She didn’t know what Rhema read in her expression, but he leaned over toward her. He kissed her and leaned in her ear, whispering, “Unlike the kiss, you didn’t even give me a hint, so for a long time… laboriously… I waited and tried and looked into what I needed to do, made attempts, and contemplated what I needed to fix.”

He leaned against the bed and drew closer. He hovered above her. “I did all that, but why did you place the thing that I so desperately wanted as a condition of the bet?”

Azriel had not noticed at all. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was insensitive or if Rhema’s attempts were awkward and unskilled. Just like chess, they were the only ones in each other’s world. She barely managed to say, “S-s-so you… kept waiting for my permission?”

“Yes, Azriel.”

“I just thought that maybe you weren’t interested in this way…” She couldn’t speak properly. Azriel looked up at him, bewildered. She was half lying down. Surprised, he tried to move away from her. She knew why he was trying to back off. It was so he wouldn’t cast a shadow over her.

‘I don’t care about that anymore. Plus, it’s you.’ Azriel stretched her hands out and grabbed his robes. Then, she pulled him down forcefully. He lost his balance and almost fell on top of her but managed to support himself on the bed.

“That was dangerous, Az—”

“I waited for a long time too, Rhema.” He tried to get up, but she wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled him down. They kissed deeply just like that. Rhema flinched. It was the first time that Azriel had desired him so assertively.

Their lips pulled away slightly. Their ragged breaths evened, and while meeting eyes, Azriel said clearly, “Now, you’re permitted.”

“…!”

“What are you going to do now, Rhema?”

Her eyes narrowed into a smile. Rhema Reshith felt the string that held his patience and rationality snap.

It was early morning.

Brownie was humming a nondescript song and kneading dough. Marthicoras, who was walking past the kitchen corridor, heard the song that the spirit was humming. These days, Marthi was taking the form of a human male more often than of a lion cub. Perplexed, he peeked into the kitchen.

“What about Master’s breakfast? Why are you mixing batter at this time?”

“Breakfast! Brownie left that at the door! Something simple! Something delicious, healthy, fresh, and simple! Also with fresh linens!”

“You only brought something simple? What about looking after her meal? And why new linens?” The spirit liked to prepare vast amounts of food and tend to the table, and knowing that, Marthi raised his eyebrows.

Brownie replied in a sing-song way, “Brownie is tactful! Brownie is clever! Brownie is good! Brownie is amazing! So Brownie won’t go in! Brownie didn’t even knock! Brownie only supplied the needs!”

“…I have no idea what you mean.”

“Now Brownie will make cake! A three-tier cake! A white and extravagant and sweet cake! With decorative sugar figures! Brownie will make ribbons out of sugar too! How is that? Isn’t Brownie the best?” The chattering rang in Marthi’s ears.

Marthi frowned and shook his head. “I have no idea, but do your work after you’re done fooling around.”

“Brownie is doing work. Is Caramel stupid? You are! You’re a tactless fool!” Brownie cackled and spun in circles. The familiar gave up trying to understand the spirit and continued to go about his way. Noticing where he was going, Brownie sparked viciously. Marthicoras saw the door right in front of him banging shut and locking.

This castle was the territory of the spirit called Brownie. Even Ofeq was reluctant to defy it, so Marthi couldn’t either. Simply put, no matter what Marthi did, he wouldn’t be able to open that door.

“What are you doing?” He returned and protested angrily at the spirit.

Brownie merely hummed. “No access to all today! Do not enter! No humans or familiars are allowed that way! Nobody can interfere! Tactless Caramel can’t enter, of course!”

“I’m asking what’s going on!”

“Caramel is dumb! Stupid! You said you were born long before Brownie, but you’re way younger! Baby Caramel! Tiny baby Caramel! Baby Caramel should come here and help Brownie with the batter!”

“You…!” Marthi was about to explode, but his eyes met Blanchet, who was lying on the windowsill. Blanchet looked at him with pity in her eyes and then yawned.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Meow.

Even though they were cats of different species, Marthi understood that vocalization immediately. It meant, “You’re tactless, so just shut up and help Brownie.”

When Azriel woke up in the late afternoon, she couldn’t sit up. It was because of the man who hugged her tightly, locking her in place.

“Rhema?”

Instead of a reply, he groaned and pulled her in tighter. Her nose bumped hard into his chest.

“Ouch…”

Azriel struggled for a while and eventually gave up trying to get up. The more she struggled, the tighter his embrace became. Due to their difference in size, she was buried deep in his arms, and at that point, it was difficult to see anything other than Rhema’s body.

It would be resolved quickly if she just woke him up, but she didn’t feel like doing that.

She lifted her head and gazed at his sleeping face. The silver eyelashes of his closed lids cast delicate shadows on his smooth skin. There were a few strands of silver hair tangled in his lashes. She reached out and pushed those strands back. She traced his sharp nose, straight jaws, and lips.

As she did so, his lips drew into a smile as he lay fast asleep. Seeing that, a smile spread on Azriel’s lips as well.

Today was yet another happy day.

Chapter 284 - Happy Days

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