24. A Date Masquerading as Recovery (1)
It was a fairly decent quality sword, but the one I'd bought for less than 2 gold. Yet the priest had bought it from me for a whopping 20 gold just because I'd used it to slay that abomination from Aurobas. This was a total jackpot deal.
Even excluding the 'used depreciation' factor, I'd made a 900% profit.
I could've haggled a bit more to jack up the price, but picking a fight with the church would've been a pain...
With a windfall like that, even my pain had faded into the background, and the corners of my mouth refused to come down. That's when Selene, who was sitting in the chair by my bed peeling an apple, spoke up with a puzzled look.
"That sword... it was just an ordinary thing with no magic or anything infused in it. Why would the priest pay 20 gold for it? He must've known there were no stigmata or divine power on it."
"Beats me..."
I brushed it off with a vague answer, not wanting to ruin the great mood. But I knew exactly why the priest had shelled out more than it was worth.
First off, whether or not there was divine power in the sword I sold him, he would've bought it no matter what. The 'story' of it slaying Aurobas's abomination was the key selling point.
Then, over the next few days or weeks, he'd pour holy power into it for consecration, or maybe dip it in the blood of some 'generous donor' with great mana reserves to turn it into a holy relic. After that, he'd use relic maintenance as an excuse to requisition more budget from the church and skim some off the top.
There might be other motives too, but this 20 gold definitely includes a gag fee.
But Selene... she was surprisingly naive about the ways of the world. Pure, even.
...
After the priest left, satisfied with our mutually beneficial deal, I polished off the apple Selene fed me and immediately urged her to rest.
Over the past six days, she'd nursed me day and night without a break, and the exhaustion she couldn't hide was growing thicker on her face.
"Selene, you should rest now too. You look beat."
"I'm fine. Anyway, it's time for your medicine."
She shook her head side to side at my urging, making it clear she wasn't leaving my side. Her devotion, combined with how friendly she'd become—impossible to recall her old iciness—made my heart stir.
It made me want to bask in this luxury of being pampered by her even more.
Still, I didn't let up. I wanted her care, sure, but seeing her worn out hurt even more.
Unaware or not of my feelings, Selene kept shaking her head stubbornly, refusing to yield. Finally, after racking my brain, I proposed a compromise.
"This bed's pretty big, so how about we rest together here? That way you can keep watching over me without leaving."
"!!!"
For a split second, her reaction mirrored the first time we'd booked a room in this village. But then...
"...Yeah. That sounds good."
She nodded and slowly approached the bed. I shifted to make space for her, and she carefully slipped into the spot with a soft rustle.
A gentle breeze stirred, carrying her faint, subtle body scent straight to my face. The same aroma I'd caught that first night in Arke when we'd shared a narrow bed.
But the feeling it evoked was different now—very different. The moonflower fragrance that had aroused me back then now brought a strange sense of calm.
Unlike before, when she'd refused to even share a room, her choice to lie down in my bed put me at ease.
It seemed like I wasn't the only one whose feelings toward the other had changed...
...
Was it the effect of the medicine Selene fed me? Even after sleeping soundly for six days, I drifted off again. I melted into the pleasant haze, wrapped in the warm presence of my wife beside me.
Then a faint jolt woke me. Morning sunlight was streaming through the window once more. Selene had risen from the bed and was quietly slipping out of the room.
"Selene?"
I called out without thinking. She turned her head.
"You're awake? I'll grab breakfast—sleep a bit more."
She gave a small smile, saying she'd bring breakfast...
What the hell? Why does my heart hurt so much?
...
Just like yesterday, shortly after finishing breakfast, we had a visitor.
"I heard you woke up yesterday, but you're in even better shape than I expected. Your cracked ribs are almost fully healed... You should be fine for some light movement now."
The old baron's healer changed my bandages after casting a healing spell, confirming my rapid recovery. Then, as he stood, he mentioned Selene's dedication.
"Thank your wife. She stayed by your side nonstop, even gathered herbs and brewed them for you. Without that, you might not have woken up yet."
"Yes."
"Alright, I'll be off. Oh, the baron might summon you tomorrow or the day after."
With that final note about the baron possibly calling for me, the healer left. Silence settled in the room, now just Selene and me.
But it wasn't the awkward quiet from before—this was laced with a shy embarrassment and a thrilling heartbeat.
And so, as the husband, I broke the silence first.
"He said light movement's okay, so how about a short walk? Weather's nice, and I've been lying down so long my body's stiff..."
"...Sure."
Thus began our first stroll as husband and wife.
...
I still couldn't walk far, so we didn't venture outside the manor. Instead, we headed to the small garden the baron's wife had cultivated inside the grounds.
Maybe because we were guests of the baron, or perhaps word of me slaying the abomination had spread—nearly everyone passing by gave a small bow in greeting.
Catching such treatment for the first time, I stiffened up despite the pain, but... it felt good. Proud, even. Especially with Selene beside me, my shoulders squared a bit more.
Finally, we entered the baron's wife's garden. Freed from the stark stone walls, we were enveloped in lush greenery.
"Oh? These flowers grow near our homeland... Didn't expect to see them here."
Selene's face relaxed—after a lifetime in the forest, it was natural. Her body pressed closer as she supported me.
Squish♡ First, her large, soft breasts enveloped my arm.
Smoosh♡ Then her plump, firm riding muscles rubbed against my thigh.
With every step, the lingering ache throughout my body eased. Vitality surged through me, my blood pumping faster.
Selene herself felt like a natural painkiller and stimulant.
Everything's great, but... getting hard here would be trouble.
We enjoyed our walk in our own ways, circling the beautifully manicured garden.
"Eugene, want to rest here a bit?"
"Yeah, let's."
We sat side by side on a nearby bench and started chatting—things a couple should've shared before marriage.
"Favorite food? Hmm... Always on the move, so anything warm works, but I love meat most. You, Selene?"
"I like meat too, but I prefer veggies."
From trivial stuff like favorite foods and hobbies...
"It's similar for us dark elves. Men and women have equal rights, but wives generally follow their husbands' lead. So I..."
...to our cultures, which turned out more alike than expected.
Halfway through, the urge to ask about something that had bugged me since our marriage was first decided—her age—bubbled up.
But I desperately swallowed the question rising to my throat. Even I, a total solo dude clueless about women, knew better than to ask a lady's age or weight.
The bros warned me. It's her reverse scale. Touch it, and your cute, loving girlfriend or wife turns into a dragon right before your eyes...
Anyway, our chat started small but deepened. Soon, it was time to open up about the feelings we'd realized slaying the abomination together.
"...""
We both knew it, so a brief silence hung between us. Right then—
The door at one corner of the garden burst open.
"Woof woof!"
"Kell, where're you going!"
Kell waddled out, his belly jiggling from the weight he'd gained these past few days, his fur glossy and sleek. Chasing him were well-raised siblings, clearly.
Kell's eyes met mine, and he froze on the spot. Then he pivoted his hefty body and charged straight at me.
I tried to stop him urgently as he kicked off the ground and leaped.
"Whoa whoa, hold on—I'm still a patient! Gahk—"
With an innocent grin, he slammed a powerful impact into my chest.
Kell, you little shit... Spirit beast status revoked.