Chapter 36

It’s strange.

Was Alec craving a beef sandwich today? Or did his taste change a bit?

I stared intently at Alec’s sandwich.

I was already well aware of our family’s sandwich preferences.

Normally, I always had cucumber and potato, my mother-in-law had grilled salmon, Eloise had a homemade ham sandwich with lots of lemon curd, and Alec had a chicken sandwich.

Our sandwich preferences were so fixed that it was rare for anyone to choose something different.

With that thought, I took another bite of my sandwich.

It wasn’t that Alec disliked beef sandwiches.

He just always chose chicken sandwiches when there were various options.

So why did he choose a roast beef sandwich today?

“Hmm…”

Before I knew it, I had finished my sandwich.

* * *

Late afternoon.

Having had a simple tea time, Alec was spending some alone time in his bedroom.

He clenched and unclenched his fist, recalling what had happened yesterday.

It was the scene of him subduing the three people from the Holden Textile Union.

Although it wasn’t completely resolved, he could think about yesterday’s events again now that he was free from his family’s suspicion.

It was the first time he had actively used his body since entering Alec’s body.

In fact, by his standards, it hadn’t taken much effort.

Those three people barely had any physical power, and their movements were slow and predictable.

Even though they attacked him simultaneously, they posed no threat to him.

Surprisingly, however, he discovered a problem with himself.

“Somehow, the strength of my punches is lacking.”

Alec clenched his fist and rotated his wrist.

Perhaps because it wasn’t his original body, he couldn’t exert the strength he desired.

Even when he estimated how strong his punch would be, the actual force was less than half.

Although he looked robust, his basic physical strength was far below what it had been in his previous life.

“I need to exercise.”

With that thought, Alec sighed lightly and stood up from his chair.

While he could amplify his strength momentarily with mana when striking something, he wouldn’t last long using mana or skills without basic physical endurance.

If he didn’t train this body to be strong, raising his level would be like building a castle on sand.

Alec opened the system window.

Since he had already experienced this in his previous life, it seemed that quests related to physical strength weren’t automatically initiated.

As soon as he started the physical strength quest, the surroundings began to transform into a virtual space of deep green.

[Strengthening Quest (Beginner) has started.]

[300 Sit-ups]

[300 Push-ups]

[20 km Running]

[50 km Cycling]

Since it was for beginners, it felt quite light.

Alec leisurely did some warm-up exercises, thinking that he would increase his physical strength this way every day from now on.

* * *

It was already night.

Having waited for this time, I quietly went down to the first floor.

Listening at the doors of my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, it seemed they were both asleep.

“Great. No one will interrupt.”

I sneaked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine and some snacks that I had prepared in advance.

The snacks were a special shrimp dish and dessert I had asked Chef Dane to make.

Since we had gone through a tough time recently, I thought we should at least share some drinks as a couple.

During the day, it was really hard to have private time as a couple unless we went somewhere cozy together…

Knock, knock.

“Alec?”

I whispered as quietly as I could.

Surely he wasn’t asleep already? I should have told him to wait for me.

“Are you asleep already?”

When there was no response from inside, I whispered again.

Just when I thought I might have to go back, the door opened.

His face appeared through the crack in the door.

He looked stunning and handsome, as always.

He looked at me and acknowledged my presence.

“Louise?”

However, he seemed a bit excited as if he had been doing something.

He was slightly out of breath, and his sculpted face was a bit flushed.

Looking down slightly, I saw he was in a white robe, as if he had just taken a bath.

His chest muscles were moving up and down under the open front of the robe.

Throb, bulge.

With each breath, his muscles seemed to twitch as if they were alive.

What had he been doing to make his muscles move like a live octopus more than usual?

“W-what were you doing?”

As my face flushed for no reason and I looked down, my eyes met his directly.

It was unnecessarily glistening there.

Startled, I felt embarrassed and lowered my gaze even further.

This time, my eyes fell on his pelvis.

I quickly turned my body, afraid that if my eyes lingered, I’d be considered a pervert.

What was going on?

It was the first time I’d seen his entire body brimming with vitality, as if his whole body was breathing.

It was like seeing a perfect marble statue gain human life.

His slightly excited voice soon followed.

“Oh, I was just doing some strength training.”

“What? Strength training?”

Here?

Surprised by something I hadn’t imagined, I looked around his room through the crack in the door.

There was nothing on the carpeted floor that indicated exercise.

Had his physical abilities suddenly improved, and he had been doing something like jumping jacks?

Anyway, I showed him the wine bottle.

“Can we drink together for a bit? To celebrate you finally dealing with those annoying guys.”

At times like this, we should be together.

He hesitated for a moment but then fortunately opened the door wider.

“I thought you were already asleep.”

Looking up at him once more, I slipped through the door under his arm.

The difference in height between us was more noticeable than ever.

“I couldn’t sleep. I also wanted to have some wine for the first time in a while.”

I said, placing the wine and snacks I had brought on the table.

Click, the door closed, and I heard him approaching.

Thump.

My heart suddenly started pounding.

Having time alone with my husband while everyone else was asleep was something I desperately needed sometimes.

Sometimes I wondered if I had married him or had become part of his family with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

“So, what kind of strength training were you doing?”

As I poured wine into his glass, he came closer.

“…Just push-ups, sit-ups, things like that.”

“Really? That’s amazing. I’m surprised you’re doing exercises other than walking and breathing exercises…”

Hearing that he had been exercising was as surprising as hearing Eloise read a book on etiquette.

“So, can you continue to move like this in the future?”

Alec nodded awkwardly.

“That’s a relief.”

“……”

He averted his eyes and licked his lips.

He seemed troubled by my words.

Maybe I had asked too much, considering he must have been taken aback by his body suddenly changing.

Or perhaps he was nervous being alone with me.

…Alec is quite the innocent type.

I smiled faintly and pushed the wine glass towards him.

“Then, can we go horseback riding together now?”

“What?”

“I’ve been longing to go horseback riding with you like other couples. I never mentioned it because I knew you couldn’t.”

He looked at me and then at the wine glass, swallowing hard.

I tried to hide my sadness as I spoke calmly again.

“To be honest, I wanted to go horseback riding with you like other couples. I’ve never mentioned it because I knew you couldn’t.”

“……”

His eyes wavered as he looked at me. Clearly, he hadn’t known.

I smiled at him and tilted my wine glass slightly, urging him.

Finally, he picked up his glass and clinked it against mine.

Clink.

A clear sound resonated from the wine glasses.

He replied a bit late.

“Alright. Let’s go horseback riding together.”

“Really? Thank you.”

I gave him a gentle smile and took a sip of the wine.

The fragrant aroma and sweet liquid swirled in my mouth before I swallowed.

Ah.

Delicious.

Indeed, drinking with someone is much better than drinking alone.

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