The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the sprawling grassland that stretched out in front of the cottage. The sky was a canvas of warm hues, amber, rose, and deep violet, melting into the horizon like a painter's dream. I sat on the wooden porch, my legs dangling over the edge, as I watched the sun dip lower, its light reflecting off the dew-kissed grass. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and the earthy aroma of the forest nearby. It was peaceful, almost surreal, and yet my mind was anything but calm.
I had been avoiding this realization for weeks, but there was no denying it anymore. I was falling for Lupin. Not just because of her striking appearance, though, admittedly, she was breathtaking, but because of the way she made me feel. Her presence was magnetic, her laughter infectious, and her little quirks, the way she pouted when she was annoyed, the mischievous glint in her eyes when she was up to something, even her unpredictable mood swings, had somehow woven themselves into the fabric of my thoughts. She was more than just a companion, she was becoming a part of me.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "That's it," I muttered to myself. "I have to tell her how I feel." The decision felt both exhilarating and terrifying. What if she didn't feel the same way? What if I ruined what we already had? But the thought of keeping it bottled up any longer was unbearable. I stood up, dusting off my pants, and made my way into the cottage.
The inside was warm and inviting, the faint scent of herbs and wood smoke lingering in the air. The ladies were gathered in the living area, their laughter echoing through the room. Lupin was among them, her silver hair catching the dim light as she leaned back in her chair, a playful smirk on her lips. She was telling a story, her hands animated as she spoke, and the others were hanging on her every word. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of her, and I felt my cheeks grow warm. Before she could notice me, I quickly turned and headed upstairs, my pulse racing.
---
I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. To distract myself, I pulled up the system interface, scrolling through the familiar list of items and stats.
[System - Health Potion: Lvl 898
Recovery Potion: Lvl 977
Cobra's Fang (Dagger): Damage Level 856
...]
The numbers and descriptions blurred together as my thoughts drifted back to Lupin. I wondered how she would react when I told her. Would she laugh it off? Tease me, as she often did? Or would she feel the same way? The uncertainty was maddening.
Time seemed to crawl as I waited for her to come upstairs. The sounds of laughter and conversation drifted up from below, and I found myself straining to pick out her voice from the rest. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I heard the soft creak of the door opening.
I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. The sound of her footsteps was light, almost inaudible, as she slipped into the room. I could feel her presence as she approached the bed, her scent. A mix of lavender and something uniquely her, filling the air.
"Darling-sama," she said, her voice teasing. "No need to pretend. I know you don't sleep this early. Now, come on, let's make cubs."
My eyes flew open just as she jumped onto the bed, landing on top of me with a playful grin. The impact knocked the breath out of me, and I let out a pained groan. "Lupin, you're crushing me," I wheezed, though I couldn't help but smile at her antics.
She didn't budge, instead leaning down so her face was inches from mine. "Why should I? You're my husband, aren't you?" Her voice was low, almost purring, as she brushed her hand down my chest in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.
My face burned, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. "It's just that I can't breathe," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
She sighed dramatically but finally rolled off me, lying on her side and propping her head up with her hand. "Fine. But you're no fun, darling-sama."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I want to talk to you about something," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "Something important."
Her playful expression softened, and she shifted closer to me. "What is it? Is the king or the Dark One causing trouble again? Should I eliminate them for you?" Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of danger in their depths.
"No, no, it's nothing like that," I said quickly, brushing a hand through my hair. "It's about… us."
She tilted her head, her silver hair spilling over her shoulder. "Us?"
I took a deep breath, my heart racing. "I was thinking… maybe we should make our marriage official."
For a moment, she just stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, a slow smile spread across her face. "Really? But I've always seen our relationship as official from the very beginning."
My eyes widened in surprise. "Oh… I didn't notice."
She laughed softly, the sound like music to my ears. "Silly darling-sama. I've loved you from the day I met you, and I'll continue loving you until the day I die." She casualy grabbed my head and drop it on her big chest, caressing my hair lightly.
Her words hit me like a tidal wave, washing away all my doubts and fears. "I love you too, Lupin," I said, the words finally spilling out the words after being locked away for so long.
Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink, and I could hear her heartbeat quicken. She reached out, gently pulling me closer than before until my head rested against her chest. Her fingers carded through my hair continuously, her touch soft and soothing. "You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that," she murmured.
We lay there for a while, wrapped in each other's warmth, the world outside fading away. Her heartbeat was steady and reassuring, a rhythm that grounded me. I looked up at her, our eyes meeting, and for a moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the world.
We were about to kiss when the door suddenly flew open, shattering the moment. Lupin and I both froze, turning to see the other ladies standing in the doorway, their eyes wide with shock and amusement.
"W-what?" Lupin screamed, her face turning crimson. She scrambled off the bed, her hands balled into fists. "How long have you been standing there?"
The ladies burst into laughter, their voices overlapping as they teased us mercilessly. I buried my face in the pillow, my ears burning with embarrassment. Lupin, however, was not so easily deterred. She stormed over to them, her voice rising as she scolded them for eavesdropping.
---
It took hours for Lupin to finally calm down and send the ladies away. By the time she returned to the room, I was already lying in bed, my face still flushed. She climbed in beside me, her body warm against mine, and let out a long sigh.
"Those nosy little…" she muttered, though there was no real anger in her voice. She turned to me, her expression softening. "Are you okay, darling-sama?"
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah. I'm just glad I finally told you how I feel."
She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Me too."
We lay there in comfortable silence, the events of the evening replaying in my mind. Despite the embarrassment, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and happiness. I had finally let go of the weight I'd been carrying, and Lupin's response had been more than I could have hoped for.
As I drifted off to sleep, her arms wrapped around me, I realized that this was exactly where I wanted to be. With her, in this little cottage, under the beautiful glow of the moonlight. It was a lovely night, and I was grateful for every moment of it.