Now You’re Obsessed - Chapter 36

“Ariel?”

Lionel bent down to let her speak comfortably, as if she were about to whisper. Her soft lips touched his ear. Ariel whispered quietly.

“This is… really delicious, Lionel.”

“Is it?”

“But…”

Ariel, who had been smiling brightly, giggled. Her laughter tickled Lionel’s ear like a feather. It was a clear, bell-like laugh.

“The cookies you made… taste even better.”

Lionel’s shoulders flinched at her words.

Just before their wedding, Ariel had learned from Lionel during a conversation that the almond cookies she had been enjoying were his creations.

‘Really?’

‘Yes. It’s been quite some time.’

‘I didn’t even know…’

Ariel, who looked at him as if she might cry, was as lovely as ever.

Remembering that moment, Lionel looked at Ariel as if his eyes had never been dark. Ariel’s small lips, still smiling, moved busily.

“The cookies… were always delicious.”

At that moment, Lionel fought the urge to swallow her lips immediately. He knew well that if he did, it wouldn’t end with just her lips.

No matter how much he desired her, Lionel had no interest in holding Ariel in front of so many people. Her cute and pretty body and her sensual, pleasure-filled face were for his eyes only.

Swallowing his rising desire quietly, he wore a gentle smile. Though he’s known for being always cold and aloof, he had been smiling so often lately that it surprised even him. But for Lionel, it wasn’t a bad feeling at all.

“It was worth the effort to learn.”

“Hehe.”

“In fact, I’ve learned much more, Ariel.”

At those words, Ariel widened her eyes in surprise. Lionel, resisting the urge to kiss her lips again, extended a finger and gently stroked her lower lip.

“Every time I returned to the Duke’s residence after a hunt, I sought out the head chef.”

Indeed, Lionel had learned many recipes from the head chef at the Duke’s residence. Ariel, hearing his sincere words, unconsciously opened her mouth. Lionel pressed her soft lips as if he wanted to put his finger inside her open mouth.

“Every time you ate something with this small mouth.”

“Mm…”

“It was such a lovely sight.”

Lionel’s lilac-colored eyes seemed to deepen. Ariel felt her intoxication slightly fade.

“Ah.”

When Ariel closed her mouth unconsciously, she felt Lionel’s finger between her lips. Somehow, the talk about eating seemed to imply something else…

‘It must be about eating cookies… right?’

Even as she thought that, Ariel glanced around.

Fortunately, the people around them were more intoxicated than Ariel, busy drinking and talking among themselves, oblivious to the atmosphere between the two.

The smell of spilled alcohol filled the air, and people, now cheerful, were either chatting lightly or throwing punches into the air. They were typical drunks.

“So Veloto should actively recruit talents with holy power…”

“Even if we don’t have a Holy Knight Order like Robel…”

“Owner! More drinks here!”

“Hey, did you just hit me? You wanna fight?”

“Fight, fight!”

In the midst of the noisy voices, Ariel looked up at Lionel. He had been watching her all along and met her gaze immediately. When he withdrew his finger from her lips, it was coated with the sauce from the meatball she had eaten.

“Every time I see your lips moving.”

Lionel put his finger in his mouth nonchalantly. His silver eyelashes and short hair sparkled under the bright candlelight of the dining room. It was always a sacred sight.

Yet, with such a face, Lionel spoke in a lewd tone.

“I always want to feed you more.”

“Really?”

“So I learned as much as I could.”

A deep smile lingered on his lips. Ariel, staring at him as if entranced, blushed slightly. She suddenly remembered that they were newlyweds.

“Hahaha!”

At that moment, the laughter of the people around them was heard. Ariel swallowed and shouted to herself,

‘But we’re in public!’

In the end, what came out of Ariel’s intoxicated mouth was a slightly dazed exclamation.

“Wow…”

“I haven’t had the chance to cook for you often, but once we get to Veloto, I’ll have plenty of time.”

Seeing Ariel’s dazed eyes, Lionel smiled more deeply and whispered.

“I’ll have plenty of time to cook for you.”

“Plenty of… time?”

“I’ll be supporting you in Veloto for the time being.”

At his words, Ariel hiccupped. Lionel had naturally brought up one of the things she had been worrying about.

“I plan to help as much as I can.”

“But Lionel…”

She wanted to ask if it wasn’t a waste for a knight like him to stop working. But Lionel, as if he knew what she was about to say, smiled warmly, reassuring her.

“Of course, if necessary, I’ll work as much as needed. Anything to help you, Ariel.”

“Ah…”

“But when we first arrive in Veloto, we’ll have to find a house and servants, so there will be a lot to handle.”

“That’s true, but…”

“I don’t want you, who will be busy preparing to become an administrator, to worry about such things. I have nothing to do immediately.”

Lionel, who spoke nonchalantly, gently played with the ends of Ariel’s hair.

“You’re supposed to take responsibility for me, so leave the household chores to me. Finding a house and hiring staff, everything.”

Ariel still didn’t know that Lionel had already secured a mansion and title. He had even hired all the staff, so they just needed to move in.

‘It’s not just a mansion.’

When he took the vow of prohibition, he had liquidated his personal assets accumulated as a holy knight and his inheritance as Frenderick’s second son. He had bought mines, farms, and several promising large merchant guilds in Veloto.

The income from those alone was enough for several generations to live without working. He still remembered the face of the Veloto broker who couldn’t hide his joy at the foreign investor spending lavishly.

Thanks to that, he could fully support Ariel. She deserved the best.

‘There’s no need to tell her.’

There was no need to burden her now. He planned to tell her later that he owned businesses in Veloto, but that could wait.

Lionel stroked Ariel’s hair as she hesitated. She was still looking at him in bewilderment.

“Then…”

“Until we hire a new chef… I’ll cook for you myself.”

Lionel smiled, thinking of using this as an excuse to take charge of cooking.

He felt happy thinking about feeding, clothing, and housing Ariel with what he made himself. Just imagining her small mouth eating his food gave him a thrill greater than catching any monster.

“I’ll make anything you want.”

“Really?”

“Not just almond cookies, anything.”

And it would be wonderful if she ate something else in the evening too.

Lionel vividly remembered the time Ariel fearlessly buried her face in his lap. Thinking of her lips glistening with his fluid and how she stuffed his length into her mouth made his neck stiffen.

“If needed, I’ll even pack you lunch.”

“Lunch…”

Hearing that, Ariel’s eyes became dreamy. He didn’t need to ask to know. In her mind, she was already picturing herself as a competent administrator in Veloto, eating a homemade meal prepared by Lionel.

Of course, her actual meals would be more like an imperial feast than a cute, homely lunchbox. He couldn’t prepare anything less for her.

“Make sure to eat it all by yourself, Ariel.”

“Yes…”

“Don’t even think about sharing it with Caelo or anyone else.”

Ariel’s small head flinched as if she had been thinking about it. Lionel glanced around, confirmed that people were busy with their own drinks, and quickly bit Ariel’s lip.

“Ouch!”

Ariel let out a small cry in surprise. Lionel looked at her and spoke.

“Every time you share, I’ll bite you like this.”

He controlled his strength, so it didn’t hurt, but his explicit intent was clear. Especially with the way he slowly licked her lower lip as he pulled away, his tongue full of patience.

Ariel nodded, her forehead turning red. Lionel whispered kindly,

“So don’t worry and just eat and enjoy for now.”

“Did it… show?”

“I know what you’re thinking without you saying it.”

Lionel said, putting a piece of chopped vegetable into Ariel’s mouth. She accepted it like a baby bird and nodded shyly.

It was originally her role to embarrass Lionel or shower him with affection until he was overwhelmed.

Now, it felt like the tables had turned.

‘But… it’s not a bad feeling.’

Thinking that, Ariel drank another glass offered by someone. Lionel intervened, letting her drink only half and finishing the rest himself.

The fact that it was a leftover drink from her didn’t seem to bother him at all.

Seeing that made her realize they were truly married, which made her very happy. Ariel leaned her head on him again, smiling brightly.