I tightened my grip on his arm as if warning him against his wicked words. Even though it must have made breathing difficult, he only laughed with a deep voice, clearly enjoying himself.

I spoke in a deliberately casual tone.

“Looks like you’re feeling better now.”

“Thanks to you.”

His answer carried a sincere simplicity. Just as I thought I’d like to hold him a little longer, he said,

“But, Ai. Just in case you forgot.”

“Hm?”

“You’re not in a child’s body anymore.”

“Well, it’s just comfort...”

“Sincerity? That’s a shame. But the real problem is something else. Did you really forget?”

“Huh?”

Then—

[ Warning. Corruption detected.]

“Eek!”

Startled, I hurriedly pulled away from Reid—but it was too late. His hair, as black as his own, caught my eye.

“Oh, I’d completely forgotten.”

Thanks to my acquired tolerance from parenting perks, I held on a long time, but prolonged contact with Reid was still deadly.

[ Current demon ranking: 43rd (▲4)]

The system indirectly delivered welcome news. Up four places already—cheering on the demons fighting to join Reid’s harem.

[ Due to demonization, the traits ‘Temptation of the Seven Deadly Sins,’ ‘Praise of Chaos,’ and ‘Seal of Holy Power’ are applied.]

I still didn’t like having traits that would reduce me to Reid’s slave.

Regardless of feelings for Reid, I had to keep my dignity and distance myself.

Trying to voluntarily keep my distance, I slowly slid off the couch—but Reid didn’t seem willing to help.

His hand grabbed my sleeve.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“You know if I get corrupted, I become vulnerable to the Seven Deadly Sins...”

“Wavering?”

“Since you asked that, you’re fully recovered! Consolation time’s over. I’ll be going then...”

“Don’t go. Stay here.”

“......”

“Stay with me.”

I was weak against his earnestness. When I came to, my butt was back on the couch.

“Hah...”

I sighed straight ahead, sensing a gaze fall on my cheek.

“Is being vulnerable to the Seven Deadly Sins really that uncomfortable?”

He sounded like he didn’t understand. Having lived 90% of his life as a saintly knight valuing patience and restraint, that made sense.

I stubbornly didn’t look at Reid and reached for the fish-shaped cookies on the tray. I grabbed a handful, munching loudly as I said,

“Yes. The urge to commit the seven sins rages inside me. Look, even now. Because of gluttony, I’m about to eat all the cookies. I baked them for you.”

“I see.”

As soon as he heard they were baked for him, Reid immediately took one and popped it in his mouth.

Curious about his impression, I glanced sideways at him.

“How is it?”

“Tasty.”

“Really?”

“I might even get gluttonous myself.”

“You don’t even have an appetite.”

“That just means it’s that good. But, Ai.”

“Hmm?”

“If it’s just gluttony, I don’t see why you wouldn’t look at me. Are you hiding something from me?”

“......”

The experienced Reid of the 101st cycle was too quick to notice. I had revealed one dignity-damaging trait and hidden another, and he’d caught on.

Failing to deny it outright was as good as confessing ‘I’m hiding something.’ At this point, all that was left was to remain silent...

“My one and only accomplice is hiding something from me. I might find conquering the world difficult...”

“...Ah, I’ll just tell you everything. Ugh.”

“Good choice, Ai.”

He pulled a strand of my hair and kissed it teasingly. I tilted my head the other way and slipped the hair gently from his hand.

Reid smiled softly without caring and waited patiently. Though he didn’t rush me, I felt he’d wait as long as it took.

I reluctantly opened my mouth.

“Actually, when corrupted, there’s one more strange buff trait.”

“Worse than ‘Temptation of the Seven Deadly Sins,’ I guess? What is it?”

“...Embarrassing to say.”

“It’s okay. Tell me.”

“Ugh...”

“We’re on the same side, Ai. I’ll help if I can.”

His voice sounded far kinder than usual. I knew it was the trait debuff affecting him, but my heart melted anyway.

I summoned courage enough to overcome my embarrassment.

“It’s a trait called ‘Praise of Chaos’...”

At those words, Reid’s pupils dilated greatly. He seemed intensely focused.

“It makes you want to possess and worship me... or something like that.”

“......”

Reid didn’t react.

I hoped I didn’t have to say it again. That would be too embarrassing—I felt nervous.

“Really?”

A flicker of delight spread across his previously expressionless face.

“So that’s why?”

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t avoid looking at me because you disliked my face, but the exact opposite?”

“No, what a misunderstanding.”

[‘The Scales Judging the Soul’ throws a fit, saying how could anyone dislike the face of the world’s most handsome man.]

[‘The Wordsmith Who Builds the World’ sighs deeply, wondering when that low self-esteem will be fixed.]

Just as I wondered if I should say something encouraging, I heard a mocking voice.

<You call your face your best feature, yet what nonsense. Because of your face, our Ai puts up with that temper of yours.>

“......”

“......”

<Oh, right! You said you could hear me! Sorry, I’m off!>

“......”

“......”

Agnes ran off, and the atmosphere briefly turned awkward.

While wondering how to recover the mood, Reid leaned his upper body toward me.

“...What are you doing?”

Already pushed to the edge of the couch, I had nowhere to retreat and couldn’t avoid the handsome face coming closer. I reflexively raised my eyelashes and inhaled sharply.

Reid stopped and smiled.

“Glad you like it.”

“You saw my reaction?”

“You don’t express it in words.”

“......”

Did I?

[‘The Scales Judging the Soul’ nods, saying Reid is more like that.]

[‘The Wordsmith Who Builds the World’ defends you, wondering how to keep up with someone who charges straight ahead.]

Though the Wordsmith sided with me, I felt unfairness. Honestly, this is all the genre’s fault, isn’t it?

Anyway, even after confirming my face’s effectiveness on him, Reid didn’t try to put distance between us.

Instead, he leaned his upper body in deeply, enough to balance his weight on one arm.

This wouldn’t do.

“Reid, please...”

“You said it’s ‘Praise of Chaos.’ Interesting trait.”

“...Don’t cut me off, and back off.”

“It seems convenient for me, though.”

“Are you listening?”

“Ah, maybe the world finally started to love me a bit.”

“Hey.”

When I pretended to get annoyed, Reid smiled and moved back. Then he calmly diagnosed my condition.

“In short, the trait means you’re slightly out of your mind.”

“Slightly out of my mind...”

“Think of it as being tipsy.”

“Tipsy...”

I was a little annoyed, but it wasn’t a bad choice of words.

“Don’t worry. I won’t cowardly exploit that state.”

[‘The Scales Judging the Soul’ slams the ground, lamenting that since the genre isn’t R-rated, it can’t use that good stuff.]

I admired him.

“Such a gentleman.”

“For how long, who knows.”

“......”

Yeah, I take that back.

[‘The Cliché Gourmet’ asks if they can stop the lovey-dovey and show some messy drama.]

[‘The Wordsmith Who Builds the World’ smiles kindly and asks if it wants to be kicked out.]

[‘The Cliché Gourmet’ quietly moves to a corner.]

Then, a clear chime sounded. A notification that a customer had arrived at the astrology shop on the first floor.

I turned from checking in the mirror that my hair color had returned to its original pink.

“Reid, ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) looks like someone’s here.”

“At this hour? Quite a strange visitor.”

“Did someone send them because you ignored Hadeil’s palace entry orders so much?”

“Possible. We should be careful and prepare.”

Reid and I went downstairs. Two people, likely close retainers of noble visitors, were standing at the door with invitations in hand.

“There are two visitors, not just one.”

“They don’t seem to be together either.”

The visitors quickly approached after recognizing Reid and me. One handed an invitation to Reid, the other to me.

“Prince Rigares has invited Lord Reid to the palace.”

Rigares summoning Reid—that was within expectations.

“Her Majesty the Queen has invited Lady Ayleth to the palace.”

Queen Raviosa inviting me? That was completely unexpected.

[‘The Cliché Gourmet’ gets excited, anticipating a mother-in-law vs. daughter-in-law disaster.]