Era of the Demon And Angels

To the moment when she held him, when she let him cry into her shoulder without judgment.

To the moment when she whispered that she would carry his sins.

His hands curled into fists at his sides.

"You will carry my sins, huh?" he murmured, his voice so low it barely reached his own ears.

His chest felt tight. Something foreign, something uncomfortable.

He let out a slow breath, pushing the feeling down.

Instead, he turned his gaze upward, toward the moon hanging high above them.

The pale light bathed the treetops in silver, reflecting in his crimson eyes like molten embers.

"I guess I'll watch over you both from now on."

The wind stirred, rustling through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of the earth, the fire, and something else—something familiar yet long forgotten.

Noir closed his eyes briefly, letting the breeze pass over him.

And as the night deepened, he stood there—silent, unmoving, a lone sentinel in the dark.

Watching. Guarding. Keeping the ghosts of the past at bay.

The cold night faded as the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft golden glow over the quiet camp.

Nimfa stirred, her body shifting slightly against the cool morning air.

"Mmm…" She lazily blinked, her golden eyes adjusting to the warm light. Did I… sleep?"

A small weight pressed against her lap, soft and warm.

She looked down—Miru was still curled up against her, tiny fingers gripping onto her dress as if afraid to let go. Her fox ears twitched slightly, her face peaceful, her tiny chest rising and falling with steady breaths.

Nimfa's eyes widened.

"I really did sleep?!"

"Good morning."

A voice broke her moment of shock.

She turned to see Noir standing nearby, his arms stacked with firewood, his usual unreadable expression in place as he set them down near the fire pit.

"No-Noir!" Nimfa suddenly straightened, bowing her head quickly. "I'm sorry!"

Noir raised a brow, slightly amused.

"For what?"

"To think that I fell asleep all night! I didn't even switch with you for guard duty—"

"It's fine," he interrupted casually, kneeling to arrange the firewood. "Miru was clinging to you all night. Just like she would with her mother."

His words struck something deep in Nimfa's chest.

Before she could respond, Noir smirked.

"Besides, you two were cute to watch."

Nimfa's ears instantly burned red.

"Wha—WHAAAT?!"

Noir let out a quiet chuckle, clearly enjoying her reaction.

Then, without missing a beat, he added, "And I didn't want to wake you. Miru might start seeing you as her mother in the future."

Nimfa's entire face turned red.

"M-Mother?!" The word rang in her mind like a bell, sending her thoughts spiraling.

Does he mean—?

Before she could even think, her mouth moved faster than her brain.

"T-Then you'll be the father of this child!" she blurted out.

A long silence followed.

The wind rustled through the trees.

The fire crackled quietly.

Nimfa's entire body froze.

Nimfa's POV

"Wha—WHAT DID I JUST SAY?!"

Her heart nearly stopped.

She mentally replayed her words, horrified.

"Did I just propose to Noir?! As if we were a married couple?!

Her hands shot up to cover her mouth, her golden eyes darting around in absolute panic.

Meanwhile, Noir just… stared.

His usually sharp, confident demeanor wavered for the first time.

Noir's POV

"Did I go too far? I was just joking, but she actually… accepted it?"

His mind raced.

"She seriously thinks of Miru as her daughter already? We don't even know her full background yet."

And then, the realization hit.

"A DEMON AND AN ANGEL BECOMING HUSBAND AND WIFE?!"

The thought screamed inside both their minds at the same time.

Both of them turned away sharply, avoiding eye contact, faces burning with embarrassment.

Noir coughed, trying to shove the thought aside.

He needed to change the subject. Fast.

"Then…" he started, his voice more serious, "what will you do with Miru once you return to your realm?"

His words snapped Nimfa out of her spiraling thoughts.

Her body stiffened slightly.

"Are you going to take her with you?" Noir continued, his crimson eyes watching her carefully. "Can a mortal even survive in your realm?"

The weight of the question settled over them.

Nimfa's lips parted slightly—but no words came out.

Her mind raced for an answer, but the truth was… she didn't know.

Her golden eyes lowered, gazing down at Miru, who was still sleeping peacefully, ears twitching slightly under Nimfa's gentle touch.

She brushed a hand softly over the child's hair, running her fingers through the soft brown strands.

Miru's small fox ears flicked in response, and a tiny, content smile tugged at her lips as she nuzzled closer to Nimfa's warmth.

The sight made Nimfa's chest tighten.

She swallowed hard.

"I… I don't know."

Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper.

She bit her lip, her fingers stroking Miru's hair gently.

"But I can't leave her."

A flicker of determination sparked in her golden eyes as she slowly lifted her gaze to Noir.

"I don't know how Miru ended up like this… but I want to protect her."

Noir's breath hitched slightly.

Her expression—that unwavering determination, the same look she had when she declared she'd carry his sins—was there again.

Something in his chest tightened.

That look…

He had seen it before.

A memory surfaced—a distant warmth, a hand reaching out, a smile that once held the same determination.

For a brief second, he felt it.

The ghost of a feeling he had buried long ago.

His fingers twitched, but he quickly forced himself to shove the thought away.

He exhaled sharply and looked away, regaining his composure.

"Hmph." His voice was neutral, but there was something unreadable in his eyes.

"You really are a strange angel."

But…

For some reason—he didn't mind watching over them.