The slowly fading twilight was replaced by the golden yellow glow of the candles on the table, making the private room feel even more romantic, warm, and intimate for the two of them.
At the round dining table, Calian and Wolvin sat facing each other in comfortable silence. They gazed at one another while waiting for the luxurious dinner they had ordered to arrive.
Slowly, Wolvin moved his right hand across the silk tablecloth. The Night Wolf youth slipped his fingers through and held his husband's hand very gently.
Feeling the warm touch, Calian returned the handhold. His thumb softly stroked the back of the hand holding his. He looked straight at Wolvin, who was currently smiling gently at him.
The reflection of the dancing candlelight in his spouse's golden eyes gave off an indescribable magical impression.
To Calian, the Night Wolf youth's face tonight looked exceptionally cute and enchanting.
Oh my... since when did my spouse have such a cute face? Calian thought, amazed by what he was currently seeing. His heart beat slightly faster than usual. Have I been too busy thinking about missions and battles all this time, to the point that I was the only one who never realized how cute and beautiful his face is when he is relaxing like this?
Wolvin, realizing that he was being observed so intensely, felt puzzled seeing his husband fall silent with a gaze that seemed to freeze upon his face.
"Darling, why are you looking at me like that?" asked Wolvin straight to the point, tilting his head slightly. "Is there something strange about my face? Or... did my face tonight successfully mesmerize you?"
In that very instant, the purple-haired youth's daydream dissipated. He jolted slightly and blinked his eyes.
"Ah... no..." Calian replied a bit awkwardly, turning his face away for a second before looking back at Wolvin. He tried to maintain his flat expression. "I was just... I was just stunned looking at tonight's atmosphere."
Wolvin, who already completely understood his husband's personality, immediately smirked mischievously. He leaned his body forward, propping his chin on his free left hand.
"Is that so?" he teased in a lowered tone of voice, sounding highly seductive. "Can't you just lower your ego a little bit and be honest with me that right now you are mesmerized looking at my face? Just admit it, Darling."
The youth sighed softly. He felt he had been checkmated by his own spouse. Initially, he wanted to quickly evade or change the subject as he usually did.
However, upon looking at Wolvin's face that was so thoroughly enjoying his moment of happiness tonight, the defenses in Calian's heart melted. He finally decided to say what was on his mind.
"Actually, you are indeed—"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Calian's words that were about to come out were forced to halt in the air when a soft knock was heard on the door. Not long after, the wooden door opened, and two restaurant waiters stepped into the room. They carried large silver trays containing all the luxurious dishes and wine that had been ordered.
Wolvin felt a bit annoyed at the two waiters who suddenly entered the room at a very inappropriate time, causing his husband to swallow back the sweet words he desperately wanted to hear.
Even though he felt annoyed and wanted to shoo them away, Wolvin restrained himself. He realized they were on a date. The Night Wolf youth maintained his facial expression so it would not turn into a look of anger, still showing his sincere smile while looking at his husband's face, pretending to be unbothered.
Wolvin knew that if he let his emotions explode and his expression turn annoyed, the romantic date moment with Calian would fall apart just because of a trivial matter.
"Please enjoy the meal, Sirs." said the head waiter politely after he and his colleague arranged all the plates and glasses highly aesthetically on the table. "If the two of you need anything else, please ring this small bell to call us."
"Thank you very much for the service." Calian replied amiably and calmly.
After bowing deeply to pay their respects, the two waiters walked backward and left the room, closing the door tightly so their customers could enjoy their dinner privately.
Now, their focus shifted to the food. On the round table, two portions of the finest and most expensive quality monster meat steak cooked to the perfect level of doneness were served. Thin smoke wafted from the dishes.
Besides that, there were bowls filled with potato soup with a strong and appetizing spice aroma, two bottles of wine, and several small plates containing beautifully arranged desserts.
Calian prepared to eat, but he noticed a strange movement in front of him.
Upon seeing the main course whose price was equivalent to a full month's living expenses, Wolvin's face, which had been trying to smile, instead turned slightly disappointed.
"Oh my..." Wolvin complained softly while lifting the porcelain plate containing the steak, bringing it closer to his face to look more closely. "Why is a meat this expensive only a tiny morsel like this? If the dinner portion is like this, I will inevitably have to go eat again at the guild bar just to fill my stomach."
Calian immediately chuckled softly hearing his spouse's honest complaint as he looked at the expensive steak with a disappointed feeling and a very cute pouting face.
"Do not be disappointed like that, Wolvin." Calian said gently, his tone full of affection. The youth thought of a way to restore his spouse's enthusiasm. "How about we eat by feeding each other?"
Hearing the unexpected offer just spoken by his usually rigid husband, Wolvin instantly fell silent. His golden eyes blinked several times before finally shining brightly. The offer successfully made Wolvin's mood, which had momentarily dropped, brighten up again.
A much wider smile of happiness bloomed on his face again. Without a second thought, the Night Wolf youth immediately nodded in agreement with great enthusiasm.
Seeing his spouse happy again and forgetting his annoyance about the food portion, Calian felt relieved. His hands began to pick up the silver knife and fork.
With elegant movements, Calian slowly sliced the monster meat steak on his plate, ensuring the cut was perfect. Then, he pierced the thick sauce-coated meat slice with his fork.
Slowly, Calian leaned across the table and directed the steak-pierced fork right in front of Wolvin's lips, waiting for him to open his mouth and accept his bite.
With a feeling of happiness welling up in his chest, Wolvin opened his mouth and accepted that first bite. He chewed the very tender and juicy steak meat slowly, closing his eyes to enjoy the sensation.
Ah... it tastes exponentially more delicious when Darling himself feeds me like this. Wolvin said very happily in his heart. I truly never expected that my husband would take the initiative to feed me first.
As soon as he swallowed his food, Wolvin immediately picked up his cutlery. The Night Wolf youth did the exact same thing. He cut the steak on his plate very neatly, pierced the sliced thick sauce-coated meat, and then fed his husband with utmost gentleness.
Calian opened his mouth and accepted the bite from Wolvin.
As Calian began to chew and smiled faintly tasting the deliciousness of the food, Wolvin smiled very happily. His tail wagged rapidly, sweeping the air behind the chair.
Under the dim candlelight, the two of them spent the night taking turns cutting and feeding each other the meal, interspersed with light chatter and soft laughter, until the steaks on their plates were completely gone without them realizing it.
After taking a sip of wine from his glass to clear his throat, Wolvin looked at his husband with deep longing.
"Darling..." called Wolvin softly. "May we feed each other like this again whenever we are eating together?" asked Wolvin hopefully. He truly felt addicted and wanted to enjoy such a sweet moment again in the future, whether in a restaurant, at an inn, or in the middle of the forest.
Calian placed his glass on the table, looking right into those pleading golden eyes.
"If that is indeed your wish, then as your husband, I must and will always oblige it." answered Calian firmly without the slightest hesitation.
Hearing his husband's incredibly resolute answer and promise, the feeling of happiness in the Night Wolf youth's chest swelled even more unstoppably.
"Thank you, Darling!" said Wolvin with a voice slightly trembling from being moved.
Calian did not answer with words. He merely smiled sincerely while looking at his spouse's face filled with happiness.
That smile was an incredibly warm, deeply comforting smile that he very rarely showed to anyone, except in front of Wolvin or his mother.