When A Ghoul Falls In Love

The man is watching me with a baffled look on his face.

A 632-year-old v.i.r.g.i.n, huh?

I mutter, “I am sorry. I was confirming if you were still a man in your real form. I don’t know much about ghoul’s physiology.”

I admit that I was teasing him a little. But there are many questions in my head. If ghouls live for a long time, then why does he want to go out with a human? Human beings don’t live for long — disease, accidents or something else can catch them easily. I will age faster too. If humans are ghouls’ food, would his family accept a human as his wife? That’s unlikely. I am sure that my parents wouldn’t have accepted it if I decided to marry a vegetable.

And I have nothing more to say. I can ignore all the differences. But how do I accept that he did try to make use of my weakness? When I asked him to become my eyes and ears, I trusted him. Whatever his reasons were, I can’t rely on someone who had made a fool of me. If I didn’t start this conversation today, I am sure that he wasn’t planning to tell me.

“Thank you for being honest to me, ” I say to him quietly. I took a step forward in this relationship and now, I feel like I need to take ten steps back. “I won’t use your eyes or ears any more.”

“I knew it. ” He stares at me with moist eyes. “You hate me. ”

“I don’t hate– ” I close my mouth when I see the big drops of tears sliding down on his pale cheeks. His purses his red lips tighter with eyes full of despair.

I am angry. I want him to cry to his death. It’s better if he does it when I am not looking. But he looks like the world has ended for him. I am not sure how to handle this. Being angry doesn’t mean that I hate him.

I should let him cry. His tears won’t affect me at all.

“I am sorry.” He sniffles. “For lying to you.”

I guess I should let it go this time. I should give him a little credit for being honest. I put my finger on his chin and raise his head. “Look at me.”

He does. The rims of his eyes are red. Though his eyes are different, the look in his eyes is familiar. With skin as white and soft as cotton, he is like a little marshmallow.

When he’s looking at me like this, it’s hard to stay angry for long. I kiss his soft lips once and then, I look into his eyes. “I will say this once. I don’t find you disgusting. I am not afraid of you. I don’t hate you at all. I am angry with you because you took advantage of my weakness, but you gave me a sincere apology and I have accepted it. I won’t rely on your sight or hearing. If you want me to rely on you again, then work hard to gain my trust. Also, I promised you that I won’t leave you. So, don’t be afraid. Where is the confidence that you would make me fall for you?”

“Nell, I keep falling for you more.” He pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me. His claws aren’t hurting me. I inhale his scent. Though I am not in love with him yet, I want to sleep like this.

He pecks the side of my head. “I will become the best husband.”

“Mhm.” I brush my nose against his nape. “Want to do it?”

He whispers in my ear with a hoarse voice, “You know that I do.”

“You have work.” I pull away and smile at him. “Go and save lives. I will sleep at home today.”

He shakes his head. “No, you have to come with me.”

“Nope.” I climb on the bed and cover myself with the blanket. “I didn’t get a minute of sleep last night. Your office couch is not comfortable. We both know that it’s not good to go to your workplace every day. I don’t want to be seen as a wife who keeps an eye on you for all days in a week.”

“But Wife” He whines go me, “I feel relieved if you are close to me.”

“This apartment is close to the hospital. Come home at lunchtime.” I close my eyes. “I won’t leave the apartment.”

It’s bait. I wonder if he will take it.

“You really won’t leave?” I feel his hand on my head. “Not a step out of the apartment?”

“Mhm.” The Devil didn’t want me to leave the apartment. Eli doesn’t want me to step out of the apartment. When Evie disappeared right before my eyes, the Devil was glad that someone came back.

If it is what I think it is, was Evie speaking the truth? If she was suspicious about something, she wouldn’t come here. She would have gone to the police station.

I have to see whether Evie is alive or not.

“You really don’t want to come with me?” He asks me again.

I don’t answer him, letting sleep take over.

***

Eli strokes her head, watching her with a solemn look in his eyes. He didn’t expect this outcome. If he had told her earlier, she would have accepted him the way he is.

How many humans can accept a ghoul without any fear?

He blushes hard, recalling the pleasant feeling when she touched him there. His little wife is sly.

He can’t take her to the workplace every day. He should take care of this matter soon. Also, he should take a break from work. They are married, but they haven’t left for the honeymoon yet.

When she thought that he might be keeping her as a mistress, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Eli walks out of the bedroom with a sunny smile on his face. He wants to have a grand wedding to declare that she is his wife to all the worlds. How would she look in a wedding dress?

He knits his brows.

They can’t have the wedding in front of heavenly gods since he’s a dark creature. There’s no way that they would acknowledge their marriage.

He can take her to his world and get married. But that’s too risky. There are too many ghouls and other demons. His siblings will create chaos.

If he has a grand wedding, his father would find out for sure. He can’t keep her a secret forever. His sisters already know.

The council revised the marriage laws between a human and otherworldly creature. A human court’s paper marriage between a human and a dark creature is not recognized by the council or other worlds. The council annuls the marriage if they find out that the human didn’t know the truth about her partner.

If the Fae are involved, the council will get involved. He doesn’t like either of them.

The Fae can’t come out of the hiding place, but he can magic through the puppets. That Fae is keeping watch of his every move. Evie left the hospital yesterday. She appeared in front of the apartment as another puppet. The things that Evie said to Nell don’t seem like a lie. So, the Fae knew Evie’s history with Nell and Baek Joon-Woo. The Fae might have seen it. Evie made quite a scene in front of the cafe.

Eli pours himself a glass of cold water. Leaving his wife alone is dangerous.

“You shouldn’t leave her alone,” He hears the cat’s voice.

He looks back at the cat lying on the couch. This creature is another mystery to him, but the cat won’t harm Nell. If Nell created this spirit, she is his master. Right now, this cat knows the most. “Why should I not leave her alone?”

The cat’s ear twitches once. “Because she is not dumb.”

Yes, his wife is quite smart. But what does this cat mean? “I don’t get it.”

“Why didn’t she ask you about Evie?” The cat opens his right eye. “Little Marshmallow, why are you so dumb?”

Right! Eli holds his head. Nell didn’t ask him about Evie. She also told him that she would not rely on his eyes. That’s what she meant. She was going to send him away and then, sneak out to meet Evie. “Damn!”

“You are beautiful and all, but you won’t survive for long if you let her trick you like this.” The cat yawns. “I want to be mad at you for ignoring my existence. She already forgave you. So, I will also let this go.”

He didn’t ask this cat for forgiveness. Eli glares at it. “If you tell me everything, I can find that person easily and erase his existence.”

“I would love to tell you, but I am too weak to fight the spell.” The cat sighs. “The next layer of the spell hasn’t been undone. I wonder how long it would take. Spring is near and yet so far.”

“There are only two months left.” He sits next to the cat. He’s going to call and take some time off from work. He would be an idiot to ignore this cat’s warning. “Is there a way to prevent it?”

“No.” The cat comes and sits on Eli’s lap. “I hate humans. I hate the Fae. I also hate demons.”

Eli runs his fingers on the cat’s soft fur. It is as soft as Nell’s hair. He strokes the cat’s back tenderly. “You hate everyone.”

“I hate you a little less,” The cat mutters with his eyes closed. “It’s not possible to prevent it since the spell was never meant to block the memories forever. The spell also blocked the feelings that she felt during those days. When she remembers, she would feel it like it’s happening all over again. That person wants her back before the spell breaks because he wants to see her being tormented again. I pity her. It would have been better if she died before you met her.”

What kind of person was that? Even he was never this cruel to his enemies. Eli snaps at the Devil, “Who is that person? Just give me a hint.”

The Devil raises his head. “Do you think that I wouldn’t tell you if I could? I don’t want to be tortured along with her. Since I already know what it is, I won’t be shocked like her.”

Eli grits his teeth. It’s not this cat’s fault. Creating a spirit is delicate magic. The cat spirit is still growing. What it becomes is another mystery. Hopefully, it won’t be harmful to Nell.

“Keep stroking my back, Little Marshmallow.” The cat purrs, “I will help you if you behave.”

“Why would I need your help?” Eli grumbles while he pats the cat’s back. Touching his wife’s hair is better.

“Like I helped you today.” The feline replies with a sleepy voice, “If you don’t want her to remember earlier, don’t let her see Baek Joon-Woo’s letter again. Don’t let her go to the places that remind her of the past. Also, don’t let her find out about her biological father.”

This cat knows who her biological father is. Eli stares at the cat drifting to sleep. Asking questions is useless. The cat won’t tell him anyway.