Lorevil led Noxia by the hand, taking her into the house step by step.
By the time she snapped out of it, she was sitting on the sofa with the blood-berry cake she had made herself in her hands. Lorevil’s sudden tenderness left her at a loss.
It reminded Noxia of the Lorevil who had been incredibly cold to her before. She didn’t know when it had started. Perhaps a few months ago, or a year ago, Lorevil had suddenly become more distant, even displaying disgust. She would treat her roughly at the slightest provocation.
Noxia really didn’t understand what she had done wrong to make Lorevil hate her so much; she could only wait foolishly for Lorevil to have a change of heart.
“Lorevil, won’t you hit me anymore?”
Her eyes welled up uncontrollably. Noxia’s hand holding the blood-berry cake trembled, and her entire body began to shake after those words were spoken.
“Noxia, it was all my fault. It will never happen again.”
Lorevil couldn’t stand to see this. She took a deep breath and spoke.
‘The original host was a total scumbag.’ Lorevil knew from her memories why the original host had hated Noxia.
It was because — she had fallen in love with Catherine.
“Is there anything else you want to say to me?” Lorevil asked gently, suppressing the anger in her heart.
Noxia’s condition was perhaps more serious than she had imagined. The dark cloud had not dissipated; it had even reconsolidated, occupying more than 90% of the health bar. Lorevil’s cold violence may have caused severe psychological issues in her fiancée, leaving her with no sense of security and in a constant state of suppression, which led to the accumulation of the Blackening Value.
Noxia just shook her head.
“I know I didn’t treat you well in the past,” Lorevil said in a softened tone, holding her cold hand. “I ignored you a lot and made you suffer. But from now on, I will treat you well.”
However, just as Lorevil was comforting Noxia…
“Noxia! Hurry up and take the purchased food and tools inside. These things are heavy! If it weren’t for the Master’s orders not to let you take a single step out of here — “
The voice stopped abruptly.
“Lady Lorevil, when did you return?” the maid asked, trembling as she finally saw the person on the sofa.
“Excellent. Ordering my wife around while I’m away…”
Lorevil’s anger could no longer be suppressed. The scene before her eyes undoubtedly told her how miserably Noxia, her honest fiancée, was usually bullied by the servants.
“Noxia, what else did this maid do besides ordering you around?”
Lorevil saw Noxia’s lips trembling, as if she wanted to say something but could not bring herself to speak. Infuriated, Lorevil stood up. She kicked the maid to the ground and then slammed a punch into her face before she felt slightly relieved.
“Replace the head maid and all the servants here! Investigate everyone who did anything to my fiancée and settle the accounts one by one!”
As her voice fell, a small section of the black block above Noxia’s head faded at a visible rate. The white portion of the health bar increased significantly.
Lorevil immediately summoned the family butler, Gace. Everyone who caused a fearful reaction in Noxia was sent to the mining area to work. Such a large personnel change was handled properly within just 2 hours.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here. You can tell me anything you want,” Lorevil said softly as she sat back down beside Noxia and took a bite of the blood-berry cake on the table.
“I… I’m just afraid you won’t want me anymore,” Noxia said, raising her head tremulously. “They all say that I was just selected, that my family background isn’t as good as yours, and my strength isn’t as good as yours either. They say I’m not worthy of a noble descendant like you, and that you’ll break the engagement sooner or later.”
Noxia’s tears rolled down in grievance. She chose to believe Lorevil’s words, but she was also afraid that her own words would cause Lorevil’s angry violence to be vented upon her.
“Every day I think about whether I’m not doing well enough, whether I’m not pretty enough, or not gentle enough… and that’s why you don’t want to come home or even spare me a glance…”
Noxia’s voice grew lower and lower, filled with self-deprecation and unease. Her shoulders shook slightly. She closed her eyes. Two tears full of sadness dripped onto the blood-berry cake as she quietly waited for the expected scolding and judgment from Lorevil.
But the predicted pain did not come. She was not pushed to the ground, nor did she feel the pain of a fist hitting her. Lorevil gave Noxia a warm embrace.
Noxia instinctively grabbed the corner of Lorevil’s clothes, curling up in this long-awaited warmth. Her tense body gradually relaxed.
“Don’t listen to their nonsense,” Lorevil said gently, patting her back. “You’re very good, truly. You’re gentle, kind, and you even make desserts for me. No one is more suitable for me than you. I won’t break the engagement, not now and not ever.”
Feeling the person in her arms stiffen, Lorevil added, “From now on, no matter where I go, I’ll tell you in advance so you won’t have to worry alone again. Okay?”
Noxia gradually stopped crying. She buried her head in the crook of Lorevil’s neck and asked in a thick, nasally voice, “Really? You won’t lie to me?”
“Really,” Lorevil said firmly. She lowered her head and pressed a gentle kiss onto the crown of her head. “I won’t lie to you.”
She looked down at Noxia’s head. The black section of the health bar had faded by more than half, with less than one-quarter remaining. It was slowly decreasing like melting snow. It seemed her guess was correct. For the sensitive and insecure Noxia, her promises and care could lower the Blackening Value.
The two stayed quietly on the sofa for a while.
“Noxia, how long do you plan to stay in my arms?” Lorevil teased after seeing her wife’s emotions stabilize.
“╭(╯^╰)╮.”
Noxia closed her eyes shyly. Her pink lips were slightly parted, and her soft body wriggled a bit in Lorevil’s arms.
‘Wait… does Noxia want a kiss?’
Lorevil’s face turned red. She looked at her gentle and cute fiancée — who was also her dream romantic partner — but then she thought of Mahina. The fact that they had shared an intimate encounter when she first crossed over made her hesitate.
‘Whatever!’
Lorevil leaned down, slowly approaching Noxia.
Noxia waited for a while. When she didn’t feel Lorevil’s kiss, she felt a sense of disappointment. She opened her eyes, only to see Lorevil’s beautiful face getting closer and closer.
‘So beautiful,’ Noxia thought, though she didn’t have much time to admire it. In the next second, soft lips pressed against hers.
“Mph…”
Noxia’s cute eyes widened, and she responded to the kiss in a daze. This was the second time Lorevil had tasted the softness of a girl’s lips. Moreover, it was the first kiss of a gentle fiancée like Noxia.
The inexperienced kiss was accompanied by a bit of trembling. Noxia’s lips were slightly cool as they pressed together cautiously. Lorevil gently pried her teeth apart, greedily taking in her wife’s sweet scent. A string of saliva bridged their lips as they parted.
“Haah… haah…”
Noxia’s face was flushed, and her hot breath brushed against Lorevil’s cheek.
“The kissing is over for now, get up,” Lorevil said. Although she was reluctant, she separated her lips quickly. She glanced at the blood-berry cake on the table. “You haven’t finished eating the dessert you made for me yet.”
‘It’s better to be gentle with Noxia, otherwise I’ll scare her.’
“Okay…”
Noxia came to her senses, her face turning bright red. She looked rejuvenated, as if she had been nourished, and her eyes shimmered with sweetness as she looked at Lorevil. At the same time, Noxia got up from Lorevil’s lap obediently and sat on the sofa, reminiscing about the kiss.
It had the sweetness of the blood-berry cake, along with a special scent that belonged only to Lorevil.
‘What a pity. The kiss just now was too short.’
Noxia sat shyly to the side, her fingers lightly touching her lips, the blush on her face still lingering.
‘If only it had lasted a bit longer…’