In contrast, Celia's petite frame seemed like a helpless little rabbit before him.
The man's beastly, powerful appearance made it feel as though he might tear her apart like prey at any moment.
"L-Lord Liam, I think I'm clean enough already..."
"Besides... didn't we just bathe this morning?"
Celia's teeth chattered, her body tense.
Gazing at his well-defined muscles and feeling the steam from the hot water on his skin, her face grew warm, and she shamefully buried her head.
"Celia."
The man's voice was slightly hoarse. He casually brushed back his damp bangs, pushing a few strands of black hair away to reveal a smooth forehead.
His eyelids were lowered, his deep crimson eyes penetrating.
His face was pale gray, almost sickly in its pallor.
This oppressive aura, this kind of demeanor—Celia had always thought he resembled a vampire, the kind that would bite her the moment he grew hungry.
Sometimes, just him standing in front of her gave her an undeniable feeling that she couldn't stop him from doing whatever he wanted...
As the wife of such a dominant person, she'd probably only ever be the one pinned beneath him...
In her past life, if she had had such a physique, she could have charmed countless girls.
But now...
She was the one being charmed.
Even though it was a male body just like before, this one in front of her made her inexplicably nervous.
Those bulging muscles showcased overwhelming strength, and that strength would ultimately...
The moment this thought emerged, she didn't dare think any further.
"You've been playing outside all day."
"...How can that be okay?"
Ahhh!
What kind of line is that?
It made her sound like the heroine in a shoujo manga.
Before she could complain further, the man's tall, robust, and elegant figure stepped through the puddles toward her.
Celia squeezed her eyes shut, instinctively raising her arms to shield herself, but her wrists were suddenly seized.
A large, unyielding hand unexpectedly grabbed both her wrists.
The grip was so strong it lifted both her slender, pale wrists together, forcing them high above her head.
His hand was hard as stone, and her wrists were delicate and seemingly boneless.
Now, completely encircled by one hand, she had no room to struggle at all.
"Whimper~"
***
In the incubation room.
It was the middle of the night.
Wind howled outside the window, and a light drizzle began to fall.
Raindrops spattered against the windowpanes.
Shattering the silence of the dark night.
Celia rested her head on one of the man's arms, her whole body nestled against his, trying to absorb all his warmth to drive away her fear.
Where their chests met, the two eggs were nestled snugly between them.
She didn't understand why, but at times like this, even after being treated roughly, Celia found herself craving his affection even more...?
Liam's warm body heat transmitted through their skin.
It felt... so warm...
Happy...
From now on, she wanted to always sleep nestled in his arms like this...
"H-Husband..."
Her voice was soft and sweet, with a trembling lilt.
This coquettish tone was enough to make one's heart melt.
For a moment, she forgot her shame and simply wanted to be protected like this forever.
"Why do you get so clingy at times like this?"
Liam's large hand rested on the girl's head, carefully, gently stroking her hair.
A stark contrast to his earlier roughness.
***
Morning.
In her sleep, Celia felt that warmth being pulled away.
She felt empty.
So she woke up, squinting, and sure enough, found herself alone in the room.
The only things that could provide warmth now were the two eggs in her embrace.
After some hesitation,she finally lowered her eyes in disappointment.
While sleepiness still clung to her, she used her petite frame to gently envelop the babies and fell asleep again.
Just because her husband was gone,did that mean the babies couldn't keep her company?
Unconsciously,the days passed one by one.
A month ago, the two eggs Celia had strained to give birth to finally showed new signs of life.
They had noticeably swollen in size. Before, she could easily hold and protect them with both arms, but now it wasn't so easy.
As Celia provided them with nutrients daily, a sense of hopeful happiness surrounded her.
She hoped they would hatch quickly, so she could hear her babies sweetly call her 'Mama.'
In her daily life,Celia had also grown more accustomed to living as a girl.
Even when wearing cute dresses, she no longer felt the initial strangeness.
She even found herself unconsciously checking her reflection in the mirror repeatedly in front of Liam.
And regarding Liam, this husband who had appeared so suddenly, she gradually... developed a familial... sense of closeness.
During quiet moments together,Celia would sit nearby, gazing at him dazedly, finding it incredible.
A man. A man like him.
Had actually become her husband.
But whenever she was enveloped in his warmth, she would unconsciously remember that she had once been male.
Still, it was mostly just a bit embarrassing; she had long since adapted.
Now, she knew very clearly that she had genuinely fallen for Liam—it was that kind of feeling between a man and a woman.
It seemed Celia really did like Liam a little... just a tiny bit.
It was all because of her genes messing with her.
Inside the Elf Chief's wooden hut, a fire roared in the hearth, wisps of white smoke rising from it.
The furnishings inside were simple.
A worn-out wooden table stood in the center, its surface marked by the passage of time.
"Lord Liam, you say you're going out... just to buy some daily necessities?"
Chief Lilico frowned, her small hand pressing against the tabletop as if she might scrape off splinters, looking very troubled.
"This is merely a whim on my part. I'm informing you as a courtesy."
"After all, it's not in the contract. I can leave whenever I wish."
"If you have any issues, speak plainly."
Liam's expression was cold.
His long, bony fingers twirled a strand of the girl's waterfall-like, soft golden hair, playing with it in his palm.
Celia, nestled in his embrace, had given up on thinking, leaning limply against the man's chest, her head nuzzling him faintly.
The voices of the two negotiators continued incessantly.
On one side, her husband.
On the other, the Chief.