Chapter 1

　　It was a morning like any other, one filled with a simple, quiet happiness. Elena’s eyes fluttered open to a faint noise, but the disturbance did little to spoil her cheerful mood. When she padded out of her room, she was greeted by the breathtaking sight of a man’s back as he stood cooking in the kitchen. He was tall, with broad, steady shoulders. The powerful muscles of his back rippled beneath a thin shirt, tapering down to a slim waist and firm, sculpted hips. The view alone was enough to steal her breath.

　　And that perfect man, she thought with a secret, giddy thrill, is dying to be my lover. A wave of pure happiness made her shoulders bob.

　　As if sensing her presence, Jayden turned. “Elena. You are awake.”

　　The sight of his face, however, brought a satisfaction that ran even deeper. His silver hair shimmered in the dim morning light, and his deep-set eyes held irises of a brilliant, startling blue. With a perfectly straight nose and full, well-defined lips, his face was a work of art, as if sculpted by the gods themselves. A beauty seldom seen in a remote mountain village like this.

　　“I just woke up,” she said. “What are you doing?”

　　“I was preparing breakfast for you.”

　　Could any answer have been more perfect? Elena strode forward, closing the distance between them. Rising onto her tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a soft kiss on his smooth cheek. “You’re so sweet, making breakfast for me.”

　　Jayden’s eyes widened at the unexpected kiss. A blush crept up his cheeks, followed by a shy smile. “I thought you might be hungry when you awoke.” The soft, bashful way he answered was utterly endearing.

　　“You seem to be in a good mood,” he observed.

　　It would be impossible not to be in a good mood after seeing a face like his. Just looking at Jayden was enough to make her feel full. Of course, looks were not everything in this world. But when someone is this beautiful, it’s okay if they are. And Jayden was just that beautiful.

　　“Yes,” she confirmed. “Very.”

　　“I am delighted to hear that.” He bent his head slightly, returning the kiss to her cheek. The perfect response. But of course it was.

　　After all, Jayden was a man Elena herself had sculpted to her exact specifications.

　　The thought filled her with a fresh wave of accomplishment. When they first met, Jayden had been utterly ignorant of the world. To be more precise, he was like a wild animal with no concept of common sense. She was the one who had taught him and made him human. In the process, she had added a spoonful of her own preferences here and there, until he had become the perfect husband material. You did well, past me.

　　She praised herself for snatching up the man who had practically fallen into her lap. If she had not, a perfect man like him would have been lost to the world. And now, that same perfect man was trying his best to become her lover.

　　Just a few days ago, he had run up to her, practically vibrating with excitement. “Elena, I have learned a new word.”

　　His cheeks were flushed, his eyes sparkling with an anticipation she had not seen since she had first taught him how to kiss. Jayden was a diligent student, but he never seemed to find any real joy in learning itself. This meant he was not excited just because he had learned a new word. What could have possibly piqued this stoic man’s interest? While Elena mulled it over, Jayden stared at her, practically begging her to ask.

　　“What did you learn?”

　　“The word ‘lover.’”

　　She could not believe he had not known what a lover was. Then again, the list of things he did not know was far longer than the list of things he did.

　　“…Are you not going to ask more?”

　　“What does it mean?”

　　“It is what you call two people who share affection for one another. Just like us.”

　　As he spoke, Jayden’s eyes shone brighter than she had ever seen them. He was desperate for her to officially acknowledge their status. Honestly, she wanted to ask what else they could possibly be.

　　But when he looks at me so pleadingly, I can’t resist teasing him a little. “But we’re not lovers.”

　　Shock flooded Jayden’s eyes. “Th-then what must I do to become your lover?”

　　“You want that so badly?”

　　“Yes, I do.”

　　Jayden’s reply was swift and firm. How could he be so adorable?

　　“Then you will have to treat me well. If you do sweet things for me, I will let you be my lover.”

　　“I will do my best.”

　　Instead of protesting the unfairness of it all, Jayden had shown nothing but grim resolve. And since that day, he had been truly diligent. He would find and pick a new kind of flower for her every day, and he even learned woodcarving to make her little sculptures. His skill had eventually developed to the point where his creations were frighteningly realistic, but he was trying his best to be romantic. The sight of him so earnestly trying to win her over was so cute that she had let their ambiguous relationship continue.

　　I should probably promote him to a real lover soon…

　　She decided she would tease him for just one more day before finally giving in. She had just made that decision when Jayden’s head snapped around. His gentle expression hardened, and a chill bled into his eyes as he stared at some distant point in the air. A sense of foreboding washed over Elena. “Jayden?”

　　At her call, he forced the corners of his mouth into a bright smile. “It seems we have a guest.” His eyes, however, remained frozen solid. “Please, sit down.” He smoothly guided Elena to a chair and, with a casual gesture, placed the bowl of soup he had just made in front of her. “I will be right back. Please eat while I am gone.” He gave her a faint smile and stepped outside.

　　CLICK.

　　The sharp sound of the closing door jolted Elena to her senses. She had grown so accustomed to his gentle, spring-like demeanor that seeing that murderous look after so long was a shock. She shot to her feet and hurried after him. He had been so calm lately!

　　When he was like this, Jayden needed to be restrained. He had no hesitation in attacking people, acting as if anyone who showed him the slightest hostility was an enemy to be destroyed. So when she rushed to the door and threw it open, the scene that unfolded before her made her freeze.

　　There was Jayden’s familiar back. And standing a short distance away, dozens of knights had formed a ring around him, effectively surrounding the entire house.

　　There’s so many people here… How had she been so lost in her happiness that she had not noticed?

　　Shaking off her guilt, Elena ran to stand in front of Jayden. “What’s going on? Who are you people?” Her only thought was to mediate, to stop whatever was about to happen. But the moment a man stepped forward from the crowd to act as their representative, Elena gasped.

　　He had hair like freshly fallen snow, deep blue eyes, and a stern, tense expression. He resembled Jayden so much it was unmistakable. Elena’s heart hammered against her ribs. The man, who had been staring only at Jayden, gave a slight bow.

　　“I have come to escort you, Brother.”

　　His low voice was polite, yet it held none of the warmth a family member would have. Instead, it was thick with the tension of a man facing a dangerous threat. As if to prove it, the man’s companions were fully armed. It was not just a few knights; it looked like an entire battalion had descended upon them, dozens of men clad in gleaming armor. A few wore more comfortable robes and held magic staffs. They were mages, rare and hard to come by. The knights, though their swords were still sheathed, were on high alert, ready to attack at a moment’s notice. It seemed less like they had come to “escort” him and more like they were here to drag him away.

　　“Let us return together, Brother.”

　　When Jayden did not answer, the man spoke again. The presence of the surrounding knights was formidable enough, but the brother at the forefront carried himself with an air of true nobility—impeccable posture, polite speech, and clothes that radiated class. Elena had never met a nobleman, but she had seen them before. Her gut told her this man was not just any noble, but a high-ranking one.

　　Her sense of crisis sharpened. Jayden and the man looked so alike that there was no denying they were brothers. Elena glanced up at Jayden, silently urging him to say something. As if sensing her gaze, Jayden turned his head toward her, his icy stare instantly melting into a gentle warmth. “Is there something you wish to say?”

　　The moment he spoke, a series of sharp gasps rippled through the knights.

　　“Formal speech? Is he insane?” one of them muttered.

　　“He was always insane.”

　　“Looks like he has gotten worse.”

　　“Was there even room for that?”

　　“Should we not consider this an improvement? Like he has become more human…?”

　　“Is that even possible for that… thing?”

　　Elena decided to ignore the murmuring knights. “Are they here to take you away?”

　　“It would seem so.” Jayden gave a slight nod as if it were nothing. He frowned, then turned back to the man. “I will not go. Go back… please.” He had begun with a command, but after a quick glance at Elena, he awkwardly tacked on the polite ending.

　　Another wave of muttering spread through the crowd. As expected, Jayden’s brother also showed a flicker of surprise. His eyes darted to Elena for a moment before looking away. The situation was growing more uncomfortable by the second. This was not good. Not good at all.

　　“You must come with us, Brother.”

　　“I told you to go. I have no intention of leaving this place,” Jayden replied flatly.

　　His brother took another step forward, only to freeze under Jayden’s cold glare, as if the gaze itself had drawn an invisible line he dared not cross. “It is Father’s command. He ordered us to bring you back, by force if necessary.”

　　“Force?” Jayden’s voice was a shard of ice, radiating a cold fury. He made no effort to hide his displeasure. “Just now,” he began, the air around him seeming to twist and compress, all energy focusing on him, “did you say you would force me?”

　　An explosive pressure seized the clearing.

　　SHING.

　　A sharp, metallic sound echoed as the trained knights instinctively drew their swords, reacting to the dangerously sharp aura pouring from Jayden. Seeing them poised to attack, Elena felt a chill run down her own spine. The truth was, her perfect lover had something of an impulse control problem.