...The afternoon Royal Capital market was bustling with people, sunlight filtering through layered colorful banners, casting mottled light and shadows on the cobblestone road.
"Green-kun, your hand has been moving constantly; Rem's hand is about to be kneaded into dough by you."
Rem lowered her head, her tone carrying a hint of feigned annoyance, yet her fingertips quietly pressed closer to Green-kun's palm.
"Haha, sorry. Your hand is so soft, I couldn't help myself."
Green gave an embarrassed smile, taking the opportunity to interlock their Fingers.
That boneless, soft sensation spread from his fingertips, making him feel a sense of addiction, unwilling to let go.
Rem shyly turned her head away, hiding the happy smile she couldn't conceal behind her hair.
Green-kun's hand is so warm, it's a reassuring temperature... Walking down the street holding hands like this, will people mistake us for a real married couple?
"Hey, young man, want to buy some apples? If you eat my apples, the baby your wife gives birth to in the future will definitely be healthy!"
A rough-looking middle-aged man held up a bright red, plump fruit, approaching the two with a smile.
Rem was both startled and shy, shrinking behind Green like a frightened little rabbit, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "No, it's not like that, it's not like that, Green-kun hasn't agreed yet..."
Green was momentarily stunned; hearing her unfinished sentence, a trace of a smile flickered in his eyes.
He raised his hand and handed over six copper coins: "Boss, give me two."
Taking the two heavy apples, Green wiped the water droplets off the skin and took a big bite.
With a crisp crunch, sweet juice trickled down between his Fingers. His brows relaxed with satisfaction as he chewed, saying indistinctly, "These apples are even sweeter than the gold coins Anastasia gave me."
Rem's eating manner was much more refined; she turned the apple halfway and nibbled a small bite out of the reddest part.
"Green-kun, something is stuck on your face."
After saying that, Rem reached out and wiped away the fruit pulp fragments from the corner of Green-kun's mouth.
Green grinned mischievously and tilted his head to nuzzle Rem's fingertips. Damn, it smells so good.
Rem didn't mind, simply accompanying Green in his playfulness with a doting air.
Her gaze fell on the apple in Green's hand, which had a third of it bitten off, and the blue-haired girl's mind began to stir.
She blinked her moist eyes, her tone carrying a bit of craftiness: "Green-kun, Rem's apple tastes strange; it doesn't seem as sweet as you said."
"Really?"
Green grabbed her wrist, lifted the apple in her hand to his mouth, and took a big bite.
After chewing for a moment, he frowned slightly, even more confused: "There's no difference?"
"Is that so? Maybe it's just Rem's imagination."
Rem revealed a triumphant smile and quickly pulled the apple back.
When Green wasn't paying attention, she carefully took a small bite right next to the tooth marks he had left.
Looking at the pair of bite marks on the apple—one large and one small, pressed tightly together—the girl held the apple and started giggling for no reason... "Rem, is there anywhere else you want to go?"
After wandering for most of the day, Green's hands were full of bags, and his shoulders felt slightly sore; he just wanted to find a place to rest his feet.
Rem saw through the fatigue on his face at a glance and pointed considerately toward the street corner.
"Rem remembers there's a church over there. Let's go sit there for a while."
Green nodded in agreement and walked toward the church, staying close to Rem.
The church looked grand, but the walls were covered with mottled vines; it was clearly in disrepair and not very well-maintained.
Rem pushed open the ajar wooden door. The wind, carrying the fragrance of flowers from outside and the warm sunlight, rushed in together, dispelling the slight chill inside the hall.
There was no one in the church; it was very quiet.
Only a few beams of golden light fell diagonally through the stained glass, casting colorful spots on the mottled floor tiles.
She pulled Green to a bench by the window to sit down, first gently setting aside the things in their hands.
Her gaze swept across the faded gauze curtains hanging from the dome, which looked like the sunlight was wearing a wedding dress.
Rem's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and she couldn't help but associate the scene with a wedding.
She thought of the shopkeeper's "your wife" from the market earlier, and the pair of adjacent bite marks on the apple.
Her fingertips couldn't help but curl up, her expression of happiness impossible to hide.
If only... if only I could really make a vow with Green-kun here, how wonderful that would be.
Green turned his head at some point, his eyes filled with a teasing smile: "What are you thinking about? Your face is completely red."
Like a rabbit whose secret had been exposed, Rem hurriedly lowered her head, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "No... nothing... I just think the sunlight here is very comfortable."
Seeing her cute appearance, so shy she was about to bury her face in her collar, Green's heart felt as if it were being lightly tickled by a feather.
The throbbing in his heart surged endlessly. He suddenly felt that if time could pause at this moment, it wouldn't be so bad.
The atmosphere between them was that subtle "more than friends, less than lovers" stage.
Since I like her, why not reveal my feelings?
Green thought so, and a mischievous idea sprang to mind.
"Rem, look, what's that?"
Rem turned her head following his guidance, her gaze falling on the stone wall of the church, where a painted relief of a Goddess in Red was carved.
"Green-kun, that's the nameless Forest Goddess. She's a very obscure deity."
Taking advantage of the moment Rem turned her head, Green leaned forward slightly and brought his cheek close.
*Mwah*.
When Rem turned her head back, she naturally kissed Green's cheek without realizing it.
Green covered his face and said exaggeratedly, "Oh my, Rem, you're serious!..."
"Ugh..."
Before he could finish, Rem took the opportunity to muster her courage and lunged forward, pressing her lips against Green's mouth.
Green's mind went blank instantly. He even forgot how to regulate his breathing, allowing Rem to pin him down on the church bench.
The warm, soft sensation covered his lips, carrying the lingering sweet scent of the apple and the faint fragrance of bellflowers from Rem's body, enveloping him entirely.
He could clearly feel Rem's slightly trembling eyelashes brushing against his cheek, making his heart quiver.
The girl in his arms was tense, but she showed no sign of retreating; instead, she displayed a hint of clumsy stubbornness.
It was as if she wanted to melt all the shyness and joy hidden in her heart into this kiss.
In between breaths, the girl pressed her forehead tightly against Green's, unwilling to separate for even a second.
"Green-kun, Rem thinks she has fallen in love with you..."
What?
I just teased you a bit; is the reaction really this big?
Whatever, I have to perform some "self-defense."
Immersed in Rem's tenderness, Green's hands began to get a bit restless.
His Fingers wandered nimbly over her body, seemingly searching for the seams of her maid outfit, wanting to get a bit closer to feel her temperature more clearly.
"Green-kun... you can't..."
I know this one: "no" means "yes."
Unfortunately, the quality of the Mejereis Household maid uniform was too good, and the design was perfect.
After searching to no avail, Green didn't care about much else.
He had been a basketball expert in high school; one-handed ball control was child's play for him.
That pulsating feeling seemed to have a life of its own, the texture like wool in a warm winter—smooth yet slightly grippy.
"You little glutton, you actually hid two tree cakes in your clothes."
The ability of Giant Catcher Jack finally came in handy; in some places, the acupoints are probably connected.
"Ngh..."
Out of shame and indignation, Rem bit Green's shoulder.
Hiss, it hurts, but it's worth it.