Chapter 37

Going horseback riding alone with my husband—it was exciting just thinking about it.

Could there be a healthier and more romantic date?

‘I’m so glad Alec can move well now.’

Not just moving well, but being able to fend off others without them laying a finger on him.

The thought of it brought tears to my eyes.

I must have been very upset and disappointed that we couldn’t even go horseback riding together.

“How many push-ups did you do? Don’t overdo it. You might get hurt.”

“It’s fine. I could only manage three hundred.”

“What? What did you say?”

Three hundred?

I asked again, too surprised, but he seemed nonchalant.

Then I understood.

“Well, you’re not the same Alec as before…”

Wow, I was startled.

If I did three hundred push-ups, my arms would probably stay bent and never straighten.

“You’re really amazing, Alec…”

“Not at all. I found myself getting out of breath easily, so I think I need to increase the intensity of my training.”

“…Oh.”

Now that I think about it, he only ever did walking exercises, so it must be tough suddenly becoming strong.

Even so, his body had well-defined muscles, like someone who exercised daily. His inherent beauty and physique were indeed exceptional.

I took another sip of wine, and he also brought his glass to his lips.

A brief silence fell.

As I nibbled on some cheese, a thought occurred to me.

Now that he could move well, maybe…?

Lost in such thoughts, I absentmindedly called his name.

“Alec.”

“Yes?”

“Since your motor skills have improved…”

“…?”

“Does that mean you can also… do things with me at night now?”

“….”

Precisely three seconds passed after I finished speaking.

Pfft!

Finally, understanding dawned on him, and he spat out the wine he was drinking.

Startled, I put a hand to my cheek.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. What an unrefined thing to say…”

Feeling flustered, I darted my eyes left and right and decided I should just leave his room.

“Well, then, rest now, Alec!”

With that shout, I hurriedly left his room.

My cheeks felt unnecessarily hot.

As I walked away, I could still hear him coughing behind me.

* * *

Crackle, crackle.

In the early dawn, shrouded in a white mist, Alec was sitting in the drawing-room, resting his fingertips on his brow.

Since it was a time when the family was sound asleep, the sound of the fire crackling in the fireplace echoed loudly in the silence.

This peculiar stillness calmed his mind, making this his favorite time of day.

Alec sat there for a while.

In the serene and chilly dawn, it felt like he was alone in the world, with no monsters to kill, no duties or burdens to bear.

It was as if he had entered a moment where time stood still, bringing a sense of peace.

But suddenly, a voice pierced through his mind.

“Alec.”

“Since your motor skills have improved…”

“Does that mean you can also… do things with me at night now?”

“….”

For a moment, as if time had truly stopped, he couldn’t breathe.

That was an unexpected blow.

‘Do things with me at night.’

There was no mistaking what that meant.

After all, what could be more natural between a husband and wife?

It was only natural for Louise to bring up such a topic with her husband.

Having never been in a relationship, let alone married, he hadn’t considered this.

But given that Alec and Louise never had a marital relationship to begin with, maybe he could avoid any awkward situations in the future.

As noon approached, Alec, ready to go out, waited for Louise on the first floor.

They had planned to go horseback riding together to a nearby park.

Standing there, he lightly touched his lips with his hand.

‘…I’ve always wanted to go horseback riding with you like other couples.’

Louise’s cautious yet somewhat forlorn voice echoed in his mind.

Feeling so disappointed about not being able to go horseback riding with her husband.

It was clear that Alec and Louise, despite being a couple, had only gone for walks and meals together at most.

Fortunately, horseback riding was something he could do with her now.

No, he could sail a yacht, master paragliding, and even pilot an airplane.

With the right equipment, he could also waterski and snorkel.

There were countless date courses that Louise hadn’t been able to enjoy with Alec, but were possible for him.

“Surely not.”

Suddenly struck by a good idea, he moved his hand away from his lips.

Could it be that he could earn affection through these outdoor activities?

When he suggested they ride horses together, she smiled softly, genuinely pleased.

Though his affection score didn’t rise at that moment, he had a feeling it would after they actually rode together.

Thinking this, he suddenly felt a sense of incongruity, furrowing his brows and burying his face in one hand.

“I never intended to raise any affection score…”

Unconsciously, he was already pondering how to increase Louise’s affection score.

After all, he couldn’t remain at Level 1 forever.

If there was a fundamental reason he had to come to this world, he wanted to find out.

To do that, he needed to level up and break the system.

“Alec?”

Startled by the sudden voice, Alec’s shoulders twitched.

He instinctively looked in the direction the voice came from.

Looking up, he saw Louise slowly descending the stairs, one step at a time.

She was wearing an outfit he had never seen before, likely newly purchased.

A dress-like coat cinched at the waist with a luxurious belt fit snugly on her upper body, while below the belt it flared out elegantly.

In her slender hand, she held neatly designed gloves, and she wore shoes suitable for riding.

Descending the stairs with an impressive hat he also hadn’t seen before, she looked extremely well-put-together.

She had the elegance and expression of a legendary actress from a classic film.

More than anything, Alec couldn’t take his eyes off her graceful figure.

“Did you wait long?”

Finally lifting her gaze, Louise asked with a slight smile.

Her purple eyes sparkled like an aurora.

“……”

Alec was speechless, staring at her in a daze.

As Louise approached him, his heart gave a slight jolt.

“Let’s go. I’m really looking forward to riding with you for the first time.”

“……”

Her eyes softened gently, as if stars were pouring out of them.

Ding.

At that moment, a quest appeared in his system.

[The quest is starting.]

[~Impress Louise with your first horseback riding date~]

[Quest Rewards]

[Affection 1, Experience 10, Trust 3]

* * *

As I mounted the horse first, I felt unusually fresh.

Seeing the world from a height much greater than my usual perspective was quite refreshing.

Moreover, it felt even more thrilling to be riding a horse with my husband for the first time.

I watched him mount the horse with a curious feeling.

Grabbing the reins and stepping into the stirrup, he mounted the horse.

In the brief moment he lifted his body onto the horse while holding the mane and reins with both hands, the muscles in his arms tightened.

“……”

He rode so skillfully.

Though he had trouble driving a carriage, mounting a horse seemed effortless for him now.

“How can someone suddenly gain such abilities without learning…?”

It was truly amazing.

Perhaps it’s because he’s seen and learned so much, even if he hadn’t done it himself before.

“Shall we go now?”

Turning to me after mounting the horse, he spoke, and I nodded with a light smile.

Soon, we began riding the horses, moving at a moderate pace for a while.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The sound of the horses’ hooves hitting the ground and the wind rustling the leaves was refreshing.

It felt as if the hoofbeats were pounding not on the ground, but directly on my heart, making it thump.

* * *

Meanwhile, Alec was deeply contemplating the quest.

[~Impress Louise with your first horseback riding date~]

…Impress?

I thought it was just about riding horses together, but I have to impress her?

A quest appeared with rewards of experience and affection points, but the success condition was quite demanding.

He had no idea how to impress her.

He wasn’t used to going out with a girl alone.

It was his first date.

And now he had to impress her? Touching someone’s heart isn’t an easy task.

It seemed much simpler to use all his strength and skills to defeat an SSS-level boss monster.

While thinking this, Alec suddenly had a good idea.

Although Louise wasn’t a monster, she was his target, similar to a boss monster.

If he approached her like he would a boss monster, maybe he could grasp her clues or weaknesses.

“Right. Just think of Louise as a boss monster.”

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