Eterna, still recovering from her overwhelming emotions, whispered softly, "You... are naughty, Darling... but I like it..."

  However, what she had not accounted for was the fact that Arfrotian had actually heard what she muttered. After all, weren't the two of them still locked in each other’s embrace? There was no way he would miss a single word she spoke, especially when it was something as bold as that, but in a way Arfrotian had succeeded in comforting Eterna for him to ask a more serious question but keeping the teasing mood on that is!

  Arfrotian smirked, tightening his hold on Eterna ever so slightly, before he spoke in his usual teasing tone, "Hey, Honey, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

  Eterna, who was already drowning in embarrassment from the teasing she had endured earlier, immediately went on guard. She had already suffered through his merciless teasing about baby-making and then the unexpectedly deep and passionate kiss. She could not predict what insane question he would ask her next.

  She pouted slightly, huffing and puffing her cheeks in an adorable show of defiance, before saying, "Oh, Darling, please don’t! Because I never know, you just may take advantage of me again!"

  Arfrotian grinned at the sight of her puffed cheeks and simply couldn’t hold back his amusement. "Oh? My Honey’s quite cute when puffing her cheeks!" he complimented her, his laughter deep and rich.

  Eterna’s face turned a deeper shade of red.

  It was not as bad as the past two episodes of embarrassment, but it still made her feel utterly flustered. She crossed her arms and turned her face slightly to the side, trying to maintain her composure. "Nothing you say will get anything out of me now, hmph!" she declared with a determined look.

  But Arfrotian?

  He wasn’t fazed at all. In fact, he just laughed as if he had already predicted this response.

  "Oh? Nothing I say will get anything out of you now, is that so?" he repeated, his voice laced with amusement.

  Yet... despite all her words, Eterna had not moved an inch from his embrace.

  She was still nestled perfectly in his arms, her body pressed against his, as if instinctively seeking the warmth of his presence.

  And that’s when Arfrotian knew exactly what he had to do next.

  He raised his left hand and placed it gently on her cheek, making her face him directly.

  Eterna jolted slightly, her heart skipping a beat at the sudden closeness. Her pouted cheeks were still puffed, and she felt too shy to look directly into his eyes. But she still maintained her defiant stance.

  That was until—

  Arfrotian’s fingers brushed against her lips.

  Eterna froze completely, her breath hitching as a sudden wave of heat rushed to her face.

  And then he smirked.

  "Ah, I understand now," Arfrotian mused in a playful yet deliberate tone. "I wasn’t able to give you a proper, deeply connected kiss earlier, now, was I? I guess that means... I should do that now. Maybe then you wouldn’t be mad at me anymore, right, Honey?"

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  Eterna’s eyes widened as her mind went blank for a moment.

  "N-NO... NO— OKAY, I WILL LISTEN TO WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO ASK!" she suddenly stuttered, waving her hands frantically in a desperate attempt to divert the situation away from yet another kiss.

  Arfrotian laughed at her panicked reaction. "Oh, Honey, why are you so flustered?" he teased further, pulling her even closer, so that their bodies pressed completely against each other.

  Eterna almost lost her mind right there.

  But seeing that she was seconds away from passing out from embarrassment, Arfrotian finally decided to show her mercy and got to the real reason he had asked her a question.

  His expression shifted from playful to serious.

  "Alright, so Honey, do you know what had actually transpired that caused a fragment of you to be sealed inside the Eternal Frostheart while your real body was imprisoned somewhere within the omniverse?"

  Eterna, who had been in a complete mess of emotions just moments ago, was suddenly pulled back to the tragic reality of her existence.

  However... before she could answer, her mind itched with curiosity.

  There was something she had been meaning to ask him.

  And now, she saw a perfect opportunity to turn the tables on him.

  She placed her hands on Arfrotian’s cheeks and brought his face closer to hers, a bold and unexpected move on her part.

  "Well, before that, Darling, would you mind answering something for me?"

  Arfrotian, a little surprised by her sudden initiative, decided to play along. He wrapped his hand around her waist, his fingers resting firmly against her back, and replied smoothly, "Yes, Honey, what is it?"

  Eterna, now refusing to back down, smirked slightly as she asked:

  "You mentioned that this world inside your dreams was forged by the Eternal Frostheart’s backlash... but also by your Pandora. So tell me, what exactly is that thing?"

  The moment the word ‘Pandora’ left her lips, the playful atmosphere shattered.

  Arfrotian’s eyes darkened.

  His expression shifted from teasing and affectionate to something much colder, much heavier.

  For a brief moment, his entire presence changed.

  Eterna could feel it.

  A heavy, almost suffocating aura surrounded him, and the teasing, affectionate man she had just been with seemed to disappear.

  And then he spoke.

  "You really shouldn’t poke your nose into business that doesn’t concern you."

  His voice was cold, completely devoid of its usual warmth.

  Eterna immediately realized that Pandora must be deeply tied to some kind of trauma from his past.

  But...

  Didn’t he just help her ease her own trauma moments ago?

  If he had helped her, then shouldn’t she also help him?

  Eterna’s resolve hardened.

  Despite the chilling aura surrounding him, she refused to back down.

  She tightened her hold on his cheeks, bringing him closer again, and with determined eyes, she said:

  "Oh, Darling, now you’re being nosy!" she accused playfully, but her voice held a deeper meaning.

  "You forgot—I am your wife! That means we should sometimes share our past burdens, just to ease our hearts, right? After all, that’s exactly what you did for me!"

  Arfrotian’s eyes flickered.

  But Eterna didn’t stop there.

  She gently rested her forehead against his and softly whispered:

  "I also want to know why an outsider like you is even here in this omniverse."

  Arfrotian’s breath hitched.

  She continued, "Though I don’t mean to hurt your feelings by calling you an outsider... But, Darling, as your wife, I want to share your burdens.

  I want to know what brought you here.

  I want to understand what this is all about.

  After all... you were the one who stopped the Eternal Frostheart’s backlash from happening again with that power of yours, right?"

  Arfrotian stared at her.

  For a moment, there was silence.

  And then, finally—

  He sighed.

  "Okay, if you’re that insistent..."

  He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face before speaking again.

  "Then listen closely. Because what I am about to tell you… is the real reason I came here."