After a long silence, Lucian finally spoke. 

“…Why… would you say something like that?” 

“…Huh?” 

“That you’re a nuisance to me… things like that…” 

There was a hint of confusion in his voice as his words trailed off. Rose blinked, surprised at his unexpected reaction. 

‘Wasn’t he angry because he wanted an apology?’ 

But still… 

“Aren’t I a nuisance to you?” 

“That’s what I don’t understand. Why do you think that? It’s my fault that you’re in this state.” 

Was he referring to his failure to hold her hand earlier? If so, he wasn’t entirely wrong, but still… 

“But you doesn’t like me.”

Lucian’s lips, on the verge of forming words, froze. 

He suddenly fell silent, as if he had broken down like a malfunctioning machine. Rose, wondering if she had said something wrong again, closed her mouth as well and watched him quietly, trying to read his reaction. 

An oppressive silence filled the room. 

“…My Queen.”

At the sound of his voice, her gaze instinctively dropped. Her mouth went dry and her heart began to race. 

In the thousands of years they had spent as husband and wife, whenever tensions had escalated like this, her husband had always made her feel the need to ‘repent’. 

She clenched her now cold hands tightly and waited in silence for his next words. She knew that resisting would only prolong his anger, so she instinctively closed her eyes in submission. If he raised his hand, she was prepared to take it without complaint. 

But the words that followed were completely unexpected. 

“I’m sorry.” 

At the unfamiliar tone, Rose opened her eyes wide. 

The words slipped into her ears and echoed through her body. Like a distant echo through a silent forest, the man’s voice seemed to ripple through the air around her. 

For a moment, she couldn’t even open her mouth to answer. It was as if she had become a mermaid, dragged ashore. Her mind went blank and it felt like the air was thinning. 

“It’s my fault.” 

Why? 

“You don’t bother me at all.” 

Why would you say that to me? 

“It’s my fault you broke down in the first place. How could I think of you as a nuisance?” 

Hearing these words, Rose felt as if she had been pulled out of the water and came to her senses. As her thoughts became clearer, she finally saw the man’s expression. 

That face, frozen like a marble statue. She had thought he was angry with her, but she was wrong. 

Lucian was blaming himself. His face was pale, almost ghostly, as if he couldn’t even breathe properly. 

He was actually apologising to her. 

The moment she realised, it was Rose’s turn to freeze. 

“I shouldn’t have left you alone this morning.”

The words that reached her ears were unbelievable. In three thousand years of marriage, nothing like this had ever happened. 

She had received an apology. 

And from the man who had become her husband, no less. 

“I promised to serve you with all my heart, but I made you think that. I’m sorry.” 

The pale face, marked by deep guilt, was completely unfamiliar to her. Suddenly, heat rose to the back of her neck and a shiver ran down her spine. Something like a wave stirred in her chest, so hot it was almost suffocating. 

It was the first time she had ever felt anything like this. She had never experienced anything like it before. 

Rose didn’t know. 

She didn’t know the name of the sudden wave that surged and enveloped her heart. 

“My Queen.” 

And why was he looking at her with such a startled expression? 

“I’ll never leave you alone again.” 

She couldn’t understand a word. 

“So please…” 

Really, not a single thing… 

“So please don’t cry…” 

Rose’s expression was blank. 

In the blink of an eye, something suddenly fell, pattering softly. 

“…Huh?” 

Only then did Rose realise that something was running down her cheeks. Touching her now damp face, she blinked in confusion.

What was this? 

“…What is this?” 

Why am I crying? 

I never cried when my husband died. 

“What’s wrong with me? Why is this happening? I must be broken.” 

It was strange. 

“No, Lucian. I’m not sad right now. I’m not crying.” 

She wasn’t sad at all. 

“I must be really broken. Why is this happening?” 

She really wasn’t sad, not even a little. 

Even when she spoke honestly, Lucian didn’t seem to believe her. His expression was one of guilt as he fell silent. Seeing his face, Rose let out a small sigh. 

“That’s not true.”

“…” 

“This is just… um…” 

She stopped talking and thought for a moment. She wasn’t sad, so why was she crying? As her eyes blinked rapidly, the blurred world around her gradually came into focus. When she saw Lucian’s face in her vision, she suddenly understood the reason. 

‘Ah, so this is why.’ 

The silver hair, as if bathed in moonlight, illuminated her vision. The man, listening to her silently and attentively, had the face of an angel receiving a divine revelation from God. His unwavering gaze made Rose feel completely trapped. It was as if her heart had been pierced by Cupid’s arrow. 

He was looking straight at her with eyes full of sincerity and serenity. 

As she paused to remember his face, it suddenly hit her. 

‘I think I know why I’m crying.’ 

Lucian’s face, now softened and free of hostility, was breathtakingly beautiful – far more than she had ever vaguely imagined or hoped for. 

Because she liked it. 

His calm and respectful gaze, the quiet light that filled his eyes. The cool dawn air around them, the pale moon submerged in silent stillness. 

This moment, standing face to face with the man she had dreamed of for so long, filled her with overwhelming joy. 

As she stared into the man’s eyes, glowing like a lighthouse in the darkness, she found herself murmuring, almost in rapture. 

“It’s love.” 

“Pardon?” 

“It’s love, Lucian. I must have fallen in love!” 

At that moment, even as Lucian’s eyes narrowed, Rose paid no attention and continued to speak. 

“Lucian, I love you.” 

“What on earth are you talking about all of a sudden?” 

“I told you, I wasn’t crying because I was sad. So this must be love.” 

Lucian’s lips, which had been still for a moment, moved slightly, mumbling belatedly. 

“…What?” 

The demon queen replied again without changing her expression. 

“I love you, Lucian.” 

The man froze, his lips half-opened in shock. 

“Ah, so this is love. I didn’t notice it because it’s the first time I’ve experienced such a fluttering kind of love. To think that just a few words could make me feel so overwhelmed – unbelievable…” 

‘What on earth is this woman talking about now?’ 

“Lucian, how can you be so beautiful even when you’re angry and so graceful when you speak?” 

“…” 

“If I were to make you a star in the sky, I wouldn’t mind if the sun never rose again. Oh, but don’t worry, I’m not actually planning to do that. If I were to put something so beautiful in the sky, everyone would be staring at you. You’re mine to look at. Mine alone…” 

Lucian had completely lost the will to react. He had just decided to be nicer to her, but now… 

“Lucian, I can’t hold back any longer. Let’s spend our first night together tonight.” 

What on earth is wrong with this woman? 

“No.” 

“Why not?” 

“Does there have to be a reason for saying no?” 

“Then at least a kiss!” 

The demon queen, pouting with a sulky expression, met Lucian’s averted gaze without answer. Seeing her spout such nonsense, it was clear that her condition had fully recovered. 

“Lucian, you’re perfect, but you play too hard to get.” 

“That’s not playing hard to get. It’s called rejecting.” 

“Same difference.” 

“They’re not the same at all.” 

Even when he spoke seriously, she pretended she hadn’t heard a word. 

“Lucian, I’m hurting. My head hurts. Can you pat it for me?” 

‘What am I going to do with her?’

Lucian, accustomed to sharp retorts, held back this time and let out a sigh as he cupped the top of her round head with his hand. It was obviously another one of her antics, but he’d just apologised and didn’t want to scold someone who was unwell and lying down. 

He gently stroked the side of her head, close to her hair. When he did, the demon queen blinked at him, her eyes wide as if she couldn’t believe he was actually doing it. 

“Dear, have you finally fallen in love with me?” 

“That could never happen.” 

Even as Lucian coldly pushed her away with his words, the demon queen smiled brightly, as if everything in the world was wonderful. 

Looking down at the woman rubbing her cheek against his palm, Lucian let out a weary sigh. 

“I’ve heard that when you’re in a good mood, your ability to heal improves.”