CHAPTER 264: HUSBAND AND WIFE

"Even if you didn’t want it, he’s bigger and stronger than you. If he forced himself on you, not even you could fight him off."

As he spoke, Dominic could feel anger and panic rising inside him, burning hotter with every word.

His fingers tightened unconsciously and pressing Shiao Yi’s shoulders down against the sheets.

"That big fool? I don’t care how big he is, a guy full of openings like that could never take me down!"

"But still—!"

Just as Dominic tried to continue, Shiao Yi suddenly grinned.

"The only one I’d ever let touch me is you. The only one allowed to hold me is my husband."

"...What?"

Those unexpected words froze Dominic completely.

All the anger, all the jealousy, all the fear had vanished in an instant, like mist under sunlight.

"S-Shiao Yi... what did you just say?"

"My... husband?"

Why did he say it like a question?

Shiao Yi’s face turned bright red.

"Say it again," Dominic whispered.

"I said... husband..."

"Once more."

"Stop making me repeat it! It’s embarrassing!"

Shiao Yi who is blushing and fidgeting shyly looked unbearably adorable.

The way he twisted and unable to meet Dominic’s eyes filled the room with a kind of sensual energy that made Dominic’s heart race.

Ah, he thought. I’m happy. Truly happy.

"Shiao Yi," Dominic murmured, "say it again."

He kissed the ear cuff hanging from Shiao Yi’s earlobe and whispered close to his ear.

He knew how weak Shiao Yi became when he did that.

Shiao Yi’s body trembled sharply and Dominic felt the heat rise between them like a spark catching flame.

"D-Dominic..."

"Say it, Shiao Yi."

Dominic kissed his cheek softly, coaxing him with a warm sigh.

"My... husband..."

"Heh, good boy," Dominic whispered with a smile.

As a reward, he pressed a kiss to Shiao Yi’s lips.

Hearing Shiao Yi call him husband made Dominic feel a deep almost dizzying certainty that Shiao Yi truly belonged to him that Shiao Yi was his, completely.

It was just a word and yet it filled his heart with immense joy.

How simple, how foolishly happy he was.

"Shiao Yi, my wife."

"Don’t call me that."

"If I’m the husband, then you must be the wife, right?"

"Ugh..."

Seeing Shiao Yi’s face flush with embarrassment and confusion, Dominic could hardly bear the temptation any longer.

He quickly stripped off his own clothes and tossed them onto the floor.

He pulled Shiao Yi into his arms, skin against skin, feeling the warmth between them.

His lips brushed Shiao Yi’s neck, teasing him with a light bite that made Shiao Yi let out a small sound.

Dominic traced slow kisses down his collarbone and chest, savoring the softness of Shiao Yi’s skin and the faint scent that filled the air.

"Ah... D-Dominic..."

Shiao Yi’s breath came unevenly as he whispered Dominic’s name.

His body responded naturally to Dominic’s touch, moving closer, clinging to him without thought.

Dominic held him tighter, completely lost in the moment, until something interrupted it.

Grrr... rrrrumble...

A loud growl echoed between them.

Dominic was frozen and looking down at Shiao Yi’s stomach.

"Dominic... sorry. I’m starving. I’m seriously going to die if I don’t eat."

"...."

"Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten anything since I woke up at the inn, right? Actually, maybe not even dinner before that! No wonder I’m hungry. Let’s eat, come on, let’s find some food! Anything will do!"

Shiao Yi gave Dominic’s shoulder a few playful pats to hurry him.

Dominic closed his eyes and sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping.

So this was it, he’d been defeated by Shiao Yi’s hunger.

Food before passion. Very typical.

Feeling a huge sense of defeat, Dominic rolled off him.

Shiao Yi jumped up quickly, he dressed in a rush and urged him to hurry as he ran out of the room.

"Jude! Eline! Is there anything to eat?"

Dominic heard Shiao Yi’s voice calling down the stairs as he moved slowly while picking his clothes up from the floor.

Soon, they would have to go to the castle and report to Quintus and Mr. Vundo.

After that, there would be meetings and investigations and endless work again.

With a long, heavy sigh, Dominic pulled his arms through his sleeves.

...

Even at 37 years old, Aaron with his long silver hair still looked beautiful.

His bright green eyes sparkled with excitement as he raised his voice cheerfully.

"Master! This is the newest magic tool. Please take a look!"

"Oh? Well now, that looks rather strange. A spyglass, perhaps? No? Then what is it used for?"

Aaron excitedly pulled out the magic tool and trying to showing it off, while Mr. Vundo whose leaned in curiously, his face filled with interest.

This was one of the rooms in the magic tower of the Central Magic Association that was standing on the far west side of the royal castle in Rosaria Kingdom’s capital city, Rosalith.

The Central Magic Association itself had a fine three-story building nearby, but beside it stood a tall stone tower that was slightly apart from the main structure.

The tower was surrounded by dense trees and people said that a dark and eerie air always hung around it.

Because of that, both knights and townsfolk tended to avoid going near it.

When someone pushed open the wooden door, it creaked loudly, not because of any magic, but simply because it was old and rusty.

One reason why people found the tower so creepy was because its dimness.

And the reason it’s dim is because of the way it was built.

A spiral staircase ran up through the center of the tower and each floor had a hallway circling around that central shaft.

The rooms were arranged along the outer walls, facing outward.

Those outer rooms had windows or terraces, letting in plenty of light, but the central area never saw sunlight.

It was dark all day long, lit only by faintly glowing red magic stones.

That red light only made the place seem even more unsettling.