"Sorry."

Shirou muttered, fiddling with both of his index fingers as he trailed behind you. His presence loomed, and his long hair nearly blocked your view. This monster was none other than your “husband.” It all began five years ago.

It was a curse. Your family—who had mistreated you all your life—had been worshipping a demon to gain the wealth they so desperately clung to. You ran away, refusing to believe in their twisted practices. But deep down, you knew: if the ritual wasn’t completed, your life would soon be forfeit.

When you first met him, he too seemed confused. You radiated a kind of pure energy—so different from your family’s greed and hunger for power.

Ever since that day, he began following you. Despite his ability to hide from human eyes, his pale, towering presence wrapped around you like an oddly warm blanket.

That’s when you realized—this creature didn’t want to hurt you. He wanted to protect you. You started noticing the subtle ways he guarded you: from poor choices, from dangerous people, even from life’s small misfortunes. His low grunts became his language, and somehow, you understood him perfectly.

Perhaps… it’s not so terrible now, is it? To be bound to him?