....
This place, called an Adventurers' Guild, was more accurately described as a tavern.
It was a small branch among the many guilds in the Kingdom of Silverdew.
Most adventurers registered here were ordinary commoners, mostly looking to earn some money for their families or simply seeking a carefree, enjoyable life.
The moment Liam entered, he exuded an aloof, unapproachable, and superior attitude.
Naturally, no one was willing to get close, afraid of provoking a negative reaction.
Because of this, the two tables near them remained empty, the surroundings unusually quiet.
Celia could attempt to act coy without worrying about anyone staring.
"Husband~"
She drew out the word, her voice tinged with a soft, nasal whine.
After saying it, she buried her head again, her face burning crimson.
Apart from at night, she almost never acted coy with her husband during the day.
Doing something so coquettish while fully conscious always made her feel intensely ashamed.
"Not enough. Too stiff," Liam said dismissively.
Celia lifted a pair of crystal-clear eyes, looking at him with a trace of disbelief.
Gazing at his leisurely, elegant sitting posture, she secretly clenched her skirt and mustered her courage.
"H-Husband~ I want that badge, please? Pretty please, husband~"
She made her voice even softer this time, the kind meant to melt a man on the spot.
"Still not passing. Think carefully about how you act coy when I'm... you at night."
"Wah..."
How could he say it so bluntly?
Celia couldn't really remember clearly herself; her consciousness was always blurry then, just instinctively pleading...
She took a deep breath.
The next moment, she left her stool, moved quietly to the man's side, and, under his slightly surprised expression,
leaned her body forward slightly, placed her small hands on his shoulders, then closed her dazed eyes, steeled herself, and kissed his thin, well-defined lips.
Liam was momentarily stunned, then wrapped his arms around Celia's waist and deepened the kiss.
The girl's slender, pale legs trembled, forced onto her tiptoes as Liam held her waist.
The position was awkward, a little straining.
She hoped this coquettish act would earn her husband's approval.
Her movements weren't very skilled; one could call them clumsy. She rarely took the initiative, usually just relaxing and letting him take control of her body.
Kissing a man—she was used to it now.
Now accustomed to a girl's body, she could develop feelings for a man—for Liam.
So she felt no disgust, only comfort.
Tasting his warmth, her husband's warmth, was the most comforting thing...
Celia really, truly liked it—liked kissing her husband.
Especially when she wrapped her arms around his neck, that desire would peak.
When kissing, whenever he demanded with a slight dominance... [content removed for privacy]
In this intimate exchange of lips and breath, she could clearly feel love, not just mere physical release...
Whenever [content removed for privacy], her way of asking was just to purse her pink lips and look at the man with a [content removed for privacy] expression, which had an immediate effect.
The few times he played hard to get [content removed for privacy], made her feel [content removed for privacy] in an instant.
Her body went limp.
The man took the opportunity to lift her onto his lap, having her straddle him, her delicate little feet dangling in the air.
The girl's eyes were brimming with moisture, as if veiled by a thin mist.
Whimper~
[content removed for privacy]
Liam's usually cool and detached face held a gaze fixed intently on her, as if examining an exquisite doll.
Celia, embarrassed, buried her face in the man's chest, her small hands clutching his clothes.
"Pass."
His voice was low, husky, and pleasant to the ear.
Yes, she was starting to find it pleasant, which meant... "Thank you..." she mumbled in response.
The man chuckled lightly, gently pushed the warm, soft weight on his chest back a little, and his large, well-knuckled hand slowly caressed her damp cheek.
"Hiding from what?"
"What I love seeing most is this crying face of yours. So adorable. Why do you always like to hide it?"
"Wah~ Don't..."
Now that he mentioned it—
When Celia felt shy, covering her face tightly with her hands, not wanting him to look,she would often be [content removed for privacy], [content removed for privacy], forced to reveal that embarrassed face.
At those times, she would shamefully turn her head away and plead with a sob, "Don't look at me~"
Her expression control was indeed terrible...
It was really hard to control.
And no matter [content removed for privacy] or not [content removed for privacy], she would end up crying.
Perhaps what the man loved seeing most was her pitiful, tear-streaked, disheveled appearance.
Celia didn't want to speak. Curled up small on her husband's lap, her slender hands resting without much strength on his warm chest, she was as docile as a kitten that had been petted.
The lingering warmth of him was still in her mouth, and she couldn't help but savor it, not wanting the feeling to fade.
"To be honest, I'm getting a bit worked up."
The man gently stroked her head, his tone light, but the words he uttered were terrifying.
"This is the third time today. If this place weren't so inconvenient, I'd have devoured you already."
No, perhaps 'terrifying' wasn't quite the right word.
At least, that's what Celia thought for now.
Celia listened somewhat dazedly, just looked at him with those moist eyes and silently tightened her legs.
Liam unpinned the badge from his own chest, held the girl's slender, soft waist, and carefully pinned it onto hers.
"From now on, you are an adventurer."
Noticing the movement, she looked down, her lips slightly parted.
Her small hand covered the badge her husband had just pinned to her chest, touching it over and over.
It was an iron piece, oval with a slightly square shape.
In the center of the badge, a long sword and a magic staff were crossed, with three horizontal bars beside them.
It was indeed an adventurer's badge.
Celia had become an adventurer...
It was her childhood dream, realized so easily by her husband.
She was so excited she wanted to hug the man in front of her tightly, but the difference in their sizes was too great. In the end, she could only nestle gently against his chest.
"Ahem... Um... Sir, here are the meals you ordered. Please enjoy."