* * *

Claude’s bedroom was gently filled with Sarah’s voice as she read him a story. Her soothing, affectionate voice lulled him to sleep.

“So the little fox siblings were able to rescue Papa Fox from the hunters and return home safely.”

“…….”

Sarah closed the storybook and looked over at Claude, who had fallen asleep. Today’s story was called The Adventures of the Fox Brothers, a fairy tale that was all the rage in the Crombell Empire. It was a story about young fox siblings who banded together to rescue their father when a hunter came to their peaceful home and kidnapped him. Claude clutched the blanket tightly in his hands as Sarah read the story to him. It was adorable how his eyes would flutter anxiously whenever the fox siblings were in danger, even though he pretended not to be. Sarah gently loosened Claude’s grip on the hem of the blanket even as he fell asleep. The quilt he was holding was damp with sweat.

“Fufu, he’s been cheering on the fox brothers through his sweat.”

Sarah let out a clear laugh and kissed Claude’s forehead. At times like this, he was a child at heart. Every time she saw this innocent side of Claude, she wondered how such an adorable creation could come alive before her eyes, and her heart swelled with gratitude for every life and every moment.

“Sarah.”

Just then Claude’s door opened and Ethan walked in, his hand holding the warm glass of honey water that Claude used to seek before falling asleep.

“Is he asleep?”

Ethan’s voice trailed off at the sight of Claude’s unmoving form. Sarah smiled and nodded, then gestured outward. Ethan nodded and wistfully walked over to Claude and kissed him on the forehead, just as Sarah had done.

“Good night.”

Ethan looked a little disappointed that he didn’t get to say goodnight before Claude fell asleep. Ethan paced around the bed for a while, wondering if his pretense would wake the child, but eventually, Sarah took his hand and led him out of Claude’s bedroom.

“I guess Claude just needs Sarah now.”

“Are you sad?”

“Not really, but before, he wouldn’t sleep until he saw my face…….”

Ethan was sad. His lips were slightly more pursed than usual. Sarah was pleased to see this change in him. Ethan had been so attached to Claude that he could only approach the boy passively, and now he was even feeling regretful toward him. It was proof that they had grown very close as father and son.

“Ethan.”

Sarah called out to him in a soft voice. When Ethan looked back at her, Sarah cupped both of his cheeks in her hands and pressed them firmly together, turning on her heel. Sarah leaned in and kissed Ethan on the lips, then said, with a smirk.

“Is it enough to say that I don’t want to be without you?”

“…….”

He blinked slowly for a moment but didn’t answer. But Sarah watched Ethan’s handsome face slowly flush with color as he relaxed. Ethan’s beauty was new to her every day. She wondered when she would ever get used to it. Just as she was about to ask herself that question, Ethan grabbed Sarah’s hand urgently.

“Come here.”

“Ah!”

He flung open a random door in the hallway and hurried inside. It was the playroom they’d set up near Claude’s room. As soon as Ethan closed the door, he pushed Sarah against the wall and pressed their lips together.

“……!”

A hot breath escaped between their lips. Ethan’s hands were so large, that he could cupped Sarah’s cheeks and still run his fingers down the nape of her neck. His other arm wrapped around Sarah’s waist, pulling her close to him.

“Haa.”

He moaned nervously as if this moment of kissing Sarah wasn’t enough. He even looked desperate, like he was trying to pull away, even though he was holding her as tightly as he could. The furrowed brow and fluttering lashes of Ethan’s eyelashes gave her an unknown sense of satisfaction. Sarah slowly closed her eyes, savoring the exhilarating sensations coursing through her body. Wrapping her arms around Ethan’s neck, he lifted her up effortlessly.

“……Shall we go to the bedroom?”

Ethan asked in a slurred voice, his lips parting for a moment, and Sarah cupped both of his cheeks in her hands and kissed his wet lips.

“I have to go to Miss Juliette’s room.”

“Haa.”

Ethan sighed deeply, his brows narrowing. It was obvious he was unhappy, so Sarah lifted a hand to stretch his brow with a smile.

“You did say something about how special Miss Juliette is.”

“Alas, I did.”

Ethan, who had been kissing Sarah on both cheeks, said as if he’d remembered something.

“Didn’t you say you were going to pretend you didn’t know and tease her?”

“I was going to, but you’re a little too close to the edge for my liking.”

In truth, Sarah had intended to give Juliette the kind of situation that any reader of fiction would have dreamed of in honor of her transmigration to this world: a female protagonist whose behavior changed with the slightest flutter of her wings, causing her relationships to change, and gradually became beloved by all. But she hadn’t expected Juliette, who wanted to remain a smart and thorough reader, to actually do ‘nothing’.

“Sarah’s gift to her, you can’t mean…….”

“Yep. I’m going to put her back where she belongs.”

“I see.”

The corners of Ethan’s mouth twitched upward in satisfaction, perhaps it was because he had been paying attention to Sarah all this time while pretending not to, but he was pleased that Juliette was finally going home. Now that he was Sarah’s long-awaited husband, Ethan was more blatant and more open about his possessiveness than he had ever been before. He thought he was doing a good job of hiding it, but Sarah could see it in his eyes. This was Ethan’s loveliness.

“She can’t even enjoy this world because she’s afraid she’ll ruin our story. She’s such a good girl.”

Sarah smiled wistfully as she remembered Juliette. Juliette was getting thinner and thinner. It was probably stress, but it was hard to pretend anymore, even if she felt sorry for her. Juliette’s mental health was more important than letting her experience the situations in her romance fantasy novels. Besides, Sarah had an old relationship that really needed to be sorted out.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help it. I think it’s time to let go.”

“Very well, but I just want you to know that this is the last time I’m giving up my time with you.”

“Of course.”

Sarah kissed Ethan’s lips softly once more, then whispered.

“I’ll see you later.”

Ethan replied with a smirk, the corners of his eyes twitching.

“I’ll be waiting for you upstairs, so come back soon.”

“Ugh, I will.”

Sarah groaned softly and hugged Ethan tightly as she was attacked with a barrage of smiles. She’d planned to spend her last night with Juliette making small talk, but it looked like she’d have to give that up.