(Yuuta pov)
"Who said I don't love you?"
My head snapped up so fast the towel almost flew off. That voice—it hit me like lightning.
Through the thick steam, I squinted. A figure… a silhouette… stepping into the water beside me with that unmistakable grace.
"Erza?" I whispered, my eyes going wide. "No… no way… This has to be a hallucination. There's no way she's real! She would never agree to sit in the bath with me… without clothes—"
I risked a glance.
And there she was. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. No clothing. The steam hadn't even hidden much—I could see it clearly.
My jaw nearly hit the water.
But before I could react, her fist slammed onto the side of my skull like a hammer of justice.
THUD!
"Now do you believe me, you pervert mortal!" she snapped, cheeks blazing red.
"O-ow! Wh-what are you doing here? I thought you left!" I stammered, clutching my head, nearly toppling backward into the pool.
"Don't look at me!" she hissed, turning her face away, cheeks deep red.
Panic surged through me. I whipped around and faced the water, heart pounding like a drum.
Then, from beside me, her voice broke—so soft I barely recognized it. "I actually…"
My breath caught. "You… actually what?"
Her lips trembled. "I actually—"
Before she could finish, she barked at the top of her lungs, as if to cover her embarrassment:
"You used my money! That's why I'm here!"
I froze. "Eh?!" My eyes went round. "So you came all the way here just because I—ugh, never mind…" I sagged against the stone wall, deflated like a popped balloon.
---
(Erza's POV)
Why… why is it so hard to say it?
I wanted to sit with him. To enjoy this hot spring, just the two of us. But… my pride. Curse it all. It wouldn't let me say it out loud.
I looked at him from the corner of my eye. The steam curled around his face, and my chest tightened. That idiot mortal… why does he look so… so good tonight?
And then… he let me go. Just like that. No pleading. No desperate grasping. For a moment, I thought… maybe he's grown tired of me. Maybe he doesn't care anymore. That's why I came back. That's why I'm here… without clothes. Oh gods, how embarrassing.
"Yuuta, listen—" I began.
But before I could finish, he turned toward me, eyes locked on… my chest!
His nose exploded in a bright red burst!
"PERVERT MORTAL!" I roared, punching him square in the face.
He yelped, clutching his eye. "I-I'm sorry! I couldn't help it—you're just… you're so beautiful…"
My heart stopped.
My face went hot enough to boil the water around me. Did he just… say that? Is he serious?
"Mortal…" I whispered, trembling. "Cover your eyes. If you dare peek again, I'll freeze you where you sit."
Without protest, he obediently wrapped the towel over his eyes, looking like a kid about to be punished.
I sank beside him, steam curling around us both, but my heart wouldn't stop racing.
Oh gods… why did I agree to this?
For a few moments, I just sat there, staring at the water, lost in my own tangled thoughts. My mind kept looping the same embarrassing scenes—dragging him here, the way I had splashed him without thinking, the way I blushed whenever I imagined him close. I wanted to enjoy the hot water, to relax, but instead, my heart twisted tighter with every breath.
Then Yuuta's voice broke through the quiet, soft but full of something deeper.
"I'm really glad you came back," he said, still covering his eyes with the towel. "For a second… I thought if you didn't come, I'd hate you." He chuckled lightly at the end, like he was trying to brush it off.
"Nah just kidding." He said.
My chest clenched. "Hate me?" I forced a small smile, but inside, something sank.
He grinned mischievously. "Hey, I can see how your face looks… Don't tell me you're taking that seriously."
I let out a shaky breath. "Of course not," I replied, forcing it into a casual tone. "Why would I take words like that seriously?" But deep inside… I did. Even if he was joking, I knew it wasn't far from the truth. I knew how difficult I was to love.
I hesitated, then whispered, "Yuuta… do you… do you seriously love me?"
He didn't hesitate for a second. "Of course I do," he said, laughing suddenly, as if daring himself to be dramatic. "I love you so much, I'd cut my wrists just to prove it!"
I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. "Cut your wrists? You're ridiculous!"
But then, the laughter faded, replaced by something heavier. "No… it's just… I wonder," I said, my voice quieter now. "What do you see in me? Why would you fall for me… so madly?"
I hesitated, glancing down at my hands. "You have… so many other options. There are tons of human girls out there—beautiful, gentle ones. Why choose a monster like me?"
Yuuta slowly removed the towel from his eyes.
I froze, instinctively covering myself with my arms. "You pervert mortal!" I hissed, cheeks burning. "I'll freeze you if you look at me like that! Why would you remove your eyes?"
But instead of reacting with his usual teasing grin or playful smirk, his expression was serious—almost pained—as if I'd truly hurt him.
My heart lurched. "You… love me because of my body, right?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.
I didn't even know why I said it or what made the words escape my lips. It was as if I couldn't stop myself.
"Erza… stop it, Don't think too much." he said gently, his tone firm but kind.
For a brief second, everything went still.
Tears blurred my vision as I finally let the silence between us break. My voice trembled as I whispered, almost to myself, "Why… why would you love me like this? I'm… I'm a monster. I have a bad temper. I… I'm cold-blooded… I even like the smell of blood…"
Yuuta's frown softened instantly. "Erza… stop saying that," he said gently, his tone firm but kind.
"But… tell me," I continued, sniffling, my hands gripping my knees. "Just… tell me why. What do you see in me? I need to know…"
He didn't hesitate. Before I could even brace myself, he pulled me into his arms. My heart lurched, my breath caught, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to pause.
His chest pressed against mine. His warmth spread through me, chasing away the icy fear I'd carried for so long. I could feel his heartbeat, steady and strong, perfectly in sync with my own. I could even feel his skin against mine—soft and warm—and somehow it calmed the storm raging inside me.
"It's okay," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Don't worry… not for a second. Even if you're a monster… even if you're cold-blooded… I love you as you are. I love you, Erza. Don't ever call yourself a monster again."
Something inside me cracked. I had always thought that I was too different, too dangerous, too… broken. Yet here he was, holding me like I was the most precious thing in the world.
"I… I don't even know how to cook properly," I admitted, my voice barely audible.
He chuckled, nudging my shoulder lightly. "And what's wrong with husband cooking?" he teased, though there was a softness to his eyes that made me want to melt.
"I don't even know how to raise Elena…" My voice broke, and tears slid down my cheeks.
He tightened his embrace, as if that small movement could erase every worry I had. "It's okay," he said gently. "We'll figure it out together."
I hiccupped, sobbing openly now. "But… I hit you! So many times… without reason…"
He laughed softly, brushing my hair back with tender fingers. "I take it as a test," he said, grinning. "Endurance training. So I can be strong enough to stand beside you."
I let out a shaky laugh, the tension in my chest easing slightly. "But I'm… different. I don't know how to act like a normal couple. I don't know how to—"
He cut me off by tilting my chin up and looking into my eyes. "It's okay," he said, his gaze steady. "I'm happy just being here, with you. I don't care how 'normal' you are. I just… love you."
My chest tightened. "But I… I never let you touch me… don't you hate me for that?"
He shook his head, his lips curving into a gentle smile. "I love you… not for your body. That's not what matters. I want to be with you, Erza. I respect you. And sometimes, yes… I get frustrated," he added, chuckling softly. "But that's part of loving someone. It doesn't change anything."
My tears flowed freely now. "I'm so sorry… for being a bad wife. I don't know how to care for you… I don't know how to raise a child… I'm not even… human. Why do you even love me?"
He didn't answer with words at first. He leaned closer, and then… kissed me.
Not a healing kiss, not a magical kiss, not the kind of kiss one forces. This was raw, real, trembling, full of all the emotions he couldn't put into words. His lips moved against mine with a warmth that melted every ounce of doubt inside me.
When he pulled back slightly, his crimson eyes—so feared by many, yet so full of life for me—locked onto mine. "I love you, Erza," he whispered. "Don't overthink it. You're flawless… to me."
My chest ached with relief and happiness. I clung to him, smiling through my tears. "I'm… I'm so glad I married you," I said, my voice shaking but full of warmth. "I'm so happy right now…"
Then he froze, eyes wide. "Oh… oh no. I broke my promise! I should… I should put the towel back over my eyes!"
I laughed, squeezing him tighter. "No! You don't need to!"
He blinked at me, looking utterly lost. "Pardon?"
"Let's just… enjoy this," I whispered, hugging him again. "Like a real couple. Just you and me."
His face burned a deep red, almost comically so. "I… I think I need water right now…" he muttered.
I grabbed his arm before he could move. "No! You're not going anywhere," I scolded, laughing. "It took me so much courage to say all this… you're staying right here, idiot."
His eyes widened, caught between embarrassment and joy, as the warm spring, the moonlight, and the closeness between us wrapped us in something neither of us could quite name… but both of us knew it was love.
The warmth of the water, the closeness of his body pressed against mine, and the moonlight reflecting off the steam—all of it made my heart pound in a way I hadn't expected. After a long pause, Yuuta finally broke the silence, his voice soft but curious, laced with something bold.
"Erza…" he murmured, brushing a strand of wet hair from my face. "Can you… tell me why you don't want me to… touch you?"
I froze, my cheeks flushing. Admitting this felt like revealing a secret I had guarded for centuries. "I… I have my reasons, Yuuta," I said quietly, my voice trembling.
He leaned closer, eyes searching mine. "I just… want to understand. Why avoid intimacy? Only if you feel comfortable sharing, of course." There was no pressure in his tone, only genuine curiosity and care.
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. What if he sees me differently? What if he blames himself? "I… I'm afraid you might judge me," I admitted.
"I won't," he said immediately, a small reassuring smile tugging at his lips.
Still, my voice barely above a whisper, I confessed. "It's complicated… we dragons… our… needs… are… extreme length."
He blinked, tilting his head in that way that always made my heart flutter. "Extreme length?" he repeated, a teasing note in his voice, though he sounded genuinely curious.
I nodded, lowering my eyes, the steam curling around us. "When we take human form, our bodies may appear small… but our… our needs… are amplified. Mana, food… everything… is extreme."
His brow furrowed, and he tilted his head again, eyes narrowing with mock seriousness. "Okay… but what does that have to do with… intimacy?"
I clenched my jaw, hesitating, then spoke in a rush, my voice trembling. "I… I'm afraid… if we… Make love… together… for too long… you might… you might die from exhaustion."
He paused, his mouth slightly open, and for a moment, I thought he might be speechless.
"Yes," I whispered, tears prickling my eyes. "That… that's why I've avoided it. I didn't want you to think… I'm some… succubus… or anything like that."
Then he laughed, a low, warm sound that made me feel lighter somehow. "So… dragons have extreme… needs too," he said, shaking his head with amusement. "And you were afraid I'd… die… if we… did it the 'regularly.?"
I buried my face in his chest, mortified.
He cupped my face gently, lifting it so our eyes met. "You evil dragon," he said, mock-accusingly, though there was a sparkle of pride in his crimson eyes. "How dare you look at me so lowly? My wife. Did you forget? I went straight for four hours on the first day without losing strength!"
I blinked, feeling both shocked and flustered but My, Ego took over me in an instant.
"Oh… my dear husband… then don't tell me I didn't warn you."
A sly smile curved his lips, his eyes glinting with playful determination. "Then… let's make a bet."
I narrowed my eyes, matching his teasing tone. "A bet?"
"Yes," he said, leaning closer, his chest warm against mine. "A bet. If I take break or give up in middle of love making… then I will clean your tail and wings for week, if I win you'll have to trust me more and kiss me every morning."
I felt my cheeks heat up even more, my heart hammering in my chest. This mortal… this idiot… he's both infuriating and irresistible.
"Fine," I whispered, finally meeting his gaze. "Then… let's make the bet."
To be continue....