Free Web NovelChapter 18: Two People Trapped in a Cave... They Might Kiss
"When will Axan save us?" Maeve asked Ikarus again for what was probably the fifteenth time already.
Her stomach kept growling loudly, leaving her with no choice but to eat the dried beef Ikarus had brought. Based on the taste and texture, she was pretty sure it came from a Cindermaw.
As long as she imagined the giant monster as a fluffy cow, she could still force herself to swallow it somehow.
"Once he realizes something is wrong with us," Ikarus replied patiently. "Maybe around sunset. Or maybe tomorrow morning."
Maeve stared at him in disbelief even though she had heard it a few times. "Why would it take him that long to notice we’re missing?!"
Ikarus looked completely calm as he answered, "He probably thinks we’re mating."
Maeve immediately pressed her lips into a thin line.
Of course.
Ever since earlier, she had been sitting right beside Ikarus with their elbows touching. Not because she wanted to flirt with him, but because the cave was surprisingly cold, cold enough that she had slowly moved closer to him without even realizing it.
And strangely enough, Ikarus’ body was naturally warm. She honestly didn’t understand why the temperature inside this cave felt so weird.
[Pinky’s information to the rescue!]
Maeve already had a bad feeling the moment Pinky spoke in that cheerful voice.
[The cave is surrounded by special Aether Energy that naturally lower the temperature to help couples "cool down" after mating!]
Maeve let out a tired sigh in her mind. ’What’s next? Is this place going to release some kind of aphrodisiac smoke too?’
[Full score for you, Host!]
Maeve nearly choked on her own saliva the moment she heard that answer.
But suddenly, everything started making sense.
No wonder she had kept wanting to stay close to Ikarus ever since they got trapped in the cave, and no wonder every single part of him somehow looked ridiculously attractive in her eyes right now.
[Don’t be ridiculous, Host!] Pinky bounced around in the air dramatically. [You already thought he was handsome from the very beginning!]
Maeve clicked her tongue. Okay, maybe that part was true. But seriously, how was she supposed not to drool over him?!
The man was huge, muscular, ridiculously handsome, and somehow still gentle enough to treat her carefully every single time they talked.
He was basically a real-life gentle giant. The exact kind of romance trope Maeve had been obsessed with ever since she was younger.
"Your face looks red. What’s wrong?" Ikarus asked.
A few seconds later, his eyes suddenly widened in realization. "I forgot to tell you that you need to cover your nose and mouth!"
He immediately started looking around the cave in panic, searching for something he could use to cover Maeve’s face. But after failing to find anything useful, Ikarus quickly used his large hand to cover the lower half of her face instead.
"This cave can protect us from the dangers outside," he explained awkwardly, "but it also... has strange effects on couples who come here."
Honestly, Maeve was a little impressed.
Instead of using this chance to take advantage of her, Ikarus was actually trying to stop her from breathing in more of the aphrodisiac air.
That alone made him feel even more dangerous in her eyes because kind men were terrifying too. They made her feel weak and made her give her heart away too easily.
"If I agree to marry you," Maeve suddenly asked in a muffled voice behind his hand, "would you protect me and take care of everything I need until I die?"
Ikarus immediately stiffened. Slowly, he lowered his hand from her face. "Yes... I mean, yes, absolutely." He swallowed hard and didn’t even blink as he looked straight into Maeve’s heterochromia eyes.
"My brothers and I brought you into this world," he said seriously. "So we’ll take responsibility for you for the rest of eternity."
Eternity sounded a little excessive.
Maeve probably wouldn’t even live longer than seventy years anyway.
After a moment of silence, Maeve finally admitted something honestly.
"I’m actually scared of getting pregnant," she confessed softly. "I don’t know if my body can handle your children or not."
The moment she said that, Ikarus immediately took both of her hands.
His expression became serious again. "We have many skilled healers," he said firmly. "Even though we lack medicinal plants, we have other ways to strengthen your body so you won’t suffer or feel too much pain."
"How?" Maeve asked softly, her thoughts already feeling slower and warmer because the aphrodisiac had already started affecting her mind.
Ikarus hesitated for a moment before answering. "I’ll explain it later," he said gently. "But I promise you’ll be alright."
Then he added in a lower voice, "And I never make promises I can’t keep."
Maeve stared at him silently. Even if things went wrong, Maeve could probably find something useful—or at least something strange—in the black market anyway.
That strange market sold staplers that could heal wounds. Who knew what other insane things existed there?
Maeve asked, "How do people even get married here?"
Ikarus swallowed hard again. His gaze slowly dropped toward her lips, which somehow looked softer and fuller now that her cheeks had turned red. freewēbnoveℓ.com
"The wedding ceremony is actually very simple," Ikarus explained calmly. "We only need to bathe in the pond, light the wooden sticks, and kiss in front of the altar. After that..." His voice became quieter. "We can do whatever we want."
It did sound simple, but Maeve’s heart still wouldn’t stop beating too fast. After all, this was the first time she had ever gotten married.
"But what about your brothers?" Maeve asked nervously. "Won’t they get angry if you marry me first?"
Ikarus answered almost immediately. "They won’t."
His expression stayed calm as he continued, "Among my brothers, I’m the firstborn. That means I naturally have the right to marry you first."
Maeve fell silent for a moment. To be honest, she had briefly thought the three brothers would somehow expect to mate with her together.
But honestly? Even dealing with one of them already felt overwhelming enough.
"If you say so..." Maeve said softly. She took a small breath before finally looking straight at him. "Then let’s do it."
A faint blush still covered her face as she added, "Let’s get married."
