Epilogue (Part 4)

“How is it?”  

“It’s a house that feels just like you.”  

As they strolled along the hallway, Eden responded to her question. Sienna tilted her head curiously, wondering what he meant by that. By the time they passed the drawing room and entered the kitchen, Eden continued his explanation, as if answering her unspoken question.  

“A beautiful, lovely, and cozy house that makes one’s heart flutter—that’s what I mean.”  

Sienna’s face instantly turned pink. Eden gazed at her dark green eyes, which were filled with his reflection, with satisfaction.  

A cool autumn breeze blew in through the open windows, which had been left ajar for ventilation. The warm sunlight streaming in made the air inside feel even cozier. They walked hand in hand, leisurely exploring the cozy house.  

After touring the charming kitchen stocked with basic ingredients, a large round table, a small bathroom, a study, and a guest room on the first floor, they began to feel hungry. Checking the time, Sienna shook Eden’s hand and made a suggestion.  

“Come to think of it, it’s already lunchtime. Shall we look around the upstairs after eating?”  

Eden nodded, saying it didn’t matter either way. Sienna’s eyes sparkled as she led him to the kitchen. The kitchen, decorated in yellow, was dazzling, with brand-new appliances and cooking tools gleaming under the light. With a determined expression, she placed her hands on her hips.  

“I’ll prepare the meal for you.”  

“You? Personally?”  

Feigning surprise at his question, she nodded confidently. Cooking a delicious and splendid meal in the cozy kitchen of the adorable two-story house had always been her dream. And what better occasion to fulfill that dream than a housewarming?  

It was a bit regrettable that she hadn’t practiced in advance, but she had read the cookbook a dozen times and prepared all the necessary ingredients, so there shouldn’t be any problems.  

“I will, personally.”  

“Then I must help you.”  

He rolled up his sleeves, smiling at how adorable Sienna looked with her determined expression.  

“As your assistant, it’s only right for me to help. Don’t you think?”  

Still, he was the first guest in her new home, so she felt a little bad about putting him to work. Sienna wondered if she should stop him, but her hesitation didn’t last long. In truth, she wasn’t very confident in her cooking skills, so having his help would be reassuring.  

And, as if she had foreseen the future, her concerns turned out to be completely justified.  

“How are you so good at this?”  

Much later, after taking a bite of the finished chicken dish, Sienna asked in genuine curiosity. The warm, tender, and perfectly seasoned dish in front of her had been almost entirely prepared by Eden.  

While she had been fumbling around, unsure how to light the stove, he had lit it with magic. When she struggled to handle the meat, he had taken the knife and expertly prepared it.  

Perhaps it was because he was a knight who wielded a sword. With just a few precise movements of his blade, the meat was cut cleanly, and the vegetables were quickly and beautifully prepared.  

In the end, all Sienna had done was read the cooking instructions and seasoning proportions from the recipe book aloud to Eden. At this point, she felt like she was the assistant—and a very incompetent one at that.  

“On the battlefield or during subjugation missions, we have to cook for ourselves. So I picked up some skills here and there.”  

Eden, seated closely beside her, picked up another piece of meat and brought it to her lips as he answered. Feeling a little embarrassed at her ineptitude, she wordlessly accepted the food he offered and ate it.  

At least she was able to properly serve him dessert. The dessert was an orange sherbet. Since it was a ready-made product she had ordered in advance from a famous patisserie, all she had to do was take it out of the freezer. Thankfully, there was no chance of ruining it.  

As she savored the tangy flavor lingering in her mouth, she noticed the sun slowly setting behind the distant ridges. The long, dim rays of sunlight stretched through the window, gradually dyeing the dining room in a soft crimson hue.  

Spending this late hour with Eden in her new home felt strangely surreal. Sharing a meal they had cooked together in the quaint mansion, exchanging lighthearted conversations, and watching the sunset together—it all seemed like something newlyweds would do.  

‘Newlyweds?’  

The thought came naturally to her, and she suddenly felt her cheeks heat up. Embarrassed, she fidgeted with the spoon in her hand. At that moment, Eden, as if having the same thought, stared at her with a faint smile.  

“This feels just like what newlyweds would do, doesn’t it?”  

“W-What?”  

Could he read my thoughts? Surely, he wasn’t using magic to read my mind, was he? 

Startled, she dropped her spoon.  

Without waiting for her answer, Eden took her hand and pressed his lips gently against her soft palm. A strange atmosphere filled the dining room as silence settled in.  

When their eyes met, an undeniable warmth began to spread from deep within her body. She wasn’t the only one feeling it—despite the crisp chill of autumn, she could feel the heat radiating from Eden’s body.  

Her heart pounded wildly as Eden smiled softly, his eyes narrowing in a way that made him look even more charming. She wondered if she was about to be devoured by him—or perhaps, she would be the one devouring him. She hadn’t expected her new home to become filled with such lustful tension so soon after moving in. Sienna’s face turned bright red, and she stammered nervously.  

“D-Don’t seduce me.”  

“Am I seducing you like this?”  

At her words, Eden only smiled more beautifully, his crimson eyes curving like crescent moons and shining like jewels. He began kissing each of her fingers one by one, the warm and soft sensation spreading from her hand to her wrist and arm, eventually enveloping her entire body.  

“Sienna.”  

“Y-Yes?”  

“I’d like to stay the night here. Would that be alright?” 

Eden lightly nibbled on the tips of her fingers and smiled again.

When had he unbuttoned his shirt? 

Sienna tightly shut her eyes, then opened them again to glance at his broad chest, which was faintly exposed.  

She had told him not to seduce her, but here he was, fully intent on doing just that. Her heart felt like it was going to burst. With that face and body, saying such things made her feel like she wanted to give him everything—her heart, her soul, and even her sanity.  

“It’s fine. It’s okay.”  

She quickly nodded, and a refreshing laugh escaped from Eden. He pulled her small hand toward him. His lips, which started at her slender wrist, slowly moved upward. Wherever his lips touched, red marks were left behind.  

If he could, he wanted to mark her entire body like this, leaving no doubt that Sienna belonged to him. However, he worried that if he revealed such possessive desires, Sienna might grow tired of him.  

Eden let out a low sigh and easily lifted her petite frame into his arms with one hand.  

“If I’m staying the night, I should take a bath first.”  

“Then why are you carrying me?!”  

“So we can bathe together.”  

Even on the short walk to the bathroom, he couldn’t resist pressing his lips against her forehead as he walked. Sienna, who had been wriggling in protest, eventually gave up and relaxed in his arms. She had a feeling that their time in the bathroom would take longer than expected. Nestled snugly in Eden’s embrace, she extended her finger to point the way to the bathroom.  

***

Contrary to what she had braced herself for, Eden in the bathroom was entirely focused on taking care of her. Carrying her into the warm water-filled tub, he carefully washed her from head to toe with his own hands.  

Though his touch was gentle, it wasn’t exactly innocent. Whenever his hands brushed against sensitive areas, his tender touch would grow heavier, drawing soft gasps from Sienna before he moved on to another spot.  

In the end, Sienna left the bath feeling thoroughly heated, her frustration mounting from suppressed desires.  

After using magic to dry the remaining moisture in her hair, Eden wrapped her body in a soft robe.  

When Sienna declared that she would stay here alone, his petty resentment melted away like snowflakes under the early spring sunlight.  

The bed was spacious enough for both him and Sienna to lie down comfortably. At this size, wouldn’t it be fine not just for today but for him to sleep here every day? Perhaps Sienna had considered that when she brought in such a large bed.  

Although he found himself ridiculous for entertaining all sorts of hopeful imaginations just from the size of the bed, stepping into the newly decorated space while holding her in his arms made him feel as though they were truly a newlywed couple.  

Meanwhile, Sienna grew increasingly impatient at his actions of simply standing still while holding her. Eventually, her patience ran out. She wrapped her arms around Eden’s neck, pulled him closer, and kissed his lips first.  

It was only then, as if awakened from a spell, that Eden came to his senses and, still holding her, strode toward the bed. Even as he moved, their entangled tongues created wet, sticky sounds.