Chapter 6.3

The cold, stern demeanor he had shown in front of his subordinate earlier melted away, replaced by a warm and tender expression.

“It was just half a day…”

“It felt too long for me.”

As he spoke, he began to guide her away. Hestia, distracted by his touch, didn’t realize they were heading toward the bed.

Recently, Hestia had extended her work hours from mornings to afternoons. However, it wasn’t because she was eager to earn more money. 

When they got married, Lian had asked her to stop working for about six months to spend time with him. She had agreed but stayed at the bakery longer to train the new employee she had hired to replace her. 

She didn’t have to do it, but she felt indebted to the bakery owners, who had employed her since she was young and orphaned. Helping them transition smoothly was her way of repaying their kindness.

Of course, Lian wasn’t pleased about spending less time with her. Whenever she came home, he would cling to her like this.

“Sigh… I wish I could just keep you here with me forever.”

“If you do that, you’ll get tired of me.”

“I won’t. Not even a little.”

With that, he gently laid her down on the bed. Hestia, startled and flustered, realized too late that they had already reached the bed. Lian loomed over her like a predator who had just caught its prey.

“W-wait… I accidentally spilled sugar from the pantry earlier, and—ah!”

“Sugar? So it wasn’t my imagination.”

He lifted his lips from her neck, leaving a trail of faint marks. 

“You smell sweet.”

“P-please… I’ll wash up first… It’s embarrassing…”

“You don’t need to.”

His actions—licking and sucking her skin—sent tingling sensations through her body. Her face flushed as she tried to push him away with trembling hands, but it only seemed like she was touching him instead.

Sliding her clothes upward, Lian exhaled a heated breath as he kissed and bit her skin, leaving marks wherever his lips passed.

“Hmm… sweet.”

He tossed the bag of bread crumbs aside and gently slid his hands upward. When his fingers reached her chest, he kneaded it softly, making Hestia whimper. Then, as he twisted her sensitive spots between his fingers, she let out a sensual moan.

“Ah…!”

“Do you dislike this? Should I stop?”

Pausing his actions, Lian looked up at her, his sly smile filled with confidence, as if he already knew the answer.

“Ugh…”

She seemed to be heating up, her cheeks flushed red as she panted softly. Eventually, she tightly shut her tear-filled eyes and shook her head, signaling her reluctance. Lian then raised his face, as if he wanted to devour her gaze, and pressed his lips against hers. The passionate kiss, as though he wanted to consume every corner of her mouth, drew a pitiful whimper from her, much like that of a helpless puppy.

His brows furrowed deeply.

Whenever their bodies touched, there were moments when he would make an expression that seemed almost painful. Hestia assumed it was due to the rising passion within him. Wanting to soothe him even a little, she pulled him closer into her arms.

“Haa…”

At that moment, Lian Clyde was lost in entirely different thoughts.

‘Evening, river, bridge…’

A scene vividly emerged in his mind.

It was dusk, the time when twilight descended, and he saw Hestia crossing a narrow bridge. 

But it wasn’t a memory of something he had seen before, nor was it a spontaneous imagination. Despite that, it felt as vivid as if he were witnessing it in real life.

Moments later, he stopped his ravenous kisses and slowly opened his eyes.

“This time… again…”

He muttered quietly, his voice barely audible. Hestia, panting softly beneath him, thought he was speaking to her and asked, “Hmm?” Lian, his face darkened, steadied his breath and lowered his gaze toward her.

Her disheveled clothes and pale skin were adorned with the marks of his kisses and bites. Her lips, glistening with saliva, trembled slightly. The sight made him dizzy for a moment, and he let out a faint laugh before lowering his head again. As if desperate to devour her once more, he leaned closer and whispered.

“…It’s nothing. It’s just that I love you too much. It’s driving me insane.”

She thought his words were another one of his usual playful declarations of love and smiled bashfully.

But for him, it wasn’t.

He really felt like he was losing his mind. The woman in his arms was unbearably precious to him, yet every time he touched her, the vivid images of the future that flashed in his mind suffocated him. It felt like someone was gripping his throat tightly.

Lian was seeing the future every time he intimately connected with her.

***

After a long and tender night of passionate love, in the early dawn hours, Lian Clyde quietly left the bed, carrying the bag of bird feed he had tossed aside the previous day. He stepped outside and let out a sharp whistle. From somewhere, a white bird flew toward him—it was the messenger bird he used to send notes to Forrest. He tied a small piece of paper to its tiny leg.

After releasing the bird, he shook the bag to scatter breadcrumbs for the other birds flying nearby. Judging by how they eagerly flocked to him, it seemed his wife had been feeding them every day. The thought of her doing something so kind brought a smile to his lips.

Afterward, he returned to the room. Standing amidst the soft glow of the morning sunlight, he gazed at Hestia’s face, which became clearer as the light grew brighter. Although she was simply sleeping, he couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming tenderness toward her. How could someone be so lovely?

As she whimpered softly in her sleep, as though having a nightmare, he gently stroked her cheek and whispered in a low voice, 

“Don’t worry, Hes. Nothing bad will happen.”

He knew she wouldn’t hear him. Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to say, “I’ll make sure you don’t die.” Just uttering those words made his body shudder with fear. Not even when facing invading armies or slaying massive monsters had he felt this kind of dread.

He then wondered why the gods had chosen him to save her, why they had made him fall in love with her at first sight, and why they continued to show him glimpses of her unfortunate future.

The gods didn’t have allies or enemies. Those distinctions existed only among humans. If there truly was a god, then surely they wouldn’t look favorably upon someone like him, who had led countless wars and claimed so many lives for victory. Perhaps he was being punished. Perhaps that was why he was seeing these things.

He had first become aware of his ability after the fire incident.

That day, Lian wished he could die in her place. If he could stop her misfortune, he was willing to sacrifice himself. As he felt his life slipping away, he prayed for her safety. When he was revived by holy power, he found himself endowed with this strange ability.

The disorientation and confusion he experienced after the accident must have been a result of the shock. It seemed the price he paid for awakening to a power that no human should bear. Yet, even amidst the fragmented state of his mind, he had clung tightly to her name and existence—a fact that surprised even him.

Hestia. Perhaps I was brought back to life for you. 

Even as he followed her around with his fractured reasoning, that thought never left his mind.

I can’t let you go. You’re the one I barely managed to find.

“Hes, Hes…”