Ellen let out a small sound. Philip found it too adorable.

A strange excitement arose. He felt anticipation for something (?) that seemed to happen soon. At the same time, Philip thought it was strange.

It was strange. Really strange.

Maybe he had been put under a spell.

When he thought of magic, he remembered the perfume he had left at Lady Hades’s boutique some time ago.

It was a magical perfume that said if you smelled it, you would fall in love with the nearest person of the opposite sex for a thousand years.

“Is it because of the perfume?”

It was a random question that came out of his stream of consciousness.

Ellen did not answer. Philip remained quiet and then changed the question.

“Or have I fallen in love with you these past few days?”

Without realizing it, honey was dripping from his words.

Love.

Philip quietly covered his mouth with his hand.

He had realized that the meaning of the word “love” in their relationship had changed from before.

Not the love that was forced upon him by Ellen, but love that was mentioned for the first time in a positive sense.

“The day has come when I speak of love first. It’s amazing.”

Ellen nodded at Philip’s whisper.

She seemed either awake or in a light sleep.

Watching her, Philip acknowledged the desire that had been welling up from deep inside him since earlier.

‘First, the heart agrees.’

Ellen would be very happy to know that. But Philip hesitated.

He also doubted whether he was being caught in the net that Ellen had spun for the cancellation of the divorce.

‘If I am swayed by Ellen according to my desires, the divorce will be cancelled… If that’s what Ellen aims for?’

Caught in a conflict, Philip unknowingly bit his lip.

If he were deceived by Ellen, he would feel very foolish.

‘Should I back off?’

It seemed like the answer. But then, it felt regretful.

After pondering for a while, he finally asked Ellen.

“Madam, are you awake now?”

‘If you are awake, can we share our affection as a married couple?’

A naturally occurring suggestion.

Philip solidified his realized feelings.

Even if deceived by Ellen, this moment was too sweet a poison for him.

“Mm…….”
Ellen, tossing in her sleep, fumbled at Philip’s chest and gently embraced his neck. At the same time, she even wrapped one leg around Philip’s body.

It was Ellen’s restless movement in sleep, but coincidentally, Philip thought Ellen was acting aggressively at just the right moment.

“Wwife! Bu, but…… Wai, wait a moment……”

Startled reflexively, Philip untangled Ellen’s arm and quickly got up.

Ellen’s arm was released without any resistance.

Philip held his breath as he observed Ellen’s reaction.

Silence fell in the bedroom, but the sound of his frantically beating heart seemed deafening to Philip.

“Madam, are you…… asleep?”

“…….”

Ellen did not reply. She simply lay there, her eyes peacefully closed, breathing evenly.

Philip began to feel confused as to whether Ellen was truly asleep or pretending to sleep.

‘Could it be a light sleep?’

He thought that, and a strange feeling came over him, as if he’d been caught doing something wrong.

He was troubled. Philip hesitated for a moment before wiping his forehead with the back of his hand.

“…….”

His hand was sweaty. His throat felt parched.

“Ooh, I’m a bit odd today. I must be too nervous.”

Philip, making an excuse, soon sighed.

‘I must regain my senses.’

Philip left the room and calmly washed his body with cold water.

After washing, he deliberately dressed in a shirt instead of a gown.

He thought that dressing properly might reduce his primal desire.

But the desire that had flared up like fire did not subside easily. He kept thinking of Ellen’s embrace.

‘Maybe God does not allow our divorce.’

Whether that was true or not, Philip was at least certain that today was a day led by some kind of fate.

‘Maybe she is waiting.’

Philip went back to Ellen’s bedroom.

“…….”

With regular breathing, her round shoulders moved evenly. No matter how you looked at it, Ellen was asleep.

‘Ah, why are you asleep? Just wait a bit.’

Although he was disappointed and felt frustrated, he couldn’t take advantage of his sleeping wife.

“You must be very tired. I’ll just sleep quietly beside you.”

There was no problem with a husband and wife sharing a bed.

Philip quietly asked Ellen for permission and carefully lay down next to her.

His fully buttoned shirt felt strangely stifling and uncomfortable, so he unbuttoned a few buttons.

It felt much better. But sleep still did not come easily. Philip lay still, observing Ellen’s sleeping face.

He looked at it this way and that. The more he looked, the more captivating it became.

Philip quietly mumbled, forgetting his initial intention to just sleep.

“Your face hasn’t changed, so why does it feel completely different?”

The more he thought, the more amazing it seemed.

“I’m really curious. Madam, why do you look so pretty today?”

It was then. Ellen’s long eyelashes slightly lifted. Her eyes were still sleepy, but her beautiful blue eyes glanced at Philip.