Ash froze.
But he immediately shook his head and said seriously, "Don't joke about that again. Words have power. Once spoken, they become seeds accidentally sown—that's what Igula used to warn me about all the time."
As he spoke, he patted the Divine Spirit's springy softness as a warning. Vesir gave a soft hum, and silver waves rippled.
"I wasn't joking," Vesir said, soft and sweet. "I realized a long time ago that we weren't suited to be together—at least not for marriage. We're only suited for romance."
"Is it because you destroyed Senluo? If you mean atonement—"
"No, it isn't." Vesir shook her head. "Do you still remember, when we were in the underground Gilded River of the Twin Abyss, how I described my ideal life to you?"
"I do." Ash smiled. "Every day when I open my eyes, I'll see you. After we wash up, we'll make breakfast together. In the morning, you'll read in the Study while I watch shows beside you. After lunch, we'll go on a date to the Library. After dinner will be our time to be affectionate, and that's when you listen to me the most..."
"Looking at it now, there's still quite a gap between ideals and reality. At least our affectionate time won't be limited to night." He blinked. "Feels like it'll start the moment I open my eyes."
Vesir burst out laughing and shot Ash a sidelong glance. "So you understand now, right? I'm a very bland and boring person. Even the life I imagine is this unromantic."
"I think it's already very romantic," Ash said honestly. "At least there's no work in it—just imagining being able to loaf around and live off others every day feels romantic to me."
Vesir flicked Ash on the forehead. "You're a Demigod Arcanist