The Reward for Saving The World is a Husband - Chapter 27
Even after our lips parted, he remained close, staring down at me intently. His arm still wrapped firmly around my waist, our bodies still pressed tightly together, leaving the tension between us unbroken, as if things could start again at any moment.
For some reason, I found it hard to keep meeting his gaze, so I let my eyes drift downward. That’s when I saw the sharp blue veins standing out against the back of his hand, which was gripping the edge of the bathtub tightly.
“No matter how good it feels…”
His low, hushed voice brushed softly over my cheek.
“You shouldn’t do something like this with anyone else.”
It was the gentlest I had ever heard him speak, yet oddly, I couldn’t muster the courage to reply. I simply nodded obediently, and his gaze softened in response.
After setting me down gently into the bath, he adjusted the faucet, making the water a little warmer.
“I’ll be back soon. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Submerged chin-deep in the warm water, I watched him leave with just my eyes. The distance from the tub to the bathroom door was barely ten steps, yet Elias glanced back at me three, maybe four times.
Each time, I slid a little deeper into the water. By the time he took his final glance before leaving the bathroom, only my eyes were peeking out above the surface.
‘This is strange.’
Something…
Something felt a little… embarrassing.
Even though I was objectively aware that he had adjusted the water to just the right temperature, I found myself short of breath from the heat.
My cheeks felt as though they were being pulled by an unseen force, so I glanced at my reflection in the water. My lips were twitching uncontrollably.
“Ugh…”
A ticklish sensation bubbled up from my chest, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft, giggling sound. Only then did my breathing slowly start to calm.
‘Are all acts shared with a pair this pleasurable?’
Just the act of brushing lips had left me feeling dazed, but that… just now… When he had touched me so gently, it felt as though the world beneath my feet crumbled and then pieced itself back together in a dizzying rush.
Elias was probably on his way to the Empire’s capital by now, but it still felt as though traces of him lingered on my body. On my earlobes, the nape of my neck, my back, and between my legs.
‘I wish he’d come back soon.’
As much as I needed some time alone, I couldn’t help but already miss the sight of Elias’s faint smile as he had glanced back at me one last time before leaving.
* * *
Before its destruction, humanity in the world I came from had possessed the most powerful force in history.
It was inevitable—without such strength, they would have perished in an environment that left no room for weakness. In their desperate struggle for survival, they had pursued every possible means of salvation.
In particular, those of us who survived until the end—my companions and I—had bodies that were far superior to normal and each of us possessed unique abilities that had reached the realm of the transcendent.
In my case, I had the power to touch and manipulate the essence of life—something no one else could see or grasp.
This ability allowed me to do many things, but its most important application was the creation of ‘soul stones.’
The method was simple.
By extracting a portion of a life force and sealing it within a special crystal, that crystal would then become an extra life for the individual.
That was why my companions had sacrificed themselves, ensuring that I, at least, would survive.
Therefore, reviving the soul stones was just as important as forming a pair with Elias and living out a peaceful life.
However…
‘As expected, there’s a flaw in my abilities.’
If I had all the necessary materials, the revival itself wouldn’t be an issue. But the part related to memories had become somewhat incomplete.
That toad… Beric… I had used it well enough on him, but after that, due to the balance adjustment, limitations had been placed on me.
‘There’s no way there isn’t a method to lift these restrictions. Perhaps…’
I was deep in thought when I left the bathroom and sensed a faint presence nearby. Lifting my head, I saw a woman standing awkwardly at the entrance to the bedroom.
She had light brown hair, green eyes, and a gentle expression. Carrying a large bag, she approached me.
“Hello, Lady Elesha. I’ve come at Lord Elias’s request. Could you show me your injuries?”
It only took a brief glance into the woman’s eyes to know. She was terribly wary of me.