The Roots of a Cuckold Heart
Once my feelings toward Casher had settled into some kind of uneasy balance, I decided it was time to make my interest in Nadia known in the most direct way possible.
Thankfully, she showed no sign of discomfort at my advances. From that moment on, we stuck to each other like magnets, no matter where we went.
Sharing a desk, sharing lunch, walking home together…
Just as our closeness was growing with each passing day, Yuli popped the question she’d been holding in.
“Did you hear? Gail finally started dating. A girl, too—turns out she’s a beastgirl. She’s really pretty. Her name’s Casher, right?”
Of course they’re dating.
With Yuli’s words, the details of their relationship became crystal clear.
A sharp, bitter twinge pricked my chest, but the moment my eyes met Nadia’s seated beside me, it melted away.
Thinking about it, these days I barely had time to spare for Casher anymore—not because of Nadia, but because she had become the center of everything.
“Huh…”
Back in the classroom after lunch, I couldn’t stop smiling when I spotted Nadia.
“?”
She blinked at my grin, completely missing the playful spark in my eyes.
I reached out and twirled one of the black strands of hair peeking from beneath her bandages, watching her ear turn a deeper shade of red.
“You’re getting embarrassed. Tone it down a bit, Yuli,” Zegerof cut in.
“Let’s go, Nadia.”
“What? Where are we going?”
I called after Nadia as Zegerof snatched her away from me.
“Next is Professor Zegerof’s class.”
“Oh.”
My expression soured. The man was already short-tempered; now I had to sit alone at a separate desk from Nadia? It only made me angrier.
I watched Nadia being gently pulled away by Yuli, her small hand waving back with a shy smile.
…So cute.
She must have been completely smitten.
***
After the Reinforcement and Imbuement lecture ended, I felt drained.
Ever since Professor Zegerof had his wallet snatched in the first class, he’d been unusually cold toward me.
Every time our eyes met, it felt like he was firing a laser straight at my face…
Real dragon-slayer energy from a “dragon” demon.
Who knew one of them could be so petty?
Anyway, all my classes were over. I gathered my things and prepared to head back to Nadia.
“Ready?”
“Mhm.”
We stepped out of the lecture hall together. In the hallway we ran into students from another class.
The problem? They were Casher and Gail.
“…”
“…”
We locked eyes. Neither of us greeted the other; our faces simply froze in awkward silence.
We hadn’t spoken in days, yet here we were, colliding again in the most awkward way possible.
While my hometown friend stared down at her feet, someone else stepped forward.
“Casher’s friend. Dorn, right?”
Now he had his arm draped possessively around Casher’s waist like he owned the place.
“…Yep. Looks like it.”
Acting like he already knew me.
Was he trying to show off in front of me?
I studied him, but Gail’s eyes held nothing but indifference.
Only Casher looked flustered.
“Um… Dorn… actually… I’m dating Gail…”
“I know. You two are together.”
“…”
“You already knew?”
The conversation died right there.
I should have offered congratulations, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Casher had nothing more to add either.
“Well, we should get going.”
She gave me an awkward wave, shot one last glance at Nadia, then turned and walked away.
Did Casher already realize how much harder it would be for her and me to keep things normal?
I watched her retreating back, the hem of her short skirt catching my eye.
Did she always wear it that short?
Some uneasy feeling rose inside me as she disappeared around the corner.
“Dorn, let’s go home too…”
Nadia tugged gently at my sleeve.
“Yeah, sure.”
We headed toward the Cradle exit.
Thud.
Nadia suddenly grabbed my hand. I glanced sideways and saw her staring off in another direction, cheeks burning.
Her ear was bright red, giving away every hidden emotion.
A smile crept onto my lips.
I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
“What about your job? Still looking?”
We walked hand in hand like any normal couple while I asked.
Earlier, she’d told me she had to balance studies and work.
“It’s harder to find than I expected… I’m still searching.”
“Still no luck?”
“Not yet.”
“I’ll help you look later.”
“Anything else on your mind today?”
“No, nothing.”
That meant…
“How about dinner at your place?”
I asked with a touch of excitement.
Nadia’s eyes widened.
“Dinner?”
“Can’t I? You cook really well—remember?”
Nadia blinked those huge brown eyes again and then nodded.
“Okay.”
“Thanks. And since you’re cooking, I’ll buy the ingredients.”
I thought about how Nadia usually ate only vegetables and stopped at the butcher to pick up some meat.
Of course I told her it was because I wanted to eat it.
We returned to Nadia’s small apartment with our groceries.
“Just a moment.”
Nadia, now wearing a simple apron, started cooking in the kitchen.
Despite her youthful face and small stature, her figure was unmistakably feminine—voluptuous in all the right places.
Even just watching her from behind was enough to make my pulse quicken.
From her narrow waist, the curve of her hips and backside flared out with rebellious grace, then tapered down to long, slender legs and delicate ankles.
It was a perfect hourglass.
I want to hold her from behind right now.
I stepped closer to her, pretending to look around the kitchen.
“Nadia, need any help?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Aren’t you hot cooking? You could take off the bandages, right?”
I dropped the question casually.
“I’m not that hot.”
“…”
I was just hinting at wanting to see her face.
“Let me take off the bandages.”
“Ehh?”
“I want to see your face.”
“But we just saw each other a little while ago…”
“I just want to see you again. Show me~”
“It’s just us… it’s fine, right?”
“Okay…”
Reluctant but kind, Nadia stepped up and slowly removed the bandages.
“Oh…”
She was as beautiful as ever.
“Why hide such a pretty face?”
I gently brushed a lock of black hair from her cheek and teased her.
“Uuuu…”
Nadia let out a flustered moan, clearly embarrassed.
I didn’t stop my praise.
“You’re really pretty. It’s a shame to hide it… Aren’t you going to take the bandages off more often?”
“S-shy… it’s embarrassing…”
“Why?”
“Because it’s embarrassing…”
“So just take them off when we’re alone? That’s fine, right?”
“Y-yes… so I’ll wait outside for you…!”
Nadia blushed furiously and pushed me toward the table.
If I kept interrupting, she’d never get to eat. I had to follow her orders.
A short while later, Nadia brought the finished meal to the table.
“Wow, that looks amazing! You could open your own restaurant.”
It wasn’t an exaggeration. Her cooking skills were already outstanding, and adding meat made it melt in my mouth.
We ate while chatting casually.
Nadia, sober and quiet, listened more than she spoke, but every once in a while she’d giggle at something I said.
The atmosphere is nice.
Even after dinner, I didn’t want to leave. We had spent the whole day together, yet it still felt too short.
As I sat there, thinking I could stay longer and grow even closer to her, the floor suddenly creaked.
Nadia stood up.
I automatically reached for her hand.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to do the dishes…”
“I’ll do it.”
I pulled her toward me. “I’ll take care of it later.”
“A—”
Her slender body swayed.
She plopped right onto my lap.
I hadn’t meant to pull her that hard, but the firm, soft feel of her backside pressed against my thighs made my mouth curve upward.
I kept my voice steady.
“Let’s talk about something else.”
Nadia blinked and tilted her head slightly.
“We just did that a minute ago…”
“Not that. Something you’ve never told me before.”
“What…?”
I closed my eyes for a moment and took a slow, deep breath.
When I opened them again, I placed my hands gently over hers, trying not to let my racing heart show.
“Nadia… I like you.”
“Ehh?”
I hadn’t expected her to freeze up so hard. She went rigid on my lap.
I, too, had acted on pure impulse… but after thinking about how natural things had been between us lately, I decided to keep going.
“I… Honestly, we haven’t known each other that long, and because I mentioned my old childhood friend right before this, it might sound a little light. But—”
My mouth went dry from nerves. This was the first time I’d ever confessed my feelings to anyone.
I breathed out slowly again and looked her in the eye.
“I’m being completely honest… Could you please think about it seriously and give me your answer?”
I never thought I’d be saying such things. I’d expected something simple like “Let’s date.” Instead, words kept spilling out of me.
I bit my lower lip anxiously and waited.
Finally, Nadia opened her mouth.
“Why… do you like me…?”
I took a moment to think.
“Because you make me feel this way.”
Honestly, her presence had been everything.
After all…
How could anyone not fall for a girl who comforted me when I was at my weakest?
And we’d shared our first experiences together. As a man, it felt strange that my heart didn’t react the same way it should.
I repeated what I’d said earlier, omitting the part about first experiences.
Nadia’s hands trembled in mine, and she looked ready to burst with embarrassment.
I held on tight so she couldn’t escape and pressed my second confession.
“Let’s date, Nadia. I really will make you happy. Deal?”
“…”
After the second confession, Nadia lowered her head and murmured softly.
“That girl… the one you mentioned was your old childhood friend, right?”
She’d figured it out.
I nodded.
“Correct. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t even say hello to you anymore.”
“I never asked you to do that…!”
Her eyes widened at my declaration that I could stay best friends with my old hometown friend as long as I dated her.
Perhaps my sincerity had gotten through a little.
“Really… You want to date me?”
Nadia asked with a serious face.
My answer was already decided.
“Completely. I want to date you with everything I have.”
“Even though I’m dumb and bad at talking? I’d probably drive you crazy.”
“The only ones who drive me crazy are idiots like Scott. I’ve never once felt that with you.”
“…”
“You have a gloomy, dark personality, though.”
“Just a little shy. And… honestly, that’s kind of cute, so I like it.”
“Ah…”
Nadia’s shoulders trembled.
How much time had passed? Finally, with her face flushed almost to bursting, she looked at me and nodded.
“I’ll date you…”
“Really!?”
“Yes… Actually… I liked you too…”
Nadia’s answer made my chest swell so full it felt like it would burst.
I’d only tried because I’d already seen the signs, but this was the first confession of love in both my past and present lives—and it had succeeded.
And she’d told me she liked me too…!
“Nadia!”
I pulled her into a tight hug right from the chair.
Nadia didn’t resist. She melted completely into my arms.
“I really will take good care of you.”
“J-just… treat me normally…”
Wow… an angel like her was actually my girlfriend?
I couldn’t hold back anymore.
With both hands, I carefully cupped her face and made her look at me.
She read the mood, closed her eyes, and offered her lips.
Soon, a deep kiss between lovers filled the room.