“I was so nervous. Do you think I handled it well?”

Arasila whispered softly as she stood on tiptoe. There was a ticklish sensation where their skin slightly touched.

Demian glanced down, confirming the face that had come close, and nodded.

“Yes, you handled it extremely well for someone who was nervous.”

Looking at Arasila who immediately smiled proudly, he added.

“You even called my name naturally.”

“Of course, we’re married now. You should call me Arasila too.”

“Well, I—”

Demian rolled his eyes as if pondering, then curved the corner of his lips.

“I prefer to call you ‘wife’.”

“Ugh, that’s embarrassing. Just call me by my name.”

“Wife, there are many eyes watching, so please manage your expression properly.”

Seeing Arasila making a face as if she was about to vomit, Demian laughed as if he couldn’t help it.

There were many gazes pouring on today’s bride and groom. Conscious of her surroundings, Arasila hurriedly smiled.

“By the way, shouldn’t we link arms before managing expressions?”

Arasila, who had been walking side by side with Demian since earlier due to his refusal of skinship, hinted.

“Usually, at least arms are linked, you know?”

“Not possible.”

“Don’t be so stingy even at your own wedding.”

Her red, plump lips scolded Demian while barely moving.

From the outside, it looked like a newly married couple whispering sweetly to each other.

“…Then I’ll put my hand on your shoulder.”

Demian’s hand awkwardly rested on Arasila’s shoulder.

Noticing the faint space between her shoulder and his hand, Arasila shook her head.

He’s really making a fuss, seriously.

The two, who had agreed not to go on a honeymoon beforehand, headed straight to the Vandermir mansion as soon as the reception was over.

All that remained now was the wedding night.

It was impossible to avoid as it was the principle of the temple for newlyweds to consummate their marriage on their first night.

This was especially true for Arasila and Demian, who had a love marriage. What reason would there be to avoid the wedding night for lovers who married out of love?

They had to go through a formal wedding night to avoid any suspicion from the Duke’s family.

Arasila was being prepared for the wedding night in the dressing room next to the bedroom. She stood up, wearing a silk slip and a robe.

“Miss, no, Madam. Aren’t you nervous?”

Audrey asked quietly as she followed behind Arasila, who was leisurely heading to the couple’s room.

Why was her heart pounding with nervousness over someone else’s wedding night?

“Audrey, you don’t know Demian.”

That man, who absolutely detested touching skin with others, had hidden his hand that didn’t touch her shoulder among her lush purple hair throughout the reception.

There was no way he would touch Arasila on their wedding night. They had promised each other from the beginning anyway.

“There’s nothing to be nervous or worried about.”

“But the Vandermir lord, no, the master is much bigger than you, Madam.”

“Why, are you afraid I’ll be crushed to death?”

Arasila giggled softly. Audrey, more concerned than the new bride, couldn’t say anything.

“See you tomorrow, Audrey.”

Arasila, half pushing her body into the bedroom, said goodbye. Audrey barely managed to smile and nod.

Tonight, the maid could not enter that room.

“Have a peaceful night, Madam.”

As the door closed, Arasila calmly looked around the interior.

Crystal chandelier, curtains with intricate lace patterns, soft and fluffy carpet, fireplace surrounded by delicate carvings.

Demian had decorated the room lavishly with expensive furniture. Whether it was to act like a husband who loves his wife, or if it was his original taste.

Arasila’s footsteps, which had been wandering around the room, stopped in front of a sword made of pure gold hanging on the wall.

‘This, this. He decorated it entirely to his own taste.’

Arasila looked up at the sword with disapproving eyes. Even though it wasn’t a real sword, she didn’t like it hanging on the wall.

I’ll hang a golden staff later too.

As she was about to sit on the sofa after making this resolution, the door opened and Demian appeared. He was wearing a black robe with gold embroidery.

“Demian.”

Arasila called his name and stood up from the sofa again. Her silky hair flowed down over her robe.

Not consummating the marriage was a clause they had stipulated in their prenuptial agreement.

There would be no relationship whatsoever, including the wedding night.

It was not so much about purity as it was to avoid accidentally creating children.

But facing each other in the dim room prepared with flowers and wine for the wedding night, it felt a bit strange.

While quietly meeting each other’s gaze, Arasila spoke first.

“Let’s decide who sleeps on the bed with rock-paper-scissors.”

She had no desire to sleep in the same bed as Demian.

It wasn’t because she was afraid of being crushed to death as Audrey worried, but because she was used to sleeping alone and felt uncomfortable with someone next to her.

“You sleep on it, wife.”

“Really? Don’t change your mind later.”

Arasila ran to the bed. Seeing her slender body hop like a rabbit, Demian chuckled and went to the sofa.

There were some fruits, wine, and two glasses on the table.

“Let’s take turns sleeping on the bed every day. Me today, you tomorrow.”

“Just use the bed continuously, wife. I’ll rarely sleep here anyway.”

Arasila wasn’t surprised or hurt by those words at all. Rather, she thought it was good. She could use the room comfortably alone.

“Then I’m fine with that. But what’s that sword for?”

Sitting at the edge of the bed, Arasila pointed at the pure gold sword hanging on the wall. Demian replied while pouring wine.

“It’s not a real sword.”

“I know that too. I’m asking why you hung a sword, it’s unlucky.”

Demian frowned his neat brows while holding the wine glass.

“Have you forgotten that I’m a knight?”

“Have you forgotten that I’m a magician?”

Usually, knights regarded their swords as their other selves and cherished them as much as their lives. It was natural since they couldn’t be knights without a sword.

On the other hand, magicians could use magic sufficiently without a staff. It meant they didn’t become non-magicians without it.

So they didn’t have the habit of proudly hanging their staffs on the wall like knights.

“If you’re going to do it, hang a staff too. It seems it would use less gold than the sword, how stingy.”

Arasila grumbled as she got under the covers. Even if magicians didn’t have such tendencies, it was mean to hang only a sword in what was supposed to be a couple’s bedroom.

“Alright. I’ll order one, so let’s stop this.”

“Good, don’t change your mind about this later either.”

Arasila lay on the bed with a satisfied face. The soft and fluffy sensation enveloped her entire body.

But perhaps because it was an unfamiliar room and unfamiliar bed, sleep didn’t come easily.

Tossing and turning, Arasila turned towards Demian. She could see him sitting like a statue, drinking wine alone.

“Do you like alcohol?”

“It’s just okay. I’m only drinking now because it’s in front of me.”

“Then are you good at drinking?”

Arasila stared at Demian. Though it wasn’t clearly visible with only candles lit in the room, somehow his cheeks seemed slightly flushed.

Between the loosely opened robe, his firm chest muscles boasted their presence in the moonlight.

“I’m asking because you seem a bit drunk.”

“…I can’t drink much.”

“But didn’t you just drink one glass? Is your limit one glass?”

Demian, who had actually drunk one and a half glasses, looked towards the bed reflexively to refute, but stopped.

Arasila was sitting up halfway with a disheveled appearance. Her slender shoulder was exposed due to her slipped clothes.

“If you can’t drink well, stop drinking.”

“…I’ll manage on my own, so don’t worry and just go to sleep.”

“I’m concerned because we have to sleep in the same room. I don’t want to be with a drunk.”

Arasila retorted with a prim expression. By the way, her alcohol tolerance was exceptionally great, so she had never been drunk before.

That’s why Demian, whose cheeks were flushed after just a few glasses, seemed curious and worrying to her.

What if he gets drunk and makes a scene with me?

“I don’t make scenes when drunk, and I tend to fall asleep immediately when intoxicated, so don’t worry.”

As if to prove those words true, Demian’s eyes were half-closed. Arasila examined him carefully.

‘He really seems about to fall asleep drunk.’

Hmm. Well, whatever. She was an excellent magician anyway, so she could protect herself even if attacked while sleeping.

Arasila obediently lay down again. Closing her eyes comfortably, she fell asleep not long after.

Demian also put down his wine glass and lay down on the sofa, covering his eyes with his arm.

Whether it was really because of the alcohol, or because of hearing someone’s steady breathing.

He also fell asleep quickly.

And so the wedding night passed.

Sunlight entering through the arched window tickled Arasila’s face. She got up with a dazed face and looked around blankly.

Where is this? In some unfamiliar room…

‘Ah, right. I got married yesterday.’

Her mind cleared a bit after shaking her head once. Yesterday she got married and moved to the Vandermir mansion.

She had to use this room as a temporary bedroom until the divorce.

‘I should get ready for work.’

Arasila stretched and got out of bed.

The magic tower had offered her a vacation for getting married, but she refused.

She was worried that her colleagues would try to get ahead while she was away.

Moreover, there were already many disapproving eyes because she married a knight, so if she took even a day off for the marriage, it would give more reasons for criticism.

“…Ugh.”

Arasila, who was pouring water from the bedside table to drink, paused at the groaning sound coming from somewhere.

What’s this puppy-like sound?

“…Ungh.”

Following the direction of the sound that was stronger than before, she turned her head to see Demian lying on the sofa.

‘Was that sound from him?’

Arasila carefully approached Demian. He was frowning deeply and sweating.

Is he having a nightmare?

He looked very distressed, so with good intentions, she grabbed Demian’s shoulder and shook it.

“Demian, wake up.”

After shaking him like that a few times, Demian’s eyes slowly opened. His unfocused golden eyes looked at Arasila.

“Are you okay?”

As Arasila asked worriedly, Demian, who had been staring blankly at her, soon got up.

At the same time, with a thud, as if a hawk snatching its prey, a large hand grabbed Arasila’s wrist.

“Don’t touch my body without permission.”

“…What?”

He was groaning so I woke him up, and now what’s this about?

Not seeing Arasila’s bewilderment, Demian, who had let go of her, ruffled his hair.

He had a slight headache from drinking two glasses of wine yesterday. The bad dream he had also contributed.

“Look, I woke you up because it seemed like you were having a bad dream, okay?”

“I never asked you to do that. Don’t act on your own and then expect gratitude.”

“Wow, can you be this rude in the morning? We just got married yesterday?”

Instead of thanking her, he was just being snappy, making Arasila’s insides boil.

Demian glanced at her as she crouched next to the sofa, fuming.

“Fine, it’s all my fault. I’ll never wake you up again in the future, so remember that!”

“If you’ve gotten up, then leave.”

“I was going to leave anyway!”

Arasila snapped back sharply, then got up and slammed the door shut as she left.

He’s so annoying, really!

An angry voice penetrated through the thick door. Only then did Demian lower his hand and sigh.

Perhaps because the morning sunlight brightly illuminated the room, Arasila’s appearance in her thin slip was too clearly visible just now. That’s why he had no choice but to cover his face to block the view.

Tilting his head back, Demian thought.

As expected, I should avoid using the same room as much as possible.