MLCDF 96

~Chapter 96~

“…Huh?”

The surroundings were dark, with only faint starlight as a glow.

Even so, I could feel it.

Damien was drawing closer.

“Is it so embarrassing to do this while fully conscious?”

“Of course it is…”

“Well, we don’t have to. But—”

From the darkness, Damien chuckled.

“If you don’t, then I can’t tell you why I was sulking.”

I froze.

‘No, that won’t do. I was the one who messed up, so I have to find out why and make it right.’

But for that… I had to kiss him first?

“Is it really that embarrassing? It’s so dark you can hardly see.”

Just as he said, with only faint starlight, I could barely make out his face—just the outline, and those strangely glowing eyes.

“Even if your face turns red, I won’t notice much.”

“I-It’s not red!”

“Oh, so it’s not? Then you’re not that embarrassed, which means you can kiss me first.”

“Y-you…!”

“And remember last time, when you failed because you had a cold? You’ll succeed this time, right?”

That was cheating.

He was bringing up that moment now?

I couldn’t see his expression clearly in the dark, but I just knew he was smirking.

I was irritated, but conflicted too.

‘If only our soul contract let me know! But no… we can still hide feelings we don’t want revealed.’

So, unless I kissed him properly while fully conscious, I’d never know the truth behind his sulking.

“…Fine, I’ll do it!”

Even if I didn’t remember last night, technically I’d already done it once.

‘It’s just one kiss, right? I can do this!’

I leaned forward to where his face should be, bracing myself.

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Don’t say things like that! It makes it harder to focus!”

He chuckled softly.

Hearing that laugh, I clenched my resolve.

‘If he’s teasing me like this, I’ll just act like it’s no big deal.’

“Here I go.”

This time, Damien stayed silent.

As I drew closer, his face came into view—faint outline, lips visible in the dark.

I hesitated, steeling my nerves.

Then—

Smooch.

With my eyes tightly shut, I kissed him.

When I kiss him to absorb curses, it’s always tense and awkward. But kissing like this—just as lovers would—felt completely different.

‘Can I ever get used to this? My heart’s pounding so much…’

After what felt like forever—but was really just three seconds—I pulled away.

We both stayed quiet, heads lowered, hands still clasped together.

I was the first to break the silence.

“…Was that enough?”

“…Hm.”

Damien’s voice was thoughtful.

“I wonder if that really counts as a kiss between husband and wife. It was so short…”

“What?”

“Too short. Like something between kids.”

He smiled lazily at me.

“Honestly, it felt just a little lacking.”

What nerve!

It had been so hard to even do that much, and now he wanted more?

Before I could protest further, a large hand touched my forehead.

Cool and familiar.

“…Hm, hot.”

My face flushed even hotter at his words.

“Ah, getting hotter still.”

I puffed my cheeks and grabbed his hand, pulling it away.

“Stop narrating everything!”

“Haha.”

Damien laughed freely, clearly delighted.

“Your hands are hot too.”

I glared, though it was too dark for him to see.

“Anyway, I did it even while embarrassed. So now, tell me.”

“…Alright.”

Finally, Damien released my hands and sat beside me.

“When you kissed me first last night, my heart went wild. It was the first time my wife ever showed affection on her own.”

“T-that’s…”

“I know. You weren’t in your right mind.”

His voice dropped low.

“But I couldn’t sleep all night after that. And then in the morning, you acted like nothing happened.”

Even in the dark, I saw the gleam in his violet eyes—still holding a trace of bitterness.

“You lit a fire in my heart… and then forgot all about it. That’s why I was sulking.”

“…I see.”

So that thing had been right after all.

Did it really understand people that well? It almost felt like it knew my husband better than I did, which stung my pride a little.

“Anyway, I wanted you to do the same thing while fully conscious this time. It wouldn’t be fair if only I showed my embarrassment.”

“But I don’t even remember last night…”

If only I had. At least then I wouldn’t be the only one flustered.

“If you want to see me embarrassed, then kiss me suddenly like before—show the kind of affection only a married couple should. That way, you’ll see.”

“…Fine.”

I pointed a finger at him.

“Next time, I’ll definitely make you blush.”

His violet eyes curved softly, glowing with amusement.

“>I’ll look forward to it.”

Just wait. Next time, those proud eyes will drop, and both his cheeks will turn red.

Late that night, after sending Rubiana home, Damien returned to his room with a satisfied smile.

‘She was so cute.’

Knowing he’d been sulking, his young wife had worked so hard to cheer him up.

And in the end, she’d kissed him—consciously, this time.

‘It was short, too short… but still.’

He could always wait for more.

He thought back to the rowboat.

Rubiana had kissed him, then pulled away after only three seconds, lips trembling, gaze dropped.

Her forehead and cheeks had burned like fire.

Adorable.

‘Mission accomplished.’

He had been sulking because she’d kissed him before but forgotten it.

‘This time, I wanted her to remember.’

To recall it when walking, drinking tea, or painting—he wanted her to think of that moment again and again.

‘Anyone else would call me strange. Maybe even dangerous.’

But he couldn’t help it.

He just had to hide it from Rubiana—otherwise, his shy little wife might run away.

And it was only natural.

After all, she had kissed him again, and even he couldn’t stop thinking about it, losing sleep.

Meanwhile, at that same time—

“Uwaaaaah!”

Rubiana Maledictus was also lying awake, sleepless—just as Damien had wished.

“Crazy, crazy, Rubiana Maledictus!!”

And the reason?

None other than a drawing she herself had made.