“Why are you making this so complicated? I’m your husband, and you’re my wife. Isn’t that enough?”

Lin Ge’s words left Rosetti speechless. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she stared at him, at a loss.

Her dry lips parted and closed again and again. She seemed to want to say something, but just couldn’t get the words out.

In the end, she could only lower her head in frustration and say nothing.

Lin Ge smiled gently. He raised a hand and ruffled her hair.

She felt his touch… and then, for the first time, threw herself into Lin Ge’s arms…

Looking down at the girl nestled against him, Lin Ge wore a bitter, helpless smile.

At first, he’d thought Rosetti’s character was supposed to be a cold, untouchable, hard-to-approach, high-born beauty—the kind with a difficulty rating of ‘Hard.’ But now, she seemed far more innocent than he’d imagined. More like a child, really.

“You… don’t think these ears of mine are… disgusting?”

A moment later, Rosetti raised her head and asked softly.

Fear and unease rippled in her clear eyes.

“No. I think they’re pretty nice. Kind of cute, actually.”

Lin Ge smiled and gave her ears a little pinch.

Rosetti’s cheeks turned even redder. She lowered her head, turned away, and pouted.

“Hmph. Just like the rumors say… You’re a smooth-talking jerk…”

“Heh. Sure, let’s go with that.”

Lin Ge gave a sheepish chuckle, finally letting out a breath of relief.

Truth was, he was nervous as hell. He might’ve looked calm and collected, like some seasoned ladies’ man, but that was all an act.

In his past life, his life before that, and the one before that… he’d had next to no experience with romance. He’d spent all those lives working nonstop, after all.

Everything he was saying now came from what he’d learned back on Blue Star in his very first life, reading novels and playing adult games.

In reality, he was a complete novice when it came to romance.

Still, even a novice like him took Rosetti’s… abilities seriously.

If something happened to Rosetti, Bota City falling would be the least of their worries. Their lives would get a whole lot harder afterward.

He’d be relying on Rosetti to carry him from now on. All his other wives had had affection levels in the negatives. Sure, they’d at least kept him fed and clothed, but if they could be lovey-dovey too, why wouldn’t he want that?

When Carnegie first told him Rosetti was a mixed-blood, he’d realized his chance had come.

As long as he could seize the opportunity and max out Rosetti’s affection for him, then once the territory was peaceful again… heh. A happy life together would be waiting for him.

“All right, you’d better head back. The kids are waiting for you at the lord’s manor, wifey~”

“Hmph! Who’s your wife? Don’t go making things up.”

Rosetti gave a sweet little huff. Her mouth was still stubbornly denying it, but the shy, coy way she acted made it clear she accepted her relationship with Lin Ge… probably…

So that meant he could loosen up a little and get handsy… right?

A little squeeze—

Clang—

“What do you think you’re doing with your hand?”

“Sorry. It cramped.”

He’d only touched the tiniest bit of her snow-white thigh, and she’d already smacked him.

Looks like their future still had a few bumps in store~~~.

Back to her usual tone, Rosetti put her hood back on.

Just as Lin Ge thought she was about to leave, Rosetti reached for him, grabbed his collar, and tugged him down…

Huh? What was this? Was she really making the first move already?! And out in the open, too?

Wasn’t this a little too exciting?!

“Um… be gentle, okay? I-I’ve never done this before.”

Lin Ge’s old face flushed red. He turned away, ready to let her do whatever she wanted.

“Your first time? Your first time doing what?”

Rosetti furrowed her brows, looking utterly confused.

After a long pause, she looked at him, then looked again, making sure she understood their position—her on top, him underneath…

“You filthy-minded creep! What are you thinking?! I’m trying to treat your wound! Your wound!”

When she realized what he’d meant, Rosetti blushed just as hard.

She stomped her feet in anger, looking absolutely aggrieved.

“Oh. So that’s what you meant.”

Lin Ge scratched the back of his head and gave an awkward chuckle.

He was grinning like he’d gotten away with something.

“You’re the one with the filthy mind…” Rosetti turned her burning-red face away and muttered, “But if you really want to, it’s not impossible later. We do need to take care of the whole having children thing…”

“What was that?”

“I said take your clothes off, unless you want to die.”

Still fuming, Rosetti yanked Lin Ge toward her. The best way to hide her embarrassment was to face it head-on, so without another word, she started trying to strip him.

And then Lin Ge panicked.

Treat his wounds? Aside from his clothes being burnt to a crisp, he hadn’t been hurt at all.

If Rosetti stripped him and saw his skin—fairer than hers, smooth enough to look like it would break at a touch… tsk. Everything he’d done so far would be ruined in an instant.

“Why don’t you go reassure the kids first?” Lin Ge said, clutching his clothes closed. “I’ll rest here for a bit.”

“Rest? Turn around. You’re badly hurt. You can rest after I’ve treated you.”

“I’m fine, really. I just need to rest a little, that’s all. You should go first…”

“If I tell you to take it off, then take it off! Why are you being so difficult?”

Rosetti snapped, then grabbed Lin Ge and pulled hard.

She wasn’t about to let him refuse.

Just as she was about to rip his clothes off, Lin Ge grabbed both her hands and held them tight.

“Really, I’m fine. Compared to someone as unimportant as me, you should go take care of the kids first. They need you more, Rose.”

“Lin Ge…”

She gazed at the man before her with tear-filled eyes. Even with his life hanging by a thread, he was still thinking of her.

Then she thought of how she’d just been throwing a tantrum. She really had been… so hopeless…

Rosetti no longer looked down on Lin Ge at all. On the contrary… she was starting to think that maybe becoming this man’s wife wouldn’t be so bad.

It was just that when it came to getting busy and maximizing the happiness of men and women everywhere, well…

She hurriedly shook her head, trying to shake away the blush spreading across her pretty face.

Now she was even more determined to treat Lin Ge first. Leaving her injured husband here without a second thought would mean failing not just as his wife, but as a person.

Rosetti gripped Lin Ge’s clothes and refused to let go, no matter what he said.

Lin Ge was close to tears. When he wanted her to treat him a little better, she treated him worse than trash by the roadside. Now that they were getting along, he was starting to think he’d be better off if she hated him again…

His life was so hard.

“Really, there’s no need. I’m fine. You should head back first.”

“You don’t have to be polite with me. I know I haven’t treated you very well before. I’ll be better to you from now on, so just take your clothes off, okay? Or…”

Rosetti paused, then narrowed her eyes and said coldly:

“You’re not hurt at all, are you? You’re just trying to make me feel sorry for you.”

“Mmph…”

Funny thing was, she’d guessed right.

A huge, unmistakable ‘I’m screwed’ appeared on Lin Ge’s face.

With embarrassment closing in from all sides, he had no choice but to…

“Meimei, what are you doing here? Didn’t I tell you all to wait at the lord’s manor?”

“Meimei?! I’m so glad you’re all okay… Lin Ge!”

He turned around. There was nothing there. Not a soul.

It was the same old trick. And once again, the night was filled with snow swirling wildly through the air…