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chapter 37
“Were you worried about where I went?”
“Do I look like you?”
Velita flicked her hand playfully. Droplets of water on his hand splashed.
“I wonder if you’ve eaten. I made stew and left it for you.”
“I haven’t. I was going to eat with you when you came.”
“Hmm…”
Silvester slowly crept up behind Velita and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I’m a little happy you waited… do you want to eat now?”
“Sure, I’m a bit hungry. Light a fire in the stove…”
Velita squirmed in his embrace.
Silvester rubbed his cheek against Velita’s head. He hadn’t been hungry since he ate recently, but well…
What to do? His wife was hungry.
“……”
Velita trudged toward the kitchen.
Silvester adjusted his steps to hers while holding her. Their bodies swayed together as they walked.
‘…Why does walking look so cute?’
Silvester tightened his hold around Velita and pressed a kiss to the top of her head as they waddled along ungracefully.
They had just crossed the threshold of the living room when Velita’s tiny hand grabbed his arm.
“Silvester.”
“Could you… let go a little?”
“Oh.”
It seemed his petite, adorable wife was a bit uncomfortable.
“Uncomfortable?”
Even as he asked, Silvester didn’t loosen his hold. Velita slowly pushed his arms away.
“You’ll need to let go to set the table.”
“You’re not saying no.”
Silvester chuckled and hugged her tightly again. As their bodies pressed closer, his gaze fell to the nape of her neck.
Between the folds of her clothes, on her pale neck, he noticed the mark he had left the night before.
Tracing it with his eyes brought a satisfying feeling equal to their embrace.
Grinning, he stepped back from Velita.
“I’ll light the fire. That thing is hot.”
“All right, then…”
Silvester stepped into the kitchen.
Velita carried dishes to the living room, where she had set a vase earlier, and sat at the table to wait.
Soon, the smell of simmering stew filled the air.
“You’re surprisingly good at cooking.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I thought you didn’t take care of yourself. I assumed you’d eat poorly.”
“That’s insulting.”
“Not really. And your house is always a mess with paints…”
“But you clean up well.”
Silvester, answering from the kitchen, soon returned with two bowls of stew, along with fried eggs, bread, and bacon on the table.
“The flowers are pretty.”
He said as he sat across from her.
“Yes. It livens up the room.”
He served some stew in front of Velita.
“Eat before it cools. I made it because you looked cold this morning, but now it’s noon.”
Velita nodded and took a spoonful. The warmth spread through her mouth.
“You never had cooking lessons, right?”
“No. But living alone teaches you. I’m not that good though…”
Silvester ate his stew slowly, too.
Looking at the portions in the bowls, it seemed Silvester was eating less than usual today, but Velita didn’t mind.
A quiet meal continued for some time.
As the plates neared empty:
“Velita.”
Silvester’s voice carried a slight weight.
“Yes?”
“Do you… want anything?”
“Want anything?”
Velita blinked. Suddenly, “want anything”?
“Anything you want, or anything you’d like to have from me. Anything at all.”
“Not really. Why?”
“Hmm.”
Silvester awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. Yeah, he figured this might happen. He avoided her gaze by looking down.
“The client I met this morning is pretty high-profile. If I take on the job, they’ll pay extra and give me anything I want.”
Velita’s eyes narrowed.
She stared at Silvester, thinking it admirable that he considered her… but…
“…Why not use that great opportunity for yourself?”
Silvester’s gaze returned to her.
Velita looked at him innocently, as if she didn’t understand why.
Ugh…
Silvester swallowed a groan and rested his chin at an angle. Why not use it for me? Can such a devil really be this kind?
He hid his mouth behind his hand and gazed off into the distance where Velita wasn’t.
“…You really don’t know, do you?”
“Why?”
Acting as if there were no reason to use it for him. Usually observant, sometimes she pretends not to notice.
‘Or maybe she really can’t connect the dots.’
Silvester still gazed into the distance.
“I don’t need it. I’d rather use it for you.”
Simply, because he liked her face, he muttered.
“……”
But for some reason, no answer came.
…Ugh.
Silvester stared blankly out the window. Silence fell over the table.
‘Was that really not like me?’
Unable to endure the silence for long, he roughly tousled his hair.
“…Ah, really. I don’t know.”
He slouched in the chair, far lower than his usual height.
Even after trying to create an atmosphere, his words failed him. His body returned to its usual sloppy posture.
His gaze shifted back from the side to the front, smoothly landing on Velita.
“If you can’t think of anything, just remember it. Then later, give it to me…”
Golden eyes met Velita’s.
Shiver. A sudden thrill ran down her spine. One corner of Silvester’s mouth twitched.
‘…What is that face?’
Velita couldn’t hide her awkward expression. Unconsciously, she tugged at her lips slightly.
“……!”
Velita’s pupils wavered. She instantly understood the meaning behind Silvester’s unnatural smile.
She realized in an instant the face she had just shown.
Velita quickly turned her head away.
Clatter.
Silvester sprang up.
“…W-what?”
Velita glanced at him as he approached.
“Why are you coming?”
A faint blush tinted Silvester’s face. His breathing was slightly uneven.
His twitching lips approached Velita as he knelt beside her.
“Look at me.”
There are moments in life—unexpected, unplanned—when you see someone’s true self for the first time.
“……”
And this was exactly that moment for Silvester.
Velita stubbornly turned her face and covered it with her hands. Silvester’s large hand gripped her wrist and gently pulled her hand.
“Show me just one more time. Okay?”
“You really….”
“Your face. I ate everything, even the carrot, you know.”
Not a child, and yet he suddenly used a carrot as a bargaining chip for praise. Velita bit her lip.
“You usually eat that well anyway.”
Why is my heart suddenly racing?
No matter what teasing comment she heard, it usually didn’t affect her. She was used to romance and intimacy, thought she was overly familiar…
‘Then why, all of a sudden?’
Silvester’s casual words struck her heart.
‘Because I like your face….’
His tone, caring for her more than himself, made her heart race. She became suddenly aware of her own heartbeat.
Without realizing it, she must have had a dumbfounded expression. In the moment their eyes met, through Silvester’s smile, she noticed her own face.
“Smile just once more.”
Silvester tugged her arm in an adorable gesture. Such a young, blue-faced creature suddenly charging in like this…
“…You think I’ll smile just because you say that?”
Velita spoke sharply, glancing back.
Silvester’s eyes caught every detail: her delicate gaze, the slight turn of her head, her pouty lips…
‘Can someone really be this cute?’
Suddenly, Silvester could no longer hold back and hugged her, pressing his forehead against her lap.
“…You really are like a cat, you know?”
His breath tickled along her legs. Who’s more like a cat now… Velita snorted.
“That’s an insult to a demon.”
“Consider it even with the mark I left earlier.”
“Hah…”
Velita pushed him away.
“Why?”
Silvester looked up at her.
“You haven’t finished eating.”
Velita used that as an excuse and avoided his gaze, though her hands fiddled with his hair.
“You’re not purposely eating slowly to get him to stop?”
Silvester gently held her hand and nudged his nose into her palm like a big dog.
“Nope.”
Smooch.
He kissed her palm.
“Then there’s no choice. Eat slowly.”
Silvester returned to his side. He sat across from her, waiting for her to finish.
“When you’re done, we’ll go for a walk.”
“Where to?”
Only after the topic changed did Velita meet Silvester’s gaze. Her face still carried a faint warmth.
“How about the shopping district? We can also pick up some things.”
“The town shops?”
“That’s fine, or we could head to the square.”
“…I’ll think about where to go.”
“Okay.”
Honestly, now that she had started, her stomach was full, but Velita ate the remaining stew slowly.
Silvester considered what gifts might please Velita. First, he planned to explore her tastes in the shopping district.
She said she didn’t want anything, so he thought he’d figure out what caught her interest.
‘I want to give her something.’
He recalled her reaction to Roman’s gift. She was grateful, but before even considering likes or dislikes, she showed no interest in any of the items.
Despite all being expensive, luxurious gifts typical of a wealthy noble…
‘Hmm.’
Velita truly acted as if she didn’t care. She hadn’t used any of the jewelry or dresses he sent.
She only cared about the bare necessities for living. Any other preferences seemed erased over the years.
“Ah, I can’t eat anymore.”
Velita finished her meal.
“Did you eat well?”
“Yes.”
Silvester wanted to restore the emotions and desires she had given up. Velita had lost too much as a demon.
“Silvester, about the walk…”
“Yes?”
“I think we should go into town.”
She must be quite full. Silvester set aside his thoughts and focused on the moment. He smiled, picking up the dishes.
“Alright.”
He went to the kitchen to wash the dishes while Velita tidied the table.
As always, the cleanup didn’t take long.
“All done?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
Velita walked alongside Silvester.
The weather, slowly entering the change of seasons, was no longer as hot. She admired the scenery along the way.
Since she had recently picked flowers to decorate the house, the roadside blooms caught her eye.
Silvester walked in step with her, observing her gaze. He, too, noticed the wildflowers.
Then Velita stopped.
“Silvester, wait a moment.”
