Chapter 232
Inside the pouch was a golden ring set with a tiny, orange gem no bigger than Ashtel’s pinky nail.
As soon as she learned a ring was essential for a proposal, she asked her fourth sister, Beatrice, to cut and craft the stone for her.
“Why should I be the one to make that guy’s ring?”
“Because, Sis Bice, you’re the best with your hands! No one else can do it!”
“Hmph. I wanted to hear you say that.”
Thankfully, Beatrice stopped grumbling and made the ring exactly as Ashtel wanted.
The orange petal from a gemstone flower—a plant that only grows in the demon realm—was plucked, polished, and shaped into a beautiful ring.
“It’s so pretty…”
Ashtel gazed at the ring, completely enchanted.
The gem glowed mysteriously, shining with new colors at every angle.
‘Good thing I asked Sis Bice to do it, she thought.’
Beatrice had always enjoyed polishing gems in her spare time, though this was her first time making an entire ring. Still, as the most meticulous of the sisters, she had produced a perfect result.
“Sis Nluie, be sure to thank Sis Bice for me.”
“Of course I will!”
Beatrice hadn’t asked for anything in return for making the ring. Normally, she might have demanded Ashtel transform into her favorite handsome man as payment, but now that Ashtel was human and could no longer use transformation magic, there was nothing more to gain.
‘How can I possibly express my gratitude?’
Even though they were family, showing thanks and offering a token of appreciation felt like such a human thing to do.
She’d already experienced this with the pie she brought to the village doctor—Ashtel was embracing human emotions more than she realized.
Without even knowing she’d changed, Ashtel tucked the silk pouch into her pocket with a happy laugh.
“Thanks for bringing it, too, Sis Nluie. Safe trip home!”
“Oh, come on, Sue—give me a kiss at least!”
“Ah, you’re right.”
Ashtel gave Nluie light kisses on both cheeks and her forehead, sending her off with a smile. Then she closed the window and lay down on her bed, her heart fluttering with excitement.
‘Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’ll propose to Payne.’
She’d already prepared her lines.
If she followed the advice the old doctor gave her, she was certain a rosy future would be laid out for both of them like a carpet.
Thinking such happy thoughts, Ashtel closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The next day.
“Ashtel, are you still asleep?”
Ashtel had overslept.
“Huh?!”
It wasn’t a surprise, since she’d stayed up until dawn. Whether as a demon or a human, she was always a sleepyhead.
Jumping out of bed in a panic, she rushed from her room only to see Payne already bathed, dressed, and looking immaculate.
“Oh no! Did I sleep too long?”
“It’s almost lunchtime. If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss our meal.”
“Ugh, okay!”
She dashed to the bathroom, washed up as quickly as she could, and changed into the dress she’d picked out the night before.
She tied up her shining curls in a neat, round bun and clipped in little flowers and checkered pins, turning herself into the very picture of a lovely young lady.
“Payne, how do I look?”
She’d put in extra effort today, hoping to hear him tell her she looked beautiful.
Waiting for her downstairs, Payne saw Ashtel descending the stairs and froze in place.
“…Hmm.”
The dress she wore looked like something a spring fairy might have chosen—embroidered with tiny flowers, trimmed with delicate lace, and made of soft sky-blue fabric, perfect for the warming days of early summer.
‘And that wasn’t all.’
Her face was aglow with a charming, radiant smile.
Honestly, no one could look at Ashtel and not think she was beautiful. Anyone who didn’t must have something wrong with their eyes.
Payne stared at her, utterly mesmerized, until he caught himself.
“It looks good on you.”
“…That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“Really? No ‘You’re beautiful’ or ‘You look cute’?”
“You’re beautiful. And cute.”
“Hehe, I thought so!”
It was basically a compliment wrung out of him, but Ashtel was delighted, bouncing on her toes.
Payne wasn’t the type to give compliments easily, so he quickly looked away, cheeks red.
‘My heart’s really acting up these days…’
Just seeing Ashtel made it beat faster and harder.
He knew she was a charming woman, and that just being with her was thrilling, but lately, it seemed to be getting out of hand.
‘I need to keep myself under control. Otherwise, there’ll be another incident like last time…’
Being around Ashtel inevitably led to a different kind of ‘reaction’, and if he couldn’t stop himself, he might just pounce on her again.
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