The pair was oblivious to Michael's true face inside the restaurant, which boasted a warm and romantic atmosphere.
Despite the small and compact village, this place was always full of customers and young couples.
Somehow it felt to Lucifer like the game's logic and lore affected this world somehow!
'It's a good thing I am not those idiot shounen protagonists that leave everything to chance and book a private room in advance!'
At first, Gwen's body trembled to see the faces of those who muttered horrible things or the word impure under their breath which made her slightly upset.
However, the strong hands of Lucifer grasped her tight, brushing against the back of her, and his lips kissed her scar as if to spite them.
"You are beautiful, and their wives are just jealous."
"Ah... Lucifer, mmmm! Thank you~ hehe."
Gwen's face lit up after his kiss.
Even the comments and scorn became shared between them, yet her heart raced happily, no longer feeling a sense of depression.
Her hands grasped his tightly, still feeling the warmth of his lips spreading through her scarred face.
She felt a strange sense of deja vu... something similar happened during a visit to a swimming park in the strange magical life she saw in the world with iron steeds.
Because of a large scar on her abdomen across her belly, many would point and pull disgusted faces as she passed, yet he would always stroke it... to kiss it.
Her face became more crimson as she saw more amazing sights in those magical memories and dreams...
Sights that made her virgin heart race!
'How nostalgic...' Lucifer thought, his lips still able to taste the sweet vanilla fragrance of Gwen's cheek.
The time he took Alicia to the swimming park and her scar which she had from their meeting and the reason they couldn't have children was rather large and dark red.
So many people probably found it disgusting, yet Alicia didn't like full-body swimsuits saying she wanted to please him.
'I remember the taste of her soft stomach that night... it seemed she felt a strange sense of happiness whenever we had sex, and I kissed her scar... such a cute woman.'
Thankfully the service was far better than the cheap people eating in the mixed room; he guided them with a faint smile to the second private room.
Lucifer seemed set to become the game/worlds villain, so how could he book the first room and risk an annoying fight or clash with someone like a game script?
He didn't have the money to do such extravagant things yet!
Lucifer helped Gwen sit down— because of her scar, and some diners pulled faces as not everyone was as nice as Bernard and the guards.
The room was beautiful with a round black table—on a circular red stand was a large flower-shaped candle with several wicks that added a deep romantic ambience to the mood making Lucifer feel nostalgic.
'I set this up just like when I asked her to become my wife... Does she remember? Or is it only me who can see the resemblance...'
'Even if she isn't Alicia, I will never let her leave me...'
[Gwen's Side]
Gwen sat down on the red leather seat with a dark brown frame. Her eyes opened wide as she noticed the candles forming a large rose in the centre with two smaller candles with the Letters L and G together.
'Ah... He hasn't changed...' Her eyes looked at him, watching as he gently folded her cloak and shawl before hanging them up to avoid any dirt staining them.
Suddenly the waiter entered with a small tray with two bottles of wine—it was strange... because of the word memories in her head she noticed that these things should not be possible to exist in her world...
'How can they make these complex things without those... metal demons... machines?'
However, the moment she saw the labels and names, her chest once again trembled in delight as the fruits and flavours were ones she loved as both Gwen and Alicia.
'He knows...'
'He didn't forget me...'
'He found me even after being reborn!'
Her hands grasped onto the edge of the table with most of her memory sealed and only those regarding her beloved and the images of his death.
She never wanted to see him suffer again, that moment she wasn't there...
Letting him die alone...
At this moment, golden rings fluttered around her eyes again as if to answer her desire for more power—something changed inside her.
Only when she reached level 10 would she know the changes.
But right now, her heart was filled with relief, affection, love and delight.
Gwendolyn gently smiled as she watched him pouring her a glass first, just like the strange memories in front of the fireplace and watching the huge rectangle sheet that showed people making strange acts or funny jokes.
[Back to Lucifer]
His hand finished pouring the wine that Alicia loved—he didn't mean to treat them the same, but somehow, it was the same flavours of the cheap wine she kept at the shack in the secret cupboard...
'They are even similar in tastes.'
'But I will love Gwen as Gwen and Alicia as Alicia!'
'Both have their quirks that are slightly different.'
'Even if they are the same person, I will love them both as they are...'
"Here, Gwen, I think you will enjoy the taste of this wine, but it's a little strong, so try some of the bread before you drink."
He placed the cup beside her hand, stroking her rough skin with his fingertips, the proof of her hard effort with the spear and shield, which he only admired.
An NPC that can reach level 9 in this small village...
Simply pure dedication to her craft.
Lucifer returned to his seat before taking a glass of the light wine just because he had never tried it in his past life.
Alicia is like a sweet wine made from apricots using a Celtic recipe.
"Mmm..." Gwen sipped the wine at the same moment as he did like she was waiting for him, her eyes watching his response as if hoping for something.
He closed his eyes, and suddenly, a burst of rich and exotic flavours exploded in his mouth, sweet apricot-fruit wine like the taste of summer under the burning sun as Alicia sat beside him while massaging his tough back muscles.
A single tear dripped down his cheek as he felt a sense of deja vu that moment they spent together just before she passed, only asking to sit on the porch and watch the sunset while she drank this Celtic wine, but the oblivious he refused because it was too sweet.
'Ah... Lucifer, even you, an old fox, needed to learn more about women!'
Lucifer drank the entire glass in one go before placing it down his face and looking into Gwen's, staring at her with dreamy glazed eyes.
She didn't speak or move, as both of them saw the mixture of two images, the past moment on the porch that ended on a slightly sour note and this restaurant, both gazing at each other with affection eyes.
"Ah... It's delicious; why did I never accept your offer..." He looked into her eyes as her pupils dilated, her heart thudding like drums in an orchestra, and her breath short as if she ran a marathon.
Yet the moment she saw his gentle smile filled with joy and sorrow, the heavy air faded, as if the feelings in her heart that unsettled her all suddenly mixed with her body, becoming hers...
A sense of peace and clarity.
As the words slipped from her relaxed and cheerful lips.
"Fufu~ I told you it wouldn't give you diabetes! Why did you never listen to me~ Luci?"
A sudden change caused the atmosphere to tremble the moment she spoke, her eyes glowing with golden rings.
Lucifer lifted his eyes, also shocked like hers as the images changed—the old man overlapped with the young vampire and stepped forward, offering a hand.
At the same time, the beautiful goddess with golden hair gracefully grasped the offered hand.
Like a magical scene in a play, or lucid dream, the pair danced together, their form an ethereal mist slowly twirling around and rising until they vanished into the sky.
I am leaving Gwendolyn and Lucifer staring at each other with affectionate eyes.
"I will leave with you and never part from your side if you accept me as I am."
His reply was simple and fast, with insufficient time for someone to think up a fake comment—it was less than a millisecond as he replied.
"I would accept even if you were a deformed monster or a formless ghost. To me, you are too important to let go."
"Fufu~ I look forward to your tender love and care, Lucifer."
"And I look forward to your soft and gentle affection, Gwen."
Together yet apart, joined yet split.
The old man, Alicia, Gwen, and Lucifer, seemed to have reached a perfect balance as if Lucifer and Gwen needed this moment of acceptance to finally allow their memories to fuse fully with their new bodies.
'Her face, my cute wife, is no longer blurred, but now she looks just like Gwen!'
'No wonder I couldn't leave her...'
'No wonder her tears hurt me so badly...'
Gwen's eyes narrowed with a slight shimmering gold colour before placing both hands on her silverware, stroking along them with her fingers and showing a brilliant smile.
Yet... something was off.
'My beloved, your smile is captivating, but tell me...'
'Why do I feel a chill down my spine?'
Then she spoke with a sexy but slightly fierce voice.
"If you want other women, please ask my permission first~ darling!"
"Otherwise, I'll skin them alive~ and leave their faces on your pillow in the morning! Fufu!"