It’s very beautiful today too.”
“Yes. No matter how many years pass, I’m sure we’ll remember the sunset we experienced together tonight.”
“That’s… wonderful, isn’t it?”
“I agree. And the sunset reflected on the lake’s surface is beautiful in a whole different way when viewed from above.”
Yes… From our vantage point in the special suite on the third floor, the lake below shone like an orange mirror, reflecting the setting sun. As it got darker and the outlines blurred together, Lord Viol and I continued to gaze out at it.
I loved these quiet moments together.
We looked out over the lake until it got dark, then had dinner and our baths… After that, there was nothing else to do but relax. The only entertainment in the village at night was drinking at the bar. And outside, it was all pitch dark, save for the moonlight. A quiet night, where the only sound was the chirping of insects.
Sitting on the large, fluffy bed, drying each other’s hair with wind magic… I was soaking up every joyful moment.
“There, it’s nice and dry now.”
“Your wind magic is warm, Lord Viol!”
“I mixed in a little fire magic.”
“…I keep noticing the discrepancy in our skill levels…” I pouted.
“Well, it can’t be helped.”
“I’d like to become adept at fire magic, too…”
“All you can do is keep working hard.”
It was a frank reply, typical of Lord Viol, without baseless promises or flattery.
“By the way, Seren… Didn’t you want to be indulged?”
“I feel like I’m already being indulged quite a bit.”
“Really? But you haven’t made any demands or anything.”
Now that he mentioned it… I hadn’t. But for me, it was enough to be with Lord Viol. However, since it was such a special opportunity, it might be a waste not to make a request different from the usual.
After I thought about it for a while, Lord Viol smiled gently and opened his arms to me. “Anything is fine.”
“…!”
From the look on Lord Viol’s face, he really meant anything. My heart pounded. I swallowed hard and looked up at him.
“Maybe you could… cradle my head in your lap?” I ventured.
“All right… Although I’m not sure it will be very comfortable.”
“I think it would feel wonderful if you petted me like a cat.”
“I see. So, like a cat and its owner, right? I can do that.” Lord Viol nodded with an understanding expression. “Come,” he whispered, patting his knees, and I happily lay my head on his lap.
Okay, it was a little bony, but I was also pretty sure no other human alive had ever been able to lay their head on Lord Viol’s lap. It made me feel special.
I closed my eyes and waited for the petting when I heard a chuckle from above, and a large hand gently stroked my head. The warm hand moved slowly, fingers gently dragging through my blow-dried hair.
I was so blessed to be with such a kind man.
When I opened my eyes, Lord Viol was gazing at me with his obsidian eyes. His eyes and face were so beautiful that I instinctively reached out my hand.
“I wish I could be a cat too.”
Out of a desire for even more physical affection, I blurted that out, and Lord Viol smiled softly.
“Really? But I’d much rather you remained Seren.” Lord Viol caressed my cheek lovingly and lowered his face to mine.
I closed my eyes and gave myself over to my beloved’s kiss.