kscans

Chapter 154 - Cold Water and Hot Cocoa

Darius was filled with regret. He had lost his temper and shouted at her. As always, Ariel treated her own life too lightly. When he saw her get showered with poison, when he saw the Luna Serpent's fangs lunge toward her, his blood ran cold.

But if he had been thinking calmly, he would have known. Her slender arms couldn't wield a sword. He had never once seen her practice physical attacks. Large creatures had to be transported with teleportation or dismantled on the spot. He hadn't thought she could only defeat slimes, but considering how skilled she was in alchemy and magic, it made sense.

In the Mage Order, her life had been constantly targeted. In the Tree Sea Defense Force, she had hunted alone as a one woman unit, and even when she had subordinates, the thought of being protected by someone else likely never crossed her mind. For her, showing a weakness in front of others was a concept that led directly to death.

Even when she was with me, Ariel basically only ever used alchemy tools. He never would have known her true combat abilities if not for these special circumstances, hunting a large dark attribute monster.

Such regrets washed over him one after another. Ariel's heart was weaker than her skills. He, more than anyone, knew her fear of losing his affection, her fear of not being loved, yet he had terrified her.

He washed her body again at the water's edge, then wrapped a blanket around the sadly trembling, downcast Ariel and held her tight. Her skin was pale from being in the water so long, her body chilled to the bone. Ariel liked hot cocoa, so he had her drink some.

"I love you. I would never hate you for something like that, so don't worry."

"I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry." Ariel continued to cry.

Was I too harsh after all? She's strong enough to be a living weapon, yet the adult Ariel has a heart that is exceptionally fragile. After seeing the spoiled child Ariel, he felt it even more keenly. That might have been why she couldn't defend against the queen's mental interference or purify Rainer's poison.

But Ariel had returned to him with her memories because she understood she could be loved no matter who she was, so I have to treat her with care.

She is my treasure.

"You're so cold. Was the water cold?" Ariel nodded.

"We'll have to build a new house. The water here is mana water, so it cleans the body very well, but I want a proper bath." Darius gently stroked her as if handling something fragile.

"Maybe a bath connected to the bedroom would be nice. It would be ready to use right away." A faint blush returned to Ariel's cheeks.

"And I want a kitchen. The stove that looks like it could burn down with your documents is hard to use after all. I want to cook you delicious homemade meals..." Ariel looked up at him with red, swollen eyes. Had she finally stopped crying?

"Adrian spoke to them, and it looks like we'll be able to marry, overcoming our differences in status. You will become the Margrave who rules this Tree Sea. I will marry into your house."

"...A... a Margrave!" Ariel looked stunned.

"That's right. You and I will make this Tree Sea a wonderful domain. That's why our home should be a little bigger than this tower. If we have children, we'll need a room for them. And a room for your alchemy..."

I gave a sly grin.

"I want a martial arts dojo. It's a problem if the Margrave can only defeat slimes. I'll teach you."

"I'm bad at physical attacks."

"I learned that today. Please, rely on me and let me protect you. I protected you today, didn't I? My magic may not be as strong as my brother's, but I was the supreme commander. My magic is probably second only to you and my brother, and in a physical fight, I can still hold my own against Leonhard. With an elementally enchanted sword, I'm several times stronger than Leonhard, you know."

Now that Ariel's eyes had returned to their senses, I gave her a sweet, breathtaking kiss. I brushed past her ear, touched her neck, and watched her cheeks flush with heat.

"I won't let you escape until you believe I love you."

I sealed her trembling sigh with my lips, then let them slide from her cheek to her neck, to her ear. Her face, flushed with heat, was no longer weak. It held a woman's allure. She looked at me with a languid expression that even the spoiled child Ariel couldn't make. Satisfied with that sight, I reluctantly pulled my lips away.

I gently moved my body away and spoke.

"I'll be back as soon as I finish dismantling the Luna Serpent. Let's continue this then."

Ariel gave a small, reluctant nod.