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My dark savior [Degu x Tsukuyomi]

"Y-yes?" Was it a rule in her homeland, or was that strictly a rule the royals followed? "I-I.." How was she supposed to answer something like that? Her face was burning as he took her hands and teased her again, filling her head with all sorts of confusing and interesting thoughts. Of course she wasn't going to send her family a letter full of scandalous details even if she did allow the God to see her undressed! She didn't want any chance for them to track her down and drag her back kicking and screaming through the snow and wilderness.

"No! I do not wish to send them anything!" She was going to combust if her face turned any redder, and she tried to turn her attention to the kittens on the bed only to fail miserably. She was never going to survive dinner if this continued, and they hadn't even started their meal!

"Law?" She froze with her hand partway to one of the animals, the shock on her face evident as the color faded from her cheeks. He was giving her the freedom to command things in his home? Their home. She really needed to try and get used to that if she was going to be living there for the foreseeable future.

"No, you needn't dine without your clothing... I would be happy to simply enjoy your presence and share a meal with you."
 
Cydros marvelled at how she responded to his teasing. She looked like she would combust if he prodded her any more… but it was such a delight to put such images in her head. She was truly pure and innocent… Just being around him for long enough would surely corrupt her cute little mind. To his good fortune (and hers as well), he had quite the body. She would be more than satisfied with the view if she ever witnessed him getting changed. In fact, he wouldn’t blame her if it became her guilty pleasure to sneak a peek every time he had a bath or changed his clothes. He had quite a divine body to go with that divine ego he displayed.

“Perhaps it would be better for your health if I didn’t bring you to the hot spring…” he murmured, knitting his brow and pretending to be in deep thought as he glanced out the window. “The water is lovely and eases every little bit of tension… but I fear it would just be too much for your heart.” He sighed and shook his head softly, faking a mournful expression.

For someone who lived in solitude, he had remarkably good acting skills. One would wonder what he did to pass the time. Still, he struggled greatly to keep up the act - the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly as if he held back a laugh. “It is truly a shame that I will continue to enjoy it all on my own.”

Then, he cracked a grin at her, a devilish gleam dancing in his eyes once again. “We should at least send your lower undergarments back so your family knows you’re having a splendid time.”
 
"A hot spring does sound lovely, but I fear you might be right." He clearly had no intention of stopping his teasing, and Nessa watched him with a mixture of caution and embarrassment. Why was he grinning at her like that?

"No!" Her hand clapped over her mouth when she realized she'd spoken far louder than she had meant to, and she shook her head before slinking around the bed back toward where the fire was still going. "No, I do not wish to have any contact with my family." She watched the flames leaping and dancing around, warming her face as she stood mere inches from the fireplace and tried to put her focus on it rather than the thought of having any contact with her family, even to taunt them.

"I would seek privacy from my family, please. They needn't have anything to do with this."
 
Cydros smirked when she agreed a hot spring sounded lovely. If her heart could take it, he wouldn't be averse to sharing the enjoyment with her...

He flinched when she yelled in response to his mention of sending her undergarments to her family. At first, he thought it was merely an overload of embarrassment. But then, she seemed... sad. She stood by the fire and told him she didn't want any contact with her family. She practically pleaded with him to keep her presence in his lands a secret from her family. The smug delight drained from his face, replaced by a look of concern. She didn't want to return to her homeland, and she would even go so far as to marry a stranger to avoid it. More specifically, it seemed she was on the run from her own family. He could understand that, to some degree. He did technically have family... but they didn't really get along either. One could say family gatherings tended to end in apocalypses. Literally.

He stepped towards her in mournful silence. He paused beside her and slowly put an arm around her, drawing her into a somewhat stiff embrace. Now, he knew to choose his words more carefully around her, to avoid mentioning her family. Clearly, just the thought of them brought her great distress.

"You needn't worry," he murmured. "My reputation alone ought to keep them away. Otherwise, the snow will." Of course, he didn't account for the possibility of an army coming to forcefully retrieve her.
 
"I pray you are right." Not that praying had ever gotten her anywhere, and who did one pray to when they were to wed a literal god? She stood there staring at the fire, jumping slightly when his arm wrapped carefully around her before she forced herself to relax. There was no reason she needed to be stiff as a board, but while her mind continued to repeat that he had no intent to harm her, her body reacted on its own and forced her to stand there awkwardly and nod. All she could do was wait and see, and pray that her family stayed where they were and made no effort to retrieve her. Even if they did, they would be several hours behind her and that would give her a chance to eat, bathe, and rest up while they formed strategies. Would they truly go against a god, though?

"Forgive me for my outburst. I did not mean to--" Her cheeks turned pink again as her stomach rumbled loudly, interrupting her apology with a demand for sustenance. "..I do believe there was a mention of a meal before a bath?"
 
He lifted a hand up to stroke her head, letting out a soft chuckle when her stomach complained. She had such soft hair... He marveled at the silky texture as he slid his hand down to stroke the tip of her ear, finally resting on her cheek. He couldn't know what she had been through, but he did know how he planned to treat her.

"If you're hungry, you should absolutely eat," he told her. Quite firmly, too. "What kind of husband would I be if I didn't provide my hungry wife with food?"

He glanced out the window once again. It seemed a little darker outside than it had been before. "Dinner should be served soon," he remarked. "Allow me to escort you to the dining room." As he spoke, he put his arm around her shoulders and gently guided her towards the door.

A hearty meal would do her a lot of good. She seemed extremely timid at the moment, particularly after he brought up the topic of her family. He hoped a warm meal and a hot bath would help her settle down before they went to bed.
 
It felt so strange to have someone touching her in a way that didn't end in punishment, and her ear twitched under the expected touch before she took a deep breath to calm herself. It was just a little touch, there was nothing violent or sexual about it for her to need to worry.

"I did not think you would withhold food from me." He certainly didn't seem like the type, and for that she was grateful, although she was curious about what manner of meal would be served. "As you wish, my--Cydros." That was going to take some serious getting used to, addressing him by his first name and not any type of formal title.

She allowed him to guide her out of the room and to the dining room, glancing around as they walked and taking in the details of her future home. For how large it was and the fact that only one living man occupied it, it was surprisingly well taken care of, a detail she noticed with no small amount of pleasure.

"Your home is very nice. I must admit I did not expect it to be anything like this."
 
It brought him some comfort to watch her curiously taking in what would also be her home from now on. She seemed content with the decor, modest as it was. Although it had been a good century or two since this fortress was last used as a military base, he had done relatively little to alter the interior. It was clean and neat but the decor was embarrassingly sparse for one so wealthy, a detail he only noticed now that he found himself in the presence of another person. He felt it would be a good time to start rethinking the interior. Perhaps adding more curtains, rugs and tapestries… It had to feel more like a home. Even if she did not voice her discontent, he couldn’t imagine any woman with her delicate hands would feel truly at home in a rather barbaric-looking environment. She said it was nice… but he wanted to purchase more decor all the same.

“I’m glad to hear that,” he replied with a joyful glitter in his eyes. “Especially when you thought me a demon not long ago,” he added and chuckled. Mainly to ensure she did not leap to the conclusion that he would be infuriated by her naive beliefs.

“I sincerely hope you will be comfortable here, Nessa.” He glanced at her as they walked through the corridor, past frosted windows. “I would find it difficult to live with myself if I found that living here was causing my wife any distress. Promise me you won’t hesitate to inform me of any issues you may have with this place.”

Her kind and demure personality did little to settle his concerns about how she would react if and when she realized just how monstrous his powers could be. She hadn’t seen anything yet… and the slightest shred of doubt in her mind could be the undoing of their union.

Frankly, he wouldn’t have made her come here at all if she hadn’t been halfway frozen to death when he scooped her up from the snow… if she hadn’t been so insistent on leaving her homeland and her family for good. Someone had to make sure she remained in good health. She seemed so terrified of her family, so desperate for someone to stand in the way and shield her from them. He knew he could protect her, but he worried she would be abhorred by his methods.

For now, he could only smile at her and behave like a man who would be a dutiful husband to her, silently hoping she wouldn’t run from him when she discovered the truth.
 
"I--" Nessa thought for a moment he might be angry or irritated over that assumption, but the laughter that followed his comment made her shoulders relax as she exhaled slowly. Clearly he was amused by the rumors spread of him being a terrible demon, and he had done nothing more than correct her on the matter when she had first asked.

"I will do my best to voice any concerns." Easier said than done, but if that was what her intended required of her, then she would do her best to fulfill the request. It was the least she could do, after all. "I'm certain everything will be satisfactory. I really don't need much, and you have already gifted me the animals." The ability to keep animals in her home and interact with them coupled with the authority he had given her was something she was going to struggle to get used to, but perhaps in time it would become easier to realize that there was no catch, no obligation in return.

"I hope you do not find me rude for asking, but what has stopped you from seeking a wife before now?"
 
Cydros paused at her question. It wasn't that he hadn't sought a wife before now... but rather that he had experienced certain difficulties in his search when he had left his home for periods. Perhaps, misfortune simply clung to him like tar. Trouble seemed to follow him when he ventured into other lands and attempted to mingle with society. He had the looks and the wealth, so finding a sweet young thing to hang onto his arm had been child's play to him. However... his nature came back to haunt him every time. Someone or something would get in the way, and his monstrous display of power scared the wits out of everyone involved, his marriage candidate included. Once, he went so far as to raze half a town to the ground when he attempted to demonstrate to a false magician what real magic looked like...

"...I'm afraid I lack compatibility with society." He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Regardless, are you not pleased that the position is vacant? Now that I have you, if other women come running with the desire of marrying me, I'll have to start storing them in the dungeon." He chuckled at this, not actually intending to do such a terrible thing. "Just the thought of having several wives exhausts me. You needn't worry - a single wife is sufficient for me."
 
"I am pleased, yes." She hadn't meant to insinuate that she was displeased, but she was curious. Even with the marking that ran down his face and the otherworldly nature of his eyes, the god was well built and attractive. "It does not at all displease me that you do not intend to mingle in society. In fact, I think I rather prefer to spend my time with animals, books, and nature. It is much more rewarding than arguing with a living being that refuses to understand you." She frowned briefly and then shook her head.

"I will do my best to be a good wife to you, Cydros. I would not want you to throw me in the dungeon." She understood it had been a jest at the mention of storing women in the dungeon, but now she was curious if there truly was a dungeon on the grounds. The place was big enough for one, but she didn't dare to ask him outright about its truth, location, or condition.

"I fear you will have to help teach me so I may learn what pleases you and brings a smile to your face."
 
Cydros smiled when she told him she promised she would do her best to be a good wife to him. However, he shook his head when she mentioned he might have to teach her what to do to please him.

“Just watching you do what you enjoy makes me happy,” he explained. “It’s extremely contagious, you know.”

She did indeed have this pure, innocent aura about her, and that made her appear utterly adorable when she expressed excitement. The way her face lit up when she saw the mother cat and her kittens had made him feel pleasantly warm inside. Yes… making her happy pleased him enough. He had spent so long on his own finding ways to make himself content. He really didn’t need any more than a person who made for pleasant company. A constant companion to stay by his side in the long term. She would be the cure to the ache in his chest, and he would find true happiness in her presence.

“From what I’ve seen of you so far, I think it will please me most if you simply go about and do as you please. My only request is that we have meals together.”

Not long after he said those words, he pushed open a door and led her into a warm, spacious room lit only by candles on the table and by the fire merrily crackling away in the fireplace in the opposite wall. A long table occupied the center of the room, and two covered dishes had already been set out for them. One at the end for him, and another just around the corner, for her. Admittedly, the food served here was relatively simple but healthy. Meat, potatoes and vegetables. Sometimes in various combinations, sometimes separate.

He moved towards her seat to politely pull out the chair for her. He knew basic manners when enjoying the presence of a lady who might or might not be of noble birth.
 
"Contagious?" That seemed a bit.. Strange, but who was she to judge what apparently made him happy? "Of course. I would be more than happy to dine with you daily." So long as he didn't have terrible table manners like a brute, but Nessa had the feeling that his mannerism wasn't going to change just because food was involved. Then again, he was a man and men could get rather excitable with food...

"Oh." There was another fireplace in this room, which after a moment of thought, made sense considering the weather outside. Still, she hadn't expected everything to already be set, or for the simplicity of it all to be endearing. The fire crackling away provided both a physical warmth and a cozy feeling she was unaccustomed to, and the dishes that were already set without judging eyes nearby made it easier for her to relax once in her chair.

"Thank you." She dipped her head slightly in thanks as he pulled the chair out to help her sit, then settled in and waited patiently for him to take him own seat and prepare for their meal. "It smells lovely." She didn't need an overly decorated meal, or some rare animal on her plate, what was there when she lifted the cover looked and smelled good enough that her stomach made another noise much to her dismay.

"Shall we?"
 
When they settled in at the table and lifted the covers off their dishes, they were presented with the mouthwatering scent of a well-spiced stew. Technically, Cydros had no need for food - but he felt it would help her feel at ease around him if they ate regular meals together. That was an ordinary activity for couples, was it not? He knew the gnawing sensation of loneliness all too well, and he doubted she would find much enjoyment in eating meals all alone with only her own thoughts to keep her company.

He lifted his spoon and carefully dipped it in the edge of his stew, letting the filled spoon linger in the air for a moment to let some of the steam roll off before proceeding to tip the spoon's contents into his mouth. Gracefully and cleanly. After all, he couldn't let his beautiful bride think he had manners similar to those of the ravenous wolves that roamed the snowy wasteland. He would eat with an air of grace, silently calculating every trip the spoon took from the bowl to his mouth.

They each had a wineglass that stood empty. Lifting his gaze towards her, he gave a small wave of his hand. Both wineglasses filled up with a drink effortlessly recreated from memory. It would suit the meal well.

"Your hands," he softly remarked, pausing in his meal to speak. "They're remarkably soft." He gave a gentle tilt of the head, idle curiosity in his eyes. "You're a noble, aren't you?"
 
As per the habits engraved into her mind from past times, Nessa waited for him to begin eating before she had any of her food. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before she took a spoonful of the stew and blew on it, allowing it to cool a moment before tasting it. It was good. The shock was visible on her face for a brief moment before she regained her composure, casting her eyes down before having some more of the meal before she said anything foolish.

"What?" She nearly dropped the spoon when she lifted her head, looking at the wine that filled her glass rather than directly at his face. Her hands had outed her before anything else had? She hadn't brought any clothing that was overly elegant or intricate, she hadn't worn any jewelry despite the fact that she could have taken some and maybe even sold it.


"I was, yes. I do not yearn for that life, my lord. Cydros." She corrected herself promptly with a small grimace and returned to eating, peeking up at him when she took a sip of the wine to gauge his reaction.
 
When she confirmed his suspicions and added that she had no desire to live such a life, he found himself further intrigued. If she had servants tending to her every need, she ought to have been perfectly content at home. Nothing particularly sudden or disastrous had happened to her home... she simply had no desire to remain there. Something else had driven her away, and considering her disdain for arranged marriages, he wondered if she was in fact on the run from unwanted suitors.

"I have not met many elven noblemen," he quietly admitted, "but they must be truly dreadful if you fled into my lands to escape their marriage proposals." He cocked an eyebrow teasingly at her. "That is what you're running from, is it not? Your family wants you to wed a stuffed-shirt piece of filth who isn't even worthy of kissing your foot." He paused, stirring his stew as he recalled her earlier concerns about marital duties. "And this piece of filth hopes to use your beauty to produce an heir that doesn't share his most unfortunate looks." He glanced back at her, a smirk playing on his lips. "How close am I to the truth?"
 
A part of her wanted to play along with his assumption she was on the run from a marriage. It wasn't entirely true, as her family would have wed her off the moment it was beneficial to them, but she hadn't specifically fled a match. Did she allow him to think that and continue their relationship with nothing but lies and vagueness, or did she open up and see if he was trustworthy?

"I'm certain that would have been the case had I stayed," that was technically the truth, so she didn't feel as wrong saying such as she set down her spoon and clasped her hands in her lap. "I did not want to continue a life being locked up as nothing more than a prize." Also technically true, but she avoided his game and picked at the fabric of her pants instead.

"Would it displease you if I asked we not speak of my family during our meal?" She would prefer not speak of them at all, but it would certainly ruin her appetite if she had to have a conversation about them now.
 
When he saw and heard in her voice how uncomfortable the topic made her, he felt somewhat embarrassed with himself for bringing it up without considering her feelings. Frankly, he thought her most admirable for running from her oppressive family in such a brazen manner, utterly defying her elders in the process. What they thought would be best for her clearly made her miserable, and he felt a good lesson was in order - and what could be more shocking than a daughter fleeing her noble family?

He bowed his head in shame as she asked that they did not speak of her family during their meal. “My apologies,” he flatly replied. “I could not help but marvel over your actions. But let us speak of more pleasant matters.” He paused, eyeing her simple clothing.

“There’s still the matter of your wardrobe,” he went on. “It would please me very much to see you in expensive yet comfortable dresses. Ten outfits including hats and shoes ought to be the bare minimum. Not to worry, we have plenty of spare rooms if you run out of space in one. Perhaps, I can get you an outfit for every day of the year… Do you have any particular preferences for style or color?”
 
"You do not need to apologize," she spoke softly, feeling slightly guilty for his reaction. "My wardrobe?" She looked up from where she had been staring down at her lap, mulling over the thought of new clothing. Considering the little amount she had packed and taken with her, she was definitely going to need new outfits.

"I would be happy to wear dresses if it would please you, as long as I may wear pants at times." Dresses could be quite comfortable and fit her petite frame well, but if she was going to have freedom to explore and move about as she pleased, pants were going to be a necessity.

"I am.. Unsure of color. I did not often get to pick my own clothing, it was always selected and forced upon me. I would be happy to try different colors until we see what you enjoy, however." A thought occurred to her and she paused, lifting her hands to set them carefully on the table.

"You have wolves suited to this weather... Do you have horses for riding?"
 
While he would never admit it openly, Cydros found himself rather excited at the thought of seeing her in numerous dresses suited for a noble. Sure, they didn't exactly expect to be receiving guests out here in this frozen wasteland, but he felt it would be odd to have her dress like a maid all the same. At the very least, he wanted to gift her some fine sets of jewellery that would mark her as the lady of the house so she would look like a refined lady even when wearing more male clothing. Although, he did wonder what she wanted pants for... Surely, she didn't plan on climbing onto the roof? Even the outer walls had stairs.

His question was answered by her next words. Or partly at least. He nodded at her question regarding whether he owned horses for riding. "Yes, I do. Although they may not be quite like the horses you’re used to. My horses are shorter and more stout than horses tend to be in warmer areas, and they have proper winter coats that make them well-suited to this climate." He lifted a spoonful of stew to his mouth once again. "While not the most agile nor the most elegant of creatures, they’re suitable for being ridden across long distances." He paused, eyeing her curiously. "Is riding a pastime of yours, seeing as this topic is of interest to you?" He put the food in his mouth and chewed while awaiting her reply.
 
"That is different than the horses I am used to, but that is no trouble." She could adjust well enough to riding something different as long as she was patient and learned the animal's temperament. "I don't mind the lack of elegance, I prefer suitability over appearance." She took a bite of her own stew as he questioned her, mulling over what the proper answer would be. It wasn't a matter of truth or untruth, so much as she wasn't sure of the answer. She had enjoyed riding when she was younger, and even as she moved toward adulthood, but her time on horses had grown less and less except when her family had wanted her to keep up with lessons or create a good appearance for their people.

"I would have liked it to be, had I more time." She worked on the food slowly, not wanting to appear a ravenous beast or upset her terribly empty stomach by eating too fast. "I would intend for it to be one here, once I have the proper clothing to keep warm in this weather." She paused and had some more of the food before speaking again. "Would that be allowed?" He had said her word was law, but she was hesitant to test that declaration so soon.
 
"I don't see why not." His voice was warm and his eyes were kind as he gazed at her from where he sat. He couldn't know how harsh her life had been before she came to his lands, but he was starting to have an inkling of it, seeing how she dreaded the thought of having anything to do with her family and continued to regard him with some amount of fear even though he had gone out of his way to show her nothing but kindness.

"However, I do have one condition," he sternly added. "I will accompany you whenever you go for a ride. Mainly for your safety - although I do also feel it will help me understand you better if I take part in at least one of your pastimes... if you do not find my presence overly intrusive." His voice softened as he went on, his vulnerability peeking through his words.

He was not one to callously trample a weaker person, but for him she was... more than that. Something about her made it feel so easy to cast off the emotional barriers he had wrapped himself in over the years. Perhaps, it was simply that she knew loneliness as well. She had experienced great pain and did not seem like the sort to mock another for showing a little weakness. For being sensitive to her opinion.
 
"Truly?" Nessa hadn't expected him to outright deny her the request, but she also hadn't been prepared for how it would feel to have him agree so readily. Her guard went up for only a brief moment when he added his condition so sternly, her shoulders relaxing as he explained why he would ride with her whenever she went. It made sense, if the weather at his--their home was always so cold and stormy, she could easily get lost in the blizzard and freeze to death successfully this time.

"It would not be intrusive, I understand your reasoning." She didn't especially want to get lost in a blizzard again, it had been uncomfortable recovering from it before he had drawn the moisture from her hair and clothing. Even still, the promised bath after their meal was going to feel delightful, and she was greatly looking forward to it.

"If we are to spend the foreseeable future together, it would do well for us to learn what the other enjoys. I'm certain there are things you will do that you wish me to accompany you on."
 
For a moment, Cydros froze and looked like he had a piece of food stuck in his throat when she suggested that he might have a pastime he would want her to accompany him in. When he thought about it… did he really do anything in his spare time that she would actually enjoy doing as well? He read books when he wasn’t dozing... or experimenting with magic. So, either she would be bored to tears or she would be scared out of her mind. Neither would be particularly good for his wife. He could only think of one project she might be a little curious about…

“I doubt I do anything as exciting as what you do,” he quietly admitted. “But I suppose there is one project that you may intrigue you... I’m in the process of creating a gem infused with my magic. I add a little bit every day to test how much of my magic this gem can hold.” He paused, a dark look coming over his features. “However… it can be an extremely dangerous artifact in the wrong hands,” he grimly added. “The power of a god should not be taken lightly. Theoretically, this gem should be able to replace everything necessary to summon me to this world as it contains both my essence and the required mana… without it, many sacrifices are required.”
 
Had she said something improper? The look on his face alarmed her enough that she stopped eating to watch him cautiously, uncertain if she should say anything else or simply wait for him to speak. When he finally began to speak quietly she relaxed slightly, although her hand still gripped the utensil tightly before she forced herself to take another bite while listening.

"A gem?" For someone not interested in wearing jewelry, her attention was fully on the topic of conversation now that he was speaking about gems and magic. "Oh." The way his expression darkened made her shrink back slightly and drop her gaze back to the table, but after a moment she looked back up and fixed him with a curious look. A gem with the power of a god.

"The gem would allow someone to summon you no matter where you were?"
 
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