When Rose awoke in the morning, she almost stopped breathing. Right in front of her, Lucian slept peacefully, his white lashes gently closed. Like the first snow that had fallen softly during the night… 

‘How can anyone be so beautiful?’ 

Lucian’s face, bathed in the pale morning light, looked like a flawless sculpture of snow. The scene, dazzling as if the light itself was breaking, was utterly enchanting. Rose suddenly remembered the moment she had first seen Lucian collapse. 

She had felt the same way then. Just looking at him had made her feel as if every moment had been saved and redeemed.

It was a breathtakingly beautiful scene. Even the blood stains on his body could not diminish the nobility of the man. The young man who had fallen into eternal rest while holding the sword that had struck down the Demon King was a masterpiece in and of himself. 

A being created by the Creator of Heaven to save mankind – the purest person in the world. 

Though the resurrected Holy Knight despised Rose with a cold hatred for being a demon, the contempt and loathing he directed at her could not leave a single mark on her. Compared to the torturous love her husband had once showered upon her, Lucian’s hatred was far less severe. 

In fact, Rose liked Lucian’s awkward and almost endearing hatred. 

Rose liked Lucian’s awkward and almost endearing hatred. Even though he really wanted to kill her, he couldn’t bring himself to push away the demon that had nestled in his arms. Even if it meant tossing and turning uncomfortably through the night and only falling asleep in the morning, Lucian faithfully kept his promise to hold Rose while they slept. 

He was such a righteous man. 

The woman’s life had long since become like a deflated balloon. Unable to float to the heavens or cling to anything, it simply waited for the day when it would finally burst. 

Lucian brought new hope to Rose’s days. She was no longer weary or helpless in the face of her endless life. For beside her stood the Apostle of God, the one who could shatter that eternal existence. 

The moment she awoke and saw his white, immaculate face, the once dull mornings became a blessing. The monotonous days became salvation. 

Now Rose looked forward to tomorrow and dreamed again. She found joy in plotting ways to worm her way into the cracks of this rough, wild man. 

It was a feeling she had never experienced before in her life. 

Rose reached out and gently brushed her fingers across his face. 

Long white eyelashes, flawless and translucent cheeks, a sharp nose, bold eyebrows and a well-defined, beautiful jawline… Every time her hand brushed against him, Lucian’s eyelids twitched slightly, as if uncomfortable, but he never pushed away the demon nestled in his arms. 

How could a morning spent in the arms of a man who hated her feel so tender? 

Overwhelmed with longing, Rose licked her dry lips. 

Just a little more, just a little longer. 

She wanted to see the desperate expression on the face of the man who was so clearly unsettled by her. 

Rose quietly climbed onto the man’s body. As her fingers brushed over his tightly closed lips, she leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his cheek.

Smooch. 

Despite the contact, the man didn’t open his eyes, obviously too exhausted from the previous night. But when Rose reminded herself that this was an act of consideration on Lucian’s part, an unbearable restlessness welled up inside her. 

The thirst quickly turned into an insatiable hunger. Rose’s eyes wandered to the man’s pale neck and chest, just visible through the collar of his clothing. 

‘What a delicious body.’ 

For a brief moment, the promise they had made the night before flashed through her mind, but it faded quickly. No one would be foolish enough to delay a meal when the feast was laid out before them. 

Rose slowly slid down to settle between his legs. With every sound her movements made – rustle, rustle – Lucian’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he might wake at any moment. 

As she stared down at his body beginning to tense beneath her, Rose’s eyes filled with lust. Gulp. Without realising it, she swallowed hard. 

Since the first night was out of the question, a little taste wouldn’t hurt, would it? 

Completely consumed by desire, Rose failed to realise how flimsy her reasoning was. Even if she started doing something unusual out of boredom, her true nature remained unchanged – a demon who lived for pleasure and lust. 

She had absolutely no intention of stopping this brazen crime. 

Aaahhh!

Just as she opened her mouth wide to devour him, there was a loud thud and Rose was thrown backwards. 

Lucian, waking from his sleep, had reflexively kicked her away. 

***

Feeling a strange chill run through his lower body, Lucian opened his eyes to find himself in an unimaginable situation. 

The demon queen was between his legs, her mouth wide open, ready to devour his purity. 

Lucian instinctively raised his foot and kicked the demon between his legs. 

Thud. 

Even though he hadn’t used much force, the woman lost her balance like a piece of paper in the wind and fell backwards off the bed. 

Although he hadn’t meant to hit her, Lucian was startled that his kick had landed. He jumped and quickly sat up. 

“Ahhh…” 

The Dark Queen was curled up on the floor like a shrimp, moaning in pain. She must have hit her head quite hard when she fell, for a large, red bump had formed on the back of her head. 

As she fumbled with both hands to cover her head, Lucian rushed over to her. 

“Are you all right?” 

After kicking her, the man asked in a serious tone. Even if it had been an unconscious act, he had been taught never to raise his hand to a woman, not even as a joke. 

Unaware of the state of his own dishevelled appearance, Lucian focused entirely on the Demon Queen’s expression. 

“Demon queen, can you hear me?” 

The woman remained silent, holding the back of her head. He could even hear faint sniffling, suggesting that she was in considerable pain. 

“Excuse me for a moment.” 

Lucian carefully lifted the woman who had collapsed to the floor and helped her to sit up. As he put an arm around her shoulders to support her, the demon queen finally muttered a complaint, her face streaked with tears. 

“So just because I touched you, you’re going to kill me?” 

“I didn’t mean to kill you. I was just so frightened that I acted without thinking…” 

“I think my jaw is broken. It hurts…” 

“…Then why didn’t you avoid it?” 

Lucian added in a calm tone as he looked at the whimpering woman. 

“Before, you would have avoided it easily, like the wind.” 

It was a rather harsh thing to say to his injured wife, but the truth was that the Demon Queen was the one who held the reins in their relationship, constantly intimidating Lucian. He couldn’t afford to show any weakness to this demon, who might try to trick him at any moment. 

“We weren’t married then. Now I’m your wife.” 

“How is that different?” 

“If my beloved husband wants to beat me, I should accept it. 

What nonsense was that? 

She had just been whining about the pain, but now Rose was looking up at him with a beaming smile. For some reason, Lucian suddenly found it uncomfortable to meet her gaze. He unconsciously lowered his eyes only to realise the state of his lower half and his shoulders stiffened. 

He almost apologised. Even though it was clearly the demon who had broken their agreement and harassed him. 

“Stop playing games with me.” 

“You’re so mean. Where else would you find such a devoted wife as me?” 

“What kind of wife would willingly let her husband beat her?” 

“Right here. Me.” 

Rose, her hands forming a flower cup as she smiled, was met with Lucian’s dry gaze as he looked down at her. 

“Next time, don’t let yourself get hit – avoid it instead.” 

“Why?” 

“I was just using a means to defend myself, not because I wanted to hurt you.” 

“Even if you develop a preference for hitting me, I wouldn’t mind.” 

“Stop saying such dangerous things.” 

“Why?” 

“Husbands who lay hands on their wives go to hell.” 

“We’re already in hell. Have you forgotten?” 

At this point Lucian decided to just shut up. What was the point of trying to have a serious conversation with this demon who only responded with word games? 

Instead of answering, Lucian lowered his gaze to examine the back of the woman’s head, where a bump had formed, and the surrounding area. It seemed that she had also hit her shoulder when she fell backwards, for a fresh, dark bruise had appeared on the back of the Demon Queen’s shoulder. 

“Your shoulder is also bruised.”