-23-
“Because I thought you’d dry it well for me.”
When I handed him the towel, he gave me a subtle glance. I was caught off guard by his sudden words. As he looked at me steadily, he soon turned his head with a blush on his face.
“I’m sorry. That was… a joke.”
“Ah…”
…That really startled me. I nearly had a heart attack. He knows how to joke like that? Did someone coach him?
The way he kept holding my hand today too… Did Alexandra tell him something? If so, good job, Alexandra.
Seeing him bow his head, ears bright red, made me laugh. What do I even do with this innocent man? If he can’t handle something this small, what’s he going to do later on?
I wanted us to be a sweet, affectionate couple after marriage… Would that even be possible? When he barely managed to lift his head and his face was still beet red, I started to think I might be expecting too much.
I was hoping for a “gentle by day, assertive by night” type… but I guess I’ll have to be that one instead.
“Here, dry your hair.”
“…Okay.”
I handed him the towel again, and he carefully took it with slightly trembling hands and began to dry his hair. His damp, tousled black hair swayed slightly, and the sight made me want to reach out and touch it.
No, not now. Control yourself. It’s still daytime. We’re not even married yet.
Watching his slow movements, I realized he was pretty clumsy with it. You’re supposed to briskly rub the towel through your hair, but his movements were hesitant and unsure, and his hands kept slipping.
Ugh… I need to hold back…
But I couldn’t take it anymore. I got up and approached him, snatching the towel from his hand.
“Tiana…?”
“Stay still. You’re doing it all wrong. You’ll never get your hair dry at that rate.”
He flinched and tried to step back in embarrassment, but I wrapped the towel around his head to stop him from escaping.
The feel of his hair through my fingers was incredibly soft. It felt even better than mine… Is it even fair for a man’s hair to be this soft?
“Your hair’s so silky. I’m jealous—it’s even better than mine.”
“No, not at all.”
He sat still as I dried his hair, then gently picked up the ends of my hair.
“Yours is more beautiful… and lustrous.”
Our eyes met as he smiled softly. His tender gaze made me shy, and I quickly looked away, focusing on drying his hair.
A pleasant scent wafted up, tickling my nose. The subtle floral fragrance and refreshing notes cleared my mind.
“You smell really nice. What product did you use?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t know the brand exactly… um…”
“Luscious?”
When I looked at him, startled by his sudden grip on my hair, I saw his face flush again as he hesitantly said,
“When we get married… your hair will probably smell the same, right…?”
“What?”
“Because… we’ll be using the same products.”
For a moment, I saw my reflection clearly in his golden eyes. The subtle heat in them gave off a different feeling from before, making it hard to breathe.
Thud.
The towel slipped from my hands as I lost strength in my fingers.
The breath I gasped in felt like it would explode inside me, but I couldn’t let it out. His quiet breaths against my neck made me feel strange.
His gaze was different now—closer than ever, our noses almost touching.
At first, I thought the distance between us had grown closer. But now, something was definitely different. If before, a guarded Lucious felt like a gentle lamb with fluffy wool, now he felt like that lamb freshly shorn and revealed underneath.
…In other words, he looked really sexy. His eyes, which always appeared so clear, were now slightly unfocused in a way that was oddly alluring.
Feeling embarrassed by his gaze, I turned away and mumbled,
“Hmm… maybe not? I think women’s products are usually different, so we probably won’t be using the same one.”
“Oh…”
It was true—men and women typically used different products even in the same household. I hadn’t even used the same one as him earlier.
Apparently, that hadn’t crossed his mind, because after hearing me, he looked slightly disappointed. His hand let go of my hair, and he looked sullen again—back to being the sweet Lucious.
He looked so pitiful and cute that I barely held back my laughter. Was that really something to pout over? Seriously, what do I do with this man?
That sudden switch from sweet to dangerously tempting left me shaken. If he’s like this before we’re even married, what’s he planning to do after?
I was hoping to take our first night slowly, but… at this rate, my self-control won’t hold out.
Calm down, calm down. Unlike modern people, Lucious is a refined noble. Tiana too. They’re both innocent types—I shouldn’t be the only one getting ahead of myself.
When I saw his hair was mostly dry, I stepped back slightly. He slowly let go of my hair with a gloomy face, and I smiled.
“Well, if it’s the same brand, maybe there’s a women’s version with the same scent. Then our hair could smell the same.”
“…!”
His hand froze, still holding my hair, and the gloom on his face lifted. As his complexion brightened again, I couldn’t help but laugh. He looked like he might run out right now to buy it.
What if next time I visit, all the products are from that line? …No way, right?
I placed the fallen towel on the table and gently tidied his now dry hair from beside him.
His hair was so smooth, it glided between my fingers like silk. It gleamed with a healthy shine, like obsidian dust was sprinkled over it. The more I looked, the more amazed I became.
“You really do have amazing hair, Lucious.”
“Do I?”
“Yeah. It looks better than mine.”
Tiana’s hair was great too, but I had to admit Lucious’s was even better. Still, I was way more satisfied with my current self than before I possessed this body.
Thinking about my old hair just made me sigh. It was never full like Tiana’s or this soft. No matter how much I cared for it, it barely grew and looked dry. Just getting it to shoulder length had been a challenge.
Sure, I didn’t have to go to the salon often, but I’d always been jealous of people with shiny, luscious hair.
“No. I like your hair better.”
“I like yours more, Lucious.”
“That’s not true.”
“Okay, fine. Then let’s just say both are great.”
I chuckled at his unwavering stance. It was true—Tiana’s hair was long, down to her waist, and voluminous, which meant any hairstyle looked amazing on her. She had a pretty face and a beautiful body. Compared to my former thin, frail figure, the difference was night and day.
If I’d come here in my original body, I don’t think I could’ve stood confidently before Lucious.
Once we’re married, we’ll eventually… see each other’s bodies. If I’d come here in my old body, I wouldn’t even have dared to look him in the eyes.
Lucious isn’t someone who judges by appearances, but still—looks do matter. And if I hadn’t possessed Tiana’s body, I might never have even met him.
Could a mysterious stranger from another world have survived here? Forget meeting Lucious—I might have starved to death jobless and alone.
I’m so thankful I ended up in Tiana’s body. I have a warm home, a loving family, a wonderful fiancé, and supportive friends. Life has finally blossomed for me here.
I don’t know if I’ll ever go back, but if I stay, I’d like to keep living this life. I know it’s greedy, but I have zero desire to return.
Tiana and I seem to share a lot in common anyway, so I’ll do my best in her place. Especially with my favorite man beside me, I’ll savor every moment.
The room was filled with the scent of Lucious’s shampoo. Even my hands, which had dried his hair, were gently perfumed.
“This scent really is lovely.”
“Tiana.”
“Yes?”
“Do you… like this fragrance?”
“You mean the one from your shampoo? Yes, I like it. It’s fresh, has a soft floral note, not too strong—very clean and light. It’s just my style. It doesn’t give me a headache.”
Lucious had been staring at my hair intently. Then he leaned in a little closer and gently touched it. His fingers stroking through my strands made me giggle from the ticklish feeling. Then, slowly, he lifted a lock to his nose.
“……!”
“I like your scent much more.”
When he smelled my hair, I flinched. As I tried to step back in surprise, he wrapped an arm around my waist and softly kissed the ends of my hair.
Then he lifted his head, made eye contact, and smiled gently—causing my face to burn instantly.
…Seriously, that’s cheating.
Kissing my hair? Where did he even learn that? Did Alexandra secretly tutor him? No, they wouldn’t have had time…
He startled me so many times today—my heart was about to give out. Is he trying to test my self-control or what? Is this an evolution? Preparing to shed his sheep disguise? Not that I’d mind…
Seeing my favorite character act like this in front of me felt too real. I didn’t even know what to do. If I had a camera, I’d record this moment right now and replay it all night long. After all, what’s good for the soul should be seen multiple times.
I really need to look for a camera or something like it in this world. There were communication stones, so maybe something like a video stone exists too. I want to preserve every cute and sexy side of my husband.
When I covered my flushed face with my hand, he finally let go of my hair—only to take my hand in his and gently brush my cheek with a smile.
“Next time… we’ll have the same scent.”
…I’m going to lose my mind.
