Chapter 25

“Alcohol… No, never mind.”

Lehan opened the door to the wine cabinet but closed it just as quickly.

“Why not? Should we have just one drink?”

“It’s better if we save that for another time.”

“Why?”

“What if I lose my self-control?”

Suddenly, her hands felt clammy.

‘Right. He really mustn’t lose it…’

Lehan stepped closer to the bed, droplets of water still clinging to his hair as he shook them off. Each slow, deliberate movement seemed to raise the tension in the room, tightening around Edelis’s heart. He turned off the lamp on the nightstand, and darkness cloaked the room. Only the faint moonlight slipping through the curtain outlined his figure. Edelis found herself unable to look away, as if under a spell.

“Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I-I will. Of course I will!”

Snapping out of it, Edelis pulled the covers over herself and lay down. The bed was large enough to fit four grown men, but somehow, the distance between them felt far too close. When she scooted to the very edge, almost falling off, Lehan pulled her toward the center with ease.

“You’ll fall off like that.”

“…I’ll be careful.”

She turned her back to him and lay stiffly. Even breathing felt like a careful chore.

“Edelis, the more obviously you try to keep your distance like this…”

Lehan whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his chest, “The more I want to tease you.”

The heat from his body seeped through her thin nightgown, and her bare legs—exposed by the robe—brushed against his firm ones. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might stop. After struggling to breathe quietly, Edelis gave in and murmured, “S-s-spare me…”

“…As if I’m some predator. Not that the thought hasn’t crossed my mind.”

She tried to escape, crawling out from under the covers, but Lehan caught her by the waist and dragged her back.

“I—I’ll sleep in the other room! I can’t sleep like this!”

“I wasn’t planning on letting you sleep anyway.”

There was no mistaking what he meant. Edelis had only just begun falling for him again. They weren’t even married yet. This was far too fast.

“…Lehan.”

“Yes?”

“If I’m only here to avoid being surrounded by guards, I’ll sleep on the sofa.”

“I won’t allow that. You think I’d let my wife sleep on a couch?”

She marched over to the sofa and lay down, arms folded.

“Look! It’s plenty big and comfy!”

“Still not happening. The Empress should never have to sleep on a couch.”

There was no way Lehan would take the couch either. He was far too tall for it—his legs would dangle awkwardly over the edge. As Edelis hesitated, unsure what to do, Lehan finally gave in.

“Edelis, don’t worry so much.”

“…”

“I waited seven years. What’s another day or two?”

“Then—you’ll behave?”

“I’ve been behaving.”

“Well… I guess you have…”

Come to think of it, he hadn’t done anything aside from holding her by the waist. Everything else had been in her head.

“Alright then… Goodnight, Lehan.”

She returned to the bed with a lighter heart. She wasn’t ready for more than this yet, and thankfully, he understood. She tucked herself in and breathed calmly.

“Yes, goodnight, Edelis.”

He lay beside her. The distance was closer than before, but she smiled, comforted. Seeing the face of someone you love just before sleep—what greater happiness could there be? And when she woke, his would be the first face she saw. As she giggled softly, Lehan leaned in and whispered at her ear, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I am! I’m sleeping!”

Edelis gently closed her eyes. This was the most at ease she’d ever felt. Lehan hesitated for a moment, then slipped his arm under her neck.

“What are you doing?”

“Just a pillow. This much should be fine, no?”

“…”

“Compared to what I originally planned.”

Edelis quickly agreed, not wanting to escalate anything again. It was a bit awkward at first, but his body heat was comforting.

“Just the arm.”

Then came the arm draped over her.

“…Lehan.”

“It’s just my arm.”

“You’ll stop there, right?”

“When have I not kept my promises?”

“…That’s true.”

Lehan had always kept his word, no matter how small. That alone put her at ease.

‘It’s okay. Just the arm. This is fine. I should start preparing myself anyway.’

That warmth and weight were strangely welcome. And perhaps because she had been so tense before, Edelis drifted off easily.

“…She’s asleep?”

That was her story. Lehan’s, however, was different.

“She really just… fell asleep?”

“…”

“After all that, just two words and she passes out peacefully…”

To make things worse, she had turned toward him in her sleep, her robe a little loosened. He avoided looking but failed several times while trying to adjust the tie.

He kept telling himself it was just a knot. Nothing more.

But her neck, visible between strands of hair, led his gaze downward. The pale skin peeking through the robe—despite her still wearing undergarments—was driving him mad.

“Edelis.”

“…”

“Edelis…”

She didn’t respond, sound asleep.

“Haah…”

With a deep sigh, Lehan turned away from her.

“Mm…”

As he tried to pull his arm free from under her, she frowned slightly. After a hundred moments of hesitation, he gave up and stayed.

‘Thank the stars I moved the wedding up. If I hadn’t, I really would’ve died.’

“This much should be forgivable.”

He kissed her gently on the lips.

He’d kissed her forehead and cheek many times before, but this was the first time on her lips. His breath caught in his throat. He considered doing it again—but stopped.

He knew it wouldn’t end there.

Instead, he backed away, leaving it at that. Not without regret, though—he sighed a hundred more times until the sun rose.

When Edelis opened her eyes the next morning, she was stunned by what she saw.

She expected to see a ceiling.

‘So why… is there a wall of skin in front of me?’

She tilted her head upward. Lehan, eyes closed, looked fast asleep.

‘Ah—last night! I slept with Lehan.’

Literally. Slept.

While Lehan had wrestled all night with temptation, Edelis had just… peacefully slept.

Feeling like she had a rare opportunity, she studied his face. His skin, a bit darker from his days in the gladiatorial arena, suited his red hair perfectly.

‘And those golden eyes… when they open…’

Her eyes wandered to his toned body beneath the robe. Even loosely tied, it couldn’t hide his build. She swallowed.

Driven by curiosity, she carefully pushed the robe aside to look. The well-defined muscles were attractive, but then she noticed a large scar.

Whether from the arena or the coup, she didn’t know—but it hurt to see.

‘How painful must that have been…’

As she reached out to touch it, her fingers were stopped midair—caught by Lehan.

“Lehan!”

“Edelis. What do you think you’re doing?”

“I—it’s not what it looks like! I know how it looks but—!”

“But?”

His voice was still husky, but not from sleep. His eyes were too clear for that. Edelis could easily guess what caused the huskiness.

“It looked painful! I was worried, that’s all!”

“Just because it looked painful?”

“Yes!”

“Hmm…”

“I swear!”

“Fine.”

Though her conscience was a bit guilty, she was relieved he let it go.

Lehan stood to leave for a bath, but paused at the door and turned back.

“It’s only one day now.”

“…Yeah.”

Tomorrow was their wedding.

“Then tomorrow night, you won’t need to carefully sneak peeks anymore.”

“…”

She didn’t reply. But that silence was an answer in itself. Lehan smirked at her blushing face.

“It’s just one more day. Please bear with it. I’m trying too, you know.”

And with that, he disappeared behind the door. Edelis was certain she could hear faint laughter from the hallway.

“Uuuugh!!”

She kicked the blanket in embarrassment, wishing she could rewind time.

‘I can’t believe I got caught! He could’ve at least pretended to be asleep!’

But no response came from the one who’d already left.

The day before the wedding was busy—extraordinarily so. After all, it was the wedding of the Empress.

Edelis woke early, bathed, and was immediately pulled into skincare treatments.

She felt oddly at ease, not having to see Lehan. If she did, she was sure she’d explode.

“It’s customary for the bride and groom not to meet the day before the wedding,” her head maid told her.

Thank goodness. After midnight, they weren’t allowed to see each other until the ceremony. Lehan, buried in work, didn’t leave the office.

But just before midnight, under the cover of night, he came to find her.

“Edelis!”

“It’s almost midnight! What are you doing here?”

“As long as no one sees, we’re fine.”

“You think no one will notice the Emperor moving around?”

“Sigh… Why did I become Emperor again?”

“To marry me?”

She parroted the words he’d once said to her. Lehan laughed heartily.

“Haha, that’s right, Edelis. For that, I’ll break any rule.”

“Alright. Just wait one more day.”

“The reception tomorrow will run late. Don’t forget to slip out.”

“Why?”

“Because waiting until night will be torture.”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Promise.”

When she nodded with a blush, Lehan, filled with affection, pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Just as he turned to leave, Edelis found the courage to grab his sleeve.

“Edelis?”