Remnants of Wool

“So, this is your natural scent.”

Chloe, the cherished daughter of the Dottier Count, meets Ern, a man said to have been adopted by the Lister Count family after losing his parents to vampires.

“Ern, I will always be on your side.”

Chloe marries him despite her family’s opposition. As they enjoy their blissful newlywed life, she witnesses Ern’s sister accusing him of being a “monster”…

“I knew you would stay by my side until the end.”

* * *

“If you wear this ring, you will never be able to take it off.”

Chloe thought it was his vow not to divorce her, a metaphor. But as it turned out, this ring really wouldn’t come off. It had felt loose on her finger before, but now it was stuck fast, no matter how hard she pulled. Even soaking her hand in hot water didn’t work.

After confronting Ern, she learned the truth: it was a magically enchanted ring. The magic was so powerful that the ring would only come off if her finger was cut off, or if she died.

“A ring I can’t take off until I die?”

“Is there a problem?”

Ern was incredibly brazen.

“Since there’s no reason to take it off, there’s no problem, right?”

“Ern, are you seriously calling that an excuse?”

“…So, are you going to take it off?”

“…”

“Don’t take it off, Chloe. It won’t come off anyway, but don’t even think about taking it off.”

Chloe was quite dumbfounded, but his cute, nuzzling kisses made her forgive him. Like he said, there was no reason to remove the ring. Her initial attempt was simply not wanting to lose it while swimming in the river.

“At least I won’t ever lose it, so that’s a relief.”