"If you're not crying, then forget it. Let's sign a contract."
As he spoke, the man took one of her fingers and produced a thin needle, its point aimed directly at the soft, vulnerable pad of her finger that seemed like it would break at the slightest touch.
Seeing it about to pierce her, Celia yanked her hand back in fear.
Liam frowned, pulled her hand back, and stared at the girl's pitiful expression—her cheeks flushed red from crying, still streaked with wet tear tracks.
"What are you hiding from?"
"No blood, how can you become my party member? Or do you want to challenge the goblins alone?"
Hearing this, Celia shook her head like a rattle-drum, the strength draining from her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to look.
—She'd already endured the 'big needle' so many times, what was this small one in comparison?
She didn't know why she'd become so fragile lately, even afraid of a little needle prick.
Just think, she was a tough guy who'd lived forty years...
Was it because she'd been with Liam too long, spoiled rotten by him?
Come to think of it, she rarely went out nowadays.
Usually, she just needed to act a little spoiled, whimper a bit, and sleep.
Seeing the girl nestled in his arms so tense, Liam couldn't help but feel amused.
He directly pressed the thin needle down firmly.
"Wah..."
Celia lifted her eyelids, her lashes still damp.
The prick from her fingertip made her curl her fingers slightly.
Right in the center, a small bead of blood welled up.
Before she could even process it, her husband took her fingertip and pressed it firmly onto the contract paper, leaving a small fingerprint.
Beside her small print was the larger one Liam had just made.
After finishing this, Liam used his large, well-defined hand to pinch the crying girl's cheek.
"Did it hurt?"
"It did..."
—It actually didn't hurt much; Liam's control was excellent, just a momentary sting.
"It hurt that much, did it?"
Liam lowered his gaze, his voice dropping even deeper.
"My poor little princess suffered. It seems I'll have to compensate you properly tonight."
"It doesn't hurt anymore!"
"Oh? It stopped hurting that quickly?"
He raised an eyebrow in feigned confusion.
"..."
The receptionist watched them with a smiling face, not daring to interrupt.
Of course, such a conspicuous pair couldn't escape the notice of everyone in the Adventurers' Guild.
"So nice."
"When will I get to keep an elf like that?"
A young, virgin adventurer propped his cheek on his hand, staring at the petite, delicate elf girl nestled in her master's arms at the counter.
His gaze was somewhat glazed over, envy written all over his face.
"Pervert..."
The red-haired girl opposite him looked at him with utter disdain.
"I know exactly what filthy things are going through your stupid head. Disgusting."
"Huh?"
"How can you say that?"
...
With the contract signed, Liam was now officially an adventurer and was issued a high-rank adventurer's badge.
As for Celia—
She got no badge.
On paper, she was just Liam's attached pet, eligible for some meager compensation through shared quests.
...
At a table in a corner,
Celia sat opposite her husband, staring intently at the gleaming adventurer's badge on Liam's chest, her soft, pink lips pressed into a straight line.
She wanted one too.
Ever since reincarnating into this world, her first thought had been to become an adventurer, slay goblins, and gradually grow stronger step by step.
She had long since abandoned that unattainable goal, but she still wanted to try it, it seemed like fun.
"Celia, your little eyes have been fixed on me the whole time."
"Do you want to sit on my lap and have me feed you?"
Liam, on the other hand, sat with a posture that was straight and proper, not out of effort, but because his bearing was so naturally elegant and his form so perfect that everything he did seemed without flaw.
This, as his little wife, Celia was probably the person in the world who knew best.
The moment Liam arrived, his unconcealed aura naturally emanated.
Most adventurers in the tavern, because of this, didn't dare to talk as freely and boisterously as usual, afraid of offending this 'mysterious man.'
Many patrons even finished their drinks and left hurriedly.
The air was filled with the smell of ale and the quiet discussions of some adventurers, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
In response to the man's question, Celia's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum.
"No, Lord Liam... It's, well, I actually wanted to play with your badge."
"Badge?"
Liam looked down at the badge on his chest, reflecting the light from the ceiling lamp.
A displeased look crossed his face.
"You were looking at me all this time, and it was just for this?"
"Wah..."
"Tonight, tonight! I'll look at you properly then, husband!"
She was laying it all out there...
After saying this, her small face grew burning hot, and she averted her gaze.
"Heh."
Liam chuckled, then looked at her with amusement.
"What's this? When did my little Celia become so proactive?"
"Do you remember when you first met me? You clearly wanted to bear my child yourself, but you were so scared you insisted I force you."
"It's quite rare to see you act so coy and proactive outside of the bedroom. I must say, it pleases me."
"Th-thank you..."
Celia fidgeted, her hands on her knees.
"But... Celia, who's usually as timid as a rabbit... why do you want to play with an adventurer's badge? Shouldn't you hate things like fighting?"
"Then again, it's like a child wanting to play with toys."
He casually took off the badge and dangled it in the air.
"I'm not a child."
"It's because, because..." —Because I wanted to become an adventurer, start leveling up by defeating goblins, embark on a thrilling journey in this other world, and ultimately defeat the Demon King.
"Because I want to go on adventures with you, husband!"
She couldn't just blurt out her childhood dream; she'd be laughed at. Besides, her husband was a demon lord candidate himself.
How could she talk about defeating him?
Celia had tried, so many times, but she had never won.
She was always the first to succumb.
"Not bad. In that case... act a little more coy for me. If you satisfy me, I'll agree to give it to you, and it'll be a gift."
He crossed his legs, rested his chin on the back of his hand, and looked at her with unbridled interest.
Liam found it amusing.
As a beloved wife, perhaps being obedient, cute, and comfortable was far from enough.
If she usually didn't even know how to act coy, didn't know how to please her husband and make him happy, that could indeed be a problem.
Perhaps he needed to teach her?
Just like he did during the nights.
"Act coy..."
Celia bit the tip of her tongue lightly.
Being asked to do it so directly made her cheeks burn even hotter; it was quite embarrassing.
She'd said it already...
She didn't know how to act coy.
She'd been a boy for forty years, had only been a girl for a month.
Where would she have gained any experience in acting coy?
Ordinary girls, raised in happy, harmonious families, would probably act coy with their parents or older siblings.
When they grew up and found someone who loved them, they'd use that experience on them.
But as a man, one was always supposed to be stronger, to grow into a bulwark that could protect girls.
This, Celia understood in her heart, even though her parents in this life had never taught her that.
On the contrary, they'd always pampered her as a girl until now.