The Newlywed Diary of a Horror Game Maid

The Newlywed Diary of a Horror Game Maid

"Madam, I'll leave the car here."

"Alright, you may leave."

Click. The door to the office closed, and as the servant departed, I finally looked up from the documents after a long time. I had been so focused on dealing with the mountain of work that I hadn't realized how late it had gotten.

Ah, my shoulders hurt, so stiff! It felt like I had returned to the hellish training of exam preparation from nearly a year ago, but I hadn't anticipated an even greater storm waiting ahead. Why is there so much work!

In my imagination, nobles spent their days basking in the sun, laughing and walking around, and wondering what to eat the next day. I thought maybe I could live like that too, but it was all a misconception.

Every day began and ended with work. It was incomparably busier than my days as a servant when cleaning was all I had to do. Managing the domain and our home, handling taxes, and continuing the charitable works started by predecessors, along with maintaining relations with other families.

No one said that being a countess would be leisurely, but sometimes it felt like I'd been tricked.

I wrote down 'Hildegard Sienna von Loen Palzgraf'—a name I was still not used to—on the last document I was reviewing and set it aside. Adrian had explained the origin of each part of the name when I received it, but I'd forgotten it all as soon as we got busy.

Although I didn’t fully understand the meaning of this lengthy name, I was still called Hilda in private settings, so I didn’t feel much change.

I had become as fluent in writing my elongated name as I had become accustomed to living the life of a countess. The hardest part to get used to was undoubtedly giving orders to subordinates, especially since they had been my peers before.

But I remembered the former countess’s words that looking awkward only made you appear foolish, and I gathered my resolve. Whenever I faced tough situations, recalling her advice always made things easier.

"Should I just finish this today and tidy up?"

It was already 11 PM. I didn't usually work this late, but I had to advance some planned work soon.

Sobbing, I missed Adrian. For the sake of my mental health, I needed to see my husband's face at least three times a day, but somehow, I saw him even less after we got married. It didn’t make sense that we hadn’t even gone on our honeymoon because we both had so much work.

"Hilda. May I come in?"

Just then, with a knock, the face I had wanted to see appeared. Adrian! My face, which had been furrowed from relentless work, brightened up instantly.

"Adrian! You said you might not return today! Did you finish your work?"

I rose eagerly, and a smile spread across his lips.

"Yes. I thought it would take longer, but it finished surprisingly quickly. I went straight to the bedroom since you weren't there, were you still working?"

"Yes, I was looking at the list of tribute payments. The numbers seemed off."

Before I could move, Adrian quickly came closer and took my hand. His gaze was as warm as the sunlight.

"You look tired. It would be much easier if you had an advisor by your side, but you won’t listen."

"I’ll consider it once I get used to the work. How can I command subordinates if I don’t know how to work myself?"

"I didn’t realize you would work so diligently, madam. But you should also look after a husband who has been upset for days."

Adrian leaned in close, resting his forehead on my shoulder.

"You haven’t come to the bedroom recently. Do you know how many nights I’ve slept alone?"

"I didn’t want to wake you with my movements. Did that upset you?"

"Now that we finally share the same bedroom, you don’t come in. It’s unimaginable. You have no idea how heartbreaking it is to find you asleep in the office."

"I'm sorry. It was because of work..."

"I miss you. I just want to love you, only you."

His kisses trailed softly from my shoulder to my neck, each touch sending shivers down my spine. I naturally found myself yielding, reminded of how long Adrian had been patient. We hadn’t truly enjoyed our married life due to being caught up in various preparations since our wedding.

When I first started studying under the direction of the former countess, I had to use a dodge dress to fend off Adrian’s advances. His attempts to undress me would trigger a dodge, often catching him off guard. The successful dodge would apply a debuff that lowered his hit rate, giving Adrian a hard time. After the system was shut down, the item's effect was rendered useless.

I once caught a glimpse of a love poem Adrian had scribbled during that time; it was so heartfelt one might think he had lost someone, and I almost felt guilty.

"How can you say that? I've missed you so much. I wanted to hold you."

"I want you more, Hilda. Much more. I wish you wanted me the same way."

"..."

"Even if it's only half as much, I wish you wanted me too..."

His voice, initially playful, turned ominously cold. I truly love Adrian and strive to show it, but it seems he always finds it lacking.

As his desperation became evident, it was impossible to resist him. 

"Adrian, I understand... I'll go to the bedroom today, don't worry. Just give me another hour, no, just 30 minutes."

I was pushed against the desk, unable to move as my ongoing task blurred before my eyes. I needed to finish calculating the tribute payments before I could sleep!

"I can't wait any longer."

"Just a moment... Ah, just a sec!"

Adrian lifted me onto the desk, ignoring my panicked screams. His hands began to wander alarmingly from my ankles up my legs. Alarms started ringing in my head.

"Okay, I understand, let’s just calm down and head to the bedroom... Ah."

I tried to push him away, but there was no shoulder to push against as he had already slipped beneath my skirt. Suddenly lying on the office floor and facing the ceiling, I was startled by a cool sensation below.

"Adrian!"

"Yes, did you call?"

His speech was muffled under my skirt. Only after feeling a hot, moist sensation on the insides of my thighs did I realize what he was doing. The tremors in my legs intensified as his lips, diligently working their way up, finally reached my underwear. A shiver ran through my body.

"Adrian, what are you... now!"

He effortlessly caught my kicking leg and undid a knot at my waist. The lace fell away, sending a chill down my spine. What followed was a burning, slippery sensation burrowing deeper. Oh, I held my breath, trying not to make a sound.

"Just a moment, people will start coming around soon..."

As soon as I opened my mouth, his tongue pierced deep inside—a particularly sensitive spot that he targeted mercilessly whenever he felt mischievous. My waist jerked reflexively, and his tongue movements grew more intense, digging into the soft flesh and licking up every dripping fluid as if it were too precious to waste. It was as if he was trying to embarrass me to death.

"People might hear us if they pass by..."

I unintentionally tightened my grip around his head with the strength in my lower body, as my legs, quivering in the air, were casually draped over his shoulders. His hands caressing my hips felt ticklish and smooth.

"I wonder if there's still a servant who doesn't know that the count can hardly keep his hands off his wife."

"Still, at least wait until everyone is asleep..."

"That can't happen. I'm most drawn to you when you're embarrassed."

A more audacious response would have excited him more. With a faint chuckle, his tongue ventured deeper, the stimulation causing my back to arch slightly. My hands, with nowhere else to go, clung desperately to the hem of my skirt. Despite biting down hard, I couldn't suppress the moans escaping breathlessly. The probing tongue was so fervent that every touch burned intensely.

His relentless attention might have continued until dawn. "Adrian..."

"Yes, I'm here."

As the moment intensified, I reached out my hand, and he grasped it eagerly, intertwining our fingers fully, more possessively than usual. His voice sounded deeply satisfied. Overwhelmed by the intensity, I trembled uncontrollably.

After being swept away by a wave of sensations, I gasped for air and pulled his face toward mine. His smile was dangerously beautiful as it appeared before me.

"How do you like the shirt I wore today? I picked it specially, knowing you'd like to tear it."

He slightly lifted the hem of his shirt with his fingertips. Knowing my weakness for such things, he began to undo his neatly tied tie. My nature was quick to ignite, and Adrian had always been skilled in fanning the flames—we were truly made for each other.

Ultimately, I didn't manage to calculate the tribute payments, spending the night in the bedroom instead. It was perhaps the longest night since we had been married, and when I finally awoke, sore all over, Adrian was wrapped around me like an octopus, making it impossible to get up.

So, I slept in. It took a long while to even think about getting out of bed. A long while indeed.

"Adrian, time to get up."

"..."

"It's time for breakfast... well, lunch now."

I had dozed off again due to 'octopus Adrian,' and when I opened my eyes, it was already past lunchtime. From the sounds outside the door, it seemed the servants were anxiously waiting to serve the meal.

This wouldn't do. If I didn't get up now, I'd end up spending all day in bed with Adrian. I had to finish my work for the sake of my grand plans. I tried to untangle myself from the octopus-like grip, but I was pulled back in. Escape was a total failure.

"Let's stay like this a bit longer, Hilda. It's rare we get such a lazy morning to ourselves."

He spoke softly, his lips slowly meeting my shoulder. I felt something hard and hot against my back—apparently, my husband was ready to go again. His inexhaustible vigor was honestly impressive.

After the curse had been fully lifted, he had become healthier, and his stamina seemed boundless. As his wife, I was content, but sometimes... just sometimes, I wished he would fall asleep before me. His energy was evidently leagues beyond my own.

"But they've been waiting outside for us to get up for a while now."

"Let them wait. That's their job."

"Adrian."

"Hilda, you worry too much about what others think. Can't you focus only on me for now? It’s rare for us..."

"That's called being rational in the real world."

"Right. I sincerely hope my rational wife could pay a little more attention to her lonely husband. I really don't want to be smacked today, Hilda..."

His forehead rubbed against my shoulder as he pleaded, making my eyes widen.

"Smacked? When have you ever... Wait, where did you learn that term?"

"Uh, Kazimir said..."

"What! Kazimir said that?"

That rascal Kazimir, daring to use such words with my husband? After being promoted to butler, he seemed to have gotten a bit too bold. Having him say those things probably made Adrian more impatient!

"Wait here, Adrian. I'm going to go give him a piece of my mind."

"No, Hilda, it's okay. Kazimir won't be coming to the mansion for a while."

"Why? What happened?"

"You mean after messing with my husband, he skipped town?"

"Yeah, he broke his leg."

"What? How did his leg suddenly..."

"I broke it."

"..."

"You said you got smacked, right?"

Right. If it bothered me this much, Adrian would have handled it even before I got upset. But breaking his leg... Adrian had acted, and it was fortunate Kazimir wasn't dead. Thinking about it, Kazimir must have anticipated the repercussions yet still chose to act in such a way.

But knowing Kazimir, he might collect reactions like Adrian's anger or annoyance. Perhaps his loyalty to Adrian had evolved into a dangerous taste... At this point, I was worried.

This time, it was tricky to scold him, so I stayed silent, and Adrian, like a needy chick, pecked at my shoulder. Ultimately, if Adrian suffered from this affection deficit, it was my fault. I'd reacted sharply to the 'smacked' comment because it hit a nerve.

But it wasn't like I wanted to neglect him. I had been planning a grand surprise.

"Alright. I was going to initiate it in two weeks, but let's just do it today."

"Hm? Do what?"

"You'll find out later. Do you have any special plans today? Or for the next three weeks? Any important external appointments?"

"Nothing that can't be rescheduled for minor matters."

Seizing the opportunity, Adrian promptly responded. No issues with scheduling then. Even though it was sooner than planned, I had prepared in advance, so there should be no problems.

"That's good. Then let's leave this afternoon. I've already informed Emily and Delores, so they'll be ready quickly. We can eat and leave on time."

"Leave? Where are we going, Hilda?"

"You'll see when we get there. But first, let's treat that wound on your back."

As I remembered where I had placed the healing ointment and tried to get up, Adrian pulled me back into his embrace before I could even step away. It wasn't as if I was leaving; I was just going to grab an ointment. This was severe separation anxiety, but he had endured it well so far. Well done, my husband!

"Adrian, I understand not wanting to part, but we need to treat the wound on your back. I forgot to trim my nails because I've been so busy lately... I'm sorry."

"Why would you erase a scar you made? I want to keep it as a souvenir."

"That's not okay. It might get infected."

"It's fine. It won't."

I sighed. Love-making could get intense, and I often scratched his back without realizing it. While the wounds weren't severe, they still troubled my conscience.

I had intended to apologize and treat them after our moments together, but Adrian never gave me the chance. He preferred to keep the scars I made... Initially, I thought he was joking, but it turned out to be his genuine sentiment.

"I'm always worried that your tastes... are not healthy."

"My taste is you, Hilda. You know you're my type too."

"Hmm, quite confident, aren't you?"

"Yes. The body doesn't lie."

His hand, which had been gently stroking my stomach, softly encompassed one breast, teasing and twisting it slightly, eliciting a sharp tingling sensation that furrowed my brow. The way he manipulated and kneaded it, even though it was tender from last night’s passion, transformed the pain into an indescribable pleasure.

"…Yes, I can't deny that."

"Right? That's why I'm happy. I can feel it without words needing to be spoken."

Just moments ago, my body was exhausted, but now it surged with energy, and the dryness between my legs quickly turned to moisture. The stimulation he provided melted my rational thought, creating a sense of crisis that if we took even one more step, last night would replay itself.

This wasn’t something to blame the cunning Adrian for. I was in a situation where I couldn’t deny being an animal myself.

"Understood. I accept it all, so let’s get up, wash up, and get ready. You're overwhelmingly my type, dear."

"What about me is so much to your taste?"

"Come with me, and I’ll show you."

Elated, Adrian relaxed his grip, and I quickly got up and grabbed a robe. Like a puppy that found a treat, Adrian followed me closely, incessantly asking which parts of him were my type during the entire time I washed.

When I told him that every part of him was my type, he fell silent in gratification, allowing me to finish up quickly and get out.

Having heard that his hair, forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, ears, neck, chest, arms, legs, and feet were all to my liking, Adrian was grinning ear to ear. His smile was so wide it looked like it might never come down. Seeing him so happy made me chuckle. He seemed to relish it so much.

"Hilda, come here and help me with these buttons, will you?"

"Why? Are they stuck? Hmm, the buttons seem fine..."

"No. My hands are shaking so much I can't do it. Look, Hilda."

Adrian thrust his hands forward as I was buttoning up for him. His hands were visibly trembling—indeed, they shook too much to manage the buttons, but why were his perfectly fine hands suddenly trembling? He could have just asked straightforwardly instead of this. Adrian often used such tactics when he didn’t want to be refused. Sometimes, his innocent and shy face made it easy to fall for it.

But it didn’t seem annoying or loathsome, so I too must have been seriously afflicted.

As previously declared, after breakfast, I kidnapped Adrian and loaded him into the carriage. The trip might have been a bit sudden, but I had discussed it long enough with Emily that the phrase ‘We’re going on a trip earlier than planned’ sufficed to prepare everything. I had finished nearly all my work in an almost overnight effort, so taking a prolonged trip with Adrian presented no issue.

We decided not to bring any servants on this trip. The reasons for this would be known later.

Given the purpose of our journey, I packed light: clothes for Adrian and me, essentials, and some cooking ingredients. I planned to buy anything else we might need in the villages near our destination. Since the destination was a cold region, I also packed thick, sturdy coats.

Of course, I didn’t forget the pillows. There would be some at our destination, and by now, a lack of pillows wouldn’t prevent us from sleeping in a bed, but I packed them out of habit. It felt like something we couldn’t do without, wherever we went.

"Hilda, where are we going?"

"Sorry, but it's a secret until we get there."

I placed my finger on my lips and shushed him, making Adrian look even more curious. When will we get there? Why won’t you tell me? Still not telling? Still? I think I might die of curiosity, Hilda. Every 30 minutes, Adrian bombarded me with questions, but I steadfastly kept my lips sealed. Seeing him so excited made me want to spill the beans, but I wanted to surprise him more, so I kept quiet.

I couldn’t wait to tell him. I was sure he would absolutely love this trip.

At the end of our lengthy journey filled with my anticipation and his curiosity, we finally arrived at our destination.

"Adrian! Come on, get out!"

I jumped out of the carriage first and started hopping around in the snow like a dog on a walk. The place I had kidnapped Adrian to was none other than Gloucester Castle, the very castle the former Countess had gifted to me before she departed.

They said the winter scenery here was breathtakingly beautiful, and it truly was. As if welcoming us, the sky was dumping down heavy snow.

"Hilda, this is..."

"Gloucester Castle! Have you ever come here following your mother?"

"No, but I’ve heard stories. She used to say that we should visit when we get healthy because the winter scenery is too beautiful to capture even in paintings."

"At last, we've come here now that you’re healthy. Your mother would be happy."

Adrian's lips parted slightly, apparently not having anticipated this destination. I nudged him with my elbow, and his mouth closed. Realizing late, he went back to the carriage to fetch a thick fur coat for me and wrapped me up warmly. Then, he warmed my slightly reddened fingertips with his hands. His tenderness thawed my frozen hands instantly, making me laugh stupidly.

"Adrian, I have a question. Can you stop the snow?"

"Yes... but I’d rather get snowed on with you. Would you want the snow to stop?"

"No, I was just curious. I also prefer getting snowed on together. They say married couples are in tune, and it seems we even align on this too."

Feeling a bit sheepish, I laughed out loud, and Adrian brushed the snow off my head. Wishing to get snowed on together seemed like nothing special, but when tied to Adrian and me, it somehow became extraordinary.

"Adrian, since it's snowing heavily, how about a snowball fight? Have you ever done it?"

"Huh? Snow... fight?"

"You’ve never done it! Then let’s try!"

While wrapping a scarf around me, Adrian's eyes widened in surprise. He seemed clueless about snowball fights. After all, Hell was all about fire and darkness, so he wouldn't have seen snow, and since becoming human, he hadn’t had the chance to frolic due to being sick. So, I decided to teach my husband, who had lost his childhood, how to have a snowball fight.

"Look, Adrian. This is how you do a snowball fight. You pack the snow like this..."

"Hilda, don’t touch it with bare hands. Your hands will get cold."

"You throw it at the other person. Like this."

I tossed a small packed ball of snow lightly, and it shattered against his dark coat, falling softly. Adrian, looking at his snow-dusted coat and then at me, focused on warming my hands again. Seemingly uninterested in the snowball fight, I decided to tease him a bit more.

"Hilda, where are you going?"

"Look! Won’t you do this too?"

I shook off his hand and ran a distance away to quickly pack and throw another snowball. Normally, it would have fallen short, but my physical ability, comparable to a professional baseball player, ensured a successful hit. However, even after being hit twice, Adrian showed no signs of irritation. He still seemed concerned that I might be cold. Hmm, playing with such a worrywart husband is really tough.

"If you don’t retaliate, you might get hit again..."

"Ah! Hilda!"

I tried to move further away from Adrian but ran into a tree without seeing in front of me. While hitting the tree wasn’t the issue, the cone-shaped pile of snow atop the tree that dumped all over me was. I screamed as I was buried from head to toe. Help...

"Hilda, Hilda!"

Adrian’s frantic voice was followed by light seeping in from above. I wondered if this was what it felt like to be resurrected from a grave. Grateful to Adrian, who was digging me out with his bare hands, I realized I had hit him with snowballs twice...

"My goodness, Hilda. You’re shivering from the cold. Do you really like the snow that much?"

"It’s not that... It’s our first trip together, Adrian. It’s also the first snow we’re seeing together, and I wanted to make lots of memories."

As Adrian finished digging me out and brushed off my snow-laden coat, he chuckled lightly. Just then, a snowflake delicately landed on his long eyelashes, causing him to blink slightly at the foreign sensation. The returning glance was lovely.

I impulsively reached out to touch him, and then, once again, the snow from the tree above cascaded down, piling up on our heads like conical hats. Seeing our bewildered faces, I burst out laughing. As my gaze fell from the white cap on our heads back to me, a smile also formed on Adrian’s lips.

"Hilda, let's go inside. You're getting cold."

"Yes, we're both soaking wet, too. But I really wanted to have a snowball fight; it's a pity we couldn't."

While sneezing from the cold, not only the hat but also the snow pile I had been buried in vanished without a trace. As I followed Adrian's lead and glanced back, the spot where we had stood was the only place where the snow had completely melted to reveal the muddy ground. It must have been Adrian’s doing...

Though Adrian had regained all his strength and was indeed omnipotent, he often tried not to flaunt his power. He could have reached Gloucester Castle in the blink of an eye and could have easily avoided the simple snowballs I threw, but he chose not to. Outside, who knows, but in front of me, it seemed he wanted to maintain his humanity as much as possible.

Just how immense was Adrian's power? Capable of altering the skies at will and even attempting to merge my world with his, his abilities were surely beyond imagination. That's probably why he handled me so delicately, as if I were a fragile soap bubble, hardly exerting any force for fear of bursting me. In other words, our snowball fight was doomed from the start.

Still, I thought he'd at least indulge me in a snowball fight. Surely getting hit by snow wouldn’t kill me... Or could it, with Adrian?

"Madam, as per your instructions, all luggage has been moved inside the castle. May I take my leave now?"

Upon reaching the entrance of the castle, the coachman who had finished transferring the luggage asked. After granting him permission to leave, Adrian, following a brief silence, spoke up.

"Hilda, unless I'm mistaken, it seems we're the only ones in the castle."

"Yes, that's correct. I gave the caretakers and servants time off. Essentially, it's just the two of us here."

"Just the two of us?"

"Yes. From now on, we’ll have to cook for ourselves... Come on in."

I pulled a dazed Adrian by the sleeve and led him into the castle. His face, unable to comprehend why I hadn’t brought any of the estate's servants if we were to fend for ourselves, clearly showed his confusion. But for my grand plan to succeed, no one else could be in the castle.

Creak. I locked the massive door behind us and secured it with a lock, then turned to face Adrian.

"The door is locked, Adrian. I have the only key."

"..."

"You can’t step out of here now."

Not that a locked door could keep Adrian contained, but stating it so confidently was part of the concept. At that, Adrian's eyes began to sparkle like stars.

"I can’t leave at all? Is that true, Hilda?"

"Yes. I’ve trapped you here. No one can meet you; you're isolated in this castle."

"You've... trapped me?"

"..."

"To be trapped by you..."

His eyes glinted with an ecstatic glow, and his firm mouth softened. I've been trapped by you, finally, my wish has come true. He muttered with a strange warmth in his voice. I expected him to be pleased, but this was far beyond my expectations.

"If you understand, Adrian, go on up to the room with your luggage. And just in case, if you hear any noises, don’t look out the windows or talk to anyone else. I'd hate to see you interacting with someone other than me!"

"My goodness. Alright, I won't even look towards the windows."

If I were to truly follow Adrian's style, I’d have to black out the windows or remove them, but since that wasn’t possible, I just added that part verbally. Adrian seemed thrilled to the point of fainting. I was prepared to even tie his wrists if necessary, but seeing him so delighted, it seemed there was no need to go that far this time. Being too harsh with my first gift might make future ones more difficult.

Adrian's unhealthy tastes had always worried me, but seeing him this happy made me wonder why I was concerned about his health at all. If we're both happy, that's all that matters. Adrian is happy being confined, and I'm happy seeing him so happy!

"Hilda, are you going to leave me alone to go up?"

Ah, right, if I’m obsessing enough to confine him, I shouldn't let him wander alone. But I wanted to get the luggage sorted quickly, so I decided to send him up to the room first. I hadn't forgotten to practice that obsessive gaze that Emily had approved.

"Would I ever leave you alone? I’ll drop off the luggage in the kitchen and come right up. Don’t get distracted and go straight to the room. Oh, and... the bedroom is on the second floor."

"Got it. Should I hurry?"

Was that how I was supposed to say it? I felt awkward even as I acted, but fortunately, Adrian seemed pleased and left with a content look on his slightly blushed face. Hmm, trying to act possessive wasn’t easy. It makes you wonder how people cope with such intensity, but if it suits my husband's tastes, I suppose I must accommodate.

"Let's see. Is this the kitchen?"

As I went to the kitchen to set down three large bags filled with food, I noticed various items left by the servants. Simple foods and drinks, and even recipes. They must have left these as a token of gratitude for their holiday.

Despite not having been tended to for a long time, the vast castle was spotlessly clean, with not a cobweb in sight. The servants must have diligently cared for the castle as their own home, certainly earning their well-deserved holiday.

But what a view. Being quite far north, everything was endlessly white. The distant mountains, especially, offered a breathtaking scene. This was a view we could never have seen from the relatively warm Palzgraf estate. We could spend every winter here, and it would be just fine.

Lost in thought as I admired the green and white conifers framing the window, I came to my senses as my wet clothes clung coldly to my arm. The snow stuck to my coat had seeped into my underwear. If I didn’t change soon, I'd catch a cold. I quickly unpacked the essentials and hurried up to the room where Adrian would be.

Just as I was about to push open the door, which was ajar, I stopped short upon spotting something inside. Through the narrow gap, I could see Adrian changing, captured in a delicate angle. For some reason, I found myself unable to simply walk in. Despite having seen his body numerous times, my heart suddenly raced.

"..."

I swallowed hard, the sound echoing loudly in my ears. Why was I acting like this? He was my husband, changing clothes; there was no reason I couldn’t enter. Although that was my rational thought, I inexplicably couldn't tear my eyes away from the gap in the door.

Despite many nights together, I had rarely had the chance to truly observe his naked form. Usually, it was too dark, and I felt more through touch or the heat filling me than through sight.

Without realizing, I tensed as I traced his broad shoulders down to his back where muscles were defined without an ounce of fat. I had often felt that he seemed taller than when we first met over a year ago, but from this distance, I could definitely tell he had grown. His body was stunningly beautiful.

Following the sensation I had felt with my fingertips, my gaze wandered down, and my heart fluttered. It felt like I was doing something forbidden. Technically, it was wrong, but he was my husband, after all. Marriage meant sharing everything, and everything of his was mine by extension, including his body. What was so wrong about looking at what I owned...

I couldn't keep watching like this forever and decided to go in, but just as I took a breath, a hand shot through the door gap. Long fingers coiled around my wrist like a snake and pulled me in. Whoops, I was dragged into the room in an instant.

This was it. I'd have to endure being teased for about 30 minutes.

"My lady seems to enjoy peeking. I should have left the door slightly open whenever I changed."

"That’s not it, I was just... startled for a moment."

"For a moment? You were watching for quite a while. You even held your breath."

Right, he could hear my breathing. Pushed up against the wall with nowhere to retreat, I faced forward. But somehow, my gaze was stolen not by his face but by his bare upper body... The magnificent physique I had observed from a distance now captivated my attention. The numerous scars adorning his smooth skin even contributed to his beauty.

The first time I touched those scars, he shuddered and disliked it, but having been touched so often by me, he seemed not to mind lately. Probably too busy to care.

"If you wanted to see, I would have shown you as much as you liked. Or does sneaking a peek excite you more?"

Even as I was being teased, the urge to touch that skin surged. Was I going mad, or had I really become a beast?

"Ah, no. That’s not..."

"I’d prefer it if you were. I got excited the moment you started peeking."

"..."

"Kiss me."

His neat fingertips gently caressed my chin. His eyes, full of pure yearning, melted my heart.

"Hilda, my lady. Please, your lips."

He whispered sweetly, his voice melting inside my mouth like tender candy. It was nearly impossible to resist Adrian when he was like this. As I loosened my lips, he gently pressed his against

"Come in deeper," he murmured as if his mouth was his own domain to explore. His tongue gently swept the roof of my mouth, causing my jaw to tremble intensely.

"It's still… daylight."

The coat draped over my shoulders slipped down my arms and thudded to the floor. Meanwhile, his hands behind me quickly undid one button after another.

"No, it's already night."

As soon as he spoke, black bars sprang from the floor, enclosing us. In a pitch-dark room, where no light penetrated, the only thing visible was each other. In the darkness, he was the only clarity as he coiled his tongue and asserted, "I’m right, aren’t I? It’s night, Hilda."

"Since we’re here, make me lose my mind, will you?" he whispered invitingly.

The sound of fabric rustling accompanied my dress falling to the floor, and through the thin barrier of my underwear, I could acutely feel his heated body temperature. The skin-to-skin friction caused my chest to burn intensely.

"You find this cute and lovely. No, actually, I want to cherish you."

Perhaps stimulated too much by everything from the confinement to the brief peeks, his touch was rather urgent. He teased over my underwear, then focused on a prominent spot, pressing gently. As he rotated in circles, my entire body blazed uncontrollably.

Barely holding back a moan, I wrapped my arms around his neck. My damp underwear snagged on Adrian’s fingers and fell to my ankles. The sensation of the fabric grazing bare skin made my legs tremble.

"Just… hurry."

Adrian lifted one of my legs as if cradling it in his arms. The position was embarrassing, but as he began to gently rub along a slender gap, my mind emptied in an instant. The ticklish feeling was unbearable. I couldn't tell where the itch was – outside or inside… I just wanted him to enter quickly.

Unable to endure any longer, I lowered my waist, and the tip teasingly entered then withdrew. I could feel his body temperature suddenly spike.

"Ha… Hilda."

His husky breath grazed my ear. Breathing heavily, he pushed in from below. We both knew it would be difficult for him to enter all at once, so when the heat filled halfway, I exhaled slowly. Our hot, moist breaths mingled.

Adrian then lifted my other leg, still touching the ground, and wrapped it around his waist. Positioned between my widely spread legs, he now intensely sucked and licked my nipples. Knowing how overwhelmed I usually felt at the beginning, he put considerable effort into the foreplay.

His partial entry retreated and then advanced again. As he smoothly penetrated the thoroughly wet inner walls, I unwittingly let out a contented moan. Even a partial entry filled me with an overwhelming sense of fullness.

Groaning, I buried my forehead in his shoulder, and he chuckled, stroking my head. It was always me who praised Adrian during the day, but somehow, the roles reversed at night.

"Ah… Adrian, like that…"

His slow thrusting stirred a strange excitement within me. Shallowly withdrawing and then plunging deeper periodically, he expertly stroked my sensitive areas, turning even the pain into pleasure.

The initial unbearable pressure gradually eased. The playful splashing sounds, like shallow waters, oddly made me drowsy, and I leaned against his shoulder. Each time the hot mass slid and withdrew, fiery breaths escaped me.

"Hilda, can you look at me?"

As I continued to slump against his shoulder, he prompted me to sit up. He resumed nibbling on my chest, pulling it into his mouth, which made my face flush with heat. The overwhelming pressure and pain dissolved like snow, leaving only pleasure.

The shallow tremors tickled me inside, not only relaxing the tension but gradually warming my body with unrelenting heat. As he bit my chest, my waist tingled, and hot breath escaped me. Though I had experienced this caress many times before, the sensation felt different.

Between pain and a light euphoria, I hovered precariously on the edge of excitement.

I thought this was all Adrian's trickery, his ability to hypnotize people. Could manipulating sensations be just as simple for him?

"It's gotten hard so quickly, how cute."

"Stop saying things like that…"

My head felt completely bewildered. The moment he rolled my chest in his mouth like candy, a strange clenching sensation surged from my lower belly. My body wouldn't move as I intended. Fearing I might lose my mind, I writhed, but Adrian persistently followed. If anything, my squirming seemed to excite him even more.

"You’re all flushed. Your heart's beating so fast. Are you embarrassed?"

"…"

"Hilda, don’t run away; stay inside with me. Without you, I’d feel like I’ve been thrown into an icy lake. So, look at me, okay?"

He said this with a smile while still biting my chest. The soft splashing noises seemed to moisten my ears. Without claiming whose fluids they were, they mixed stickily, enhancing our mutual excitement.

I felt like I could melt into Adrian completely.

"Ah, Adrian…"

"Your expression is so erotic, Hilda."

"…"

"Seeing your face feel this much makes me want to keep you in this state all day."

Adrian meticulously watched my every blink, each small moan or movement, adjusting his actions accordingly.

Unable to resist the moans swirling in my mouth any longer, he suddenly enveloped my lips. He swallowed all the moans and breaths while relentlessly thrusting from below. After indulging in my mouth for a while, he finally detached, bit my cheek, then moved down to my shoulder. Gently biting the spot he had just nipped, he reverently kissed it.

"Isn’t this what you like best?"

"Ha…"

"Why do I feel you like this even more?"

Shallowly, deeply, then deeper still.

With a discreet ferocity, I writhed under the heat he stirred within me.

Meanwhile, something inside me slowly, surely built up. It swelled to the brink, about to overflow at any moment. The unbearable tension made it difficult to endure. I gasped and writhed under the penetrating sensations. As I became accustomed to one stimulus, a new one would surge forth, leaving me no room but to accept and feel.

Suddenly, I worried whether Adrian was not enjoying himself enough because he was considering me.

As I forcefully opened my heavy eyelids the next morning, the sight of the ornate fabric wallpaper filled my vision.

Here in Gloucester Castle, the corridors are usually bustling with the movement of servants, but now it was as quiet as a mouse. The only sound was Adrian's breathing as he slept beside me.

I sighed lazily and snuggled closer into Adrian’s embrace. Although I was completely bare under the sheets and should have been cold, lying next to him felt as warm as sitting beside a stove. Considering the chaos of last night, my body was surprisingly clean, suggesting Adrian had taken care of cleaning me up afterward.

After we made love and fell asleep, I would always wake up clean, having initially thought he used magic to wash me before sleep. But it wasn’t magic; he enjoyed wiping me down with a towel after I had fallen asleep first. Occasionally, this care would cause a few bruises, but being treated so tenderly always felt good.

As I played with his scattered golden hair with my fingertips, Adrian, who had been quiet, suddenly pulled me closer by the waist. I had to admit, rubbing against his soft bare skin was my favorite part.

It had taken so much time for the sensitive Adrian to become comfortable enough to sleep so defenselessly, to not wake up crying and begging me not to leave. Though he no longer resorted to confining me or drawing blood as in the past, his dangerous tastes occasionally surfaced, suggesting it was in his nature.

"Did you sleep well, Adrian?"

"Mmm."

He responded in a sleepy murmur and leaned down to give me a light kiss. His lips trailed from my cheek and neck, playfully tickling before traveling down my collarbone and rising along my curves.

Sucking gently at my peaks a few times, he then filled his mouth and began teasing with his tongue. Unlike the times when I was simply in his arms, this instantly warmed me up and made me sweat. My legs involuntarily kicked under the force of my muscles tensing, wrinkling the bed sheets intensely.

"Adrian, it’s getting difficult..."

"Just a little longer, please, Hilda. I’ve been starving for you for so long, I can't hold back."

"Uh..."

When I mentioned I was struggling, he began to fondle my other breast. Despite the cooling heat of my body, every part of me twisted in desire. When his tongue sharply poked and parted the peak of my nipple, tears welled up from the sensitivity. I couldn’t bear it. The presence between my legs, distinct and insistent, was already making itself known.

I knew how much Adrian had been holding back. Pushing for marriage to secure the title of a duke's adopted daughter was meant to render me jobless, always available to him, but ironically, I saw him less after becoming a countess than when I was a servant. Now that he had received a confinement-themed vacation perfectly suited to his tastes, he wouldn’t want to waste a single moment.

But at this rate, we’d never leave the bed during our trip. As much as I enjoyed making love, there were things I wanted to do on this vacation! I had prepared 123 clingy phrases with Emily, and I couldn’t go back having used less than half.

"You warm up so quickly; it's adorable."

I attempted to bury my head into the pillow to stop him, but Adrian swiftly climbed on top of the covers. Thankfully, no blood was shed.

His hand continued to knead my breast, but it was far better than him using both his mouth and hands. My thighs had long since dampened.

"Warming up... Adrian, I’m hungry. We haven’t eaten since we arrived."

"Wouldn’t you be filled if you ate me? Completely filling you up from the inside..."

His hand that had left my chest sneakily slid down to my navel and began to trace lower.

"Food! I need food I can eat with my mouth!"

Honestly! His mind must be filled with nothing but those thoughts all day. After our intense session yesterday, and now this! I gathered the blanket around me and scooted back, warning him with a stern look that I wouldn’t take any more.

"Sorry, Hilda. Considering your usual appetite, I should have prepared breakfast in advance."

"Wait. Adrian, you haven’t forgotten there are no servants around, have you?"

He halted, seemingly remembering. Without the servants, how would meals be managed? While he was used to having simple breakfasts brought up to match my waking time, cooking and setting the table were always done by the servants. Unless we counted wine mixed with the blood of Satan as food.

"Of course. I wouldn’t keep the servants around when I’ve locked you up here, right?"

"But... Hilda, then who will attend to our meals and other needs?"

"We’ll manage everything ourselves! Doesn’t that sound fun?"

"We are always surrounded by servants from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to live just the two of us normally. Of course, keeping you confined here meant no contact with anyone else was also necessary."

Reminded of the purpose of our trip, his expression softened. Some might say we should enjoy the easy life with servants attending us, but the human heart often yearns for the countryside after bustling city life. Escaping a life catered by servants to live simply as a couple was why I planned this trip.

"Alright... Hilda, if it’s what you want, we can do anything."

"Shall we start by chopping wood?"

"..."

"I’ll handle the wood-chopping, so don’t worry. I’ve always wanted to try it after seeing Kazimir do it."

Being a countess, I had refrained from such unladylike tasks as chopping wood, but now I finally had the chance to do it without anyone watching!

He seemed a bit taken aback as I grabbed the dress lying haphazardly on the floor and he helped me into it. Having dressed and undressed me so often, he was probably better at it than I was at tearing his shirts.

After dressing Adrian in a shirt and a warm vest, I led him downstairs to the kitchen. Following me eagerly, he looked around the unfamiliar kitchen, and as I rummaged through our bags, he asked, "Hilda, what should I do?"

"Just a moment. Definitely this, and this... Yes, this one too. Ah, I might as well take everything out."

As I picked out the ingredients for a simple breakfast toast one by one, they tumbled out onto the countertop. Adrian watched them fall in bemusement. Having never cooked in his life, I planned to start him off by having him stir-fry some vegetables. I set a pan-like cooking tool on the stove and poured in the pre-cut vegetables.

"Adrian, start by stir-frying these vegetables. Just oil them and stir for about 2 minutes, and you'll be done."

"How will I know when it’s done?"

"You can try a piece of carrot to see. Just until it’s not too hard. It’s not difficult, right? I’ll leave it to you."

"Not too hard..." he muttered to himself as I left to collect wood outside. Stir-frying vegetables shouldn’t be too difficult, right?

But finally, I was off to chop wood! My heart raced with excitement. I walked to a wide clearing where stacks of wood and a chopping block and axe awaited. The woodsman had written to say he had prepared everything and I had quickly responded telling him to enjoy his holiday and leave everything as it was. Fortunately, my instructions had been followed.

"This should do it."

After securing my coat, I picked up the axe handle and approached the neatly stacked woodpile, choosing the thinnest and smallest piece to start with. Hmm, how had Kazimir done it? Did he place the axe first?

Thwack! The axe embedded itself in the center of the wood. Good so far. Kazimir had split it after this. I gathered my strength, lifted the axe high above my shoulder, and my biceps flexed, performing admirably. When the axe came crashing down on the chopping block.

Clang! A clear, crisp sound rang out as the wood cleanly split in two. I thought it would take a few more hits, but one strike did the job! Was this the power of love? The power of wanting to keep Adrian warm? I neatly arranged the split wood to the side, feeling unexpectedly proud.

I had been curious how difficult chopping wood could be since Kazimir boasted about his skill. I’ll have to tell him when I get back that I can chop wood better than him. Not just about who knows Adrian better, but I seemed to have many things to compete with him on.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Each swing cleanly split the wood, and it was so enjoyable that I lost track of time and ended up chopping more than twenty pieces. My original goal was about five, but using my body like this after so long was too much fun. No worries about running out of firewood for a while, right? I considered chopping the rest but then thought of Adrian waiting for me and decided against it.

I picked out about six pieces of wood and, grinning widely, headed back to the castle. Starting a fire with the wood I had chopped and eating the breakfast Adrian had prepared would make for a perfect leisurely morning—just the simple life I had dreamed of.

"Adrian! I've brought the wood, can you come and help light the fire?"

"..."

"Adrian?"

I peeked into the kitchen, wondering why he hadn’t answered...

"Oh my, Adrian."

What a disaster! I almost let out an expletive that Adrian, having lived a princely life, would likely have never heard, but there was no other way to describe it. The kitchen looked like it had been through a fire, with walls charred black, a frying pan transformed into an unrecognizable lump of metal, and the vegetables reduced to ash.

What on earth happened in the kitchen while I was out chopping wood? The scene was inexplicable unless a demon had materialized and battled here. As I looked at Adrian demanding an explanation, he awkwardly began to speak.

"I'm sorry, Hilda. I'm not used to cooking."

"..."

"I'll fix up the kitchen. But the food ingredients..."

This was beyond simple inexperience. Seeing the deformed steel cooktop and frying pan, it was clear he had summoned the fires of hell. Despite the disaster, his apologetic face made my anger melt away. After all, if you've never cooked, it's understandable to burn down a kitchen. We should be thankful he didn’t burn down the entire castle.

"It's okay. We can throw out the burnt stuff and start fresh."

I tried to remain calm and rummaged through the bags, but wait, there were no ingredients left. Everything from the three bags and the food prepared by the castle was gone. I had thought there was a lot of ash left, but...

"I wanted to make you delicious toast when you got back."

"..."

"I thought you’d be happy."

As my expression hardened, Adrian tried harder to explain, but I couldn’t calm down. So, he had burned all the food supplies we were supposed to eat during our stay just trying to make toast. These were pre-cooked meals meant to be simply reheated or fried.

My stomach growled loudly, frustrated at not getting the toast I had expected since yesterday. Adrian finally fell silent and looked uneasy. Maybe I should try to make something out of whatever was left in the kitchen.

"I’ll help, Hilda."

As I was checking the food cabinet to see what could still be salvaged, Adrian offered to help, and I quickly gave up. Ironically, I’m an expert at cleaning and weeding but a disaster in the kitchen. That’s why I had the kitchen maids prepare frozen meals in advance. I can’t cook, Adrian is a god of destruction, and there’s no delivery here... There was only one solution.

"Let’s just go out to eat."

If you can’t cook and there’s no delivery, dining out is the best option. I pulled the slightly dejected Adrian upstairs to change into warm clothes for going out. The flurrying snowflakes had turned harsher today, so I bundled up in a thick fur coat.

Once outside, the cold wind plastered snowflakes to our hats and gloves. Red berries sparkled, frozen on the overhanging branches at the castle entrance. The crunching sound of snow under our feet was delightful, and Adrian leaned in and chuckled.

"It’s winter, Hilda."

"Yes, it’s all snow around here. It hasn’t even snowed near our house yet."

The cold air stung my nose and throat with each breath. It was really cold. After pulling my sleeves down again and securing my gloves, Adrian, who had been watching quietly, spoke up.

"If you're cold, we can go back inside. I can go and buy food alone."

"No, it’s nice to be out together. I'm not cold at all."

Despite the unexpected kitchen disaster prompting this outing, walking quietly through the snow with Adrian made me have no regrets. In fact, I would have regretted not coming out. The snowy landscape sparkled pristinely white, and Adrian looked even more beautiful against it. I smiled and took his hand, and his expression softened warmly.

"The scenery is beautiful, but these gloves are really getting in the way of holding hands."

"Then hold like this."

As I lamented our gloved hands, Adrian took off his left glove and carefully removed my right one. Exposed to the cold air, my hand quickly turned red but warmed up as he pulled it into his pocket. Inside the tight pocket, he gripped my hand and smiled sweetly.

"How’s that? Warmer, right?"

"Yes, much warmer."

"Then Hilda, how about you come inside my coat? It’ll be warmer if I hold you as we walk."

He spread his coat wide with a twinkle in his eye, making me burst into laughter. His eagerness to keep close was endearing.

"That’s okay. How long would it take to reach the village like that?"

"Don’t worry about that. If we're late, I can transport us instantly."

As I cautiously stepped forward, Adrian followed closely, coat still open. I laughed, dismissing the idea.

"But how can we walk in the snow like that? Our feet might get tangled, and we could fall."

"It’s okay to step on me, Hilda."

"It’s not okay for me. It's slippery enough with the snow, and it’s dangerous."

"Hmm, sounds like an excuse. Hilda, you used to dive into my scent; now you don’t want to be held?"

His sudden accusation nearly made me trip. Bringing up such embarrassing history was cheating.

"No, that’s not it. I told you, if we walk while holding each other, we might slip..."

"If it was before, you would have dived in, Hilda. You would have dived in because of my scent."

He protested as if urging me to dive in right now. Back then, I didn’t realize that playing along with being a survival-type pervert would actually dig my own grave.

"No, that’s not it... It’s funny to explain now, but I lied back then. I don’t have a hobby of sniffing other people..."

"What? So you don’t like my scent?"

"It’s not that I don’t like it..."

"Wait, you thought all this time that I was crazy about your scent?"

"I thought it was because you got used to it, that everyone felt that way."

Come to think of it, there had been talk of getting used to it. At the time, we were both handing each other shovels to dig our graves, insisting it was just getting accustomed. Memories of desperately trying to survive wafted up, and Adrian looked at me with a nearly tearful expression. Suddenly, why was he like this again?

"Hilda, you don’t like my scent? Is it not good? Do you not like it?"

"Wait, Adrian..."

"How can I make you like it again? What kind of scent do you like? Should I wash more often or less?"

"Why are you like this, really. People naturally smell like people."

"No, Hilda. I’ll try my best."

His declaration of giving his best was intriguing, but I quickly gathered my senses and thoroughly explained the common sense of the world to him. It's natural for a person’s body to have a scent, and I wasn’t someone who ran around after anyone’s scent. In fact, I liked the faint rose scent that came from Adrian.

From 'It’s natural to have a body scent' where he seemed about to die of embarrassment, to 'I like the rose scent from you,' he brightened up again. Despite not achieving his goal, he seemed satisfied with being liked for what he was.

Lately, my husband has been on an emotional rollercoaster, and it’s quite entertaining to watch. It’s trouble if I get too used to this. As we bickered playfully about body scents, the village finally came into view as we joked around in our pockets.

The buildings in the village, set in a cold region, had distinct architectural features to prevent snow accumulation, like sharply peaked roofs and carefully placed stone edges. I considered taking in the snow-covered, sparkling village, but another loud growl from my stomach changed my mind. First, we needed to eat.

"Adrian, how about that restaurant? It looks clean and popular."

"Sure, let’s go wherever you like."

It was a rhetorical question for Adrian. I led him into the restaurant and chose a discreet spot to sit down. Given his striking appearance, it was best to eat quietly in a corner.

"Here’s the menu."

A menu was suddenly handed to me, and I took it without thinking, only to see a child standing there. A quick glance around confirmed she was likely the daughter of the busy proprietors moving around the hall.

"It’s cold, isn’t it? I’ll light the fire for you right away."

This corner spot didn’t seem to get much use, as the fireplace was dead and black. The child, seemingly familiar with the task, went to the opposite wall to light a long stick and then came back to transfer the fire. Watching the small child handle the fire made me nervous, but she managed to crouch down safely in front of the fireplace without falling.

She tried diligently to transfer the flame, but the damp wood wouldn’t catch, and she seemed only to extinguish the fire instead. She sighed heavily and went back for another try. Considering calling her parents as they seemed even busier than before, I was contemplating what to do when the previously cold fireplace suddenly blazed to life. It was impossible for the wet wood to catch fire so quickly.

What a mess! I nearly uttered an expletive that Adrian, accustomed to a life of nobility, likely had never heard, but there was no other way to describe it. The kitchen was as if a fire had raged through it, with walls blackened by smoke, a frying pan transformed into unrecognizable metal, and vegetables reduced to ash.

In the short time I was out chopping wood, some catastrophe had struck the kitchen. It seemed the only plausible explanation would be an unexpected visit from a demon. As I looked for an explanation, Adrian, who had been awkwardly standing by, hurriedly opened his mouth.

"I'm sorry, Hilda. I’m not used to cooking."

"..."

"I’ll take care of fixing the kitchen. But about the ingredients..."

This was beyond a mere lack of experience. The sight of a steel countertop and frying pan twisted out of shape suggested that he had summoned hellfire. Taken aback by the disastrous scene but seeing his apologetic face, I couldn’t help but let go of my anger. After all, if you’ve never cooked, burning down a kitchen is within the realm of possibility. At least he hadn’t burnt down the entire castle.

"It's okay. We can throw out the burnt stuff and start fresh."

Trying to remain calm, I rummaged through the bags, only to find, to my dismay, there were no ingredients left. Everything from the three bags and all the food prepared by the castle was gone. I had thought there was too much ash, but...

"I wanted to make you delicious toast when you got back."

"..."

"I thought you would be happy."

As my expression hardened, Adrian tried even harder to explain, but I couldn’t stay calm. So, he had burned all the food supplies meant for our stay just trying to make toast. These were pre-cooked meals intended to be simply reheated or fried.

My stomach growled loudly, frustrated by the absence of the promised toast since yesterday. Adrian then fell silent, noticing my discontent. Perhaps I should try to make something out of whatever was left in the kitchen.

"I’ll help, Hilda."

As I checked the food cabinet to see what we could salvage, Adrian offered to help, and I quickly resigned myself. Ironically, I’m an expert at cleaning and weeding but a disaster in the kitchen. That’s why I had the kitchen maids prepare frozen meals in advance. I can't cook, Adrian is a god of destruction, and there’s no delivery here... There was only one solution.

"Let’s just go out to eat."

If you can’t cook and there’s no delivery, dining out is the best option. I pulled the slightly dejected Adrian upstairs to change into warm clothes for going out. The flurrying snowflakes had turned harsher today, so I bundled up in a thick fur coat.

Once outside, the cold wind plastered snowflakes to our hats and gloves. Red berries sparkled, frozen on the overhanging branches at the castle entrance. The crunching sound of snow under our feet was delightful, and Adrian leaned in and chuckled.

"It’s winter, Hilda."

"Yes, it’s all snow around here. It hasn’t even snowed near our house yet."

The cold air stung my nose and throat with each breath. It was really cold. After pulling my sleeves down again and securing my gloves, Adrian, who had been watching quietly, spoke up.

"If you're cold, we can go back inside. I can go and buy food alone."

"No, it’s nice to be out together. I'm not cold at all."

Despite the unexpected kitchen disaster prompting this outing, walking quietly through the snow with Adrian made me have no regrets. In fact, I would have regretted not coming out. The snowy landscape sparkled pristinely white, and Adrian looked even more beautiful against it. I smiled and took his hand, and his expression softened warmly.

"The scenery is beautiful, but these gloves are really getting in the way of holding hands."

"Then hold like this."

As I lamented our gloved hands, Adrian took off his left glove and carefully removed my right one. Exposed to the cold air, my hand quickly turned red but warmed up as he pulled it into his pocket. Inside the tight pocket, he gripped my hand and smiled sweetly.

"How’s that? Warmer, right?"

"Yes, much warmer."

"Then Hilda, how about you come inside my coat? It’ll be warmer if I hold you as we walk."

He spread his coat wide with a twinkle in his eye, making me burst into laughter. His eagerness to keep close was endearing.

"That’s okay. How long would it take to reach the village like that?"

"Don’t worry about that. If we're late, I can transport us instantly."

As I cautiously stepped forward, Adrian followed closely, coat still open. I laughed, dismissing the idea.

"But how can we walk in the snow like that? Our feet might get tangled, and we could fall."

"It’s okay to step on me, Hilda."

"It’s not okay for me. It's slippery enough with the snow, and it’s dangerous."

"Hmm, sounds like an excuse. Hilda, you used to dive into my scent; now you don’t want to be held?"

His sudden accusation nearly made me trip. Bringing up such embarrassing history was cheating.

"No, that’s not it. I told you, if we walk while holding each other, we might slip..."

"If it was before, you would have dived in, Hilda. You would have dived in because of my scent."

He protested as if urging me to dive in right now. Back then, I didn’t realize that playing along with being a survival-type pervert would actually dig my own grave.

"No, that’s not it... It’s funny to explain now, but I lied back then. I don’t have a hobby of sniffing other people..."

"What? So you don’t like my scent?"

"It’s not that I don’t like it..."

"Wait, you thought all this time that I was crazy about your scent?"

"I thought it was because you got used to it, that everyone felt that way."

Come to think of it, there had been talk of getting used to it. At the time, we were both handing each other shovels to dig our graves, insisting it was just getting accustomed. Memories of desperately trying to survive wafted up, and Adrian looked at me with a nearly tearful expression. Suddenly, why was he like this again?

"Hilda, you don’t like my scent? Is it not good? Do you not like it?"

"Wait, Adrian..."

"How can I make you like it again? What kind of scent do you like? Should I wash more often or less?"

"Why are you like this, really. People naturally smell like people."

"No, Hilda. I’ll try my best."

His declaration of giving his best was intriguing, but I quickly gathered my senses and thoroughly explained the common sense of the world to him. It's natural for a person’s body to have a scent, and I wasn’t someone who ran around after anyone’s scent. In fact, I liked the faint rose scent that came from Adrian.

From 'It’s natural to have a body scent' where he seemed about to die of embarrassment, to 'I like the rose scent from you,' he brightened up again. Despite not achieving his goal, he seemed satisfied with being liked for what he was.

Lately, my husband has been on an emotional rollercoaster, and it’s quite entertaining to watch. It’s trouble if I get too used to this. As we bickered playfully about body scents, the village finally came into view as we joked around in our pockets.

The buildings in the village, set in a cold region, had distinct architectural features to prevent snow accumulation, like sharply peaked roofs and carefully placed stone edges. I considered taking in the snow-covered, sparkling village, but another loud growl from my stomach changed my mind. First, we needed to eat.

"Adrian, how about that restaurant? It looks clean and popular."

"Sure, let’s go wherever you like."

It was a rhetorical question for Adrian. I led him into the restaurant and chose a discreet spot to sit down. Given his striking appearance, it was best to eat quietly in a corner.

"Here’s the menu."

A menu was suddenly handed to me, and I took it without thinking, only to see a child standing there. A quick glance around confirmed she was likely the daughter of the busy proprietors moving around the hall.

"It’s cold, isn’t it? I’ll light the fire for you right away."

This corner spot didn’t seem to get much use, as the fireplace was dead and black. The child, seemingly familiar with the task, went to the opposite wall to light a long stick and then came back to transfer the fire. Watching the small child handle the fire made me nervous, but she managed to crouch down safely in front of the fireplace without falling.

She tried diligently to transfer the flame, but the damp wood wouldn’t catch, and she seemed only to extinguish the fire instead. She sighed heavily and went back for another try. Considering calling her parents as they seemed even busier than before, I was contemplating what to do when the previously cold fireplace suddenly blazed to life. It was impossible for the wet wood to catch fire so quickly.

“Hilda, do you remember when I fed you my blood?”

His eyes, darkened before, cleared as they met mine.

I wish he’d just get to the point. Suppressing my growing impatience, I nodded faintly. That memory was not something easily forgotten, especially after seeing the item description and the shock it brought me.

“Back then, I was tormented by the thought of you leaving at any moment. I wanted to become a part of you. That way, no matter where you went, I could follow. I fed you my blood not to hurt you; there were many other ways I could have done it.”

“…”

“I wanted to blend with you. It seemed like the only way I could be at peace…”

His voice darkened dangerously, and his clear eyes deepened into a somber, saturated hue. It was the first time he was revealing such a dark aspect so directly. He always tried to appear bright and beautiful. But what does this have to do with having children?

“That’s why, Hilda, I’d be overjoyed if we had a child.”

“Really?”

His leap in conversation took me by surprise more than anything. Was there a connection? I couldn’t see it, but as I asked in astonishment, Adrian's eyes narrowed with a hint of mischief.

“Yes. How could I not be happy? A being made from both of us, living and breathing right before us. It would be the realization of a long-held wish.”

To wish that intensely... then he should have just talked instead of feeding on me. We've had our share of passionate nights; just stopping the medication would have achieved this long ago.

“I would do everything possible to ensure it survives as long as it can. Since half of the child would be you, I couldn’t do otherwise.”

I was still unclear whether this was good or bad, but it sounded like more than just an emotional matter to Adrian. Yet, to hear that he would be happy about a child, that a long-held wish would be fulfilled, reassured me. I had been terrified that demons might confirm their strength by killing their parents! If it were Adrian, he might preemptively remove any future threats, even if it were his child. But considering he thinks of the child as half me, I probably don’t have to worry.

“I’m happy to hear you’d be happy. I’d like it if they resembled you, with blond hair and blue eyes…”

“I’d prefer they look like you. It would be like seeing your childhood again. I’d be happy.”

“Then we should… try harder in the future.”

It was a good thing I brought along a supplement just in case. I remembered an item from when I used to be deep into gaming; it was something the natives ate to preserve their lineage, and I’d thrown it in my bag thinking, "Oh, cool." Of course, Adrian doesn’t need supplements to be enthusiastic, but, ahem.

“Try harder?”

Adrian blinked innocently and then, realizing what I meant, snapped his mouth shut. His cheeks reddened, and soon even the tips of his ears were flushed. Even my usually seductive fox of a husband sometimes gets flustered or shy when I throw a straight pitch. We both coughed awkwardly, avoiding eye contact until we left the restaurant.

“Adrian, how was the meal?”

As we left the restaurant, I gathered the courage to ask. Adrian smiled gently, putting me at ease.

“It was light and not greasy. Not bad at all.”

“Right? I thought it wasn’t bad either. It seems we have similar tastes.”

The dish I had ordered was roasted pork, served with crispy pork, cabbage, eggs, onions, and cheese. It was quite tasty.

Emily had said that the area around Gloucester Castle faced harsh winters, making potatoes the staple food with not much variety available, but the restaurant we visited had a diverse menu, reminiscent of the food alley in Lukebell Village. It was fortunate that even my husband, who is particular about food, was satisfied. Having one less thing to worry about certainly eased my mind.

“Let’s buy some snacks to take home, Adrian.”

Even with the catering service arranged, one cannot live on main dishes alone. Since we were out, I suggested stocking up on snacks, to which Adrian asked what I wanted. Casually linking arms with him, I looked around the quiet street.

“I’m not sure... let’s walk around and see. It could be a nice post-meal stroll.”

“Okay. Whatever you want.”

When had we last wandered so leisurely? Adrian had pleaded that I had left him alone in his office to sleep, but he had been just as busy recently. It had been almost like being estranged.

If I hadn’t planned this trip, Adrian’s patience might have reached its limit, and he could have started some drastic measures. One day I might have woken up to find that just the two of us were on a deserted island. Perhaps Kazimir would have been dragged along as a worker...

“Adrian, look at that. They have ice treats.”

“Do you want to try some?”

“Yes, it’s a rare treat. It shouldn’t melt too quickly in this cold, let’s take it home and try it together.”

As I filled a bag with star and crescent moon-shaped treats, I felt an intense gaze from the front. The couple who appeared to be the store owners were looking intently at Adrian, then at me, and back at Adrian again.

Glancing around, it wasn’t just this couple; everyone we had passed on the street was sneaking glances at us.

Ah, the people in this village were seeing Adrian for the first time.

In the villages we often visited, such curiosity had long since turned into admiration and awe, and I had forgotten that to those in the game world, Adrian was an unrealistically beautiful being.

“Hilda, is this enough? It looks a bit sparse.”

Lost in thought with only two bags of cookies, the one who knew my capacity best asked with a concerned tone. I responded a beat too late, having noticed several shopkeepers nearby whispering to each other. I covertly glanced at them as their breaths fogged in the cold air.

“Adrian, let’s also visit that shop.”

After buying the ice treats, I pointed to another store, and Adrian followed without question, the gazes sticking to him like glue. Given his sensory abilities, there’s no way he wouldn’t notice, but he showed no reaction. Maybe he was used to it.

Indeed, my husband was outstanding. Occasionally homicidal, but naturally gentle and peaceful. Wanting to imprison me aside, he loved me dearly and was enthusiastic in bed. Noble and sacred, yet impressively robust. How could I not boast about such a husband?

Filled with joy, I looped arms with Adrian, and we spun around the village. By the third pass at the same spot, Adrian seemed to feel something odd and asked.

“Hilda, haven’t we been here before?”

“Just stay still for a bit. And look up.”

“Huh? Okay…”

“Adrian, could you smile for me? I suddenly want to see it.”

By making him lift his head, which had been down watching me, and smile just for me, the attention we were getting intensified significantly. It was a beauty that could bless the world.

“Hilda? Why the hair…”

“Just hold still for a second. Hmm, is this side better? No, was the original better? It’s annoying, why does everything suit you? I can’t choose.”

Finally, I stopped Adrian and fiddled with his hair, switching it this way and that, sweeping it all the way back before returning it to its original state. His eyes twinkled as his bangs flickered.

“No matter how you wear your hair, all of me is yours.”

He whispered sweet nothings selectively. I finally reset his hair and took another lap around the village.

When the old lady at the general store threw us a compliment that we were a well-matched pair, I was so pleased I almost asked Adrian to sing a tune with his teasing voice.

Just after dusk, not long after we returned to the castle, the catering service arrived. Not just the proprietress we had ordered from but also her eldest daughter who was an excellent cook. When asked if it was alright for both to leave the store, the proprietress laughed and said visiting here once was worth more than a day's sales. If I added a delivery fee, she’d be grinning broadly.

“But, excuse me if this is too forward, but are you the new steward here? I used to know a few of the staff who worked here, and I don’t see them around today.”

“They’ve taken a vacation. I’ve agreed to look after the castle in the meantime.”

I skirted around revealing that I was actually the lady of the castle, thinking it would be cumbersome to maintain formalities just for someone coming to cook. It would only delay our meal, and I didn’t want that since they would be visiting regularly, and I’d be hungry each time. The proprietress nodded without suspicion and wandered around, taking in the sights of the castle.

“Oh, is that so? Then you must know about this castle. The lord changed recently, you know, a very grand noble. Too busy to come here often, though.”

That busy person, hosting a confinement event, is actually right here with me.

“Even coming to the castle like this is a rare opportunity. I’ve only ever seen it from the outside, never inside. It’s quite magnificent... Are all these decorations chosen by the lord himself?”

“They were selected by the previous lord. He had an excellent eye for art.”

“Oh, I see.”

“The kitchen is this way. I look forward to working with you starting today.”

As I pointed down the hallway, she, who had been curiously peeking around, exclaimed, “Oh, my mind was wandering,” and hurried toward the kitchen. Soon after, the food she prepared, which I hadn’t specifically requested to be brought to the dining room, was carried there by her.

The two were startled when they belatedly noticed Adrian, but they quickly regained their composure and set the food down before us. It was just like the scene we had in the village today. Indeed, a husband with many faults.

“Adrian, how’s the food? Does it suit your taste?”

While I eat just about anything that includes meat, our gourmet husband is rather particular, so I checked again.

“Yes, it’s not bad. Most importantly, it seems to suit your taste, Hilda.”

His softly spoken words melted my heart. How does my husband always manage to speak so sweetly? After enjoying his gentle voice and the meal, I washed up and headed straight to bed, feeling sleepy after chopping wood in the morning and visiting the village.

I’m exhausted. Maybe I’ll sleep early tonight and finish chopping the rest of the wood tomorrow morning?

“Hilda, do you remember why we came here?”

As I yawned heavily and approached the bed, Adrian, who had been sitting there first, wrapped his arms around my legs and pulled me close.

“We went out to the village, and there were people around in the castle... but you haven’t forgotten, have you? That I’m supposed to be confined by you.”

He slightly lifted my robe and wrapped his arms around my thighs, which felt warmly intense.

Am I confining something? Oh right, I had indeed organized a confinement event for Adrian. I had completely forgotten in the midst of dealing with meals and proudly parading my husband around the village.

“I looked out the window earlier.”

He spoke while gently rubbing his cheek against my abdomen. His golden hair, damp from the bath, spread over the robe.

“I made eye contact with many people as we walked around the village. It was the same during our meal. The people you hired temporarily. They kept sneaking glances at me.”

“That... happened.”

“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t have let anyone near you. If unavoidable, I would have covered their eyes or hidden them. If I had any doubt, I would have tied their hands and feet. That would make me feel more secure.”

“That’s right. I was just thinking that this isn’t going to work.”

“Really? What do you plan to do about it?”

Adrian lifted his head and blinked innocently.

What do I plan to do? Uh, I... hadn’t thought about that. Suddenly, my usually calm mind was a whirlwind of confusion. Adrian surely wouldn’t have left me alone today if our positions were reversed. That much was certain. This conviction quickly turned into a resolve to do it properly next time. Since it was a gift event I had prepared.

“It’s not for me to answer.”

Possessed by the spirit of a legendary obsessive, I lowered my voice and reached out. As I ran my fingers along his jawline, his eyes became dreamy and faintly luminous with unspoken expectations.

“Go on, tell me how often something like today has happened. I was actually jealous this afternoon. Even though I was the one who suggested we tour the village, feeling jealous is ridiculous. I kept it to myself...”

“Jealous?... Can you explain more?”

“Well, because everyone in the village was only looking at you. You should be seen by me alone, hidden from the world. Then I thought, when you go out alone, this must happen often. Even when I'm not watching.”

“...”

“I couldn’t forgive that once I thought about it.”

As I traced his jawline down to his nape, then across his loosely tied robe to his chest, pushing him back with my hands, the arms that had been around my legs loosened and he collapsed onto the bed. I climbed over him, straddling him. Looking down at Adrian under me was a novel sensation. Oddly provocative.

“How many people have you shown yourself to without saying anything?”

I made a mock angry face, but truly, I wasn’t upset. I had wanted to parade Adrian around the neighborhood during the day. It was regrettable that we didn’t have time for that. His handsome and shining appearance was indeed something to be shared.

“You... wanted to hide me from the world?”

But Adrian probably preferred this, and his reaction seemed to confirm my guess. See, it was a foolproof plan.

“Yes. I wanted to build our own cozy home. Where we could live without meeting anyone, unseen by anyone else.”

“It can’t be a dream. That you’re saying this...”

As his voice deepened, leaning in with sticky sweet words, Adrian’s face flushed even redder. Despite knowing today’s events, his craving for such obsessive affection seemed to break down his sense of reality.

I should often indulge in such obsession in the future. How desperately must he have wanted this?

“Don’t change the subject. As you confessed, the chef you hired stopped in her tracks in the dining room when she saw you. You looked at her. What were you thinking then?”

“That was me being wary of an unfamiliar presence…”

“For a full 7 seconds. That’s how long you looked.”

During this trip, I pondered how to indulge my obsessions. One afternoon, I sneaked into the room and perused a notebook he'd left behind. I knew he wrote poetry about me, but I had no idea he recorded observations of me down to the second every day. He seemed to have diligently kept a diary of observations, so returning the favor would probably please him.

“Did you look out the window when they left? Did you enjoy disobeying me?”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

While saying it was a misunderstanding, his breath quickened. I began to feel thrilled, worrying this might become a bad habit.

“The more I hear, the more outraged I become. I need to punish you.”

“How can I appease your anger? If you wish, I could blindfold myself forever with just this handkerchief.”

“A handkerchief? Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?”

I immediately regretted my question. A legendary obsessive wouldn’t entertain such doubts!

“If it eases your anger, I’m willing to endure it. Isn’t that my duty as your husband?”

Fortunately, Adrian seemed not to notice my awkwardness. I hesitated as I picked up the handkerchief from the bedside table.

The obsessive doesn’t entertain doubts, but logically, it would be uncomfortable to blindfold oneself, wouldn’t it? Do I really need to do this?

“Hilda, punish me, please.”

“If it gets too uncomfortable, you must tell me.”

“Even if you speak, I won’t fully remove it. I'll only loosen it a bit, right?”

“Of course.”

I hesitantly placed the handkerchief over his eyes. Since I had declared I wouldn’t remove it, I tied it loosely so it wouldn’t be too tight, yet his breathing quickened the more his vision was obscured. I was almost worried he might struggle to breathe.

What should I do next? Without a plan for using tools, I noticed the bedside table again. The small bowl full of cherries... had Adrian put those there?

“Do you like cherries?”

I thought about the cherries he might have wanted to eat before I blindfolded him. Feeling somewhat guilty, I picked up the bowl from the table. Choosing a plump cherry, I brought it to his lips, and he nodded as he accepted it.

So he did like cherries...

“Open up. I'll give you another.”

Since I’d prevented him from eating, I felt obliged to feed him. Holding more cherries, I felt a tightness in my chest as I watched him chew blindfolded. The way his lips turned a curious shade of red as he burst a cherry was unexpectedly seductive.

What now? I just had a terrible idea.

“Adrian, you said earlier you’d endure anything to ease my anger, right?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

“Then keep this in your mouth. Don’t touch or burst it. And I mustn’t touch it either.”

“...”

“If you burst it, we start over.”

I pushed another cherry between his slightly parted lips and watched him quietly. The sight of him blindfolded and munching on the cherry strangely made my throat dry, and something stiffening between Adrian's legs was palpable against my thighs. It pushed up firmly, heating my face even more.

Perhaps it was the lingering effect of the wine I had drunk earlier that was driving me to reckless behavior. Drawn to him like a magnet, I reached out to him.

I took a deep breath as I laid my hand on the neatly tied front of his shirt. His chest heaved under my touch. Feeling the strong beats of his heart through my palm, I slipped my hand inside as his shirt loosened. As I caressed his firm, toned belly, his chest swelled dramatically.

I wanted to make him lose his composure, to release him at the peak of anticipation. What was this feeling? A desire for control? Typically, it was he who led our encounters at night, so simply reversing our roles gave me a strange sense of fulfillment. I had the chance to caress him freely, no longer concerned about maintaining any role-playing pretense.

"Hil...da."

“Don’t burst the cherry.”

“...”

He might have been unable to speak properly because he was holding the cherry in his mouth, and his breathing became increasingly labored. I rubbed and pushed against the distinct shape that had formed under his pants, pulling the fabric and then pressing down again. Adrian's long moan made me impulsively unbutton his pants and slide my hand inside.

It was hot. Wrapped in heat far beyond mere body temperature, it hardened further at my touch. Smooth and slick on the outside, it was easy to move my hand because it was already wet.

His moaning faltered. His entire body trembled vulnerably under my touches. As I moved my hand and sucked lightly, all his muscles twitched visibly. Careful not to apply too much pressure, I stroked swiftly from base to tip, drenching my hand with the heat that pulsed against my skin.

"Please, Hilda..."

The word "please" hung in the air, followed by silence. What might he have wanted to say? Please stop, please continue, please let me swallow the cherry, please take me inside you...

Various guesses crossed my mind, but I pretended not to hear. Always more composed than me, this time I wanted to completely unravel him. I wanted to see him burst the cherry, disobey me, and then tremble with guilt and pleasure. I wanted more.

“Haa…” His distorted face was provocative. The furrowed brow from enduring the temptation made him even more enticing. The well-defined muscles twitched, and what I held in my hand felt like it could explode at any moment. I had already excited him beyond belief, but my curiosity only grew, driving me to tease him further. I wondered how he would react if I taunted him with subtle words.

His moans under my touch and his twitching at my kisses were so sensually overwhelming that I couldn't stop. Why hadn't I done this before?

I tried biting his chest, lightly licking his stomach, and moving my hand as fast as I could, but Adrian managed to keep the cherry intact. Whether I should admire his dedication or consider it stubborn, I wasn't sure.

“Hilda, please, now… let me see you. Let me touch you.”

His voice shook with pleasure. Glancing down, I saw he had been gripping the bedsheet instead of touching me, which was now in shambles with some burn marks—a clear indication of his restraint, while only the cherry remained unharmed.

Perhaps it was time to release him, especially since I had thoroughly indulged in tasting him to the point my tongue felt sore.

“Um, was it… good?”

“…”

“I wanted to use my hands…”

Adrian seemed too out of breath to respond. Maybe it wasn't as good as he'd hoped. I’d need to refine my skills and try again.

But how should I permit him? I had already delved deep into Adrian, fearing the repercussions. Of course, no matter the outcome, I had seen plenty of good scenes, so I had no regrets.

After some thought, I gently tapped Adrian’s buttocks. Could we end this peacefully? It seemed almost ridiculous to consider after such intense provocation.

Sensing my intention, Adrian sprang up and tore off his blindfold. The handkerchief turned to rags immediately, and the poor cherry rolled down to the floor. And soon, so did I.

"Ouch!"

In an instant, our positions reversed. Without a moment’s pause, he lifted my skirt and kissed my underwear, which was already wet. A few gestures had me bare, and as Adrian climbed over me, I scooted back. His smile was chillingly beautiful.

“Adrian, I… it’s cold.”

“It’ll warm up soon.”

His eyes curved delightfully with pure desire, shining intensely enough to take my breath away. He dived into that heat with much more force and roughness than usual, stirring me up. Yesterday, he had been soothing and patient, but now, he showed no such leisure. He pushed in all at once without giving me a chance to adjust, and then bit my ear.

“You really drained my patience, Hilda.”

“…”

“I suppose I owe you a reward for that cute trick you played.”

That comment seemed to excite him even more, the force from below intensifying. A long moan escaped between our lips, and a tang of blood mingled in as I bit down from the overwhelming sensations. Unfazed, he continued to explore with his tongue, igniting more heat with his breath.

"Ah, Adrian, slow down, please..."

“I can’t do that. I’ve decided I want to make you scream.”

"Ah, uh, oh…"

“Hilda.”

His voice was rough and deep, usually sweet and honeyed but now dense with night’s passion. After thoroughly exploring my mouth, his lips slowly parted from mine, leaving a thin trail of saliva. His glistening lips momentarily distracted me, then he slowly smiled, looking pleased yet profoundly hungry.

"Ah! No fair pulling tricks…"

He suddenly lifted me by the waist; before I knew it, I was on his thighs, positions switched as he reentered, reaffirming his presence. The pressure seemed to pierce through my lower stomach, bending my back.

“During the day, seeing you sitting there, I wanted to do this. I wanted to take you right there while looking at your face.”

“How disgraceful… You were looking at me with such a clean face while we were talking seriously, and to think you were having such thoughts.”

“Should I tell you something even more disgraceful? I always think that way when I see you.”

“…”

“Every night, I think about how to undress you, what sounds you’ll make, how tight and warm you’ll be inside… I imagine a lot.”

As he pulled me closer, his whisper tickled my ear, spreading shivers down my spine. His mischief perfectly matched my taste, and though I was already smitten, it made me fall for him all over again.

“So… ha, was it as good as you imagined?”

“You always exceed my imagination, Hilda.”

“But being like this… must be heavy.”

“You always feel as light as a feather to me.”

His words were tender as he collected the stray hairs from my forehead. Being so light... I worried the rose-colored glasses he wore might fall off one day.

His earlier words about wanting to make me cry seemed sincere as he plunged deeply, one move after another, each making my body react sensitively and cling to him.

I thought I was quite accustomed to our intimacy, but apparently not. Each time I relaxed even slightly, he would explore me more passionately and fill me with his warmth. He licked my ear, bit my neck, kneaded my breasts, and thoroughly marked me. My body was entirely in Adrian's hands, and I was too caught up in the waves of ecstasy to do anything but tremble on his thighs.

The intimacy was dizzying and breathtaking.

Unable to endure the unusual sensation that seemed to pierce through my lower belly, I buried my face in his shoulder. His skin was soft, his scent heady.

Adrian filled my world, my body saturated with his warmth. As I shook uncontrollably, my vision blurred and melted. I only hoped my expression wasn’t too unsightly.

“…Oh!”

After a climax, I covered my face in haste. Adrian, seeing me as some sort of spectacle, was softly kneading my chest. It was painfully obvious what he intended, yet irresistible.

"Ah, Hilda. I fall for you again every time I see your face in ecstasy. So, will you marry me?"

"We are already married... why another proposal?"

"Uh, well, I’d marry you every day if I could. Just bearing with it."

He bit and nibbled at my chest, leaving marks, hoping not to suckle as he had the last time.

"A proposal every day...? We can’t get married daily."

"If only I could. My wife is just too busy."

"It sounds like you’re making light because there’s no dowry involved."

"Tell me what you want, Hilda. Anything."

As he licked a dark bruise he’d left in the center of my chest, he chuckled softly. It seemed he might gladly give me a mansion if I asked. I knew from gifts the former countess had passed down how generous they could be, but I only wanted one thing.

"You. Specifically, your body."

I traced the gentle curve of his eyelid with my finger. His long lashes tickled, making it itch. Soon, the eyes that held me captive sparkled joyously.

"I’m forever yours, after all."

After closing the system, Adrian felt an unprecedented happiness. Being constantly by Hilda’s side, the external forces that had troubled him no longer existed. The cause of his occasional sighs had completely vanished, blooming flowers on Hilda’s face. Always feeling like an outsider, now she seemed as natural and belonging here as if she’d always lived here. She looked truly happy. I had only considered it uncomfortable before, but seeing her this happy made me regret not doing it sooner.

Despite the system repeatedly interfering, Hilda accepted my proposal, and with the help of her mother, we successfully organized the grandest wedding the world had ever seen. Now that she was no longer a servant, I believed there would be no more slipping through my grasp. With no need to mind others, sharing a room became more comfortable, and we could walk freely whenever we wished. My head was filled with rosy visions of a future together with Hilda.

It was only when our honeymoon plans fell through that I realized it was all just a dream. Work piled up for both of us, making it increasingly difficult to find time alone. Especially since Hilda seemed so eager to establish her own place at work. Ironically, we had more face-to-face time when she was still a servant than after our marriage. My renowned patience was tested time and again.

I thought of several ways to divert her attention back to me, but I hesitated just before taking action, remembering past backfires from similar schemes.

So, I decided to subtly hint instead. It wasn't a malicious implication; I just sprinkled hints into our conversations, embedded my feelings, and showed my longing. This way, I subtly infused how heartbroken I was by our lack of time together since our marriage. Even if we occasionally spent a long time together, I crafted the impression that "our time together is always lacking," encouraging her to dedicate more time.

It was satisfying. These continuous hints eventually led to a dream-like situation where Hilda confined me. I never thought my lifelong wish would be fulfilled so swiftly. The unexpected moment arrived, bringing joy and a sense of bewilderment.

"The door is locked, Adrian. I have the only key."

"..."

"You can't step out of here now."

I was elated. The floating sensation I felt when I first heard the term 'boyfriend' returned after a long absence. Although he could leave anytime he wanted, and the windows were all open—not to mention we had to go to the village for food—it was still a reason to rejoice. I hadn't anticipated receiving from her the same desire to hide someone away from the world, to confine them, to have them see only her. She probably couldn't fully comprehend the depth or weight of these feelings, but it still made me happy.

The sheer absurdity of keeping the doors and windows open yet declaring inability to leave seemed endearingly foolish.

Of course, sometimes guidance was necessary. It seemed he had completely forgotten about the confinement after returning from the village, so I gently reminded him. It would be a shame to let such joy dissipate.

"Hilda, do you remember why we're here?"

Her flinch suggested she had indeed forgotten. Such insincerity was also charming. Somehow, the dark, sinister part entrenched within me seemed to lighten up whenever it reached her.

"How can I make you happy, Hilda? If you wish, I could spend my life blindfolded. This handkerchief should suffice."

I had prepared a handkerchief and cherries, wondering how to use them. Delighted by the anticipation and she did not disappoint. She instructed not to burst or touch the cherry. It was fascinating how people could turn playfully mischievous and endearingly perverse. The cherry in my mouth was sweet, but the pleasure she provided was far sweeter. I wasn't usually one to lose my wits to physical desires, but I had been close a few times with Hilda. The conflicting emotions of wanting to make her smile yet cry were pleasantly savored.

Tomorrow, she might scold me not to look out the window again. Just the thought brought a satisfied smile to my face. She had even practiced lines with her friend Emily for this trip, anticipating it eagerly. I planned to pay close attention during this trip, and I must not forget to reward Emily, who had played a significant role in this scenario. Despite always being a thorn, she proved useful when needed.

Even after this trip ends, Hilda may never realize.

By letting her confine him, he was actually confining her. By preventing him from leaving the castle, he tied her down and, by avoiding others, separated her from the world. Intending to keep it all unnoticed during the trip, I schemed to make our private getaways frequent and enjoyable.

What should I prepare next? Whatever it is, I'm sure it will exceed expectations and excite me. As Adrian played with his hair, lost in all kinds of thoughts, he summoned a mirror in front of the bed. In the large mirror reflecting the entire bed, a brightly smiling man was visible.

No matter how sinister or creepy his methods might seem, he couldn't help but be himself, and Hilda loved him for that.

Leaning down, he whispered lovingly into the ear of his sleeping wife.

"Goodnight, Hilda."

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