When he sat on the bed, the creaking sound struck his ears painfully. Laying Elysia on such a cheap bed wasn’t his intention. It had happened because the Emperor believed the false oracle and threatened him with his position as Crown Prince.

“My Elly.”

He murmured softly and lay down on the bed while looking at her face. Lying on his side to look at her face, he stretched out his arm and wrapped her delicate body in his own. 

Through the tightly pressed skin, the warm body heat that came through the cloth seemed to spread warmly to every corner of his body.

“I love you, my Elysia.”

Only after saying that could Claes truly smile. Holding her small form tightly like that, he fell asleep.

It was sweet and cozy sleep.

Very much so.

* * *

“Mmm…”

When she opened her eyes, Chohee saw a large figure wrapped around her. She flinched, wondering if it might be Karad, but when she raised her head, she saw refined features sleeping soundly through scattered silver hair.

Chohee felt like crying.

‘Claes…’

Despite the Emperor’s order forbidding romantic acts between them, she was grateful he had come while taking such risks.

S*x without exchanging a single word felt good, but she had missed hearing him say he loved her so much. She had longed for his massive embrace that would hold her tightly. But now all of that was right before her eyes.

“Claes.”

When she called out softly, his silver eyelashes fluttered gently. Then after a moment, his eyelids slowly lifted. Though his blue eyes were still hazy with sleep, when she was reflected in them, Chohee was reminded of a summer sea.

The sensation of walking on the beach in reality.

Claes was something that symbolized those happy times. Because he was also the person she loved most, Chohee buried herself in his embrace while choking up.

Then she heard “Mm…” and Claes wrapped his arm around Chohee’s back, pressing her against him without any gap.

“I wanted to touch you like this… Elly.”

“Claes…”

Claes smiled very sweetly and gently.

“We don’t have much time to talk like this… But I’m happy I can see your face and speak to you. While Lars is keeping watch… I wanted to hold you as much as I could.”

“Claes…”

Chohee burst into tears and cried in his embrace. Feeling her slender back trembling through the vibrations transmitted to his arm, Claes stroked her long black hair.

Though the scents of myrrh and hydrangea had mostly faded, her characteristic body scent of fragrant flowers remained. Claes slowly breathed in her fragrance, experiencing the heart-pounding excitement.

“I was in agony while separated from Elly too. I couldn’t say a single word even during *ntercourse because saying anything to you would be seen as a romantic relationship.”

He showed her a sad smile.

“I’m sorry. Even though it’s to avoid losing my position as Crown Prince, it’s an excessively petty attitude. I…”

“No!”

Chohee shook her head vigorously and pressed her ear against Claes’s chest.

“The Crown Prince position is like compensation for the life you’ve lived until now. You can’t let someone else take that. Even if I can’t talk with you, I can’t just stand by and watch Claes lose it.”

“Elly…”

“Don’t give in, Claes. I can endure a little longer. Though Karad comes more often than before, being a breeding vessel can be thought of as just having s*x while chasing pleasure. By whatever means necessary, Claes must continue to maintain his position as Crown Prince.”

“My Elly…”

Claes slowly brought his lips to hers. Though it wasn’t a deep kiss, he felt happy just from the touch. Gazing at her with affectionate eyes, Claes wound her black hair around his fingers and smelled her scent.

‘How many weeks has it been since I’ve been with you so leisurely?’

Claes smiled gently at her. That alone made him feel like he owned the world. Indeed, he couldn’t give his place beside him to anyone but Elysia.

He also pressed his lips to her forehead like the closest person in the world.

Warm feelings spread gently. Chohee could feel her face flushing red. Claes’s refined face captured her gaze and wouldn’t let go. On top of that, he was smiling radiantly with his white eye corners curved.

‘If not Claes… Lars is good too, but I really like Claes the most.’

Her throat went dry with the fluttering that made her heart pound. Whether knowing her feelings or not, Claes lifted her hand and kissed it.

“Being alone together like this, it feels like we’ve returned to when I first held you.”

Chohee slowly looked up at him.

“You were embarrassed to give yourself to me too back then. That’s when I fell for you at first sight. I thought the place beside me could only be yours. The oracle pushed my back too.”

Her tears had stopped before she knew it. Claes gently stroked around her eyes and whispered tenderly.

“Though the situation has gotten strangely twisted now, I have absolutely no intention of accepting any woman other than you as my legitimate wife. So trust me and wait. Even though I need Lars’s cooperation just to say this… The moment I ascend to the throne, there will be no one who dares call you a breeding vessel.”

Chohee felt a corner of her chest tingling. When she buried her face in his palm, a subtle rose scent rose up. She rubbed her face against that hand and took a deep breath.

Claes watched Chohee quietly. Even without having s*x, she could feel warmth by Claes’s side. Though this was the dream world, though it was a dream she would have to wake from someday, she found herself hoping time would last a little longer.

“Claes.”

“Yes, Elly.”

‘I won’t wake up right away… I haven’t heard my phone alarm at all for weeks…’

She wanted to wake up, but couldn’t. Or rather, these contradictory feelings of hoping time would last even longer.

Except for Claes’s case, Chohee desperately wished to wake from the dream again and again, but she was realizing it was difficult to escape this nightmare-like situation.

Moreover, as she had assumed before, she might be in an unconscious state in reality, so she had to survive here without dying.

“I wish we could talk like this sometimes. Having relations with Claes is good, but I… want to hear more of your sincere words.”

“Elly…”

And what encouraged her will was the affection of Claes and Lars. Karad was good during s*x, but excluding that, he was the worst person.

Moreover, when Claes didn’t restrain him, Karad poured his desires on her completely. And feeling that unwelcome desire growing endlessly stronger, she absolutely didn’t want to bear Karad’s child.

“I’ll ask Lars to create times like this little by little. Elly, and…”

“Chohee.”

Chohee gave him her real name from reality. Claes’s eyes widened slightly, then he repeated “Chohee.”

Chohee smiled brightly and wrapped her arms around Claes’s neck. Then after kissing him lightly, she said her name once more.

“My name isn’t Elysia, it’s Chohee. So from now on, when you come to me, please call me by that name.”

“Chohee…”

Rolling that name on his tongue several times, Claes called out “Chohee” repeatedly while holding her tightly. Each time that name was called, she felt like she had become his legitimate wife, and Chohee was happy.

‘I want to stay in these arms forever.’

But that too ended soon.

“Brother. Someone is coming.”

At Lars’s words whispered inside the door, Claes quickly sat up. Chohee also released her arms and pretended to sleep. Claes got up and stood beside the bed.

The door opened at that moment.

“Oh my. I thought you couldn’t resist and came already, but you really are here.”

It was the Empress. The way she curved her eye corners wickedly was truly disgusting. But Claes only stared at the Empress with an expressionless face.

“I see you sent the maid out to organize the storage. I came thinking you might be acting affectionately like lovers, but disappointingly… there’s nothing.”

“I cannot so easily disobey His Majesty the Emperor’s orders. Then, Your Majesty the Empress, I shall take my leave.”

The Empress laughed loudly.

Her attitude showed she didn’t care whether Chohee was sleeping or not.

“How truly unfortunate. Hmm… Shall I help you a little?”

The Empress approached Claes and touched his refined face. Claes’s face twisted instantly, but he immediately restored his expression.

“Would you let go? You’re gripping my wrist like you’ll break it, and it hurts.”

Claes recited emotionlessly.

“Do not touch me. Under any circumstances.”

He then released her hand like throwing it away. The Empress wore a resentful face that matched well with her fox-like eye makeup. Claes coldly withdrew from her.

“I shall take my leave now.”

The Empress bit her lips while watching Claes’s turned back. Then she shouted.

“No matter how you act! Eventually you’ll need my cooperation!”

“…”

“Let’s see if you can maintain that haughty attitude when that time comes.”

Claes left the place without a word. Chohee, who had been pretending to sleep, also felt her heart pounding fiercely with anxiety at the Empress’s words. But Claes, who had already held Chohee and gotten sufficient rest, wasn’t shaken by each word.

‘I only have Chohee.’

The Crown Prince, returned to his usual iron wall, looked at Lars standing at the door. Lars couldn’t reveal his feelings because the maid was present. So Claes calmly ordered.

“Let’s go, Lars.”

“Yes, understood, brother.”

Taking the list the maid handed over, the two brothers left.

The Empress looked down at Chohee pretending to sleep. She clenched and unclenched her fist while grinding her teeth, but even though Elysia was a breeding vessel, she was the subject of the oracle.

‘I want to kill her… but the Emperor won’t allow that.’

She’s just one woman.

‘There’s no one I can’t touch… Let’s see how long she can maintain her sanity while playing the role of breeding vessel.’

The Empress smiled wickedly and turned around. After ordering the maid not to give up her position for any reason, she looked around the bedroom with sharp eyes.

“Hmph!”

Leaving that short noise, the Empress left.

And only then could Chohee open her eyes.