Free Web NovelChapter 5: You Don’t Want To Sleep With Me?
The rest of the dinner was silent. Only sounds of spoons scraping ceramic plates could be heard. Valeria finished first, practically devouring the food. Lucius finished a few minutes later, taking the two dishes to the sink and rinsing them.
Valeria was lost in thought, staring at the back of the man she had only met a handful of hours ago.
’The food tastes better than anything I have eaten in the past two years.’
Deep down, she knew the food wasn’t all that good, it was the fact that someone cooked for her out of willingness and not obligation. She had watched Luke’s smile as he prepared the food. His stalwart gaze watching the pots and pans on the stovetop, making sure the food was finished to perfection.
The same look her comrades had, when they would enter rifts together.
The same look she used to have...
Luke put the dishes in the dishwasher, before walking back to the table.
I’m getting pretty tired. Are you ready for bed?
He finished writing and passed the paper across the table.
Yes
He got up and grabbed the handles of her wheelchair, pushing her down the hallway and into the bedroom.
Which side do you want?
After reading, she pointed to the left side.
Luke wheeled her over, before unfolding the sheets and lifting her out of the wheelchair onto the bed.
The sun was setting, with its last rays shining through the bedroom windows. He swiftly shut the blinds, quickly darkening the room. Luke turned on the lamp that rested on the nightstand next to her.
Do you need anything before I leave?
Valeria looked at him, confused.
You don’t want to sleep with me?
The word looked far more hesitant than accusatory.
That’s not what I meant.
I understand. I suppose heroes are only attractive before they end up in wheelchairs.
Luke was stunned reading her response. He didn’t expect her to actually get sad that he hadn’t planned to share a bed.
Again, that’s not what I meant. We just met a few hours ago, I don’t think it’s right that we share a bed until we get to know each other better.
It was Valeria’s turn to be surprised. She truly thought that everything he had been doing was just to gain her trust; an attempt to sleep with the former SSS-Rank hero. She was shocked when he hadn’t even planned to sleep in the same room, let alone in the same bed.
She finally seemed to realize that Luke didn’t have some ulterior motive, he was just doing his best to help the woman he married hours earlier.
Valeria gently set down the pen and paper on the nightstand, before nodding to Luke.
Assuming that she had agreed, Luke headed for the door.
"Goodnight."
After Lucius had left the bedroom, emotions rushed Valeria. She replayed the whole day in her mind. Her wedding, signing goodbye to the attendant that had been assigned to interpret sign language since the incident, and Luke always making sure not to push boundaries. Even though he legally had every right to.
She thought back to the horrible past two years. The first was spent in hospitals surrounded by one healer after another who said they could fix her. None did. The second year spent in solitude. Her family, friends, even servants ignored her. Like a fly on the wall.
Yet, the man she had just married was putting in more effort to help her, more effort than her parents ever did.
As her mind raced with these thoughts, she slowly faded off into sleep.
***
Lucius was sitting in the living room, in front of him were the three books he previously had wanted to read. He was ready to open up the history book when a translucent screen appeared in front of him.
[Trust has exceeded Activation Threshold]
[Spouse Bond System activating]
’Am I actually in another world. There’s no way I would be getting a system otherwise.’
"What is the Spouse Bond System."
[I am glad the host asked. The Spouse Bond System is tied to your wife, Valeria. Her disability wasn’t caused by an accident. The system is not at liberty to share more with you. I have been assigned to the host to guide you on the path of her recovery. As you build trust and affection with her, you will gain rewards that will benefit both of you.]
Luke read as a robotic voice spoke in his head.
"So, the more I help her, the more she will recover?"
[It will be easier if I just show you, host]
Another screen appeared in front of him.
[Trust has reached a milestone!]
[Completed First Day of Life as Husband and Wife]
[Host has taken care of his wife’s needs. Dressing her, helping use the bathroom, cooking for her, and moving her to bed.]
[Reward: Previous memories of the host’s body, Rank-D Attack Spell - Frost Spike, Mana +3]
[As you can see host, as you reach milestones and complete system tasks, you will receive rewards.]
Luke wasn’t capable of reading anything past the reward screen. Memories flooded his mind. It felt like a hatchet wielding migraine, chopping away at his brain matter.
Unknown memories flooded his mind. The history of the world, how magic worked, what the academy was, and more. He relived the entire childhood of the previous owner of the body he was currently in.
Everything up until the previous Lucius swallowed a pill of Rank-C poison, dying within seconds.
When the memories stopped flooding in, he bent over and gagged. Nothing came up, but the pain seemed to disappear as the retching calmed.
Luke finally realized just what kind of monster an SSS-Rank hero was. He didn’t even have a good comparison for her, but according to his new memories even dragons were beneath her.
[Now displaying Valeria Kreuger’s injuries]
[Fractured Mana Core - SS-Rank Injury]
[Waist Down Paralysis - SSS-Rank Injury]
[Frozen Eardrums - ???-Rank Injury]
[As the host can see, the injuries afflicted to your wife go beyond just simple cuts and bruises. Fortunately, the system is more than capable of assisting the host with the recovery. But there are steep requirements for these changes.
That is all for the future. For now the host should say the word, ’Status’]
"Status."
[Name: Lucius Kreuger]
[Rank: F]
[Mana: 13]
[Spells: Defense Increase (F), Frost Spike (D)]
[Bonded Spouse: Valeria Kreuger]
[Trust: 10/100]
[Affection: 0/100]
[Milestones Completed: 1/14]
