Chapter 117 - Scented candles

As we returned to our room, I opened the door and immediately noticed the puzzled expression on Violet's face. I had asked a servant to put scented candles all over our room to allow us to forget the unpleasant stench better, so she was clearly confused to see how our room turned out as such. She was wondering if we'd entered the wrong room.

I smiled approvingly at the candles and the scent that roamed in the air, glancing expectantly at her to hear her express her gratitude to me for being such a considerate man. Even though I had no prior experience with relationships, I knew how to conduct myself in a gentlemanly manner.

I leaned my body against the door, folding my arms over my ċhėst as I waited for her reaction. She looked around our room, seeing the candles everywhere. Next to our bed, at the table, at the windowsill, in the bathroom, there was not a place that was not lit with a candle. 

I waited and waited, but all I heard was a gasp. She then grabbed my arm and yanked me to the ground before I had a chance to ask if there was anything wrong with it. I was suddenly crouching on the floor along with her. 

"What—"

"Ssshhh!!" She placed a finger over her lips, her eyes wide in bewilderment. She then looked around the room again as if she was searching for something. "There might be a witch," she warned, immediately alerting all my senses. 

A witch? I quickly sniffed the room, but all I could smell were the candles around us. Shit, maybe I shouldn't have put so many candles after all. I decided to rely on my hearing sense and concentrated on the sounds around us, but nothing sounded suspicious. How did a witch get here in the first place? 

Did a witch follow us back from the church? 

[What are you doing crouching like a cat?! Get in there and get the witch! We need to protect our mate!] My wolf roared, clearly angered by the fact that I didn't immediately go inside the room. [Don't tell me you're scared of a mere witch?] 

[Don't be silly, wolf] I retorted. [We don't know how many witches are there. They could be hiding behind the walls, so I can't afford to be hasty. Unlike you, I use my brain before I act].

[Hmph! What a chicken].

I ignored the wolf's mockery and turned to Violet, seeing her sniffing the room. "Can you tell me how many witches are there?"

She shook her head, whispering, "I can't smell them." 

She can't smell them? Are those witches that skillful for them to be able to hide their scents? Or is it because of the candles? 

"Then how come you know there's a witch inside?" 

She beckoned for me to come closer to her, but her gaze remained fixed on our front. "You see how there are a lot of candles? I've heard about how witches use candles a lot in their rituals, so this must be—"

"Wait," I said, raising my hand to stop her from continuing her explanation. "So... you think there's a witch inside because of the candles?" She nodded firmly, and I couldn't help but sigh. 

What am I to do with this woman? 

I wanted to hear her praise me for what I did, but I didn't expect her to come up with such a conclusion instead. Well, it's not bad for her to be wary of her surroundings, but—never mind. I'll let her off just because she's so damn adorable.

I stood up from my former position, leaving Violet still on the floor with her eyes wide as she saw me walking into the room. Her shock was written all over her face. I picked up one of the candles and held it up in the air, showing it to the frightened rabbit. 

"There's no witch," I said, but her wariness remained. "I was the one who put all these candles here."

Seeing me beckoning her to come, she finally stood up, slowly walking over to me. She looked around the room again, searching for a witch, but all she could find was her handsome mate in this room. 

"But you were with me the whole time," she said, puzzled, as if she didn't believe what I'd just said. "How come you can put all these—" and then she realized I'd asked a servant to do it through the mind-link. I smiled at her. "Why did you put all these candles? Isn't one or two enough to lit the room?"

"It's not a normal candle, though. It's a scented candle," I said, and the confused look remained on her face. It seemed that she didn't know what kind of candle it was. "It's a candle that produces a pleasant aroma when it's burning. I thought we'd need this after today."

"Ah, so the smell came from the candles," she picked up one candle, smelling it. "I-I thought it was another scent of magic that I didn't know about," she smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of her nape. 

"It's fine. I don't blame you for not knowing what this is," I ȧssured her, patting her shoulders. "We don't find scented candles often in Wonsvile. It's mostly made in Myltha, and I have a few stocked up just because I thought I might need them later."

"Well, though I told you that it's fine, I can't help but feel a little disappointed after all the trouble I went through to put all these candles," I pouted, despite the fact that all I had to do was ask for a servant to prepare everything. "I wanted you to praise me or thank me for what I did, but to think that I got such a reaction instead..." 

She glanced at me, seeing my disappointed expression, then proceeded to put the candle back on the table. She walked closer and tugged my sleeve, "I'm sorry. I thought a witch followed us back home from the church," she bit her lower lips, wondering what to do. "Were you very disappointed?"

"You can say so," I let out a sigh, trying my best to look crestfallen. "I don't think a simple apology is enough to make the bitterness in my heart go away." 

I took a quick glance at her face and noticed that she, too, had a pout on her face. Seeing her make such an expression pricked my heart and conscience, so I decided to stop the act—but then I heard her utter the magic words. 

"Then... is there anything that I can do to make the bitterness go away?" 

I took some time to think of the answer—despite the fact that I already had the answer in mind minutes ago. "I think... it would go away if you agreed to grant another wish of mine." 

"...another wish?" She narrowed her eyes at me, already feeling suspicious of it. It appears that the last request I made of her had caused her to question the underlying motives behind my requests. Of course, I'd never make a request that wasn't beneficial to both of us—though I couldn't say that I wasn't the one who reaped the most benefits.

Well, what am I to do? I'm a greedy man if it's about her. 

"I'm not going to fall for the same trick," she glared at me, and I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure you're going to make me do weird things for you again."

"Ouch! Is that what you think of me? A man who made his mate do strange things for him?" I put my hand over my heart, feigning pain. "But I'd only make a wish that is beneficial to both of us." 

She quickly denied my remark. "It's only beneficial for you, though." 

"Really? So are you saying that you didn't like what we did?"

No words seemed to escape her mouth as she was taken aback by my straightforwardness. It looked as though she was pondering what she would say in response to my question. What answer would be best? The truth or the lie? 

Seeing how she was hesitating, I was confident that the truth was something that she had yet to have the courage to tell me directly. I quickly smirked at her hesitation. Ah, so it seems that taking a dating lesson from Andrew was not useless after all.

"So you did like it," I said, and she looked away, her cheeks reddening. It was her signature move whenever she was flustered or embarrassed—avoiding my eyes. 

"W-well, I can't say that I liked it, but I also can't say that I... didn't like it." 

"Then, how about we give it another shot? That way, you'll be able to tell for sure. Tell me directly—whether you like my kiss or not." I pulled her close to me, my eyes following her green eyes.

"W-what if I say that I didn't like your kiss?" Such nonsense that came from her delectable lips. 

"...then tell me how you would like to be kissed."