The Roshan royal family had prepared a more lavish feast than expected. It seemed to be their own compensation for reluctantly inviting a couple on their honeymoon after two years of marriage.

The royal couple tried quite hard to make the dining atmosphere pleasant.

Considering the difference in national power between the Kingdom of Roshan and the Empire of Setron, and the fact that Arasila and Demian were recent heroes who had captured traitors, it was not incomprehensible.

Moreover, Demian was the young head of the Vandermir duchy, one of the pillars of the empire, and Arasila was a mage who would become the future head of the magic tower.

“I cannot express how delighted I was to hear that the Duke and Duchess were coming. In these times when young people neglect their family and country and love to play, you two are an exemplary and admirable couple who can be a role model for everyone.”

“Indeed. Your reputation is so great that I really wanted to meet you both.”

The Queen chimed in, looking at Arasila sitting across from her, as the King laughed heartily.

With a face as delicately sculpted as a doll’s, and perfect manners to boot. Unlike her splendid appearance, her polite and gentle demeanor was also appealing, and the Queen, feeling infinite fondness for her, spoke softly.

“I wonder how the Duchess’s mother raised such a beautiful and respectable daughter. I’m quite envious. Our children are still quite lacking.”

“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”

“Oh my, and so modest too!”

The Queen, who had been praising Arasila endlessly, suddenly raised her voice, pointing to her daughters quietly eating beside her.

“I really envy the Duchess’s mother. All my daughters are careless and reckless like boys, and they’re not as beautiful as the Duchess and are chubby. Look, isn’t it true?”

“Oh, Mother…”

Jasmine, the second princess of the Kingdom of Roshan, blushed. She was the largest and plumpest among the sisters. It was a complex for her, as her mother had pointed it out several times.

As Arasila’s gaze briefly turned to her, Jasmine’s face turned completely red, and she lowered her head.

“The princesses are beautiful and wonderful too.”

“Oh, no need to say such things. I’m really worried if they’ll even be able to get married. Having many daughters is truly troublesome.”

The Queen sighed heavily. For her, who had no sons, the marriage of her daughters was like a mission. She needed to bring in sons-in-law to continue the royal line.

She grabbed the shoulder of her eldest daughter, Violet, sitting right next to her and said,

“Especially our eldest, she’s dependable, but the problem is she has no aegyo and is too brusque. If she acted more like a lady, she’d be considered good bride material and could marry well.”

Violet’s hand gripping her utensils tightened. She seemed to want to say something angrily but was holding back, or perhaps she had given up.

Arasila, who had been staring at them, opened her mouth gently.

“You don’t have to be so fixated on marriage, Your Majesty. The princesses’ future isn’t just about marriage. They could become mages like me, or knights like my husband, or even inventors.”

Violet, who had been looking down, looked up at Arasila. As their eyes met, Arasila smiled softly.

“The princesses’ potential is limitless, so please don’t worry too much.”

“Ah… thank you for saying that.”

The Queen, slightly taken aback by the unexpected response, covered her mouth with her hand and laughed. She was secretly disappointed, having hoped that Arasila would sympathize with her concerns and give the girls some good advice about marriage.

On the other hand, Arasila resumed her meal after confirming that the princesses’ expressions had softened considerably.

She gave a slight eye-smile and nod to Violet, who kept glancing her way for some reason, causing her to noticeably fluster and turn away.

Afterwards, ordinary conversation ensued. No one was gossiped about or nitpicked. Thanks to this, they were able to end the dinner in a not-so-bad atmosphere.

“Is the Roshan royal family always this sociable?”

Demian stopped midway through lifting his water glass and turned his head at the sudden question from behind. Arasila was comfortably lying on the queen-sized bed, staring blankly at him.

The room they were currently in was originally used by Demian alone, but the existing single bed had been removed and newly decorated for the couple.

Though not as big and spacious as the Vandermir mansion, it was cozy enough that Arasila quite liked it.

“They weren’t particularly so when I was studying abroad. As is usually the case, they probably treat people differently depending on the occasion.”

Back then, the royal family didn’t care whether Demian came or not. The Vandermir duchy hadn’t given any special notice, and the reason for sending a young son alone all the way here was obvious.

They had neglected the child they thought had been abandoned by his family, but now that he had grown up and returned as a duke, they were being overly friendly to the couple, perhaps out of a guilty conscience.

“I don’t like it much. The princesses aren’t even that old, yet they’re already pressuring them about marriage.”

Arasila’s expression turned displeased.

The eldest princess would come of age next year, while the second and third were still in their early to mid-teens. They weren’t old enough or late enough to worry so excessively.

“I don’t want to be close to them.”

“I’ve already politely declined the next dinner invitation. Above all, I have no desire to engage in diplomacy while on our honeymoon.”

“Well done, Demian.”

Arasila pulled her hand out from under the covers and gave a thumbs up. Her face looked slightly drowsy, making Demian chuckle as he said,

“You must be tired, let’s rest now, wife.”

“Alright.”

Arasila pulled the covers up to her chest and was about to close her eyes when she slightly lifted her head to look at Demian.

She stared intently at him as he drank water, wearing a loosely tied robe with his hand on his waist, and slowly moved her lips.

“Demian, I have a question.”

“Yes.”

“Are we consummating our marriage tonight?”

Demian, who had been mindlessly finishing his water, spat it out immediately. He coughed violently, his face turning bright red at the unexpected question.

“*cough, cough!*”

“Are you alright?”

A startled Arasila sat up abruptly. Demian stopped her with a gesture as she was about to approach and finally calmed down.

He wiped the moisture from his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at Arasila with wildly shaking eyes.

“W-why suddenly…”

“Why? Usually, people consummate their marriage the night before or after going on their honeymoon. But we didn’t do it before we came.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Perhaps because they weren’t following the conventional path of a married couple, the progress of their physical intimacy wasn’t very fast. It hadn’t been long since they became comfortable enough to kiss and embrace each other without embarrassment.

At first, even just kissing in private made their hearts pound so much that they would clear their throats and take deep breaths. No matter how much they told themselves they were grown adults, they couldn’t help feeling nervous and excited.

But when the word ‘consummation’ suddenly came out of Arasila’s mouth, Demian felt like he was sweating as if it were midsummer and his mind went blank.

Arasila gazed steadily at him as he couldn’t keep still and ran his hand through his hair, then bluntly said,

“If you’re pursuing a purely spiritual love, just tell me. I’ll accommodate you.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

Demian, who had answered without thinking, covered his face with his palm out of embarrassment. Arasila tilted her head.

“Then what? Oh, are you worried you might not do well because it’s your first time?”

“…”

While Demian remained silent, unable to deny or confirm, Arasila rummaged under her pillow and pulled something out.

“Don’t worry. I thought this might happen, so I brought a sex education book. Let’s study it together.”

“…Aren’t you embarrassed, wife?”

“About what? Sex education isn’t something to be embarrassed about.”

Arasila boldly held out the book. Demian sighed, rubbing his forehead. How could a person be so adorably eccentric?

He suddenly remembered the first night they completely shared a room. He had frozen up, feeling how small his wife’s body was next to him, how soft her skin felt where it touched his, and how nice she smelled.

‘Demian.’

‘Yes.’

‘Can I hold your hand?’

At her careful request, Demian had preciously held her warm, slender hand. A dense atmosphere enveloped the two of them breathtakingly.

It was a situation where anything could happen without being strange. As he momentarily considered whether to kiss her next, Arasila had said,

‘Do you trust me? I’ll really just hold your hand and sleep.’

‘Pardon? Ah…’

Though it didn’t have to be that way, Arasila really did just hold his hand and sleep. She was the type to fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, unless something special was happening.

After a few days passed like this, it became difficult to create a meaningful atmosphere just by lying in bed together.

Demian didn’t want to push things recklessly either, so he was waiting for the right moment, but Arasila had suddenly dropped this bomb.

Arasila, who had been pondering something while watching Demian rub his reddened neck, raised both hands and lay back down on the bed.

“Alright, I understand. For now, come and lie down without worry. I won’t do anything.”

“…Is that typically what a wife says?”

“Does it matter who says it? I’ll even give you an arm pillow, so come quickly.”

So, is that also something a wife usually says?

Arasila stretched out her thin arm and patted the bed. Demian chuckled and approached the bed.

“I’ll be the one to provide the arm pillow.”

“Then, I won’t refuse—”

As Demian lay down beside her and extended his arm, Arasila quickly rested her head on it. She shifted a few times to find the most comfortable position.

“Are you not uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine.”

Demian looked down affectionately at his wife, snug in his arms, and kissed her round forehead. Arasila closed her eyes contentedly and whispered,

“Good night.”

“…Sweet dreams.”

Demian’s gaze was complex as he looked at Arasila, who fell asleep without a moment’s hesitation right after their goodnight kiss.

His wife was someone who could create and break the mood entirely at her own whim.

Should he really read that book or what?

In the end, Demian didn’t sleep a wink that night. The word ‘consummation’ just wouldn’t leave his mind.