“But I promise you that for one year I will do my best to fulfil the role of your husband with all my heart.” 

Rose found herself convinced that the man’s words were indeed true. Watching his determined expression, as if he were about to go into battle, she stifled a burst of laughter. 

Ah, honestly. 

If I indulge him too much, he’ll spoil. 

Should I let him go? Or should I not? 

“……Your Majesty, in human society, life is often compared to the four seasons.” 

As she remained silent, deep in thought, the man added to his argument. Though his expression was calm, Rose could see it clearly – the bead of cold sweat forming on his forehead. 

“So, Your Majesty, if you were to spend a year with me, wouldn’t that be like spending a lifetime together?” 

The man was clearly nervous. He was afraid of the thought that she might refuse his proposal. 

Watching him desperately stretch out his hand, Rose bit the inside of her lip. 

“I humbly ask this of you, Your Majesty.” 

Ah, I really shouldn’t be laughing. 

His starry, golden gaze shot towards her like shooting stars, embedding itself deep in her heart. The laughter rose to her throat, rippling it like waves. It was overwhelming, chaotic and tickling all at once. 

For the first time since they had met, he was making an effort to win Rose’s favour. The man who had been staring at her with piercing eyes was now cautiously watching her reaction. 

And he did so with such an unwavering and stoic expression. 

“Please spend the four seasons with me.” 

It was a stiff and overly formal request. 

Rose stared silently at the hand extended to her. Though its expression was as rigid as a statue, its fingers twitched subtly and repeatedly. 

‘Ah, I see.’ 

When he’s unsure, it doesn’t show on his face, it shows in other parts of his body. 

When she made no response, the holy knight seemed to take it as a refusal. His lips moved silently a few times, as if to say something, before he finally spoke. 

“I will serve you with all my heart.” 

He seemed desperate now, afraid that the deal would fall through. His face looked determined, as if he were swearing an oath of loyalty. Seeing that, Rose couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. 

“Who proposes like that?” 

“I’m sorry. I have no experience.” 

The way he lowered his eyes, looking slightly embarrassed, was something Rose found endearing. She chuckled softly as she took the holy knight’s hand and drew him closer. 

“Yes, it shows.” 

As their toes almost touched, Rose wrapped her arms around the man’s neck. She felt a slight tremor at the contact between their bodies, but he didn’t push her away. 

His face, now even stiffer than when he had proposed, was frozen and Rose studied his expression as if she were studying a constellation. 

‘If I hold him by force, he’ll probably never show me another expression.’ 

And she didn’t want that. 

Even when a wounded body is healed, a life once broken can never be the same again – a truth Rose had learned painfully in the three thousand years she had spent with Pluto. 

Gently cupping his neck, which had stiffened like a block of wood, Rose added, 

“All right, husband.” 

“……” 

“Now you must tell me your name.” 

Despite his earlier claim that he had no name to give a demon, his response this time was calm and obedient. 

“…Lucian.” 

His low, calm voice slid into her ears, like the sacred words of a holy hymn flowing softly through a still winter night. 

“Lucian Valentinius.” 

Rose silently savoured the resonance of the name as it rang through her ears.

‘Lucian, Lucian…’

She liked the way the syllables rolled off her tongue. 

Looking into the man’s eyes, which had now softened and lost their hostility, Rose smiled faintly. 

“Lucian.” 

At the sound of her calling his name, he lowered his head obediently, like a hunting dog to its master, and answered. 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” 

Rose liked the softer tone in his voice and couldn’t help smiling. She tugged at Lucian’s collar as if to urge him on. 

“Give the bride her vow kiss.” 

Although Lucian’s expression seemed to question whether this was really necessary, he chose not to voice his thoughts. Rose, feeling his hand gently cupping her chin, closed her eyes obediently. 

Push.

Their lips met briefly, like a stamp being pressed and lifted, without a sound. 

When she opened her eyes, somewhat incredulously, Lucian had a look of relief on his face, as if he had just come through some great ordeal. 

It was a new expression she had never seen on him before and Rose didn’t mind. 

“Is that enough now? Let’s sign the contract.” 

And so, in that moment, Rose decided to overlook her brave husband’s rudeness. 

The man who’d said he’d rather die than marry her had become her husband in one night. A year would be more than enough time to correct his behaviour. 

“All right, dear.” 

“Please don’t call me that.” 

“If I can’t call you ‘dear’, what shall I call you?” 

“Haven’t I told you my name?” 

Looking at her husband, who seemed genuinely annoyed at being called ‘dear’, Rose chuckled softly. 

“All right then, Lucian.” 

How could I tame this man, pure and untouched as a virgin snowfield? The budding anticipation swelled in her chest like a flower about to bloom.

—

The wedding, without a single guest, ironically dragged on longer than expected. 

Even after they kissed, Rose clung to him and wouldn’t let go, while he remained frozen in an awkward posture, as if bound by invisible ropes. 

Finally, when his neck began to feel stiff, Lucian spoke. 

“How long are you going to keep this up?” 

“Until I really feel that we are husband and wife.” 

“I think I’ve felt that enough.” 

“No, not yet.” 

“Why not yet?” 

Rose rubbed her forehead against Lucian’s neck as she replied, “What kind of husband doesn’t hold his wife when she clings to him?” 

Lucian’s expression grew weary. 

‘If that was her intention, she should have said so from the start. I’ve been straining, awkwardly adjusting to a height that doesn’t even fit, and now my neck and back are starting to hurt. This demon really doesn’t care about my situation.’ 

“Would you like to hold me a little longer now?” 

Right in front of him, her pink eyes scattered in a dizzying array. He felt her warm breath brush against his chin, and only then did Lucian raise his eyebrows belatedly. Only moments ago she had been playfully hugging him. 

“Huh? Lucian.” 

When had she been so close…? 

“Kiss me.” 

This is dangerous. 

As her lips drew closer, whispering softly, Lucian immediately blocked them with his palm. Her wide, startled eyes quickly changed to an expression of displeasure. 

“Not until the contract is signed.” 

When the hand covering his mouth was removed, the demon queen clicked her tongue and stepped away from him. 

“Really, do you have no sense of atmosphere?” 

Despite the grumbling remark, Lucian didn’t move an inch. 

Soon the woman sighed softly, as if in resignation, and reached up into the air. 

A black flash illuminated the surroundings for a moment and a quill appeared from nowhere. 

Scratch, scratch…

The quill began to write words in the empty space. Lucian watched in silence as the letters formed in thick black ink. 

“There. Is this good enough?”

This is what a contract with a demon looks like. 

“I’ve already signed, now it’s your turn.” 

The Demon Queen snatched the floating quill from the air and handed it to him. After confirming the Demon Queen’s signature at the bottom, Lucian carefully scanned the contents of the contract with a cautious eye.

{Lucian Valentinius, in the name of his mother, the Goddess of Creation, promises to be the husband of Demon Queen Rose for one year and to faithfully fulfil the duties of married life. In return, the Demon Queen Rose promises to be exorcised by Lucian Valentinius in one year’s time. The contract will take effect the moment it is signed by both parties. The marriage will last exactly one year from tonight, based on the Red Moon Calendar, and the exorcism will take place at sunrise on the day following the end of the contract.}