Elicity’s gaze unconsciously shifted toward the bedroom connected to the dressing room.

‘It’s been so long that I forgot something so basic.’

But she only had a brief moment to reflect on the past.

As soon as she recalled what usually happened when a married couple entered the bedroom together, she felt her face heat up.

‘I-I’m just going to help him change. There’s nothing between us.’

Resolving herself, she stepped into Alex’s dressing room. But then—

The moment she entered, Alex gave an order to the waiting chamberlain.

“Celon. Fill the bath with hot water and start preparing. I’ll go in right after changing.”

At that moment, Elicity’s heart dropped with a loud thud. It seemed her husband was expecting a different outcome than she was.

Celon, having received the command, didn’t even glance at Elicity to check her opinion. He simply cast a brief, knowing look at the couple, as if pleased about their impending night together, and left the room without a word.

Immediately, Celon and the other attendants began moving efficiently to prepare Alex’s bath.

Elicity was utterly confused, but in the midst of her turmoil, Alex calmly removed his clothes, layer by layer, while she quietly took them from him.

She thought it was impressive that she could do this so calmly.

At the same time, as her husband’s attire became thinner and thinner, she felt her vision waver.

“Elicity.”

At the soft call of her name, she snapped back to her senses.

“Ah!? Yes!?”

“…You were completely lost in thought.”

Alex was smiling playfully.

That smile instantly shattered the tension that had been building up. Unconsciously, Elicity let out a relieved smile as well.

However, her grip loosened, and she nearly dropped the vest she had just taken from him.

Amused by her reaction, Alex threw his head back and laughed heartily.

“Alex?”

“This is driving me crazy. If you were going to get this flustered, why did you offer to help me change?”

“I-I…”

That was a good question. Elicity herself wasn’t entirely sure what she had been thinking. Truthfully, she had acted on impulse.

“I just… wanted to fulfill my duty as a wife to a husband returning home.”

“Was it out of obligation?”

“Absolutely not. I was sincere.”

Seeing her husband, who had just returned from the palace, worry about her well-being before even mentioning his own fatigue had deeply moved her.

So, as his wife, she had truly wanted to help him change.

Though, that didn’t mean she intended to go into the bedroom with him afterward.

“So, what exactly is this ‘duty as a wife’ that you speak of? What could possibly be so serious that you felt the need to carry it out with such sincerity?”

Alex shook his head and took the vest from her hands himself. His voice still carried traces of laughter.

Elicity, embarrassed, blushed.

“I was only referring to helping you change. N-Not bathing you, or… anything after that.”

“I figured as much.”

Surprisingly, Alex responded indifferently, as if he had already expected that answer.

This, however, left Elicity feeling strangely unsettled.

It was as if her husband hadn’t expected anything from her at all.

As Alex took a towel from an attendant and was about to enter the bath, Elicity suddenly grabbed his arm.

“You really didn’t expect anything from me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… that. You didn’t expect anything after I helped you change?”

Alex wasn’t dense. He immediately understood what she was asking and closed his lips.

As a heavy silence filled the bedroom, Alex turned his head slightly and addressed the attendants.

“Leave us.”

As if they had been waiting for those words, the servants promptly exited. A particularly perceptive maid even extinguished a few candles on her way out.

As a result, the bedroom dimmed slightly, creating a more intimate atmosphere.

Elicity’s cheeks burned red as she waited for her husband’s response.

Alex remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.

“If I said I wasn’t expecting anything… that would be a lie.”

The answer was exactly what Elicity had wanted.

But before she could feel pleased, she realized something.

“…But, my wife, no matter how much I hoped for it, I never thought you would actually accept it.”

Because at that moment, the way he slowly approached her was reminiscent of a predator closing in on its prey.

His presence was overpowering, making her feel like if she moved even a step, he would seize her and pin her down.

Elicity swallowed hard and met his gaze.

His strides were long, and before she knew it, his hands had settled on her shoulders.

Startled, she looked up—only to meet his fiery gaze, brimming with intensity.

“Will you fulfill my expectations?”

“…”

“Please, tell me you will. So that I can lay you down on that bed right now.”

Elicity stiffened at Alex’s words.

Her gaze instinctively flickered toward the bed behind them. Though meant for Alex alone, it was spacious enough for two.

As she swallowed nervously, unable to decide what to do, Alex seemed to interpret her hesitation as silent agreement.

His fingers trailed up to the buttons on her dress.

They circled the golden fastenings before slowly beginning to undo them.

As the fabric that had covered her throat fell open, revealing her smooth, pale skin, her soft, round curves began to peek through.

If he pulled down her dress just a little more, the delicate pink of her skin would be exposed.

As Alex eagerly grasped the collar of her dress, Elicity—her face flushed deep red—quickly grabbed his hands to stop him.

“…Do you not want this?”

“That is…”

However, it seemed that Alex had not asked because he expected an answer.

Before Elicity could respond, he lowered his head and brushed his lips against the tip of her ear. A strange pleasure coursed through her, making Elicity shrink back and tremble slightly.

‘This won’t do.’

Elicity tried to push him away with her weak strength. But the firm arms of a seasoned swordsman held her waist as he murmured softly,

“Asking if I expected it, then rejecting me—are you mocking your husband?”

At his rough tone, Elicity’s face paled.

“Oh my, that’s not—”

“Then stay still.”

“Ack…!”

But before Elicity could hurriedly explain, she was unable to finish her sentence. It was because his warm breath touched the sensitive tip of her ear.

Elicity lifted her trembling gaze to look at Alex. Fortunately or unfortunately, there was a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips.

Unknowingly, her breath quickened. Her lips felt dry, and her throat burned with thirst.

For some reason, her husband was far too skilled.

As she hesitated, he undid all the buttons and tugged at the ribbon of her undergarment, pulling his own shirt halfway down.

The sight of his flushed, sensual skin against the thick, dark navy fabric felt surreal—it was hard to believe that this man was hers.

Elicity clung to the collar of her husband’s shirt and pleaded,

“…D-Dear!”

Alex did not respond.

Perhaps he was expecting her to utter words of rejection.

His lips soon descended onto her slender, pale neck. With her hair neatly tied up and pinned high, the nape of her neck was completely exposed—utterly tempting.

She could feel him gently biting down, leaving his marks. Elicity took in a sharp breath and called out his name.

“Alex, ah… Alex… Please, not now.”

“Why?”

“Because…”

If she had to give a reason—

Though the man before her was indeed her husband, he was too young and vigorous.

And it had been far too long. How many days had it been since her return? No matter how much gentler Alex was compared to before, she couldn’t just immediately embrace him without hesitation.

To be completely honest…

Elicity enjoyed f*replay, but what came after was difficult.

Alex was too big, and he took too long to reach his climax.

In a voice laced with moisture, Elicity pleaded,

“Alex, it’s not that I don’t want to be with you. But it’s been so long—I need time to prepare myself…”

Mmph.

Before she could even finish speaking, her lips were swallowed in a rough kiss.

Startled, she widened her eyes.

What she saw was Alex, undeniably aroused, letting out a groan as he bit and licked at her lips aggressively.

Their first kiss in a long time was anything but romantic.

It was rough and wild. A storm that swept over her entire body.

Yet, surprisingly, she didn’t hate it.

Even as she gasped for breath under his relentless kisses, whenever their lips parted for a brief moment, she timidly reached up to touch her husband’s shoulders.

“Hah, damn it… Damn it.”

Alex kept cursing under his breath, frustrated about something, as he obsessively devoured her lips.

As if she belonged to him.

He ravaged the inside of her mouth, exploring every corner with his tongue, brushing against her teeth as he licked her thoroughly. The sensation sent a shiver down her spine, making her thighs tingle.

In that moment, her legs gave out.

Just as she was about to collapse, Alex swiftly caught her and lifted her into his arms.

She barely had time to gasp before she was placed down onto the bed behind them.

Feeling the soft mattress beneath her back, Elicity involuntarily closed her eyes.

The kiss with her husband was intoxicating, but at the same time, she felt too shy to meet his gaze.

Whenever she opened her eyes, she would see the blazing fire of desire reflected in his.

How long had they remained entwined, exchanging heated kisses while enveloped in his scent that she didn’t dislike?

Suddenly, Elicity let out a sharp gasp, her eyes flying open.

“…Hah!”