I warmed Lina with my magic as we made our way back to the grand hall. The moment we stepped inside, we were swept into the endless cycle of courtly duties, greeting nobles left and right. Lina, though, seemed somewhat off—there was a heaviness in her demeanor, a shadow that dimmed her usual brightness. This routine dragged on until finally the nobles started to peel away, likely in anticipation of the first dance. No one wanted to risk my ire by getting in the way of an opportunity for a prince to dance with his princess.
“Prince Gilbert still isn’t back yet. Do you think he’s all right?” Lina asked, her voice heavy with worry as she scanned the room, her eyes flickering with concern. “You don’t think he left, do you?”
“No, I don’t think so,” I assured her gently, trying to ease her mind. “My brother wouldn’t let something like heartbreak keep him from his duties. He’s a person of principle, and I know that he wouldn’t do anything to tarnish the imperial family’s honor.”
I kept my gaze steady, hoping to convey the confidence I felt in Gilbert’s return. I trusted him to come back, though I didn’t spell it out. I caught Lina’s eyes widening slightly at my words before a soft chuckle escaped her and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
“Right,” she said quietly, but her uneasy demeanor vanished. “It’s Prince Gilbert we’re talking about. He’ll return, more charming than ever. He has a duty to fulfill.”
She seemed to shake off the last of her worries with a shrug, and I gave her a reassuring nod. Just as whispers started circulating about the first prince’s absence, Gilbert made his triumphant return. He looked refreshed, as if he’d taken the time to compose himself—his clothes were immaculate, and his hair had been neatly smoothed. When the nearby nobles questioned him, he casually mentioned that he’d taken a well-deserved repose in the royal sitting room.
“I’m glad he made it back in time for the first dance,” Lina said.
“Just in time to face the ordeal of picking an appropriate partner,” I replied.
“Quite the distinctive honor, isn’t it?” she mused. “I wonder how he’ll navigate that little challenge.”
Just then, the orchestra began playing a new piece. The melody was a ballroom favorite, one I knew well.
“Lina.” Her name slipped from my lips before I could think, and I gently untangled my arm from hers. I turned to her, dropped to one knee, and extended that same arm back out towards her. “May I have the honor of this dance?”
The words felt awkward, twisting my tongue into unfamiliar shapes, but I pushed through it. Lina’s cheeks flushed, though I couldn’t tell if it was with embarrassment or amusement—after all, I was putting on uncharacteristic airs, desperately trying to be even remotely princely or royal...or so I hoped. Her gaze dropped shyly to the floor before she took a deep breath, lifted her head, and met my eyes. Her face was still flushed, but there was a brightness in her expression.
“It would be my pleasure,” she replied formally with a slight tip of her head. When she placed her hand in mine, my eyes crinkled with joy at the sight. Her touch, even warmer than usual, made my heart lift, and I couldn’t help but smile. As I gently straightened, my other hand naturally found its way around her waist, and together, we began to move in time with the music.
For the next couple of minutes, I was utterly hers and she was completely mine. It had been quite a long time since I’d danced at all. The past few years had been such busy ones with the Pyreborn that I’d never had the opportunity. That, and, well...the rumors that had swirled around me meant that any lady would’ve been afraid to take my hand. I wasn’t the most enthusiastic dancer, but seeing the smile on Lina’s face as I spun her around and gently waltzed to the tune of the music—there could be no greater joy.
For those precious moments, we focused only on the dance. It was just me, her, and this overflowing happiness filling my heart. We were lost in that fleeting bliss, and the song seemed to end far too soon. As the final notes faded, I turned to face Lina, bowing deeply, though my heart ached at the thought of the moment ending. I wanted nothing more than for it to last forever, but I knew the extent of Lina’s stamina, and asking for another dance right away would be too much.
“How about we return to the palace?” I suggested instead. “We’ve stayed through the first dance. No one would fault us for leaving now.”
She agreed wholeheartedly, and I wrapped my arm around her once more. After bidding farewell to Mother and Father, we left the grand hall behind, heading towards the carriage that would take us back to the Emerald Palace. As we approached, just before I could say goodnight, she paused and turned to me.
“Would you like to come in for a moment? I’m sure the eventful evening has taken its toll on you as much as it has on me,” she said, her concern evident despite her own weariness. “At least stay until the effects of the wine have faded for the both of us,” she added, her voice gentle but insistent.
I nodded without hesitation. “Of course, I would greatly enjoy your company,” I agreed. Did I need any other reason to spend more time with my beloved wife? No, not at all. We headed to her chambers, where I sank onto the guest sofa. Marisa and the other maids were nowhere to be seen, leaving Lina to brew our tea herself. When she set our cups on the table, I smiled, thanking her. She returned the gesture with a soft “You’re welcome” before gracefully lowering herself to sit beside me.
Her body still radiated heat, the wine’s effects clearly lingering. I swallowed hard, desire flashing through me. I tried to rein it in, as I had so many times before, but this time I felt my control slipping—had the wine addled my mind as well?
This is the last time I drink anything stronger than tea, I silently vowed, reaching for my cup and taking a sip in a desperate bid to distract myself. I was focusing on the taste, trying to stay present, when I felt a gentle tug on my sleeve.
“How is it?” Lina asked. “The tea, that is?”
She looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes. In any other moment, it would’ve been an endearing gesture, but now...it was sheer poison. My self-control snapped, and the next thing I knew, I had her pinned beneath me on the sofa. My head dipped closer to her, teeth bared, ready to claim the soft skin of her exposed clavicle when—suddenly—sanity returned.
I froze, horrified at what I’d almost done. There I was, hovering over her, our bodies almost crushed together, and... All the blood drained from my face. “S-Sorry! I don’t know what came over me!” I stammered, pulling back, desperate to put some semblance of space between us. What had I done, without obtaining her permission? As I loomed over her, gripped by shame and regret, Lina fluttered her large, ruby eyes at me, as if she hadn’t fully grasped what had just happened. But realization settled barely a moment later, her cheeks flushing bright red.
I tried to retreat further, to stand and distance myself, but her hand shot out, grabbing my shirt collar with surprising strength. “It’s all right,” she rasped, her voice husky but steady. “It’s all right, so please—touch me.”
She wanted it too. The bright flush that had crept all the way up to the tips of her ears told me as much. An embarrassment and shame similar to mine might have racked her, but there was something stronger in her gaze—a resolve that told me this wasn’t just about a need to humor me or a case of being swept up in the moment. No, this was her desire, just as much as it was mine.
And if this was what she wanted, what kind of husband—what kind of man—would I be if I didn’t oblige her? Spineless. Coward. Teo’s scathing words echoed in my mind, spurring me on. I gently removed Lina’s hand from my collar and stood up. I saw the flash of pain in her eyes; she thought I was rejecting her. A misunderstanding I couldn’t let stand—not after the courage she’d shown to bring us here.
“Perhaps we should withdraw to the bedroom,” I suggested softly. “The sofa’s hardly a place for such a momentous step.”
Not that I would mind if it happened on the sofa someday, but for the first time, everything needed to be done exactly right, especially the location.
At my conscientiousness, Lina’s face relaxed, though her uncertainty when faced with the reality of the situation kept her slightly on edge. The air between us cleared, and I let out a quiet breath of relief. I bent down, gathering her up in my arms. She felt warm—warmer than usual—and the heat of her body against mine only served to further stoke the fire within me.
I carried her to her innermost chamber, and as I stepped over the threshold for the very first time, a thrill shot through me. All the other times we had pretended to have relations, it had been in my chambers. I felt almost a sense of taboo, as if I were stepping into something forbidden, and it only heightened my excitement.
My body screamed for release, but I held on to that last thread of control as I gently laid Lina down on the sheets. I sat beside her, my hand gliding over her cheek, tracing the line of her shoulders. This was how it needed to be—slow, deliberate, savored. Beside me, she let out a light, airy giggle, her lips curving into a teasing smile as she parted her arms, silently inviting me closer, as if to say I’m all yours.
That final thread slipped from my grasp; I pinned her down onto the bed.
“I’ll be gentle,” I whispered, my finger brushing softly along her cheek. Then I leaned in, capturing her lips in a deeply desirous kiss. A soft moan escaped her, sending a shiver down my spine. My hands moved to the fastening of her dress, my fingers trembling, eager, wanting everything I was about to have at long last...