Isn't it inappropriate to go straight to the base

"Aina... what are you saying?" Xia Lun stared blankly at the girl before him. "You... don't recognize me anymore?"

Aina Kislilian's expression remained unchanged, as cold and distant as when Xia Lun had first met her.

"Please leave my home... sir," Aina repeated, her voice trembling slightly, as if from fear. "I... have no memory of you."

"You're joking, right? You must be joking!" Xia Lun's Adam's apple bobbed as a wave of bitterness surged in his heart. "I'm Xia Lun, Xia Lun·Morian. I'm your husband..."

"I have no husband. I've always lived here alone."

Aina lowered her head, hiding her face beneath the shadow of her hood, refusing to let Xia Lun see her expression.

How could this be? Aina had forgotten him.

"W-wait... is it because I look younger now? Is that why you don't recognize me?" Xia Lun gripped Aina's shoulders in a daze, shaking her delicate frame. "Look closely! It's me, Xia Lun. You must know me..."

But the Aina before him was already in tears.

"I... I'm sorry. Did I scare you?" Xia Lun hastily released her, panic-stricken.

Damn it! What was he doing? How had things come to this?

"I... I'll leave now. Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you."

Every step felt as heavy as if his feet were cast in lead.

If even Aina had forgotten him... what was the point of him coming back to life?

"Serves you right," the girl behind him murmured softly.

Xia Lun froze.

"What did you say?"

"Wasn't it you who told me to forget you? What, now you regret it?" Aina's crimson eyes fixed on Xia Lun's back.

"'I'm sorry, just forget about me'—what were you even thinking when you said that, you idiot... Don't make people do the impossible..."

Xia Lun stood rigid, his heart suddenly flooded with overwhelming joy.

"You didn't forget me! Aina!" He turned and immediately pulled his wife into his arms.

"You're so cruel, playing such a joke on me..."

"I told you long ago—I would never forget you," Aina whispered against his chest. "Cruel? I told you not to die, and yet you still..."

Xia Lun gently stroked Aina's head, and she leaned up to press her lips against his.

A long moment passed before they finally parted.

"What... happened?"

Xia Lun finally voiced the question weighing on his mind.

He remembered clearly—he should have been dead.

As a human, he had passed away peacefully in his sleep, with Aina by his side.

Yet here he was, unmistakably alive.

Xia Lun could feel his heart beating, strong and steady. Necromancy couldn't achieve something like this.

"Aina, what did you do?"

"I brought you back to life. The answer is obvious."

"Is something like that even possible?" Xia Lun couldn't believe it.

This defied all logic.

"I am the Demon King, after all." Aina lifted her chin proudly.

Xia Lun couldn't resist ruffling her hair again—its texture was exquisite, smooth and silky like fresh milk, leaving a faint fragrance on his fingers.

"Casually touching the Demon King's head is terribly rude. I'll forgive you this time, but don't do it in front of others."

Despite her words, Aina made no move to push his hand away, her expression one of quiet contentment.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty the Demon King," Xia Lun replied fondly.

She was exactly the same as before.

"Though you've just woken up, I regret to inform you that it's already evening."

Xia Lun glanced out the window—a blizzard raged outside, making it impossible to tell the time of day.

"Where are we?"

"On a snowy mountain. It's quite remote," Aina answered. "I've lived here for nearly seven hundred years."

Xia Lun: "..."

Aina had just casually dropped an astonishing number.

From the bamboo basket she'd brought, Aina retrieved dinner—first, freshly baked bread, still warm and fluffy; next, a fragrant cream borscht; and finally, a few succulent steaks that made one's mouth water.

Almost instinctively, Xia Lun swallowed hard.

"Eat up. I made all of this for you."

Only then did Xia Lun notice the intricate miniature magic circle engraved on the basket—likely for preserving warmth.

Xia Lun took his seat at the table.

Just like old times. Aina had always been a devoted wife.

"It's the year 1136 of the Order Era now. Since your death... over a thousand years have passed."

Aina propped her chin on her hands, elbows resting on the table, watching as Xia Lun enjoyed the meal she'd prepared.

"Has it really been that long...? So the Chaos Era is over." Xia Lun spoke between mouthfuls, his words slightly muffled.

"Yes. Compared to those days, things are relatively peaceful now... on the surface." Aina's gaze never left Xia Lun's face.

"Aren't you eating?" Xia Lun swallowed a bite of bread and washed it down with a gulp of the rich, savory soup. The familiar taste nearly brought tears to his eyes.

"I'm not hungry."

Aina smiled mysteriously, her eyes still fixed on him.

"Did you know, Xia Lun? We've both become figures of legend now."

She pointed at Xia Lun's face. "You're the legendary Hero."

Then she pointed at herself. "And I'm the legendary Demon King."

"Oh?" Xia Lun raised an eyebrow. He'd never cared much for fame. "What do the stories say?"

Ahem. Aina cleared her throat and recited in a solemn tone:

"In the year 1819 of the Chaos Era, the legendary Hero successfully sealed away the Demon King. The forces of humanity and demons reached a stalemate, signing a truce that ushered in an era of peace.

In the year 1909 of the Chaos Era, the Demon King broke free from her seal and reemerged. Unmatched in power, humanity stood no chance and was ultimately conquered by the demonic forces.

Yet after subjugating humanity, the Demon King vanished without a trace.

Thus, humans and demons achieved coexistence, marking the dawn of the Order Era..."

Xia Lun's lips twitched.

Hmm... the year 1819 of the Chaos Era was when he and Aina had gotten married.

Of course, what outsiders didn't know was that after their wedding, the two had gone into seclusion—while publicly, it was announced that Xia Lun, the Hero, had successfully sealed the Demon King away.

And the year 1909 of the Chaos Era... if he recalled correctly, that was the year he'd died.

After his death, Aina had actually gone on to rule over humanity!

But this time, there was no Hero to stand in her way.

"Had enough?" Aina glanced at the spotless plates—Xia Lun had devoured every last bite.

"I'm full..." Xia Lun let out a long, satisfied sigh.

"Good. Then it's my turn now."

Aina took a step forward, flames igniting around her.

By the time she reached Xia Lun, her dress had already turned to ashes, revealing skin as smooth and fair as mutton-fat jade.

"Uh... I just got resurrected, and we're already... I mean, shouldn’t I take a bath first?"

Xia Lun hadn’t expected Aina to be this forward.

"No need. I’ve been cleaning your body every day."

Whoosh—

Aina’s bat-like wings unfurled behind her, wrapping around them both.

In the darkness, Xia Lun met the Demon Queen’s crimson eyes—dangerous, intoxicating, and utterly irresistible.

"Xia Lun, love me."