Karl listened to Freya’s question and immediately stammered,

“I… I really didn’t mean it! I just froze for a second and… and massaged her a few times.”

Freya stared at him with an icy gaze, silent. The room fell so still you could hear a pin drop.

Sensing the tension, Karl quickly sat beside her, gently massaging her shoulders.

“Honey~~ Don’t be mad~~ I know I messed up. There’s nothing between me and Eileen—just a fleeting encounter. We’ll never see her again.”

Freya’s expression remained utterly unmoved, cold as frost.

But this time, she broke the silence:

“Then promise me—you won’t apply to the Imperial Royal Academy.”

“Uh…”

Karl froze. *So that’s what you were after all along!!!*

“Wait, honey—you *know* the Imperial Royal Academy is perfect for us! Future ministers, nobles, maybe even the emperor! Building connections there means boundless prospects!”

He rushed to list every advantage.

Freya replied coldly, “You just want to see that woman Eileen, don’t you?”

“……………………”

Karl was speechless.

“Come on! How is this about Eileen again?? I feel *nothing* for her!”

“No feelings? Then why were you massaging her chest???”

*So we’re never letting this go, huh!!!!*

A chill ran down Karl’s spine—Freya was terrifying.

Freya continued, voice steady: “I get your logic. But I despise the royals and certain nobles. If I go, instead of making allies, I’ll make enemies.”

“……………………”

Karl blinked. *She’s right…* Today alone proved she’d clash with them daily. *I miscalculated…*

He cleared his throat. “Then I won’t let *you* apply to the military academy either. Too strict. I don’t like it.”

*(Truth was, he feared her learning military tactics—what if she rebelled someday?)*

“Compromise,” Freya said. “Apply to the Grand Arcane Academy.”

Karl pondered. “The entrance exam’s tough, but not impossible. Let’s try. If it fails, we’ll figure it out.”

*As long as she avoids the military academy, anything works.*

Seeing his concession, Freya leaned back onto the bed, fixing him with a cool stare.

“Touch me.”

“Huh??”

*Did the plot skip ahead?! We were picking schools—now this?!*

Though internally screaming, Karl’s hand moved.

Smooth texture, soft fullness—a sensation beyond words.

“Touch me exactly how you touched Eileen.”

Without hesitation, Karl began massaging.

Freya’s eyes fluttered shut; a soft moan escaped her lips.

After a moment, she opened them slightly. “Who feels better—me or Eileen?”

“Obviously my wife.”

A faint blush warmed her cheeks. “Then never touch anyone else. Only me.”

“Absolutely.”

His hands kept moving; his lips drifted toward hers—

—but Freya raised a finger, blocking his mouth.

“Hand over the ring she gave you.”

“Uh… It’s just a normal ring. Can’t I keep it?”

*(He already had a spatial item, but couldn’t use it openly. This Spatial Ring would hide the Lost Ring.)*

“No.”

Sighing, Karl surrendered it.

Freya examined the ring. “No special meaning. Keep it. You’ll never see her again anyway.”

Karl grinned, slipping it on. “My wife spoils me.”

He kissed her deeply.

Later, breathless and parted, Freya changed into casual clothes. Dinner awaited.

Count Watt had messaged earlier—guild business kept him away. Karl would dine with three women.

As the lavish meal was served, Lucina asked sternly, “How was the admissions event? Is the Imperial Royal Academy truly as rumored?”

Mia chimed in excitedly, “Mom, you missed out! Sister took down every top student from the Imperial Royal Academy with one punch each—they couldn’t stand!”

Lucina frowned. “It was an *admissions event*? Why fighting?”

Karl hurried to explain, “There was a challenge segment. Freya was just… too strong.”

A flicker of pride crossed Lucina’s face—then vanished. “Don’t grow arrogant. There’s always someone stronger. Keep cultivating.”

Freya bowed her head. “Yes.”

Lucina turned to Karl. “And you? Did you uphold the Sowani family’s honor?”

Mia jumped in: “Brother-in-law was *amazing*! Master Glot himself came to recruit him!”

Lucina’s lips twitched upward—then snapped back to stern. “Don’t get carried away. He was likely just being polite. As Sowani family members, it might’ve been mere formality.”

Karl dared not argue.

Mia kept gushing about Karl’s feats—until Lucina shot her a sharp look.

“And you, Mia? What did *you* accomplish?”

Mia froze. “I… I… ate three lava cakes.”

“………”

Dinner dissolved into Lucina’s lecture for Mia.

Afterward, Freya headed to the back garden to practice swordsmanship—*again*.

Karl had warned: “Exercising after meals risks appendicitis!”

She’d just smirked. “Call it ‘training my appendix.’”

*Fine. This world’s medicine is decent. An appendectomy leaves a two-month scar—Church healing magic erases it anyway.*

Shrugging, Karl returned to his room for a bath.

But as he passed Mia’s door—

—a hand clamped over his mouth. He was yanked inside.

Mia grinned mischievously, kicking the door shut.

“Brother-in-law… you know what I mean~~~”