The shirt and vest that tightly squeezed his arm and back muscles clearly showed his body line.

The body line that dropped straight from his broad shoulders and chest created a graceful curve as it slightly tapered at the waist. His upper body was a perfect inverted triangle.

Coming out of the bathroom, Lucian fastened the sleeves of his shirt as he walked to the tea table by the window. His wrists and forearms with reddened veins were exposed.

He sat down and lifted the cover placed on the tray. A savory aroma wafted out.

Warm cream soup, crispy toasted bread, salad topped with smoked salmon, canapés with cream cheese and finely chopped prosciutto on crackers topped with tomatoes and shrimp, and tea to go with it.

It was an impressive meal.

“Mmm… It smells delicious.”

Adelia, who had been sleeping soundly, shifted and started to wake up

The savory smell filled the room enough to wake her from her sleep.

She sat up on the bed and rubbed her face covered in drowsiness. Her small nose moved, following the smell as she sniffed.

Adelia, who had turned her head towards the window where Lucian was sitting, lowered her hands that had been rubbing her face. Clear eyes peeked out from within.

“My eyes are feasting from the morning.”

Lucian looked like a painting as he sat by the window basking in the sunlight.

Wearing a form-fitting suit and sitting in a slightly slanted posture, his thick chest stood out. His slightly disheveled hair also suited well, contrasting with the neat suit.

“If you’re awake, come over here. You must be hungry, so let’s eat first.”

At the slightly husky voice, Adelia tilted her head that had been held straight and curved her face into a smile.

“Good morning. I feel especially refreshed today.”

After greeting, Adelia lifted the covers and got out of bed.

With her eyes slightly squinted, she walked towards where Lucian was sitting, stretching her arms high above her head.

“You woke up early and even changed clothes. How diligent.”

Adelia, who sat opposite Lucian, spoke with a chuckle.

Her gaze was fixed on the food in front of her. She looked happy, holding a spoon in one hand and contemplating which food to eat first.

“The breakfast is excellent.”

“It’s lunch.”

“Pardon?”

At Lucian’s words, Adelia raised her head and opened her eyes wide. Her face seemed to ask what he meant.

Lucian casually revealed the truth while picking up utensils with one hand.

“It’s already past noon, so it’s lunch.”

Adelia dropped the spoon she was holding. She shifted her gaze to the window with a blank face and slightly parted lips.

“No wonder my body feels refreshed and my mind is clear…”

* * *

“Not bad. As expected of being near the sea, the seafood is fresh.”

Adelia put down her utensils with a satisfied face.

The lunch, which she thought was breakfast, was light enough which is perfect for an empty stomach.

Thanks to the fresh seafood that was hard to taste in the capital, her mood improved.

“The weather is nice and the food is delicious… It’s a good day.”

Adelia said, looking out the window.

The fog that had been so thick that the ground below couldn’t be seen had disappeared, revealing an open view.

“Come to think of it, the fog has disappeared.”

“It was fog to protect the holy sword. Now that there’s no holy sword to protect, the fog has disappeared too.”

The view of the beach from the mansion on the cliff was beautiful. Her gaze was captivated by the white sandy beach glistening in the sunlight and the emerald sea that looked like scattered jewels.

Adelia rested her chin on her hand, fixing her gaze on the window.

Lucian, drinking strong black tea on the opposite side, asked.

“What are you going to do today?”

“We’ve found the holy sword. We have plenty of time. The weather is nice and my mind is clear… I should work!”

Adelia smiled brightly, basking in the warm sunlight.

Lucian dismissed it as a small joke.

Who would be devoted to work even during their honeymoon and with such good scenery and weather?

* * *

Lucian went outside carrying the holy sword. His whole body felt stiff after skipping his usual morning training. He controlled the servants’ access to the small training ground attached to the mansion and swung his sword freely.

Meeting the best sword, Lucian moved his body like a fish in water.

After swinging the sword continuously for a while without rest, Lucian sat on a bench under a tree to take a break.

“It’s usable.”

『Usable? I’m a holy sword. The most noble sword in the world! The holy sword that punishes evil! Don’t say I’m just usable. You should say I’m excellent!』

“If only there was a way to shut that mouth.”

『Hmph! I’m no different from humans. I have a self, so speaking is my choice.』

“I should take you to my wife and ask her to cut you in half. Then you won’t be able to speak anymore.”

At Lucian’s threat, the holy sword shut its mouth tightly. Threats mentioning Adelia worked very well.

Only then did he place the holy sword leaning against the tree with a satisfied face.

Lucian lay down on the long bench. He rested comfortably with his two arms behind his head and one leg bent.

He took a short nap with his eyes closed, basking in the warm sunlight.

『To think you’re leaving me like this and sleeping so comfortably.』

“It would be better to keep quiet. Before I really take you to my wife.”

『Hmph! You’re always looking for that person. But you’re destined to part anyway.』

The holy sword sneered in a mischievous tone.

Lucian, who had been quietly closing his eyes, suddenly opened them and raised his upper body from the bench.

Frowning and pressing his lips tightly, Lucian turned his head and glared at the holy sword.

“…I don’t think I’ve told you about the contract.”

『What contract?』

“Are you talking nonsense knowing about the marriage contract?”

『What are you talking about? How would I know when you didn’t tell me?』

The holy sword spoke as if it found it absurd. It grumbled that it wasn’t a god and how could it know such things.

The words ‘destined to part’ kept circling in Lucian’s mind.

Lucian placed a hand on his forehead.

“Then what do you mean by ‘destined to part’?”

『The guardian of light sees the essence of humans. I see human desires. One of that white mage’s desires is to leave you. More precisely, a desire to leave you to fulfill her most wanted desire has arisen.』

“Her most wanted desire? If we’re talking about what she wants most, isn’t it revenge?”

Lucian snapped in a sensitive tone, seemingly growling.

Satisfied with upsetting its master’s mood, the holy sword snickered.

『You don’t know either? I thought so too. But she’s hidden her greatest desire very, very well. She’s covered it up completely by piling on other desires.』

“Then what is her most desired wish?”

『I don’t know.』

“Are you playing games now? I should really tell my wife to cut you in half…”

Lucian narrowed his eyes. The holy sword jumped up again at the threat mentioning Adelia.

『No! I really don’t know. That one’s a white mage, you know. My abilities don’t work accurately on her. And I don’t want to know either. I’ve never seen such a deep-seated desire before. She seemed ready to sacrifice her life for that desire.』

“Tch. Useless.”

Lucian glared at the holy sword with a cold gaze and then got up. He had planned to take a leisurely nap, but his mood was twisted and sleep had completely fled.

He picked up the holy sword with a rough hand and moved his steps into the mansion. The holy sword dangling in the air shouted to be held properly, but Lucian pretended not to hear.

He carelessly threw the holy sword into an empty room.

『You! Don’t throw me! I don’t even have a scabbard.』

Lucian consistently ignored it and slammed the door shut. He walked up the stairs with heavy steps to the top floor where the bedroom was located.

His mind was filled with thoughts trying to guess Adelia’s desire.

“A desire she could sacrifice her life for…”

From their first meeting, Adelia had shown her desire for revenge. For revenge, she created her own merchant guild and walked into the imperial palace on her own feet to boldly propose a contract marriage.

From Lucian’s perspective, Adelia was dedicating a part of her life to prepare for revenge. And that was the most brilliantly shining young period of her life.

What could be a greater desire than that revenge?

Lost in thought, he found himself in front of the bedroom before he knew it.

Lucian lightly knocked on the door and opened it. He stopped in his tracks as he saw the inside of the room through the wide-open door.

“What are you doing?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? I’m working.”

Piles of documents scattered on the desk and magic books stacked like towers. Between them, Adelia’s face peeked out, adorned with round gold-rimmed glasses.