She’s My Wife, So I’ll Protect Her However I Want

Chapter 08: Honey, I'm Home

The tavern section of the guild hall buzzed with the chatter of adventurers, the clinking of mugs, and the occasional burst of laughter. The air smelled of roasted meat and ale, a comforting warmth after the cold depths of the dungeon.

Leon dropped into a chair with a satisfied sigh, stretching his arms behind his head. "Alright, that was a hell of a mission." His voice carried the exhaustion of battle, but also the thrill of a job well done.

Mira flopped into the seat beside him, propping her boots on the table without a care. "Ahhh~! This is the best part of adventuring. A mission well done, money in our pockets, and drinks on the table." She grinned, picking up her tankard. "Life doesn't get better than this."

Arthur, ever composed, adjusted his glasses as he took a careful sip of his drink. "Until the paperwork tomorrow."

Mira let out a dramatic groan, throwing her head back. "Ugh! Don't ruin the mood, Four-Eyes."

Leon chuckled as he reached for the pouch of coins, undoing the drawstrings with a practiced motion. He poured the gold onto the table, the coins clinking together in a satisfying heap. With an easy grin, he started counting, distributing equal stacks in front of each of them. When he reached Kael, he paused for a moment before sliding 100 gold across the table.

Kael blinked, staring at the coins. "...What?"

Leon smirked, resting his chin on his palm. "You heard me. Your share."

Kael hesitated. "But I didn't do anything." His voice was quieter than the rest, uncertain.

Mira scoffed, waving a hand. "Are you kidding me? You carried all our bags! You think we wanna drag monster corpses through a dungeon?"

Kael glanced at her. "But that's not—"

Elara, who had been quietly sipping her tea, smiled gently. "It's only fair, Kael. We all contribute in different ways."

Arthur set his tankard down with a dull thud. "And if you don't take it, Leon won't leave you alone."

Kael looked between them. Leon, who was watching with an expectant grin. Mira, who had an eyebrow raised as if daring him to argue. Elara, who offered nothing but patient understanding. Arthur, whose gaze said he had already calculated every possible outcome of this conversation.

A pause.

Then, slowly, Kael reached out and took the gold, his fingers hesitating before closing around the coins. "...Fine."

Mira immediately nudged him with her elbow. "See? You're already part of the team."

Leon grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Welcome aboard, Kael."

Kael didn't respond, not verbally at least. But for the first time that night, he didn't mind sitting at the table with them.

---

At home...

The magic lamps lining the grand stone halls flickered as Kael strolled inside, exhausted but still grinning like an idiot. His armor was torn, dirt clung to his boots, and a faint bruise darkened his jaw. The night air was cool against his skin, but the warmth of the hall wrapped around him, familiar and almost welcoming—if not for the frosty presence waiting at the dining table.

Seraphina sat there, a single candle flickering beside her, casting golden light over the pages of the book she was pretending to read. She wore a pristine white gown, embroidered with silver thread in intricate patterns, the fabric smooth and flowing over her form in a way that only noble attire could. The high collar framed her pale throat, the fitted bodice accentuating her delicate figure, while the long sleeves draped elegantly over her wrists, giving her an air of cold refinement.

Her silver hair cascaded down her shoulders, a few strands catching the light, but her piercing blue eyes remained locked on the book, flicking across the page with deliberate slowness. She didn't look up. Didn't acknowledge him.

Did she even hear him? Probably. Would she acknowledge him? Absolutely not.

Kael paused near the doorway, tilting his head, watching her. He was tempted to say something right then and there—to tease her, to prod at her patience—but he held back, waiting.

Nothing.

So that's how it is, huh?

Kael smirked and sauntered forward. "Honey, I'm home."

Seraphina's fingers twitched, gripping the book just a fraction tighter.

"Shut up," she said flatly, not sparing him a glance.

Kael sighed dramatically, making a show of dragging himself toward the couch. He flopped onto it with an exaggerated groan, spreading his arms wide as if he owned the place. "Is that any way to greet your beloved husband after a long, exhausting day?"

Seraphina inhaled slowly through her nose. "I don't care about your day."

Oof. Straight to the point. But that was what made this fun.

Kael stretched lazily, rolling his shoulders as if he carried the weight of the world. "Man, what a day. You wouldn't believe how much those guys paid me just to carry their bags." He whistled. "Honestly, I might just do this full-time. Easiest money I've ever made."

Not a word. Not even the usual glare.

He grinned, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small pouch of gold. With a casual flick, he tossed it onto the table in front of her, the coins clinking together as they settled.

That did it.

Her eyes flicked toward the pouch—just for a second—before she returned to her book, turning the page with slow, deliberate movements.

Kael leaned in, propping his chin on his palm, studying her. "You're awfully quiet tonight. Could it be that you actually missed me?"

Seraphina's jaw tightened.

Kael chuckled. "Come on, don't be shy. If you wanted to see me so badly, you should've just said so—"

The book slammed shut.

Kael barely had time to react before Seraphina turned her head toward him, Blue eyes burning.

"Miss you?" she scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. If anything, I was hoping you wouldn't come back."

Kael placed a hand on his chest in mock hurt. "That's harsh, dear. What if something had happened to me?"

Seraphina rolled her eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you? I don't care if you die or not."

Kael smirked. "But you did stay up this late, though. Waiting for me?"

Seraphina scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself. I was reading."

He nodded knowingly. "Right, right. Because you always read past midnight, sitting at the dining table, staring at the door every few minutes—"

"I wasn't staring at the door."

He grinned. "So you were waiting."

Her face darkened.

Kael laughed.

Seraphina crossed her arms, looking away. "You're insufferable."

"And yet, you still talk to me," he mused, leaning closer. "Why is that, honey?"

Her jaw tightened, and for a second, Kael thought she might actually throw the book at his head. Instead, she inhaled deeply, visibly forcing herself to stay calm. "You're disgusting," she muttered.

Kael smirked, propping his head on his palm. "And yet, here you are, spending your night with me."

Seraphina scoffed. "As if I have a choice."

"Well, you could've slept."

Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. That hesitation was interesting.

Kael didn't press. Instead, he stretched and stood up. "Well, I should probably clean up."

She clicked her tongue, grabbing her book again. "Just go already."

Kael walked past her, pausing briefly near her chair. He lowered his voice, just enough for only her to hear.

"I know you looked at me when I walked in."

Seraphina's grip on the book tightened.

Kael laughed softly and walked away.

---

After a much-needed bath, Kael strolled back into the dining hall, feeling refreshed. His damp hair clung to his forehead, a few stray droplets of water trailing down his neck. His loose white tunic, carelessly thrown on, hung slightly open at the collar, revealing the faint outlines of the bruises from his earlier scuffle.

He expected the hall to be empty by now—after all, it was late. But instead, there she was.

Seraphina. Still at the table. Still reading.

Kael arched a brow, leaning against the doorway. "Huh. I thought you'd gone to bed already."

Seraphina barely glanced at him. "No. A few more pages remain."

Kael smirked. "Must be an interesting book if it's keeping you up this late."

She said nothing. Just turned another page with her usual cool indifference.

He stretched lazily, stepping further inside. "So… what's for dinner?"

She didn't look up. "There's food on the counter."

Kael grinned. "Wait… you actually cooked for me?"

"Yes," she said flatly. Then, as if anticipating his next words, she added, "I made too much. You can have it."

"Oh, how generous." He placed a hand over his heart. "Is this your way of showing you care?"

Seraphina exhaled sharply, flipping a page with unnecessary force.

---

(Chapter Ended)