Witches: Starting as a Lord Marrying a Wife

"Rena?"

David groggily opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a head of snow-white hair.

"Duke David, you're awake. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Rena raised her head shyly, concern written across her face as she softly inquired.

"Oh, it's fine, just a bit sore," David replied, momentarily stunned. It was his first time seeing Rena so gentle, and for a moment, he didn't know how to react.

Had he successfully won her over?

"I'll call the others," Rena said hastily, standing up.

Before long, Leah and a red-eyed Amy entered the room, gathering around him with worried expressions.

"Don't worry, I took that sword strike on purpose. It didn't hit anything vital," David reassured them. "I just needed a rest, that's all."

Hearing this, the three of them let out a sigh of relief. Earlier, seeing David injured had terrified them.

David smiled and reassured them a bit more. In that situation, taking the enemy by surprise was the only way to kill the Ice Wolf Great Knight. Otherwise, if the Earth Knight had tried to escape, it would have been impossible to stop him, creating even more trouble later.

Hearing David's earnest explanation, the three finally relaxed. Shui Lian brought over a bowl of meat porridge and helped him drink it.

Huo Wu brought fresh clothes, and Leah and Amy assisted him in changing. Rena seemed slightly uneasy but didn't shy away this time.

Two more days passed.

As expected of an Earth Knight, David's wounds had healed almost completely in a short amount of time.

"I'm really fine now," David said, lying on a reclining chair, a hint of helplessness on his face.

After being idle for so long, his thoughts had begun to wander. On top of that, losing several days of cultivation made him anxious.

However, Leah and Amy were still worried that excessive movement might reopen his wounds. No amount of coaxing could convince them otherwise.

Another day went by.

David finally felt no more discomfort. He removed the bandages from his shoulder, revealing that the original wound had faded to a faint scar.

Seeing this, Leah finally nodded. "But just once, and no vigorous activity," she cautioned.

David nodded eagerly.

After so many days without training, he was desperate to get back to work.

As soon as his hand slipped around Leah's waist, however, she gently brushed it away.

Leah shot him a sidelong glance and, taking a blushing Amy by the hand, pulled her out of the room, leaving only Rena behind.

Her meaning couldn't have been clearer.

Hearing the sound of the door closing, Rena's heart skipped a beat.

Her face quickly turned red.

Though this wasn't her first time, her feelings this time were completely different.

David turned his gaze to Rena, his expression questioning as he hesitantly asked, "Rena, is this okay?"

"Yes," Rena nodded, her face flushed as she stepped to the bedside.

Then, without much experience, the young princess lay down on the bed, closing her eyes.

Unlike last time, when she had been cold and indifferent, this time Rena was shy, without a hint of reluctance.

David walked to the bedside, smiling at the familiar scene. "Let me protect you, and help you reclaim the Kingdom of Crystal Song."

The words were the same as before, but this time Rena didn't doubt them in the slightest.

"I trust you," Rena said, her face filled with emotion as she reached out to wrap her arms around David's neck.

Feeling Rena's trust, David leaned in and kissed her.

The bed began to creak rhythmically.

[You have completed a session of training. Gained +35 Snow Demon Soul points.]

[Snow Demon Soul: Tier 1 (36/100)]

The results of this session were unexpectedly excellent, immediately adding 35 points.

With Rena's body at the level of a formal knight, he could raise the Snow Demon Soul to Tier 2 in just one day, and his subsequent training speed would only increase.

"I want more," Rena murmured shyly, not refusing.

Time passed quickly.

[You have completed a session of training. Gained +34 Snow Demon Soul points.]

[Snow Demon Soul: Tier 2 (9/1000)]

David stepped out of the room in high spirits, while Rena, blushing like a newlywed bride, shyly followed. The two headed toward the attic together.

"Rena, sister!" Leah greeted warmly, a smile lighting up her face.

Since their battle together, Rena and Leah's relationship had improved dramatically.

David watched the harmonious scene before him, his own face softening into a smile.

It seemed Rena had truly become part of the family. With these three by his side, even breaking through to the Earth Knight level felt satisfying.

After eating, David went to the castle to cultivate using the Snow Demon Breathing Technique.

Through his morning training, his Snow Demon Soul had already broken through to Tier 2. He wanted to explore the changes this breakthrough had brought.

As he practiced the Snow Demon Breathing Technique, the surrounding ice elements began to gather, flowing into his body and enhancing both his physical and mental strength.

The Snow Demon Breathing Technique of the Crystal Song family had two aspects: physical training and mental training.

Normally, the first three tiers only strengthened the body. This was why Rena had yet to fully grasp her ice powers.

But with his Tier 4 Frost Giant Wolf bloodline and intermediate ice element affinity, David could now cultivate the Tier 4 Snow Demon Breathing Technique with ease.

The Tier 4 technique provided even greater enhancements to mental strength.

Suddenly, David felt a shift. A faint silver light appeared in his eyes.

The air around him grew colder, snow and wind swirling as the Frost Wolf Soul within his consciousness manifested, taking on the form of a frost wolf!

Tier 2 mental strength!

David instantly noticed the change in his mental abilities.

His mental strength had already been excellent due to his consistent cultivation of the Snow Demon Breathing Technique.

When he broke through to Earth Knight, his mental strength had also been significantly enhanced.

Now, with the feedback from his Snow Demon Soul's breakthrough to Tier 2, his mental strength had also advanced to Tier 2!

Though the Snow Demon Soul provided some physical enhancements, as an Earth Knight, David's body was already incredibly strong, making the increase barely noticeable.

He observed the changes. The Tier 2 mental strength greatly improved his control over ice elements.

Moreover, the Frost Wolf Soul in his consciousness could now be condensed into a physical form, merging with ice elements to create a Frost Storm Wolf!

David realized that the Frost Wolf Soul could also be used directly for mental attacks against enemies.

With his Tier 4 Frost Giant Wolf bloodline, intermediate ice element affinity, Tier 2 Frost Wolf Soul, and Tier 2 mental strength, he was becoming more and more like a true ice mage!

This was all laying the foundation for his future

path as a mage. Once he obtained the legacy of an Ice Mage, he could immediately begin learning ice mage meditation techniques and spells!