The couple opened the door to a new world.

"Gah."

With an extremely undignified gasp, the eldest miss of the Norent family, who had just been clamoring "see you in the royal capital," fell straight backward.

Fortunately, the coachman beside her was quick-eyed and deft—or perhaps driven by an intense desire to survive. Disregarding his own injuries, he lunged forward, using his relatively broad back as a human cushion, preventing the delicate noble lady from crashing directly onto the blood-stained, frozen snow.

"Eldest Miss! Eldest Miss, please wake up!"

The coachman shook the person in his arms with a tearful voice, but Aria's eyes remained tightly shut, her face deathly pale. She was clearly in a state of deep unconsciousness—the physiological exhaustion combined with the psychological collapse of her worldview was a double blow that was indeed a bit too much for a greenhouse flower to handle.

"This..."

Lynch scratched his head, watching this scene. He then looked at the surrounding circle of villagers who were staring at him with admiring eyes that seemed to say, "Lord Lynch is so amazing, he even scared the lord's daughter into a faint." He immediately felt a headache coming on.

"Why are you all looking at me? It's not my fault."

Lynch spread his hands helplessly. "I just saved her. Who knew this girl's psychological fortitude was so poor?"

"Mr. Lynch, now is not the time to discuss responsibility."

The old village chief hobbled over shakily on his cane. He glanced at the unconscious Aria, his face full of worry. "This is the lord's only child! If something really happens to her in our village, even if we survived the beast tide, we won't have a good end."

"And look..." The old village chief pointed to the battered carriage. "The axle is broken, and the draft horse is ruined. Plus, with the young miss passed out like this, they definitely can't leave."

"Then what should we do?" Lynch asked.

"We need to find a place for her to settle down."

The old village chief scanned the devastated village.

Although the wave of the beast tide just now had been blocked, several houses at the village entrance had been destroyed, and most of the remaining ones were drafty. As for the village chief's own home, it had long become a temporary shelter for the wounded, packed with groaning militia members.

"With the current condition of our village..."

The old village chief looked troubled. Finally, those cloudy but calculating (scratch that, wise) old eyes fell on Lynch once again.

Or rather, they fell on the Mana Watchtower behind Lynch, which was still emitting a faint purple glow and giving off an unparalleled sense of security.

"Mr. Lynch."

The old village chief rubbed his hands together and said with a flattering expression, "Right now, the safest and warmest place in the entire village... no, perhaps the entire territory, is your house."

"You see, that young miss has a noble status. In case there are aftershocks from the beast tide, it wouldn't be safe to put her anywhere else. If she gets frightened again, we won't be able to bear the consequences."

"So... could I trouble you to take her back to your home for a temporary stay tonight?"

Lynch: "..."

He looked back at his two-story house.

That was the cozy nest for him and Felsy. Normally, apart from Kuma, who was like an attached accessory, they had never let any outsiders stay there.

Moreover, the lady of the house was someone who loved peace and quiet. If she knew he brought back a loud, fussy woman who had even argued with him at the market...

"That's not very convenient, is it?" Lynch hesitated. "My lady... uh, is in poor health and prefers quiet."

"Oh! Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda!"

Before the old village chief could speak, the coachman beside them dropped to his knees with a thud. "Lord Lynch! I beg you! As long as the eldest miss has a safe place to recover, once we return to the castle, the lord will definitely reward you handsomely!"

Looking at the earnest eyes of this group of old, weak, sick, and disabled people, and then looking at the green-haired girl on the ground who indeed looked somewhat pitiful.

Lynch sighed.

"Fine."

He waved his hand. "Let's be clear first, it's only a temporary stay. Once she wakes up, or the road is cleared, you must take her away immediately."

"Definitely, definitely!" Everyone was overjoyed.

...

Lynch's house, first-floor living room.

The fire in the fireplace burned vigorously, dispelling the severe cold outside.

Aria was settled into a guest room on the first floor. This room was originally used by Lynch to store sundries and herbs, but it had just been temporarily tidied up and laid with thick mattresses, making it reasonably comfortable.

Watching the coachman back out with endless thanks to stand guard in the yard, Lynch closed the door and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

As soon as he turned around, he saw two people standing at the top of the stairs.

Felsy, draped in her white fox fur coat, stood with her arms crossed, looking down at him. Her purple eyes clearly spelled out the words "I am very unhappy."

Meanwhile, Kuma was squatting on the handrail with an expression that said she loved a good drama, holding a handful of sunflower seeds she had snatched from who knows where.

"Um... honey."

Lynch gave a dry laugh and quickly explained, "It's a special situation. This girl passed out, and there are no good places in the village. The village chief practically begged me to bring her back. I couldn't just leave her to die, right?"

"Hmph."

Felsy snorted coldly and slowly walked down the stairs.

As she passed the guest room door, she cast a disgusted glance at the closed door, as if it contained some foul-smelling garbage.

"The daughter of the Norent family?"

Felsy said indifferently, "That woman who yelled at you in the market and called you a commoner?"

"That's her," Lynch nodded.

"An impolite brat like her would sober up after being left to freeze in the snow for a night."

Felsy sat on the sofa, elegantly crossing her legs. "You sure are kind-hearted, bringing her home to worship. What? Have you taken a fancy to her status as a noble miss? Or do you think that green hair of hers is quite unique?"

Her tone was so sour it could set one's teeth on edge.

Lynch hurriedly sat next to her, skillfully massaging Felsy's shoulders, and said with an apologetic smile:

"How could I! In my eyes, she can't even compare to a single strand of your hair. I'm just considering the big picture. She is the lord's daughter after all. If she dies here, it'll be hard for us to farm peacefully in the future."

"Plus, I arranged for her to stay in the first-floor guest room. It's far away from us, so she definitely won't disturb you."

Felsy felt a bit more comfortable from the massage, and her expression softened slightly.

"At least you know your place."

She closed her eyes, enjoying Lynch's service. "Still, with an outsider suddenly in the house, I feel like even the air has gone bad."

Just then.

Kuma, who had been squatting quietly on the side, suddenly rolled her eyes as if she had thought of a brilliant idea.

She jumped down from the handrail, leaned close to Felsy's ear, and said mysteriously in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"My lady, don't just focus on being angry. This is actually a great opportunity!"

"A great opportunity?" Felsy opened her eyes and looked at her in confusion.

"Yes!"

Kuma smiled wickedly, Think about it. Although Big Brother Lynch's house has two floors, there aren't actually many rooms. The second floor is the master bedroom, which is your room, and the first floor originally had two rooms: one was Big Brother Lynch's bedroom, and the other was a storage room, which is now the guest room.

But...

Kuma pointed at the guest room door. In order to make that delicate young lady comfortable, Big Brother Lynch just cleared out the storage room and even moved the spare bedding from his own room in there.

In other words...

Kuma's fox ears twitched, her voice full of temptation:

There are no empty rooms left on the first floor for anyone to sleep in.

And that carriage driver has occupied the woodshed. I, Kuma, have to sleep in the attic to watch the house, though actually, I just want to slack off.

So let me ask you—tonight, and for the days that young lady refuses to leave, where should the homeless Big Brother Lynch sleep?

Felsy froze.

She blinked, her mind racing.

Although they had shared a bed at the inn in town before, according to their usual routine, Lynch was supposed to sleep in his own room on the first floor after returning home.

After all, that sharing a bed incident was due to the force majeure of only having two rooms.

But now...

Wasn't this a new force majeure?

And it was the kind with a perfectly justifiable reason, making it impossible to refuse!

If she didn't let him sleep upstairs, was she supposed to make the great hero who had just defeated a Tier 3 Demonic Bear sleep on the floor? Or squeeze into the woodshed with the carriage driver?

That was obviously inhumane!

So...

Felsy's heartbeat began to accelerate, and a faint, almost imperceptible blush spread across her cheeks.

Kuma continued to fan the flames, My Lady, this is the perfect excuse to legitimize and normalize your cohabitation! As long as you reluctantly agree a little, from now on, this long-term meal ticket... oh wait, I mean this man, will belong only to you every night.

Besides, with that green-haired girl downstairs, if you lock Big Brother Lynch on the second floor, wouldn't that be exactly what you want—keeping him away from that bad woman?

These words spoke right to Felsy's heart.

She could declare her sovereignty, enjoy that warm embrace, and conveniently guard against a romantic rival.

It was simply killing three birds with one stone!

Ahem.

Felsy cleared her throat, trying hard to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth. She put on a straight face again, assuming a tsundere posture of I'm very troubled but have no choice but to compromise.

She turned to look at Lynch, who was massaging her shoulders, and said in a serious tone:

Lynch.

I'm here, wifey.

Since the guest room is occupied... where do you plan to sleep tonight?

Lynch was taken aback for a moment.

To be honest, he had been so focused on saving people and settling the wounded that he really hadn't thought about this question.

Uh... I'll make do on the living room sofa for the night? Lynch pointed to the sofa beneath him.

No.

Felsy flatly refused. The sofa is too soft; it's bad for your back. Plus, you just suffered internal injuries and need proper rest.

Then... sleep on the floor?

The floor is too cold.

Felsy frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with Lynch's denseness. She took a deep breath, acting as if she were making some huge sacrifice, turned her head away to look at the falling snow outside the window, and said in a somewhat stiff voice:

Forget it.

Since it's to save someone, it can't be helped.

The second floor... the bed is big enough anyway.

Starting today, you'll move upstairs to sleep.

After saying this, Felsy felt her face burning. Afraid that Lynch would notice something amiss, she hastily added:

Don't overthink it! I just don't want outsiders to think I mistreat our hero! And... and I also need someone to stay alert for any movements from that green-haired girl at night! This is called... being a personal bodyguard! Yes, a personal bodyguard!

Looking at his wife's adorable appearance—clearly wanting him to go up but still finding a bunch of lame excuses—Lynch almost burst out laughing.

As an experienced veteran in theory who had lived two lives, coupled with the baptism of that night at the town inn, if he still couldn't understand Felsy's meaning, he really should go donate his brain.

What personal bodyguard?

This was clearly just wanting a hug!

Yes, Ma'am.

Lynch held back his laughter and saluted solemnly. To protect your safety and to monitor that dangerous green-haired girl, your subordinate is willing to sacrifice his looks... ah, no, sacrifice his sleep, to guard closely by your side!

...Smooth talker.

Felsy glared at him, but she couldn't hide the smile flowing from her purple eyes.

...

In the dead of night.

In the guest room on the first floor, Aria remained unconscious, occasionally letting out a terrified sleep-mumble.

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom on the second floor, the atmosphere was exceptionally warm and... romantic.

The charcoal fire in the fireplace had gone out, leaving only embers emitting a faint dark red glow.

On the large double bed, the two quilts had been merged into one.

Lynch leaned against the headboard, holding a book and pretending to read, but his eyes kept glancing sideways.

Felsy had finished washing up. Wearing that familiar white silk nightgown, she sat in front of the dressing table, combing her long silver hair.

The moonlight spilled over her, coating her in a hazy, holy radiance.

Have you looked enough?

Felsy caught someone's sneaky gaze through the mirror, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. You're holding the book upside down.

Ahem!

Lynch awkwardly turned the book right side up. I'm practicing upside-down reading... to train my mental agility.

Felsy chuckled softly, put down the comb, and stood up to walk to the bed.

She didn't act reserved like she usually did. Instead, she directly lifted the quilt and slipped inside.

Then, very naturally, and even with a bit of bossiness, she leaned into Lynch's embrace.

Turn off the lights.

The queen issued her command.

Alrighty.

Lynch waved his hand, and a gentle breeze brushed past, extinguishing the last oil lamp.

The room plunged into darkness.

But this darkness was not cold; instead, it became scorching hot due to the two bodies pressed tightly together.

Lynch took the opportunity to wrap his arm around Felsy's waist, letting her adjust to the most comfortable position against his chest. Feeling the soft, warm touch in his arms and the faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose, Lynch couldn't help but let out a sigh of satisfaction.

This is so nice.

What's so nice? Felsy's voice sounded in the darkness, carrying a trace of languor.

I mean... this feeling is so nice.

Lynch rested his chin on the top of her head and said softly, When I used to sleep alone, I always felt this house was so empty. Especially on snowy nights like this, it was too cold to sleep. Now... holding you, I feel like my whole world is filled.

This was the absolute truth.

Even though he was a transmigrator, and even though he had a system and power, deep down, that sense of loneliness from being in a foreign land had never really gone away.

Until he had Felsy.

Until this woman, who was always tsundere, stubborn on the outside but soft on the inside, truly accepted him.

Hearing these words, Felsy's body stiffened slightly in his arms before softening even more.

Her hand fumbled beneath the covers, finding Lynch's large hand and intertwining their fingers.

...You're actually quite happy about that green-haired girl, aren't you?

Felsy asked suddenly, a hint of teasing in her tone. I mean, about her taking up my first-floor guest room and forcing you to be homeless.

Lynch froze for a moment.

In the past, he might have laughed it off or found an excuse to show his loyalty.

But tonight, perhaps because the atmosphere was so perfect, or perhaps because they had just experienced a life-and-death trial, he didn't want to hide anything anymore.

Yes.

Lynch answered honestly, his voice deep and magnetic. I am indeed very happy.

You could even say... I want to give that Aria an award.

Hmm? Felsy looked up. Although her expression couldn't be seen clearly, he could feel that she was smiling. So direct? Aren't you afraid I'll be upset?

Why would you be upset?

Lynch looked down, gazing at those purple eyes that still sparkled in the dark, illuminated by the snow's reflection coming through the window.

Felsy, you are truly beautiful.

Not just in your looks.

Lynch reached out and gently stroked her cheek, his fingertips trailing across her delicate skin.

Your eyes, your hair, the way you frown when you're angry, and the way you clearly care about me but refuse to admit it... I love it all.

As a normal man facing such a beautiful wife, if I said I didn't want to hold you to sleep every night, didn't want to be with you every single moment... wouldn't there be something wrong with me?

I've wanted to do this for a long time.

Lynch smiled, his tone carrying a bit of roguish doting. It's just that before, I was afraid you wouldn't agree, afraid you'd think I was being too forward. But now, I have the perfect excuse, and you were the one who brought it up... Of course I'm going to wake up laughing from my dreams.

This straightforward, passionate, and unreserved confession was like a heavy hammer striking firmly upon Felsy's heart.

There were no flowery words, no hypocritical disguises.

Only the purest appreciation and affection.

Felsy felt her face burning hotly, her heart beating so fast it felt like it would leap out of her chest.

That feeling of being nakedly desired and firmly chosen made her, a witch who once made the world tremble, feel somewhat at a loss right now, and even a little... shy.

...Idiot.

After a long time, she finally managed to squeeze out this word.

Only this time, there was no arrogance in the word, only a sweetness so thick it could not be dissolved.

Since... since you are so honest.

Felsy buried her face back into Lynch's chest. Her voice was muffled, yet it carried an unprecedented firmness.

Then I... will grant you a special exception.

From now on, this embrace... is requisitioned by me.

Without my permission, no other woman is allowed to touch it. Not even that green-haired girl.

Of course. Lynch tightened his arms, holding her even closer. No one but you.

That's more like it.

Felsy rubbed against him in satisfaction.

Outside the window, the snowstorm continued, the cold wind howling.

But in this small sanctuary, two hearts finally dropped all their defenses completely, pressing tightly against each other.

From this night onward.

That so-called sleeping in separate beds rule officially became history.

Meanwhile, the lord's daughter, Aria, who was still unconscious downstairs and had unintentionally acted as the ultimate wingman, had no idea that she was being stuffed with a mouthful of couple's sweetness before she had even woken up.

And that she had opened a door to a new world for this duo—ostensibly a model couple, but in reality, a (potential) Demon King and world-destroying Witch.