Chapter 3.2

As Cherilian quietly waited for her answer, Tina replied sheepishly.

“Yeah, that was the idea…”

Tina watched the swearing owner, who kindly worried about customers’ muscle loss and urged them to eat more before going up for auction at the fish market.

“…Honestly, it’s not much use for reference, but it’s more fun than I expected.”

Unlike her, who found it interesting, Cherilian didn’t enjoy it much. Still, Tina’s lively face made him happy.

Tina skillfully ordered two bowls of Eternal Stew. The stew came with two pieces of dry bread for dipping.

Cherilian stopped Tina from digging in right away, tasting the stew first with the caution of a royal food taster.

After carefully sampling it, he nodded, satisfied with the taste and confirming it was safe.

Because of Cherilian’s cautious movements, Tina pouted briefly, but quickly put a spoonful of stew in her mouth.

Her eyes widened.

“Oh, it’s delicious!”

Eternal Stew, made by throwing in all kinds of spices and ingredients and simmering for ages, simply couldn’t taste bad.

“You’re just eating like a pig…”

The swearing owner started to curse at Tina as usual, but flinched at the intense gaze from a young man.

Not only was Cherilian’s fierce look intimidating, but his striking appearance was enough to silence women of any age.

It was like the surprise of finding a rare gold coin at home after only seeing common copper coins.

“…Enjoy your meal, customers.”

So the owner, for a moment, encouraged their meal in the voice of a sage from a faraway ice mountain.

* * *

“That was delicious!”

Cherilian smiled at Tina’s satisfied grin. As she drank the water he poured for her, her eyes suddenly sparkled.

“Cherry, if I…”

She hesitated for a moment, then fixed her gaze. Her eyebrows shot up, but she didn’t look scary at all.

“Do you think it would help if I imitated the owner’s charisma?”

Cherilian imagined Tina shouting bold curses like the owner. It didn’t suit her at all and was a very odd image.

“…Please don’t.”

Tina’s cheeks quivered. Seeing she was suppressing laughter, he realized she’d wanted to tease him all along.

“Haha, sorry, sorry.”

Cherilian chuckled along with her. Her bright smile seemed to lighten the burdens of his problems and duties.

“Let’s go now.”

Tina stood up, smiling in satisfaction. Cherilian took out silver coins and generously paid for the stew.

“Come again next time, you d*mn… folks!”

Only after safely receiving the money did the owner send them off with a half-hearted swearing farewell.

Tina took Cherilian’s hand and walked down the street, humming happily.

He wished he felt the same, but the succubus’s curse kept him uneasy even while spending time with the woman he loved.

“Tina.”

The midday sunlight dazzled Tina’s eyes as she looked back at Cherilian, squinting. Even though it was just the sunlight bothering her, Cherilian’s heart skipped a beat.

“What’s wrong?”

Cherilian switched places with Tina so she could walk in the shade. After a long silence, he spoke slowly.

“What if I never solve this curse… for the rest of my life?”

“Then I’ll just have to try harder.”

Tina replied in a breezy tone.

She meant to reassure him, but to Cherilian, it sounded a bit careless. He grew anxious and pressed again.

“Aren’t you scared, Tina? Just a succubus’s curse turned me into this. Who knows what else might change me in the future…”

At this, Tina turned to face him, taking his hand and speaking gently.

“Cherry, what in the world doesn’t change? Except for the diamond you gave me as a wedding present.”

“…You’re right.”

Right in the chest.

“Haa…”

Cherilian rubbed his brow with a trembling hand.

“But most changes are for the better.”

He paused. Tina removed his hand from his brow and looked up at him.

She spoke cheerfully.

“Just like my love for you keeps growing stronger!”

Her sky-blue eyes were beautiful and clear, and her smile was as warm and bright as early summer sunlight.

“Don’t worry too much. The curse will disappear soon. The priest said so too.”

Tina patted his hand. Even the smallest touch made Cherilian’s ribs tingle. He always felt strange facing her brightness.

Sometimes, he wanted to take her, who shone so brightly, and hide her away where no one could see.

It was a dark urge, not fitting for someone praised as the Kingdom of Velia’s greatest knight, Duke Biente, and commander of the knights.

Tina, who only saw him as a kind husband and childhood friend, was unaware of these desires.

‘She doesn’t need to know what I’m thinking…’

“Tina, I want to kiss you right now.”

Her gentle eyes looked up at him, then quickly glanced around. There was no one else in the narrow alley.

Thinking she was giving permission, Cherilian lightly cornered Tina against the wall and leaned in.

“Later.”

Her small hand on his chest gently pushed him back. The force was weak, but Cherilian stepped away as she wished.

Tina easily slipped out of his arms and strode confidently ahead.

“Come on, let’s go somewhere else!”

Cherilian, watching her golden hair, quickly chased after her, mumbling to himself that kissing here would be a bit much.

“Should we go boating?”

A narrow boat on the river with nowhere to escape seemed fine. But Tina was oddly firm.

“No. We have somewhere to go.”

“If it’s something weird, I don’t want to.”

Cherilian bravely voiced his opinion. Tina, her face suspiciously red, protested passionately.

“No, it’s not weird!”

“……”

Was it really not?

* * *

A small orchestra played soft, gentle music in a corner of the stage. The two sat on a plush sofa that wrapped around a round table, watching the stage. The center of the stage was still empty, apparently waiting for someone to sing or dance.

The lighting was dim, and one could drink tea or cocktails.

Most customers seemed to be couples, clinging to each other and whispering love songs. Since the place had an age restriction, the mood was sultry and relaxed.

Whether on the boat or here, it seemed like a good place for fooling around, and Cherilian was quietly satisfied.

Cherilian pushed back his stuffy hood and revealed his face. The guests were only interested in each other, and the staff, even if they recognized the young Duke, pretended not to.

Tina sipped the non-alcoholic cocktail Cherilian ordered for her, looking around. She seemed a bit flustered by the dim lighting and slightly sticky atmosphere.

“I didn’t expect it to be like this.”

“Didn’t you come here to do that with me?”

“What?”

“Didn’t you come to fool around?”

Cherilian lazily pointed his chin toward a couple sharing a sweet kiss.

“I don’t want to do that in public.”

Tina barely glanced in that direction, grumbling her reply.

It was too dark to see clearly, but her face was probably red. Cherilian’s eyes curved with delight.

‘She’s cute…’

He didn’t want to show Tina’s shy sighs or excited post-kiss expressions to anyone else either.

Cherilian fiddled with Tina’s long golden hair, playing with it in his hands. Tina quickly adapted to the awkward setting and started chatting.

He focused on her voice, sometimes staring hotly at her constantly moving lips.

“Geez, I said not here…”

Despite her words, he thought a light kiss would be fine, so he let his words trail off.

Pretending to give in, Tina cupped Cherilian’s face with both hands. His firm jaw tensed slightly.

Tina saw him swallow and smiled to herself, realizing she wasn’t the only one feeling nervous.

His arm around her waist tightened. Her slightly parted lips closed again.

Just then, the emcee on stage raised his voice and drew everyone’s attention.

“Good evening, everyone!”

Tina, startled by the emcee’s voice, pushed Cherilian away.

“Hope you’re all having a wonderful night!”

Cherilian, easily pushed aside, clicked his tongue lightly. He looked at the stage, annoyed at being interrupted.

“Now, a special performance will begin. Thank you for waiting.”

He decided to watch and see how great the show would be.