Being with another man in a bright place at a banquet was no problem, but dark places had to be avoided. Even if it was Edward.

“I’ll see you off only up to here.”

Ariel handed over the jacket that Edward had taken off due to the cool weather. As she watched him slowly buttoning up his jacket, Ariel reminded him once again.

“Make sure to give the letter I handed over yesterday to your parents. Also, tell them that I’ll contact them often once I learn how to use carrier pigeons later.”

“Okay, I will. Take care, Ariel.”

“I’ll write you letters.”

With a brief farewell of waving her hand, Ariel shivered in the chilly air. She turned to return to the banquet hall, but couldn’t move a single step.

A man who had been standing darkly in a dark place strode out and blocked Ariel’s path.

“Kaius, Edw……”

“Did you say your goodbyes well?”

He cut off her words, asking as if he had already seen her with Edward. It didn’t seem like he was asking out of genuine curiosity, though.

“……Yes.”

Kaius, who had been silently watching her, took off his jacket and put it on her. As it was quite chilly, Ariel tightly gripped the collar with both hands. The warm feeling was nice.

“Thank you.”

Kaius, who had been silently watching this scene, slowly started walking towards the path Edward had taken, which was the path leading to the palace’s main gate.

Confused, Ariel just stared at his back for a moment before taking a step. Without any words, Ariel now seemed to understand.

That he was a man who always showed through actions rather than words.

Kaius’s steps slowed even more at the sound of Ariel’s heels behind him. A chuckle escaped Kaius’s lips at Ariel’s innocent gaze as she came up beside him and looked at him. Not even knowing what she had done wrong.

But a quiet sigh escaped at the sight of her walking by his side in the darkening path, wearing his clothes, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. It felt like the terrible hunger was being filled just by her walking beside him.

Kaius glanced down and looked deeply at Ariel.

“What else do you like?”

“Pardon?”

“Besides chocolate cake.”

“Ah……”

Unable to think of anything at the unexpected question, Ariel blankly stared at him.

“Answer.”

“Um….. That’s the only thing I particularly like.”

“Then are there different types of chocolate cake?”

“Of course. There are so many varieties depending on the ingredients and cooking method. Gâteau au chocolat, torta caprese, Sachertorte, chocolate cake….. There are even more besides these.”

“Then which one do you like?”

“I like gâteau au chocolat, especially the ones with a lot of chocolate. The really rich ones.”

Her eyes sparkled throughout her chatter, clearly showing how much she liked it. Kaius’s gaze, lowered to watch that expression the whole time, was deep and calm.

“Tell me more. What you like.”

Kaius wanted to know about Ariel. Everything that Edward knew about her. He too. All of it.

***

By the time she came out after showering with hot water, her body felt heavy like a water-soaked cotton ball.

Wearing her usual girlish pajamas, Ariel brushed past the warm flames of the fireplace and lay down on the bed. She felt tired enough to pass out, but as soon as she closed her eyes, various thoughts swirled around in her head.

[Tell me more. What you like.] [Um….. Snow. I don’t know if I’ll like it since I’ve never seen it yet, but I’m eagerly waiting for it. When will it come? Books say snow is cold and soft, is that true? How cold is it? I’m so, so excited.]

She had never seen snow in the past either. After the demon realm took over, snow stopped falling. She didn’t know why that was.

[Snow will come a little later. More importantly, Tris’s winter is quite cold. We need to prepare clothes, so when we return this time, Madame Bella……] [No! Don’t call her. I’ll go to the boutique myself.]

Her head became dizzy at the thought that he might commit the atrocity of choosing underwear again.

[That’s….. I have some other business to take care of, so I want to go out myself.]

She hastily added an excuse under Kaius’s steady gaze. Kaius, who answered with a light nod, continued to ask trivial questions after that. As the memory of that time came to mind, Ariel’s eyes slowly opened. The shadows created by the firelight flickered on the bedroom ceiling. It was a peaceful night unlike the day.

Just as Ariel closed her eyes to try to sleep again, the bedroom door that needed no knocking opened.

It was Kaius.

Startled, Ariel recalled the memory of the previous night. He was a man who never backed down until he had fully satisfied his desires. Ariel decided to pretend to be asleep to send him away and quietly held her breath.

It wasn’t long before Kaius got onto the bed. The scent of soap and coolness from him, who had just showered, was transmitted as he brought his body close.

Anyway, she hoped he would give up and leave for today.

It might be a futile wish, but, oh, she forgot to tell Edward about the wishing fountain. She should have mocked Edward back for laughing at her five failed coin tosses.

“Ariel.”

Kaius’s low voice reached Ariel’s ear as she was momentarily lost in other thoughts. Ariel naturally turned her head to the side to avoid the hot breath pouring over her face.

“Ariel.”

The turned head was brought back to its original position by Kaius’s large hand. Ariel realized as he caressed her cheek. That this man would inevitably satisfy his desire. Resigned, Ariel slowly opened her eyes.

Kaius’s smiling face came into view.

“Um….. Can’t you just go back?”

“Why.”

He lightly frowned.

“Because I’m too tired.”

At those words, Kaius frowned once more as his fingertips slowly wandered over Ariel’s eyes, cheeks, and lips.

“First you ask me to wait, then you say you’re tired. Are you planning to be sick tomorrow?”

Ariel gently pushed away his hand and covered her lips with the back of her hand. Kaius’s hand, which was pushed away easily, now stroked her hair.

Kaius’s smile deepened at the sight of Ariel shaking her head slightly. Looking into his eyes, she could tell. That he wouldn’t just back down. Finally, Ariel removed the hand covering her lips with a feeling of powerlessness.

But he, who she thought would pounce on her as if to devour her, just quietly looked at her. His eyes, with the smile gone, were unfathomably deep. Ariel unconsciously held her breath as she stared into those eyes as if mesmerized.

Feeling as if she was being devoured by those eyes that held only darkness, Ariel averted her gaze without realizing it. Kaius applied force to the hand buried in her hair to draw Ariel’s gaze back to him.

Why……?

His seemingly calm gaze seemed to coexist with coldness and heat, and while frightening, it was also cozy. Caught up in an indescribable feeling, Ariel barely managed to avert her eyes. No, the words she couldn’t utter came out as hot breaths.

She shouldn’t cross the line.

[……I heard that woman bloomed flowers. She was even the duke’s wife.]

What would it be like when he learns that his wife is the person killing him? Maybe she should have rejected him completely until the end. Two months at most, or three? By then, the moment to tell the truth would come.

Strength entered her two hands resting on his shoulders. She tried her best to push him away, but as always, he didn’t budge an inch. His large hand that was stroking her hair intertwined with Ariel’s hands and gently pressed them down onto the bed.

Confused by Kaius’s unfamiliar behavior, Ariel’s gaze turned back to him. It was then that she felt a soft touch on her lips. His kiss, which had always been rough as if to devour her, was as gentle and soft as a butterfly’s flutter.

The kiss that seemed to drain all strength from her body continued slowly, deeply, and for a long time. When she was gasping for breath, he released Ariel. The lips of the two people breathing heavily glistened in the firelight. Realizing what it was, Ariel’s face turned red and she averted her gaze again.

As the hand caressing her cheek began to undress her through her hazy consciousness, Ariel tightly closed her eyes. Soon it would be time to endure the hot touches, pain, and shameful sounds.

“Open your eyes.”

At his low command, Ariel shook her head, closing her eyes even tighter. Why was he suddenly demanding this? She didn’t want to open her eyes during such an embarrassing time. He would satisfy his desires regardless of this anyway.

Kaius quietly looked down at such an Ariel.

The woman before him was docile, seemingly accepting everything he did at a glance. As if she were a corpse, not moving even a fingertip, he thought it was because she still didn’t know and would get better with time, but not anymore.

This moment was the only time he fully possessed, yet. With her eyes tightly closed, it looked as if she was enduring her husband’s body while thinking of another man.

“Open your eyes, Ariel.”

Kaius, who grabbed Ariel’s chin with rising contempt, commanded in a low voice. As her long eyelashes slowly rose, his figure filled her revealed eyes completely. Her eyes, hazy with heat, were beautiful.

Kaius smiled as he stroked her hair as if praising her. Looking into those eyes that only he knew, Kaius moved following his innate desires.

***

After passionately loving his wife, Kaius, instead of returning to his bedroom, pulled the fainted Ariel into his arms.

He gazed at her in the languidly spreading sense of satisfaction. He raised the hand that had been caressing her back to touch her swollen lips. He wanted to know what made this woman endure everything. Even the truth she couldn’t tell him yet. The urge to make her speak even by force arose, but if he did so, she would deceive him again with lies.

The hand carefully removing the fallen strands of hair from her face stopped due to the small stirring felt in his arms. Looking down, he saw Ariel moving closer as if drawn to his body heat. Kaius, who was about to pull up the blanket, changed his mind and embraced her back with both arms. As if chasing that warmth, Ariel burrowed further into his embrace. Kaius’s gaze deepened as he unconsciously held his breath.