Chapter 92

I will translate the provided text into English while maintaining the first-person point of view and without adding any commentary. Here is the translation:

—

Paleord is quite nagging.

When I first got my hands on him, he didn’t recognize me and started criticizing my swordsmanship, which led to some preconceived notions.

Often, his words felt like advice at times and nagging at others. Today, it was more like advice than nagging, though.

“Talking a bit has cleared my mind. Thank you for taking the time.”

—Ahem. If you listen to what I say, even in your sleep, something good might happen.

“…What is this ‘something good’? This pronunciation is difficult.”

—Ah, we don’t have that here. The kids around here can’t enjoy that delicious treat.

“Is it food? What kind of dish is it… But, can you eat it?”

—I’ve become hungry because of you.

After ending the conversation and before returning to the bedroom, the nagging seemed less about wanting to nag and more about filling the loneliness from not having anyone to talk to for so long.

…But, what exactly is this ‘something good’?

It seems like it could be food from where she came from, considering her attire was very exotic when we first met.

Without much information, I could only imagine based on limited details.

Tomorrow, I should ask her about it when we talk.

By the way, what is Paleord really?

Even though I know he is proud of his fame as a sword that has lived for a long time, sometimes I doubt if he is truly a sword.

He rarely talks about himself, and it feels like he became a sword due to some reason after living a normal life, rather than naturally becoming one over time.

Well, I guess I won’t get an answer by asking, so I need to figure it out myself.

As I listened to Paleord’s nagging, curiosity grew, and before I knew it, I reached the entrance to the place where I could end today.

Even though I exaggerated, it was just like any other night in our bedroom.

Since getting married to Asulin, even after two months, this was still the place where I ended each day.

The emotions I felt upon entering this familiar place changed every moment.

On the first day, I hoped someone would wish me a safe sleep, and I trembled despite it being inappropriate.

—Now, I feel embarrassed enough to throw off the covers if I think about it.

Even after managing to avoid such embarrassing situations, there were times when the presence of Asulin, who approached me so familiarly every night, made me feel burdened.

Even though I now think we have many good memories together.

Back then, during the war, we would fight by simply meeting eyes and clashing swords.

The stark difference between her dignified demeanor as a knight and her cute behavior in my arms made me feel burdened.

But now, it’s changed so much that I miss those days when I didn’t experience this.

As I finished my work and headed to the bedroom, my steps transformed from feeling heavy with dread to light and joyful.

It wasn’t just me.

Every day, Asulin’s appearance in the bedroom also changed clearly over time.

From the first day of marriage, she showed me warmth, but compared to the early days when she tried to suppress it with a blank expression.

Now, she greets me with various expressions, mostly bright smiles.

If I come home early, she smiles brightly, happy I’m home.

If I come home late, she shows concern and smiles warmly, saying I must have had a tough day training.

If I come home at the right time, she smiles, glad I’m here.

Her initial hesitant expressions, unsure of how to react, have disappeared, replaced by a soft, melting look.

Though her initial awkwardness was charming, it pales in comparison to the joy she exudes now.

Not only her expressions, but her attire in the bedroom has also changed over time.

Even considering it’s winter, her clothes, which were initially covered up, have become more comfortable and flowing.

Especially since our real first night a few days ago, her attire has completely shed any sense of caution.

Thinking about what Asulin might be wearing when I open this bedroom door now…

“…”

My hand reached the doorknob, but I couldn’t do anything until the heat in my face subsided.

No matter how hard I tried not to think about it.

Still, no matter what, I bet her attire from our real first night was bolder than this.

Even as I stood in front of the door, thinking about what Asulin might be wearing to greet me with a smile, the heat spread throughout my body.

Recently, these moments alone with Asulin have been so comforting.

Adapting to her bold appearance takes longer than I expected.

Thinking back, the thoughts I had when I first entered this duke’s residence and now are so different.

This change must be due to the shift from uncertainty to reassurance.

My hidden identity and the uncertain future ahead.

Even if it’s not time to fully relax yet, knowing that I can see Asulin smile and wait for me every day makes me feel like I’ve finally found a reason to live.

“I’ll hold on.”

With a strong resolve to keep all the happiness she brings, I raised my hand and pulled the doorknob.

Considering I’d hide my flushed face by rushing to Asulin’s side, I figured it would cool down on its own.

While I didn’t want to leave Asulin alone in the bedroom for too long, partly because I didn’t want to show her my flushed face.

—

“…Did you come?”

Entering the opened door, I saw Asulin, who usually smiled brightly, looking bashful instead.

“…”

Upon entering the bedroom, I found myself unable to utter the usual greeting and froze in place.

Why did I freeze?

A few days ago, on our real first night, seeing her bold attire took my breath away.

As her husband, could I remain unfazed by her beauty?

I don’t know about others, but I couldn’t.

The white lingerie barely covering her shoulders and cleavage continued to make me feel dizzy, even after entering the room.

And Asulin, who showed shyness similar to our real first night, even forgetting to speak to ease her embarrassment.

—

“…How was it? Did it turn out well?”

Even if she was shy, she never forgot to seek my opinion.

“—Cute.”

Seeing her adorable expression, I spoke honestly.

“—Can you repeat that?”

She slowly lowered her hands covering her face, maintaining eye contact, and asked me to repeat what I said.

“Cute.”

Hearing my words, Asulin let out a soft moan, covering her mouth with both hands and blushing.

—This is also cute.

Her flushed face, regained from the bold outfit, looked at me with a gentle smile.

“I wanted to hear you say it’s pretty, not cute.”

Asulin, standing close, forced a stern look and puffed up her cheeks.

Clearly, she was trying to express her disappointment through her voice.

But her attempt looked like a small, harmless animal puffing up to look threatening, which only added to her cuteness.

“This looks cute too.”

Without hesitation, I said it was cute.

“—Say it’s pretty.”

As Asulin relaxed her threatening stance, her words sounded like a plea.

—

Her cuteness was evident in every action, even if she didn’t realize it herself.

—

“Even this is cuter.”

I gently stated, aiming to remind her of the truth.

Even though she was a formidable warrior, known for defeating multiple demons with her bare hands, she appeared even more endearing in my presence.

Her cuteness overshadowed her strength, making her seem more cute than pretty.

But perhaps because I didn’t give her the answer she wanted.

“…Ugh!”

Asulin, looking slightly annoyed, lightly punched my chest with her fists, which were slightly clenched.

“Say it’s pretty quickly. Quickly.”

With each punch, Asulin, whose cheeks were puffed up like inflated fish, emphasized her request.

Even though she could easily defeat multiple demons with her bare hands, her punches only tickled my chest.

—

How cute can she be?

I wanted to keep this moment longer, but if I kept saying it was cute, she might really get angry.

So, I grabbed her right hand with my left arm.

“—?”

Before Asulin could pull her hand away, I placed it on my heart.

Feeling the warmth spread pleasantly around my heart.

Dun-dun-

As my heart beat steadily, I replied.

“I feel so flustered just thinking it’s cute, so if I say it’s pretty, my heart might stop.”

Hearing my honest words, Asulin, who had been savoring the sensation of my heartbeat, slowly released her fist and placed her right hand on her ear.

Realizing someone she loves is listening to her heartbeat must have made her heart race faster, spreading warmth throughout her body.

—

“Andy, your heartbeat sounds beautiful…”

As Asulin’s voice, tinged with embarrassment, brought warmth back to my body, her body temperature rose.

Despite the cold night wind, her ability to warm me with just a word amazed me.

But maybe she felt it wasn’t enough.

“When you say something to me, my heart always races…”

Softening her breath, Asulin spread her arms wide and said,

“Can you hear my heart racing because of you?”

With a playful and suggestive expression, she resolved the pout from not hearing “pretty.”

There was no reason for me to refuse her proposal.

When I came to my senses, morning had arrived, and Asulin lay beside me, asleep and adorable, without a single thing on.

Her playful charm, mixed with affection, wouldn’t end today, and it would grow stronger, striking my heart harder.

But with such cuteness, I felt confident I could embrace it fully.

—

The translation maintains the original narrative flow and emotional nuances of the text.