“You said you couldn’t sleep. I can hold you.”

“I’m not a child.”

“I want to, so stay still.”

What on earth… Iren was bewildered by Lahart acting like a child. But Lahart showed no intention of putting her down. Eventually, Iren gave up first and wrapped her arms around his neck. Lahart clicked his tongue lightly.

“Aren’t you too light?”

“I’m average.”

“No, you’re too thin. You should gain some weight over the winter.”

“What if I gain too much and become heavy?”

“No matter how much you gain, you won’t be heavy, so don’t worry.”

Lahart sat on the bed and placed Iren on his lap, holding her close. The warmth enveloping her body gradually made Iren feel drowsy.

“I have something to ask.”

“Yes.”

Even though Iren answered readily, Lahart hesitated to speak. Seeing his unfamiliar hesitation made Iren worry, but she couldn’t keep her eyes open.

Being in Lahart’s broad and firm embrace made the sleepiness that hadn’t come before start to creep in.

“…Dance.”

Dance?

Did she hear wrong in her drowsiness? It was such an unexpected word that Iren thought she must have misheard. When she remained silent, Lahart spoke again, this time in a slightly longer sentence.

“Have you danced before?”

“What?”

“With whom? Do you remember?”

“Don’t tell me you couldn’t sleep because of that?”

It seemed she hadn’t misheard. Iren looked up, incredulous. Lahart grumbled.

“Why not?”

It wasn’t a joke. It wasn’t a prank. Lahart was serious. Iren found it hard to understand his intentions.

“Why are you curious? It’s not important…”

“It is important.”

“Important enough to keep you from sleeping?”

“Obviously.”

What’s so obvious about that? It wasn’t obvious at all. Iren still couldn’t understand him, and Lahart frowned. Iren shrank back at the fierce aura emanating from him.

She knew he wasn’t angry at her, but her long-ingrained instincts reacted first.

Lahart sighed as he saw her fear.

“I’m not angry.”

“Your expression is scary.”

“Do you really not know why I’m like this?”

“I’m asking because I don’t know.”

“It’s jealousy.”

“…What?”

“I’m jealous.”

Lahart, pouting, looked just like a sulky Rian. Iren couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Lahart waited for her to stop laughing, but the laughter showed no sign of subsiding. Exasperated, he hugged her tightly and buried his face in her neck.

It took a while for Iren to stop laughing. She laughed so much that tears welled up in her eyes.

“Are you done laughing?”

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. Your answer was so unexpected.”

“Why is it unexpected?”

“Who would think the Duke would be jealous because of me?”

Everyone except you, Iren.

Lahart suddenly recalled a conversation with Kaman. Kaman was one of the few who knew why Lahart resented the Emperor.

The day Kaman found out, he laughed until he held his stomach.

“The mighty Duke is jealous… Ahem! Sorry.”
“Who’s jealous of whom?”
“Let me explain clearly. Duke Cardius is seriously and gravely jealous of His Majesty because of a brief engagement talk between him and the Madam that happened over ten years ago.”
“Kaman.”
“Yes!”
“Shut up and get lost.”

“Duke, you’re hurting me.”

Lahart loosened his grip and kissed Iren’s neck and cheek playfully.

The bird-like pecks tickled, making Iren laugh and shrink her neck.

“It’s a petty and pathetic thing to do. I know. But I can’t help it.”

“It’s just a dance. It happened when I was so young that I barely remember it.”

“It’s not just a dance.”

Lahart shook his head and looked directly at Iren. Her eyes were no longer sad or gloomy, but Lahart still found her gaze both fearful and painful.

“I want to be with you at every special moment.”

He wanted all the happiness and joy imprinted in her eyes, nose, ears, and lips to be memories related to him.

“If you had danced with me, you would remember it vividly even now.”

“You’re so arrogant, Lahart.”

Iren laughed as if scolding him. Ah. Every time she called his name, Lahart felt his heart drop. Or perhaps it felt like his heart was beating too fast and soaring endlessly.

The ecstatic sensation that started from his heart spread through his veins to his entire body. Unable to resist, Lahart laid Iren down on the bed. Iren did not avoid him.

“How about you?”

Lahart asked with his eyes as he kissed her cheeks and the corners of her eyes. Iren held onto his shoulders and asked,

“Am I there in your special moments too?”

“Of course.”

“Even when I was away from your side?”

For a moment, Lahart’s eyes, which had returned to that time, sank deeply and painfully. Iren waited quietly. He looked as though he was choosing his words.

Finally, Lahart spoke.

“Yes. Because I always thought of you. Even now. I always miss you and fear losing you.”

“……”

“I’m afraid that if I take my eyes off you for even a moment, you’ll disappear.”

The emotions in his calm voice were desperate. Iren caressed Lahart’s face. Every time her thin, white fingers touched him, Lahart’s blood heated up. He took her hand and kissed each finger.

“I wish I could always be this close to you.”

“Is this enough for you?”

“Of course not.”

The brief glimpse of boyish mischief in Lahart’s short laugh disappeared as he sighed deeply and looked at Iren intently.

His eyes, clouded with desire, revealed his longing for her. But this desire was not the empty longing that had tormented Iren before.

“I want you, Iren.”

It was a desire filled with immense and deep affection that wouldn’t be satisfied even if he devoured her entirely.

“My beloved Irelaide.”

He whispered from a tantalizingly close distance, their lips almost touching. Iren closed her eyes. As if waiting for that moment, their lips and breaths intertwined.

“Hmph… Ha, mm…”

Lahart’s tongue entered her mouth slowly, rubbing against the roof of her mouth. Despite the slow and simple movement, Iren’s head was already feeling hazy.

They hadn’t refrained from kissing entirely, but it had been a long time since they had kissed with their tongues so deeply intertwined. It had also been a while since their bodies were this close.

His saliva, carrying his scent, flowed into her mouth. Whether it was because of his tongue entwining like a snake or his knee parting her thighs, her throat and stomach felt hot. Iren reached out and hugged his neck. The muscles covering Lahart’s broad back twitched and tightened. Feeling his excitement, Iren’s body also heated up.

“Haa, ah, Duke… Hng, mm…”

Lahart, after pulling away from her lips, showered kisses all over her face. Cheeks, chin, eyelids, the tip of her nose… His lips sculpted her face before lightly biting her ear. Iren dug her nails into his shoulders. It wasn’t the sharp pain but the wet sound burrowing into her ear that made her do so.

Lahart, letting out a low sigh, exhaling, buried his face in her neck and took a deep breath.

“You smell good.”

“You used to say you hated the smell of herbs on me. Don’t I smell like that anymore?”

“I never disliked your scent, even back then. It’s just…”

It was a hurtful thing he had said to wound her.

Instead of bringing up those hurtful words, Lahart whispered with affection and desire.

“Your scent has always driven me crazy.”

In the past and even now, her unique scent, a mix of sweet and bitter with a hint of grass, was indescribably fragrant.

Lahart licked her neck, as if trying to soothe her wounded heart. The tender kisses that followed made her fingertips tingle. Her body, which had tensed up from recalling painful memories, relaxed again. Should she do this? Iren hesitated before carefully lifting her upper body. Her lips, wet with their shared saliva, brushed against his cheek and then pulled away.

“Thank you for saying that.”

Lahart looked down at her with wide eyes. Embarrassed by his unwavering gaze, Iren turned her head. Yet his eyes remained fixed on her.

She was too shy to urge him to continue what he had been doing. Unable to endure his suggestive silence, Iren glanced sideways. Her view flipped suddenly.

“Mm, ah…!”

Lahart, who had flipped her over, bit her heel. He pressed his lips to her ankle and the top of her foot, then slowly moved up, caressing her calf with his long fingers. The tender caresses, starting from a distance and gradually approaching, melted both Iren’s body and heart. When his hand finally grasped her b*ttocks and spread them apart, her heart pounded as if it would burst. Iren clutched the pillow as she lay face down.

“Hmph.”

For some reason, her husband delighted in burying his face between her legs and nibbling on her skin. What might seem vulgar and obscene to others, Lahart performed with a calm face. It wasn’t as if he did it to see her embarrassed and ashamed; he did it with such earnestness. No, the reason didn’t matter anymore. Her body, aware of the pleasure from the obscene act, trembled with anticipation.

But Lahart, after staring at her twitching entrance, moved up to her nape. Iren let out an involuntary sigh of disappointment at the unfulfilled expectation. Hearing her, Lahart rubbed his face against her back and chuckled softly.

“Just wait a bit. I’ll suck you until you’re tired of it.”

“That’s not what I meant, mmph.”

“Yes, you’re right, Iren. It’s not about sucking you; it’s about me wanting to suck you.”

His voice, spouting vulgar words, was deeply lowered. His fingers traced the hollow of her back. That alone was dizzying, but then his wet tongue meticulously licked up her spine. The tingling pleasure made her fine hairs stand on end. Trembling with suppressed moans, something blunt and hot rubbed between her b*ttocks.

“Ah, hmph, mm.”

Lahart, still dressed, rubbed his hardness against her. His c*ck, already fully er*ect, added a unique sensation combined with the texture of the fabric. Lahart leisurely moved his hips, rubbing himself against her p*ssy. He kissed her black hair and left red marks on her white back.

“Haa, mm… Ugh.”

It had been years for both of them since their last intimate encounter. And it was the first time they were together after reconciling their hearts. Even with the fabric between them, the friction was stimulating. Soon, the cloth was wet and slick with their fluids. Finally, Lahart, reaching his limit, replaced the fabric-covered c*ck with his face.