Chapter 3

    Falling Hopelessly in Love with His (Fake) Wife

    The battle in bed on the first night had drained the young angel completely. By the time Bodin woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. He slowly opened his eyes, recalling the events of the previous night when he was the one who surrendered and fainted first. Just thinking about it made him feel deeply embarrassed. He was the husband, yet he couldn’t keep up with the needs of his beautiful wife. What a useless husband he was.

    “You’re awake?”

    “Ah, Bulan.”

    Bodin turned towards the voice, only to freeze in place, wide-eyed. His beautiful wife, wrapped in nothing but a towel, walked out of the bath. Droplets of water cascaded down his face, and his long, wet hair clung seductively around him, looking like an Apsara[1]. However, comparing him to a nymph might not be entirely accurate since Bulan was male.

    “You’ve slept in quite late, you know. The sun has been up for a while now.”

    “I’m sorry. I don’t usually wake up this late.”

    “Maybe it’s because you had too much fun yesterday and had sweet dreams,” Chanpa teased his fake husband, laughing softly. The gentle, bell-like laugh of the disguised giant was so bright and tempting that Bodin couldn’t take his eyes off him. He fell in love with his wife whom he had just met all over again, his heart pounding wildly in his chest just like before.

    “By the way, don’t we need to go meet your parents, Bodin? If you don’t go get ready soon, we might not be able to greet them until the evening.”

    “Ah, I’m sorry. I’ll go right away.”

    Bodin scrambled out of bed so quickly that he almost fell. Chanpa burst into laughter once again at the sight.

    “Are you still lacking energy, husband? Will you even be able to handle me today?”

    Bodin didn’t respond, but his face flushed bright red, all the way down to his neck. He was so adorable that Chanpa felt like teasing him right then and there. However, it was a shame that the customs required them to meet the in-laws first. What a pity. If they were in Giant City, the husband and wife would be expected to stay together in the bridal chamber for seven days and nights before leaving. If any couple broke this tradition, the man would be shamed as incapable of satisfying his partner. In reality, though, it wasn’t about constant intercourse; most couples used the time to meditate together, merging their spirits into one. This spiritual bond would allow them to transfer power to each other in times of injury, preventing betrayal or infidelity. If a couple wanted to divorce, they would have to split their souls, an agonizing process, which was why most giants preferred to change partners frequently rather than marry.

    For angels, marriage was more of a declaration of ownership. It was a way to show that no one else could claim their partner. Nothing else. Divorce was a simple matter—just a public declaration and the approval of the city ruler. It was a relationship that's easier to severe than cutting paper.

    As Chanpa waited for Bodin on the bed, he glanced around the bedroom, pondering how he might get Bodin to reveal the location of the magical orb.

    Should I make him fall in love with me first and then trick him into telling me?

    A slight pang of pity hit him when he imagined the day Bodin would learn the truth—that his bride was a fake. The angel’s heart seemed as fragile as a crystal ball; if he were abandoned, wouldn’t he die of heartbreak? But despite this, the mission he was given was more important. Chanpa couldn’t betray his own race or take what rightfully belonged to someone else. Eventually, the status of Bodin’s wife would have to be returned to Bulan. Thus, he decided to complete his mission as quickly as possible, so Bodin wouldn’t become too attached to him.

    I’ll have to find it and leave quickly.

    “Bulan, I’m done with my bath. Shall we go?”

    “Mm.”

    As he looked up, he saw his plain, ordinary husband once again. Bodin’s hair was styled to cover up most of his handsome face, and he wore those dull, outdated glasses. Chanpa couldn’t understand why he bothered wearing them; they were such an eyesore.

    "Do you have poor eyesight? Is that why you wear glasses?"

    “Mm, yes. My vision is a bit problematic. It’s nothing for you to worry about,”

    “Your face is quite handsome, yet it’s hidden behind those thick glasses. What a shame.”

    Hearing his wife’s compliment, Bodin’s face flushed bright red. He bit his lip, unsure of how to respond.

    “Are you embarrassed?” The slender figure gently cupped Bodin’s face. The warmth radiating from Bodin’s cheeks was almost like a hot pan, and Chanpa’s bold touch left him flustered. Bodin grabbed his wife’s hand and nodded slightly.

    “Heh, my husband is so adorable.”

    “No, you’re the one who’s adorable,” Bodin murmured softly.

    “No, it’s you. You’re adorable. You’re the most adorable person I’ve ever met, more than anyone else.”

    “I-I’m not adorable.”

    “If I say you’re adorable, then you are, my husband. Don’t you believe me? You’re both handsome and cuter than anyone I’ve ever seen—more so than me a hundred, no, a thousand times over,”

    Chanpa seized the opportunity to tease his husband even more. He tiptoed and leaned in to whisper compliments into Bodin’s ear—sweet, flattering words that Bodin had never heard from anyone except his own mother. Chanpa’s voice, soft and melodious like silver bells, continued praising near his eye, making him felt itchy. Before he realized it, his wife had leaned in and kissed his ear.

    “Mmph!”

    “Even your moans are cute. Let’s hurry along now; your parents have been waiting for us.”

    “Ah, mm.”

    Bodin could only look at his wife’s back with fascination. At this moment, his heart, which once belonged solely to himself, was entirely captivated by Bulan, his beautiful wife. Initially, he heard rumors that he detested the idea of marriage. But now, he realized those were nothing more than meaningless gossip.

    I must be the luckiest angel in the world to have him as my own.

    The dining hall was an extravagant display of opulence. It was decorated with an abundance of gemstones; the dishes were made of gold, and the cutlery was carved from marble. Everything in this room was far more luxurious than anything Chanpa had imagined. He had never fully believed the king’s words about the angels’ prosperity compared to the giants, but seeing it now, he couldn’t help but compare it to his own homeland. Every gem the giants had was won through blood and sweat. Forget about gold—even a single pearl used to adorn a spoon was a rare and priceless treasure for them.

    “Bulan, how was last night? Did you sleep well?”

    “It was wonderful. My husband and I were very satisfied.”

    “If you say so, I’m glad. I hope my son has been taking good care of you, Bulan.”

    “He has taken great care of me, so you don’t need to worry, Mother.”

    The conversation between Chanpa and the couple, the Angel City’s rulers, flowed smoothly and naturally, much to Bodin’s relief. He was happy to see that his wife got along well with his parents and appeared to be a perfect daughter-in-law according to the customs. Whether the topic was about the weather or even politics, Bulan seemed knowledgeable beyond Bodin’s expectations. His wife was humble, speaking in a soft, polite manner. It was no wonder his parents seemed to adore him. Even though this marriage was initially arranged for political reasons, it seemed their married life might turn out well after all—or so Bodin thought. Unfortunately, the reality was that his bride was a fake. The future he envisioned was destined to be shattered, leaving nothing but devastation.

    "Ah, talking with your parents was quite enjoyable."

    "I'm glad you got along with them so well."

    “Mm,” Chanpa gave Bodin a mysterious smile before heading back to his chamber, inviting Bodin to stay with him. After all, it was still their honeymoon period. A husband like Bodin shouldn’t be off working or training with the soldiers during this time. Their daily life together was focused on building a bond like any normal married couple, learning to live with each other. After a full seven days, Bodin finally resumed his duties, while Chanpa began studying the angelic customs of the Northern City as was expected of the crown princess.

    “Isn’t the Crown Princess a man? Then why is he more beautiful than any maiden in the land?”

    “That’s right. Whenever he smiles at me, my heart nearly leaps out of my chest. I can’t imagine what his mother ate while pregnant to create someone so breathtakingly beautiful.”

    “I’m so envious of the Crown Prince. He’s lucky to have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Otherwise, with his bland personality and dull appearance, who would ever want him?”

    The lower-ranking soldiers gossiped and snickered without any fear of reprimand from their superiors.

    Bodin’s current problem was that he wasn’t well respected as the crown prince of the Northern City. For one, his abilities were average at best, and his military skills were only mediocre. Unlike the crown princes of other cities who excelled in various fields and showcased their talents for all to see. Bodin was fully aware of this but felt helpless to change it. His kind-hearted nature was often taken advantage of, allowing others to trample on his feelings. However, there was someone who happened to overhear this and couldn’t let it slide.

    “How dare you speak of the Northern City’s Crown Prince in such a manner?”

    “Gah! Your Highness!”

    “Who do you think you are to insult my husband like that?!”

[1] Apsaras are a member of a class of celestial beings in Hindu and Buddhist culture. They were originally a type of female spirit of the clouds and waters, but later play the role of a "nymph" or "fairy".