Side Story 8

Duke Dearrut’s bedroom.

Kylus let out a warm breath as he looked at the clock that seemed to be moving particularly slowly today.

“I suppose I shouldn’t go to her…”

His voice held an uncharacteristic impatience. Yet despite his feelings, he didn’t move.

‘Tonight, I’ll come to you, Kail. Wait patiently for me.’

Alice had said so, after all.

Even if he could disobey the Emperor or the deity, he could never disobey Alice. She was the owner of his heart.

But still…

“How agonizing.”

Yes, it was inevitable to feel anxious when time kept passing but the bride who should arrive had not yet appeared.

Perhaps… she’s fallen asleep…?

Kylus’s brow momentarily furrowed.

In his mind appeared Alice, sleeping like a rabbit, softly snoring. His heart raced at the adorable image, despite his burning impatience.

But Kylus soon shook his head.

On our wedding night, there’s no way Alice would fall asleep. She was, after all, a rabbit quite faithful to her instincts.

Kylus smiled at the thought of her and was about to tighten the loosened string of his silver-gray sleeping robe.

If only the image of Alice, unable to tear her eyes away from his upper body, hadn’t come to mind.

“Hmm…”

He wore a subtle smile and tied the string loosely, allowing his body that she liked to be slightly exposed.

Just then, a knocking sound echoed at the door.

“Kail.”

Along with the finally opening door, Alice peeked her face in.

“Lien.”

Kylus called to her in a gentle voice as she hesitated to enter.

Alice’s shoulders flinched.

Despite having walked here with determination, now that she was about to enter the bedroom, she was overwhelmed with shyness.

It wasn’t as if this was her first time entering this room. And honestly speaking, they had done everything except having relations.

She had seen his body countless times… kissed him, and occasionally his lips had even gone a bit lower…

Ah, not yet!

Alice banished the lewd demon filling her mind.

This makes me look too eager. Though… I have been… looking forward to this night.

But that doesn’t mean I’m that kind of person…

“Lien, you’re not planning to turn back now, are you? That’s the one thing I cannot allow.”

I’ve reached my limit.

Alice came to her senses at the baritone voice just in front of her.

Looking up, she saw Kylus standing at the edge of the door. Alice was startled for a moment, but soon composed herself and moved her lips.

“…I’m not leaving.”

Having worn the most provocative nightgown of my life and even applied rich perfume, where would I go?

And… I’ve been waiting for this day too.

Alice swallowed the words that had risen to the tip of her tongue and cleared her throat, entering the bedroom with forced composure.

“I’m relieved.”

Kylus closed the door and continued.

“I’ve prepared wine and desserts that Lien likes. You haven’t had a proper dinner, having worked at the poor relief center all evening.”

“Ah…”

Alice only now realized that she had skipped both lunch and dinner.

It was unlike her to forget hunger, but she had been too consumed by those kinds of thoughts.

Alice headed toward the table set with fruit and cheese crepes. Seeing the food, the tension that had stiffened her body suddenly eased.

As soon as she sat down, Alice put a luscious strawberry into her mouth. The tangy and sweet taste filled her mouth.

“Delicious. Thank you, Kail.”

“It’s nothing. Please eat plenty and slowly, so you don’t get tired too quickly.”

“Pardon?”

Alice didn’t quite catch Kylus’s last words as his voice grew progressively softer.

“It’s nothing.”

Kylus gave Alice, who looked puzzled, an affectionate eye-smile and poured wine into a glass.

“This is Sormont wine from the south that Alice likes. It will taste even better with the cheese crepe.”

Alice nodded and took a bite of the crepe. Then, as she sipped the wine, her mouth was filled with a taste reminiscent of being at a southern resort.

After eating for some time, Alice, now somewhat full, paused while eating grapes for dessert.

“Kail.”

“Yes.”

“You haven’t eaten anything.”

Unlike her, he had only sipped wine without touching any food.

As far as she knew, he hadn’t eaten dinner either. But it was too late to offer him food now… the table was covered with empty plates.

Just as Alice was wearing an awkward smile out of embarrassment, Kylus said:

“I’m fine. I plan to eat something else.”

“Something else?”

What could that be?

Alice tilted her head, not understanding his words, but he merely wore an enigmatic smile.

Just then, Kylus naturally changed the subject.

“Since you seem to have finished, shall we clear this now?”

“Ah, yes.”

The maids quickly took away the dishes, and soon only wine and glasses remained on the table.

Then came a settling silence.

The instinct temporarily suppressed by appetite began to stir again. And Kylus, who had only been vaguely visible before, started to appear clearly.

His black hair, still slightly damp, his smooth skin like white jade, and the… strong lines visible through his silver-gray robe.

She’d seen him in a robe dozens of times, but why did it seem so provocative today?

Alice swallowed dryly.

“Lien, your face is flushed—are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

At Kylus’s question, Alice’s golden eyes flooded with embarrassment.

Unable to admit that it wasn’t discomfort but her body heating up, Alice shook her head with an awkward smile.

“Perhaps I drank too much wine… Haha…”

“I don’t think it’s because of the wine.”

Kylus’s voice subtly lowered. In that voice, she could feel a deep emotion similar to her own.

The atmosphere grew more intense than before. At this rate, they would go straight to bed…

No.

It’s not that I dislike it, but I’m still not mentally prepared…!

Alice swallowed the words that had risen to her chin and suddenly remembered something as she subtly avoided his gaze.

“Ah!”

Kylus flinched at her high exclamation.

“Lien?”

“Kail, I brought something for you.”

“For me?”

Alice smiled brightly and took out a medicine bottle from her robe pocket.

“This is… medicine… it seems.”

Kylus’s expression became peculiar as he received the crystal bottle.

“You prepared this for me…? For tonight?”

Alice was nodding but suddenly stopped.

“Yes. A powerful one made by Helkin for tonight… Huh?”

Something sounded strange just now.

For tonight… a powerful medicine…?

Doesn’t that sound exactly like… the kind of medicine men take for bedroom activities!

Just as Alice was horrified, Kylus’s eyes darkened, seemingly understanding it in exactly that way.

“My, my wife must have found me quite inadequate.”

Alice waved her hands, fidgeting like a startled rabbit.

“No, that’s not it, I mean, this is, um…”

But they say when people become too flustered, their minds go blank.

That’s what happened to Alice right now.

She needed to explain what this medicine was, but she couldn’t remember the word.

Alice, watching Kylus’s lips turn downward, blurted out:

“I believe in you, Kail! How could someone as strong as you not have enough strength at night… No, that sounds wrong too…”

But the more she tried to explain, the deeper she sank into the quagmire.

Ack! What am I even saying right now?

Just as Alice jumped up, completely at a loss, Kylus rose from his seat.

“Since my wife has such faith in me, I should waste no time and live up to that trust.”

He swiftly took her hand and pulled her into his arms.

Whoosh—As Alice landed in his embrace in an instant, the cool scent of his body entered her nose.

Her heated mind felt as if it were cooling down.

Simultaneously, the word she had forgotten—fatigue recovery potion—came to mind, but it seemed no longer necessary.

She could clearly hear his heart beating as wildly as her own.

At that moment, Kylus’s fingertips brushed aside her disheveled hair behind her ear.

His hand, naturally trailing down along her neckline, untied the string of her robe.

Swish.

As Alice’s robe fell to the floor, her shoulders trembled finely at the sudden touch of cool air.

“Lien.”

A tender voice calling Alice, who was as tense as if she were before a predator.

Alice slowly raised her head and met his gaze.

“If you’re not ready yet…”

You’ll wait longer?

Alice’s genuine feelings spilled out before she knew it.

“How much do you think I’ve been looking forward to today!”

“…”

“Ah, that’s…”

Alice’s face flushed hot at Kylus’s small laugh.

“I mean… well…”

But Alice couldn’t finish her words. Because he had instantly lifted her body.

“Eep!”

Carefully placing the surprised Alice on the bed, he positioned himself above her.

His physique covering her entire body. In that overwhelming moment, Alice truly felt like a rabbit before a tiger.

But his eyes were too gentle for a tiger’s.

Kylus slowly leaned toward Alice, caressing her cheek, and whispered:

“I’m sorry, Lien. I can’t hold back any longer either.”

“…Neither can I.”

Alice untied the string of Kylus’s robe.

“I love you, Lien.”

“I love you, Kail.”

Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck, and soon Kylus’s lips touched hers.

A kiss more intense than any before.

Their hot breaths mingled, and the clock chimed, announcing midnight.

But Alice and Kylus’s night was just beginning.

A long, long night when she finally became one with him.

Alice and Kylus loved each other endlessly, again and again.

Until dawn broke.

Side Story End