Even when she tried to break the tense atmosphere with a casual question, the man made no response. Rose looked down at the holy knight, who didn’t even blink like a statue, and let out a soft laugh. 

“Are you nervous, Sir Knight?” 

“……” 

“Why are you so stiff?” 

It was only after hearing those words that the man made a faint, almost inaudible sound of recognition. Slowly, he lifted his face from her br*ast, looking belatedly at his arms still wrapped around her waist. 

“Did you heal me?” 

“Yes.” 

“I was… disrespectful.” 

Although he hadn’t fully grasped the situation, the Holy Knight’s first reaction was to apologise. Rose found his overly polite and correct behaviour endearing. Judging by his reaction, he still hadn’t realised she was a demon. 

As he gazed at her absentmindedly, as if still not fully aware, Rose studied his gentle face with an excited look. His gaze, though stiff, held no hint of suspicion or wariness. 

For thousands of years, Rose had received countless such looks from men. 

No matter how hard they tried to harden their expressions and feign indifference, the moment their eyes met hers, it was all too obvious – a look that was strange, tender and filled with warmth. 

“…could you perhaps explain what happened?” 

It was clear. 

“My memory is incomplete. I was sure I was in the Demon King’s castle, but…” 

Right now, this man feels the same way I do. 

As he continued to speak, unable to take his eyes off her face, Rose’s eyes sparkled with a gem-like sparkle of anticipation. 

“…Have you come to rescue me from the royal palace?” 

She had vaguely thought he might be handsome when he opened his eyes, but to have such an angelic face – what a surprise. 

“…Puella?” 

And to think he called her puella (young lady) when she had been married for three thousand years! 

After just a few words, she was certain that not only three thousand years, but a million years with this man would be pleasant. 

As they talked, the stiffness in the man’s lower body had quietly eased. A man whose rationality overcame his lower instincts – at least, as far as Rose knew, such a man didn’t exist in the Demon Realm. 

As his calm, expectant gaze met hers, seemingly waiting for her answer, Rose gave a sharp snap of her fingers in delight. 

“We can continue this conversation later.” 

Fwoosh.

With the sound, the fallen candlestick returned to the table, and as soon as it settled, Rose cupped his chin and leaned closer. 

“First, let’s finish what we started.” 

As her shadow fell across the man’s dazed face, he paused for a moment before obediently following her lead. Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms gently around her shoulders. 

Just as their lips were about to meet, Rose suddenly felt the man’s hand go to her neck, making her jump and pull away immediately. 

“…Ah.” 

The holy knight blinked in surprise, seemingly confused by her sudden retreat. Feeling a little embarrassed, Rose muttered softly, “Sorry, I was just startled for a moment…” 

As she nervously touched the back of her neck, the man’s gaze landed on her neck, where a dark handprint was clearly visible. 

“…Who.” 

“……” 

“Who dared to do this to you…?” 

Rose laughed softly and sighed as she noticed the man’s slightly pale complexion. 

“It’s fine. I was just playing around with this last night.” 

“Pardon?” 

“Sir Knight, you really have no experience, do you? I thought it might be because you’re a bit clumsy at kissing, but…” 

“What are you talking about…?” 

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach you step by step.” 

As the man fumbled for words, Rose smiled at him, then pushed him down onto the bed and whispered softly, 

“What’s your name?” 

As her hand moved slowly up his chest, the man’s rigid gaze shifted to Rose. In the dim light, he immediately noticed the short, rounded horns protruding from her head. The moment he saw them, the holy knight’s expression changed and his eyes turned sharp. 

“You.” 

“Hmm?” 

“You are not human.” 

Despite the knight’s voice turning icy cold in an instant, Rose simply let out a soft laugh, showing no sign of intimidation. 

“Does it really matter?” 

“……” 

“Don’t worry. In a month or so, you’ll be just like me…” 

The face of the man who touched her cheek had grown pale, like a marble statue. With cold eyes, he quickly scanned his surroundings before speaking. 

“Are you the one who took my holy sword?” 

“I put it away because it looked dangerous. Why?” 

“……” 

“Or do you prefer to play with it?” 

The scabbard may have been fine, but the blade itself… As she thought this, Rose noticed the cold yet threatening glint in the man’s eyes before her and realised she had misunderstood. 

“Or not. Never mind.” 

As the man’s expression grew colder and colder, sinking into the depths of ice, Rose remained completely unconcerned. 

“Well then, answer me. What’s your name?” 

In the cold silence, the man remained as still as a statue, offering no answer. 

“Why don’t you answer? Are you embarrassed?” 

“……” 

“All right, I’ll try not to rush you.” 

“……” 

“The night is long…” 

As Rose’s hand slid slowly down the man’s shoulder, he suddenly grabbed the candlestick from the table and smashed it against her head. 

Whoosh!

In an instant, Rose vanished like the wind, only to reappear moments later, muttering, “You startled me, Sir Knight”. 

With a quick snap of her fingers, the knight’s body froze completely, paralysed. Rose took the candlestick from his hand and calmly returned it to the table. 

Despite the faint tone of reproach in her voice, the knight responded only with a cold, unflinching stare, remaining completely motionless. 

“What is your purpose?” 

The man’s cold, steady voice echoed through the room. 

“Why did you save me?” 

Though his manner was intense, he did not abandon his courtesy. He seemed fully aware that she had healed him. 

The fact that he didn’t attack again, choosing instead to start a conversation, suggested that there was still hope. Rose approached him with light, quick steps. 

“Because I like you, Sir Knight.” 

Rose cupped the silent man’s cheek and whispered in the most seductive voice she could muster, 

“Spend the night with me.” 

The knight spat out his words as if biting them off, his voice filled with contempt. 

“It’s better if you just kill me.”

The air around them instantly turned icy, as if they were trapped in a frozen cave. The cold aura surrounding them sent shivers down Rose’s spine and made her shoulders tremble slightly. She noticed the pale glow of divine energy clinging to the edges of his lips. 

It was strange, considering he had not had the strength to move just moments ago. 

“I would rather have my body torn apart and die than spend the night with a demon.” 

‘When did he regain so much strength?’ 

As the cold, threatening chill washed over her like a wave, Rose instinctively took a step back. She snapped her fingers quickly and at that moment the man lowered his head and fell silent. 

Looking down at the unconscious man, Rose breathed a sigh of relief. 

‘I almost made a big mistake, letting my guard down.’ 

Used to coming back to life so quickly after death, she had momentarily forgotten that this man was actually capable of killing her. 

As she looked at the pale aura still swirling around his lips, Rose shivered slightly. Had she kissed those lips, she would surely have melted away, leaving no trace of herself. 

The exorcism energy, a divine power that only those blessed by God could wield… 

The exorcism energy, a powerful divine power that only those blessed by God could use, was as strong as the power of angels. 

‘Why is he so angry when I haven’t even done anything yet?’ 

Once the cold aura around him had completely subsided, Rose carefully lifted the fallen man and looked down at his white crown, confused by the situation. 

Soul abduction was a common form of courtship in the demon realm.

‘Perhaps it’s because I’ve been married for so long that I’ve lost touch with the delicate feelings of young people.’ 

For a moment she remembered Pluto’s proposal, which now seemed so distant. 

One day, as she was walking through the reeds, Pluto suddenly kidnapped her. When she screamed and asked why, he ran up to her and told her he loved her. No matter how much she cried and screamed for him to stop, Pluto wouldn’t listen. He even complimented her, saying that her screams were beautiful.