Chapter 227
Side Story 2. The Indecent Proposal
After all her sisters had left, night had quietly settled over the little cottage where Ashtel and Payne lived together.
“Payne, can I come into the room now?”
He hadn’t come out even as Ashtel’s sisters were leaving. He’d just quietly said, “I’m sorry I couldn’t see you off,” as a farewell.
Still, for a priest to apologize to a demon—
‘He was so worried about my sisters, wasn’t he?’
Ashtel’s heart beat wildly in her chest. She knew for sure—no one but Payne would do. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, as his wife.
‘That’s why I became human in the first place!’
Feeling bold, she quietly opened the bedroom door, only to find Payne sitting on the edge of the bed, rubbing his face tiredly.
“Payne?”
“…Yes?”
“Are you feeling better now?”
He didn’t answer right away, but after a few seconds, he managed a small nod.
“When do I have to take that medicine again?”
It hadn’t been more than a few hours, yet there were dark circles under his eyes. It felt as if time in this room moved at a different speed.
“I guess Sis Carmen will come by again in a few days? Why, are you worried?”
Payne nodded again, this time with a sigh—and when he spoke, his voice was sharper than usual.
“Ashtel, please don’t do anything like you did today again.”
“Uh… If that’s what you want.”
She knew she’d have to back off next time, no matter what.
Ashtel felt a little disappointed, but she approached him to check on him.
“How are you feeling? Has the heat died down?”
“…”
At that, Payne flinched and edged away.
His reaction reminded Ashtel of how he’d been back in Medialle, and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Payne?”
“I’m fine now.”
“Really? Are you sure? How did you… manage it by yourself?”
“The same way I always do, of course…”
Payne trailed off, cheeks blazing, and pushed Ashtel away as she came closer.
“Don’t ask. I’m not talking about it anymore.”
“Aw, that’s not fair.”
“You’re the one who’s being unfair!”
After what she’d put him through—grabbing him, plugging his c**k, and torturing him—she was the one complaining?
Payne squeezed his eyes shut, his shoulders trembling as if in distress.
For a moment, Ashtel worried he might be crying, and she hurried to take his hand, searching his face.
“Was it too much? I’m sorry. It was my fault, okay?”
“Ugh…”
Payne’s arm brushed her soft chest and he jerked away, but when he saw her worried expression, his own face softened.
He’d sworn not to speak to her for a while, but the moment he heard her gentle, warm voice, all his resentment melted away.
Still, the shame he felt was so intense that he couldn’t bring himself to look at her directly.
He kept wiping at his face with his hot palm, then sighed and admitted.
“It’s fine. I chose to live with you… I kind of expected things like this.”
At those words, Ashtel’s worried expression disappeared.
Living together.
Promising each other a shared future.
All at once, Ashtel’s mind filled with thoughts of marriage. If Payne was already imagining a future with her, what was she waiting for?
“Hey, do you like any particular events?”
“…What?”
“Like, surprise parties, for example. You know, suddenly setting off fireworks, or inviting people over for a celebration.”
“A celebration for what?”
For us, for our bright future, for love… But she held her tongue, afraid Payne would catch on.
“Um… I just wondered if you’d like something like that.”
“No. I don’t like noisy things.”
Payne answered flatly. He figured Ashtel was only asking because of her sisters.
‘Back in the demon realm, that succubus Liz gathered the demons for some wild… party. Surely Ashtel isn’t thinking of something like that?’
Just imagining it gave him chills. He silently prayed she wasn’t planning a big, rowdy orgy with all their friends.
“I don’t like loud parties. I prefer peace and quiet. I don’t want a lot of people around, either.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes. And I don’t want any surprise presents or parties, either.”
Ashtel’s mouth fell open in surprise.
While Payne was trembling in fear at the thought of a group orgy, Ashtel had been imagining decorating the whole house with roses and candles, hanging a banner that read ‘Payne, I love you! Marry me!’ and making a grand confession.
Uh oh. This could be a problem.
Apparently, Payne’s tastes were a lot more complicated—and deeper—than she could easily manage.
* * *
But Ashtel was not the type to give up so easily.
If anything, Payne’s answer had given her a new clue.
‘Alright. So he doesn’t like crowds, or noise, or surprises.’
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