Chapter 195: Walking Through Effort

“…Warm.”

Not physically.

Clean.

That was the first thing she noticed.

No dust on her skin. No stale air. Even the old-wood smell was gone, replaced by something lighter.

Her gaze swept the room.

The bed beneath her was neatly made. The windows, once fogged, now let in clear moonlight, silver pooling over a polished floor.

The floor.

She leaned forward.

“…He mopped.”

Not just swept.

Mopped. Thoroughly, like he was making sure that any stain wouldn’t survive with the sheer force he had applied to the floor.

Her fingers brushed the mattress, the bedside table. Not a single speck of dust. Not even in the corners. Curtains hung evenly. Furniture had been nudged into place—no longer abandoned, but arranged.

Even the air felt… cared for.

“…Wow.”

The succubus floated beside her, stretching. “Right? I told you he cleaned. But I didn’t expect this level of obsession.”

Evelina didn’t answer.

Bare feet silent on the floor, she crossed the room, fingers trailing along the wall, desk, and window frame.

Clean. Everywhere.

Not perfect—but close enough that the change was undeniable.

“…He did this alone?”

“Mhm~.” The succubus nodded. “Refused to sleep, too. Said he had to make it ’worthy of you.’ Very dramatic.”

Evelina stopped before the mirror.

Silver-white hair slightly messy. Eyes heavy from sleep. Her expression caught between amusement and something softer.

“…What did this place look like before I was awake?”

The succubus replied with a flick of her wrist, sharing her memories of the mansion with Evelina while she had been asleep. In those memories, Evelina saw the huge difference—the place had been a mess. Cael had worked hard to make everything look clean, even leaving his cheesy comments here and there.

“That idiot…” She chuckled.

Then she noticed her clothes. They were obviously different from what she’d been wearing before she fell asleep. Instead of her previous outfit, she now had on a nightgown, courtesy of the small amount of magic the succubus could muster to change her clothing.

“Whose idea was this?” she muttered.

She frowned and looked down at the nightgown.

It was far too sheer to be decent. Moonlight slipped through the thin fabric, tracing every line of her body. The neckline dipped low, lace barely holding to the curve of her chest, each breath threatening to reveal more than it hid. The hem rode high on her thighs, and a slit up one side flashed the length of her leg whenever she moved.

“Seriously,” she murmured, lips curling into a small, disbelieving smile as she pinched the edge between her fingers. “Who thought this was a good idea?”

It felt less like sleepwear and more like an invitation.

She let out a soft chuckle, turning slightly to see how it moved with her, more entertained than bothered by how much the succubus had decided to put on display.

“Who else?”

“He really is shameless, isn’t he?”

*** Hallway

The door creaked as she stepped out.

She paused.

“…Oh.”

The hallway was clean as well.

Not just less dusty.

Clean.

The kind of clean that didn’t belong in a place abandoned for years.

The floor no longer groaned under her weight. The walls were wiped clean, and the faded decorations were carefully straightened. He hadn’t just cleaned; he’d repaired things too—a whole level of effort she had never expected.

Behind her, the succubus peeked out. “…Also, I helped a little, but this is mostly him.”

Evelina said nothing.

She was already walking.

*** Staircase

Step.

Step.

Step.

Each one quiet, measured.

Her fingers slid along the railing—also cleaned. No grime. No splinters.

“…He really did the whole place.”

“He did,” the succubus said, drifting upside down beside her. “Honestly? I think he had fun.”

“I doubt that.”

“Oh, he definitely did. There was a point where he started burning cockroaches with pinpoint accuracy.”

Evelina stopped.

“…He what?”

“Training, apparently.”

“…Of course, why not?”

*** Ground Floor – Foyer

At the bottom of the stairs, she finally saw the full extent of it.

The once-cluttered foyer now looked… presentable. Furniture aligned, floor polished, and papers stacked neatly.

The change wasn’t just visual.

It felt like the place had been claimed.

“…He’s staking territory,” Evelina murmured.

“Through cleaning…?”

“Through effort.”

The succubus tilted her head. “…That’s a stretch.”

Evelina chuckled again, “It is, but let me have my quips.”

*** Kitchen

Evelina opened the next door.

Clean, again.

Shelves wiped. Utensils sorted. The sink actually usable.

She checked a cabinet.

Organized.

Then another.

Same thing, not even a single misplaced utensil or remaining canned food.

“He went through everything,” the succubus said. “Very thorough. Very… husband-like.”

Evelina closed the cabinet.

“…Don’t say things like that so casually.”

“Oho~? Does it bother you?”

“Yes, it makes me impatient.”

“Didn’t expect you to be that honest with me.”

“Doesn’t change a thing anyways.”

*** Backyard Entrance

The back door creaked as she stepped out.

Cool night air brushed her skin, carrying a faint scent of ash.

Her eyes shifted.

“…He’s still awake.”

“Of course he is.”

*** Backyard

There he was.

Cael stood in the open yard, sleeves rolled up, flames dancing along his fingers—black, orange, white weaving together like something alive.

A cockroach darted.

And a thin line of flame snapped out.

Fizzle!

Gone, it didn’t even leave ashes; it was completely incinerated to the point that nothing was left.

He hadn’t even moved.

“Now that’s the Cael I know… seeing you clean up the entire place was quite a shock, y’know?”

“Evelina…!”

Cael turned around, surprised she had woken up at this hour—and even more surprised to see her walking around in the nightgown he’d told the succubus to put on her.

“Y-You’re up earlier than I expected.”

Evelina ignored his comment and focused on teasing him instead.

“You’re shameless, aren’t you? Having me dressed like this while I was sleeping.”

She walked toward him, placing one palm on his chest while the other caressed her cheek. Then she remembered the time, and the moment when Cael had started cleaning based on the succubus’s memories.

A sudden spike of worry and concern shot through her.

“You should get some sleep. You’ve been working the entire day.”

“I’m fine—”

“I’m not asking you.”

She pressed her palm more firmly against his chest and—

[Dark Step]

—in an instant, she teleported them both back into the master bedroom, without a second of casting time. The chaos magic inside her was still strengthening her, if only slightly.

“Go change and sleep. We have a long day tomorrow,” Evelina said, remembering their main goal here: ruling over this land and making it theirs.

“I’m not really tired,” Cael replied—and he wasn’t lying. Cleaning the entire mansion had actually been fun for him, enough that he didn’t feel tired at all afterward.

“Then just lie down and pretend to sleep. At least try to get some energy back.”

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