In Frieren as a 1000 years old Demon

"Gift."

Agusheed had no romantic prelude or preparation, nor did he wait for the perfect moment.

The moment Furame sat down, he simply pushed forward the black velvet box.

"You really have no sense of romance... What kind of timing is this for a gift..."

Furame gave a helpless smile.

Yet she wasn't angry at all, naturally accepting the present.

Only a fool would expect romance from a demon.

...But when did the future you learn about romance?

Thinking this, Furame picked up the box.

As she opened it, the miniature magic circle embedded in the lid emitted a faint glow.

Under the light, a silver chain with liquid metal-like reflectivity and mirror-like transparency came into view.

Furame's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she reached out to lift the necklace.

"'Mirror Lotus Blossom'?"

"This design isn't common in the Empire's northern regions..."

"How did you obtain it?"

Agusheed didn't hide the truth:

"Perhaps just luck. When I visited that jewelry shop in the eastern district, this necklace happened to be on display."

Eastern district—

Hearing this keyword, Furame immediately understood.

She vaguely recalled that shop owner being one of the people they'd casually saved in the past...

No doubt, this necklace had been prepared in advance by that proprietor.

Seeing Agusheed's complete ignorance about the jewelry's backstory, Furame chuckled softly:

"Luck?"

"On display?"

"I've never heard of 'Mirror Lotus Blossom' being displayed openly..."

Furame's words combined with the shop owner's earlier behavior.

Agusheed connected the dots and realized something was amiss.

"Wouldn't be openly displayed..."

Understanding the necklace had been specially prepared for him, Agusheed was momentarily speechless.

"You humans are strange. Why go to such lengths for unrelated people?"

Furame didn't answer.

This was something Agusheed needed to discover for himself.

Her fingers traced the twin lotus emblem at the center, finding it oddly familiar—

"Seems to be from the same artisan as those dance shoes you gifted me."

Agusheed added, noticing Furame's expression.

"The shoes you gave me were crafted by that old dwarf in the Empire's south, correct?"

"I heard four years ago he'd stopped making jewelry—"

"This necklace must have quite the story behind it..."

Furame murmured softly.

She could imagine how many hands this necklace had passed through before reaching Agusheed.

Not dwelling further, Furame simply handed the necklace back, indicating she wanted Agusheed to put it on her.

"Making me do this too? You're getting lazier, Furame..."

Despite his words, Agusheed stood and moved behind her.

First gently gathering the red strands scattered across Furame's neck.

Then slowly guiding the 'Mirror Lotus Blossom' along her collarbone.

During this, Agusheed noticed a fresh reddish burn mark behind Furame's ear—

Undoubtedly a "souvenir" from magical experiments.

With both hands occupied, Agusheed simply lowered his head and blew softly on Furame's ear.

[A minor healing spell] easily erased the burn.

But the moment it disappeared, Agusheed felt Furame's body tense abruptly.

Her ears turned even redder than the burn had been—

"Haa—"

Agusheed heard Furame exhale sharply after that momentary stiffness.

"You idiot..."

Furame's whisper was nearly inaudible, more breath than voice.

But as a Great Demon, Agusheed heard perfectly.

Not understanding what he'd done wrong, he attributed it to Furame being whimsical.

Where Agusheed couldn't see,

Furame's fingers twitched restlessly, as if unsure where to place themselves.

The earlier exasperation at his lack of romance had transformed into an indescribable flush.

Feeling the cool metal against her neck and hearing the clasp click into place,

Furame unconsciously traced the lotus patterns on 'Mirror Lotus Blossom'.

The Grand Mage couldn't help but smile, then produced her own prepared gift.

When Agusheed returned to his seat, he found a velvet box beside the empty necklace case.

"Your turn."

Furame lifted the long-steeped tea, letting the steam obscure her reddened ears.

Agusheed opened the box.

On an obsidian base rested silver-framed glasses, their lenses shimmering with hazy light.

"A custom wand designed for you."

"While ineffective for demonic magic, it should improve human spell efficiency by five to ten percent."

Furame's voice mingled with the clink of porcelain.

"The frames are crafted from dark dragon horn, the lenses from..."

"Crystal unique to Celestial Vein Dragons?"

Furame's explanation was interrupted as Agusheed donned the glasses.

"You've also imbued them with your [Barrier Magic]?"

"Correct."

Furame snapped her fingers, continuing:

"Considering even these materials could be damaged in battle, I've layered miniature barriers over both lenses and frames—"

Furame drew out her words, setting down her teacup as she watched Agusheed remove the special glasses-wand:

"Isn't it rude to remove your wife's gift so quickly?"

"So there are rules to this pretend marriage too..."

Under Furame's gaze, Agusheed moved to put them back on.

But a strange odor wafting from the kitchen made them both freeze.

"Something's burning."

Agusheed identified it instantly with a slight sniff.

Furame had realized too.

Yet she didn't move, instead locking eyes with Agusheed.

"I have good news and bad news. Which first?"

Agusheed raised an eyebrow and chose randomly:

"The good news?"

Furame propped her chin on a hand, appearing unperturbed:

"The good news is it's probably just the stew burning, and I prepared many different dishes."

"And the bad?"

"The bad news is burning stew means the [Heating Magic] and [Chilling Magic] have likely gone out of control."

"What happens then?"

"Perhaps, maybe, probably... an explosion..."

"Perhaps... maybe... probably?"

"...Fine, definitely an explosion."

No sooner had Furame spoken than deafening thunder erupted!!

With a tremendous blast, the cottage's kitchen launched skyward.

The first wedding anniversary of the mightiest Great Demon and modern era's strongest human Grand Mage—

Concluded perfectly with their dinner exploding into the heavens.

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