Viloti watched as Felyn walked into that house.
In the end, she hadn’t managed to talk to him on the way.
Before she knew it, she’d followed him all the way home.
The sunset stretched her shadow long across the ground, and that light pink figure stood out clearly in the twilight.
One light after another lit up, from the first floor to the second. Warm yellow light filtered through the curtains, outlining the contours of daily life.
Viloti took a few deep breaths and stepped toward the house.
"I'm home."
Felyn hung his bag on the wall as he entered.
He could tell something felt different about home tonight.
"Welcome back."
The sliding door of the kitchen opened, and Daiyi stepped out.
Tonight she wore a beige knitted sweater, paired with a knee-length cotton skirt.
She had Felyn’s bear-print apron from this morning on, now dusted with a bit of flour.
Her black hair was casually tied into a bun, revealing her pale neck.
"Come eat."
Daiyi wiped her hands on the apron. Those deep green eyes still held a hint of chill.
She was different from other noble ladies—she liked cooking.
Putting ingredients and seasonings into a pot, heating them up with fire—that transformation from chaos to order made her feel at ease.
But since arriving in Seiwa, this was her first time cooking.
Felyn stood frozen, staring at the food on the table.
Due to the limited ingredients at home, the meal wasn’t exactly extravagant, but each dish gleamed with an inviting color.
Fresh herbs adorned the delicate plates, and even the placement of utensils was meticulous.
He never thought he’d get to eat a meal someone made just for him.
Overwhelmed by the sudden warmth, Felyn walked dazedly toward the table.
Daiyi quickly stepped forward and gently tugged on his sleeve.
"Wash your hands first."
Felyn dazedly turned and walked to the bathroom.
Wait!
Get a grip!
This is just the first time someone’s cooked for me since coming to another world.
And the meal itself is fake. Daiyi only did it because we’re pretending to be lovers.
He splashed cold water on his face again and again, trying to calm himself down.
When he came out, he saw Daiyi struggling to untie the apron.
She looked troubled, glancing at Felyn a few times.
"Let me help you."
Felyn stepped behind her and gently touched the knotted bow.
Her hair carried a faint scent that was surprisingly pleasant.
A few strands damp with sweat clung to her pale nape, beautifully so.
Daiyi stood still, feeling Felyn’s fingertips occasionally brush against her back. The faint touches were like feathers gliding over her skin.
She lowered her head, her heartbeat quickened, even her breathing grew careful.
The warm yellow light mixed with the fading glow of the sunset, casting an ambiguous haze over the room.
The smell of food drifted through the house, mingling with the faint scent on Daiyi.
Time seemed to freeze, even the air turned gentle.
"Done."
Felyn removed the apron, ending the moment.
"Living this long really paid off. I actually got to eat food made by you."
To Felyn’s surprise, Daiyi didn’t argue with that.
She turned around, tidied her hair, and walked to the table.
Daiyi took out a pink teddy bear and placed it on a dining chair.
"What’s this?"
Felyn raised an eyebrow.
He didn’t expect to see the ‘eating with stuffed animals’ service in this world too.
"That’s my father."
"Are you serious?"
Felyn couldn’t help but complaint.
Daiyi’s expression darkened. She gave Felyn a glance.
"It’s just him pretending to be my father, sitting in on our dinner interview."
Then say the whole thing up front!
You're pretending to be an expert by not saying anything, huh?
Felyn gave the teddy bear a bow.
"Thank you for raising such an excellent daughter, sir. It’s all thanks to you that I get to have a girlfriend like her."
Daiyi pressed her lips together and turned slightly away.
Even though she knew they were pretending, hearing the words "my girlfriend" still made her heart skip a beat.
"If you could be a little more precise, that’d be better. Thank him for raising me up to seventeen. He didn’t care after that."
Daiyi corrected Felyn’s speech.
Who thanks their future father-in-law like this? Do I look like I’m holding his daughter’s pregnancy test or something?
They sat at the table, ready to eat.
"Daiyi, what I'm going to say it is not because of the contract." Felyn suddenly looked seriously into her eyes.
"Alright, I understand your feelings. But I refuse. You’re a good guy."
Daiyi gracefully put down her teacup, her voice still cool.
"I wasn’t confessing!"
"Weren’t you? Boys with that expression always confess to me. I’m used to it."
Daiyi raised her brow slightly, the corners of her lips carrying a faint, elusive smile.
"I know you cooked because we’re pretending to be a couple, but I still wanted to thank you."
Daiyi’s face stayed calm, but her fingers pressed firmly along the rim of the teacup.
"No need."
As they ate, Felyn glanced at the teddy bear, then picked up some food for Daiyi’s bowl.
Where she was from, they used chopsticks.
"What are you doing?"
Daiyi turned her head, using her chopsticks to block his act of kindness.
The two of them looked like they were fencing.
"I’m giving you food. How else am I supposed to show my care in front of your father?"
"Swapping saliva like this… isn’t that basically… like kissing…"
Her voice trailed off, getting quieter until it was barely a whisper.
The little guy in Felyn’s heart started screaming.
Could you not say it in such a gross way?
After a long-winded explanation of the custom, the young lady finally accepted the idea—barely.
Daiyi stared at the food Felyn had given her. After quite a while, she finally made up her mind and picked it up.
Her fingers trembled slightly, as if performing some grand ritual. Those emerald eyes showed a hint of nervousness.
She slowly put the food in her mouth, chewed a few times, and her cheeks began to flush.
"Oh right, we were just practicing the food-sharing thing. You didn’t actually have to eat it." Felyn said casually as he watched her swallow.
Daiyi froze. She glared at Felyn like she was ready to kill him.
Embarrassment and frustration tangled on her face. Her cheeks were red enough to drip blood.
"Why didn’t you say that earlier?"
Hehe.
"Father, Daiyi is really such a good wife."
Felyn smiled at the pink teddy bear, feeling like he finally won a round.
During the rest of the meal, Daiyi got a glimpse of Felyn’s specialty.
He could actually chat with a mute teddy bear for twenty minutes.
If she had prepared wine glasses, he probably would’ve toasted with the thing.
Daiyi imagined Felyn and her father drunk, laughing and talking loudly.
The image made the corners of her lips curl up slightly.
If only a day like that could really come.
But this kind of emotion was never meant for her.
Being able to sit with family and friends, chat, and share a meal—that was a luxury she could never have.
Felyn could still pretend to be her boyfriend now only because she hadn’t voiced the disrespectful thoughts about gods in her heart.
If he ever found out, this false affection built on money would vanish instantly.
This is fine. Just keep it from him. Let herself indulge a little in this fleeting, ordinary illusion.
After dinner, Felyn began cleaning the dishes and made Daiyi a cup of black tea.
Taking this opportunity, he practiced a scene of meeting the future father-in-law.
But time was too short—he only got one run-through.
Next time, he’d try simulating another scenario.
Felyn carried the dishes and walked past the balcony.
He caught a flash of pink downstairs.
He backed up and returned to the balcony, rubbing his eyes.
Outside, there was only a silent night and a few dim street lamps.
"That’s weird."
A few seconds earlier, a car bearing the Silafiel crest had stopped in front of Viloti.
It had taken her an hour to walk just a few hundred meters, but she finally reached Felyn’s door.
Then, the guards who got out of the car forcefully took her away.
Just as Felyn was about to leave the balcony, he noticed a notebook on the table.
It was probably something Daiyi had been reading earlier and forgot to bring in.
His eyes immediately landed on a note written in it.
[The gods may not exist. There may be no direct causal link between faith and divine arts.]
Felyn inhaled sharply.
Such blasphemous words against the gods…
Don’t tell me… this girl’s father is the Demon King?
(End of Chapter)