“It’s so pretty. Did you choose this too?”

“…Yes. I couldn’t pass it by because it reminded me of you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh softly at his honest reply.

The place where he bought the hairpin was one of the top workshops in the capital. While the accessories there were always stunning, they felt a bit too extravagant for me to buy personally. But receiving one as a gift made me both happy and excited.

“Thank you. I’m even more touched that you thought of me when you saw this.”

Hearing my words, he seemed to relax slightly, a small smile softening his eyes.

“I was worried you might not like it, but I’m glad.”

“How could I not? Even if you gave me a piece of straw, I’d love it.”

“Why would I give you…”

“Because it shows that you were thinking of me.”

“…”

His gaze grew calm, as if my words had caught him off guard.

I handed him the hairpin I had just taken out.

“Would you put it on for me?”

“…Of course.”

As he took it, I walked over to the mirror, still holding the bouquet of flowers in my arms.

He looked at my long, loosely flowing hair for a moment before gently resting one hand on it.

My hair cascaded softly over his hand.

A smile naturally formed at the corners of my lips.

I used to think that only when my husband touched me would it feel special, but him simply touching my hair felt even more tender.

Soon, he finished securing the hairpin in my hair.

“All done.”

“Thank you.”

I turned slightly to look in the mirror. The red-tinted accessory seemed to suit me quite well.

Perhaps it was because it was from my husband?

“Alec.”

I turned to him and hugged him tightly.

Holding the bouquet carefully behind his back, I couldn’t resist embracing him.

“I’ve never received anything like this from you before. I’ll always carry it with me. I’ll treasure it forever.”

“…Louise.”

“…?”

Suddenly, he pulled away from me and removed the hairpin again.

I looked at him in confusion as he cleared his throat, slightly awkward.

“Actually, this is a disposable item.”

“What?”

“I’ve imbued it with magic. If you press here in a dangerous situation and throw it, it will explode.”

“…”

Huh?

He pointed out a spot on the inside of the hairpin, explaining how to use it.

I blinked twice, my eyes wide at the unexpected function.

So, it’s imbued with magic?

How fascinating.

I tried to give him a smile.

“…I see. I hope I never have to use it.”

He seemed quite proud as he spoke.

“It’s not mechanical, so there’s no chance of malfunction. And it won’t cause you any harm.”

“Thank you. That’s reassuring. I guess carrying a bomb in my hair isn’t so bad, after all.”

I smiled contentedly.

Having such a fearsome diamond hairpin felt incredibly unique and special.

Though it was a little sad to think that my beloved husband’s gift could be blown to pieces beyond recognition…

“Shall I open the other gifts now?”

I asked, and he nodded once.

I sat on the sofa and began to open each of his presents one by one.

“Oh, this is perfume?”

Inside a luxuriously crafted small bottle was a pink liquid.

Anyone could tell it was a portable perfume.

How did he manage to choose only things I’d love?

“I’m really curious about how it smells―”

“Oh, that one neutralizes toxins when inhaled.”

“What?”

My hand froze just as I was about to open the perfume bottle.

“Did you imbue this with magic too?”

“Yes. It doesn’t harm anyone, so feel free to use it.”

“Then I have to try it.”

Relieved that I could still use it as perfume, I smiled slightly.

A subtle, sweet fragrance wafted gently from the bottle.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it.”

I replied cheerfully to his question.

“All the other gifts were just as perfect for me.”

Even though the gifts were protective items imbued with magic, I could feel how much he worried about and cared for me, and it made me happy.

“Then please rest. I should also get ready for bed.”

“Alright.”

I gave him a light kiss on the cheek, and after glancing at me once, he left the room.

“Hah.”

As soon as he left, I hugged the bouquet and lay down on the bed.

My whole body was adorned with the gifts he had given me.

In my hair, I wore a hairpin; on my fingers, a ring, and around my neck, a necklace.

One was a bomb, another contained poison darts, and another item had a device to put people to sleep.

They were practically lethal weapons, but somehow, they felt so romantic.

‘What an incorrigible man…’

I bit my lip as a smile spread across my face.

He could have just given them to me, but he went to the trouble of imbuing each one with magic. It was adorable.

* * *

Ding!

[Affection increased by 100,000!]

Meanwhile, Alec, back in his room, paused while undressing in surprise.

‘A hundred thousand?’

Earlier, when he gave her the bouquet, the affection increased by 200,000. And now, another 100,000?

The only time he’d seen numbers like this was when they spent the night together.

For mere gifts to bring such an enormous increase in affection…

Alec soaked in the bathwater his servants had prepared, running a hand over his face.

The rising affection score was snowballing, getting larger and larger.

It didn’t feel normal.

So far, he and she had spent nights together at Wiltsbrook Castle, in the carriage, and at the capital mansion, and each time they did, the amount of affection rose even more.

Could it be that Louise’s feelings for him deepened every time they were together?

For someone like him, who needed her affection to rise much higher, there wasn’t much room to relax.

If it kept increasing like this, not a single night could be wasted.

However, despite always wanting him, Louise never made the first move.

When Alec stepped out of the bath and put on a shirt, he accepted that, in this world, it was up to him to seduce her first.

Ding!

[Your title has changed!]

“…?”

[From: Novice Husband Awakened to Desire → To: Novice Husband Who Knows His Wife’s Desires]

“…”

* * *

I placed the bouquet Alec had given me into a vase.

I wondered where to put it but decided to leave it on the console table beside the bed since it was almost time to sleep.

Feeling satisfied as I looked at the bouquet, I thought about how I should record this moment.

Since I couldn’t preserve the flowers, I figured I could write about it in my journal to hold onto the memory longer.

Sitting at the console, I grabbed a random notebook and started writing.

The journal I usually wrote in was probably gathering dust in my room at the Duke of Brent’s mansion.

As I wrote and even sketched the shapes of the flowers, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘Why not commission a famous artist?’

If a skilled artist could paint these flowers before they wilt, I’d be able to keep the memory forever.

After putting the journal in the drawer, I stood up and glanced between the door and my bed.

What was Alec doing right now?

I couldn’t bring myself to call him back to my room.

My pride wouldn’t allow me to seem too clingy.

Knock, knock.

I flinched, startled by the sudden knock at the door.

When I answered, the door opened just a crack, and James appeared.

“Madam.”

“James?”

“The master is inviting you to his room if you’re comfortable with it. Warm wine has also been prepared.”

“Warm wine? That sounds nice.”

Hearing something unexpected, I suddenly felt a surge of happiness.

Warm alcohol… just thinking about it made my body feel sweet and relaxed, as if I was already melting.

Alec’s room wasn’t far, on the same floor.

When I entered, he was standing by the terrace, looking outside.

Curious, I approached him.

“Alec.”

“Louise.”

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories