Leopold spoke in a low, almost inaudible voice.

“My name is Ariel… This is also fate… How about spending some time with me?”

Leopold laughed at Ariel’s lovely tone and the round eyes that examined his own face as if reading the atmosphere.

Though she was drunk, her eyes were clear and pure, with a liveliness about them.

‘Seeing her up close like this, it feels like her old self is still here.’

But Leopold couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable melancholy from her, so he bit his lower lip with regret.

He wondered if she recognized his feelings.

Ariel suddenly gently stroked Leopold’s hair with a dreamy gaze.

His toes tingled unexpectedly from this unexpected stimulus.

He was consumed by the impulsive desire to bury his lips in the small, white hand that was caressing his hair.

Passing through that hand, his lips would slide down from the shoulder to the nape of her neck. Desire surged in his lower abdomen as he imagined owning her completely.

But they were currently on a balcony.

Perhaps someone might be watching.

“Sure.”

Leopold first helped Ariel to her feet. Then he covered her with the invisibility cloak and willingly embraced her with both arms.

In order to give himself to her for the first time, he had maintained his virginity until now, so he had no impolite hobby such as embracing a drunken woman.

But he judged that if he missed this opportunity, it would be impossible to have her by his side again.

He soon moved towards the bedroom. Suppressing the strong urge to bury his face in her neck.

But how long has it been?

Ariel’s body gradually relaxed. The tension in her limbs disappeared.

Leopold paused his steps for a moment. Every cell and nerve in his body was solely focused on her.

Could something be wrong with Ariel? Leopold stopped and looked down at her.

Her face peeked out of the blanket. All the dark shadows he’d seen at the reception hall and the mischief he’d seen on the balcony had vanished on her soundly sleeping face.

Her sensual yet innocent face became pale due to the cold.

Her soft and steady breathing sound was so pleasant to listen to. Leaning his head down and touching his nose to hers, he inhaled the breath she exhaled.

A sweet fragrance emanated from her breath.

Intoxicated by the scent, he instinctively kissed her lips. Her rounded forehead, her slender temples, her graceful nose, and her plump lips.

There wasn’t a part of her that wasn’t lovely.

It wasn’t until he was holding her and kissing her that Leopold finally realized that his position had become uncomfortable. Standing up, he became aware that he was pouring kisses on her face.

Why rush like this? It’s not like she’s going to disappear in front of him. Leopold chuckled softly.

‘It’s better to just quickly put her to bed.’

Leopold’s ears turned red as he hurriedly entered the room.

He carefully laid Ariel down on the bed. Although he had laid her down gently, somehow her eyes opened wide.

But he paid no mind and pressed his lips to her neck. Like he was branding a seal, his hot breath engulfed Ariel’s whole body. Ariel’s body trembled in excitement.

But from the moment Leopold revealed his name, Ariel began pushing him away.

Confusion and embarrassment appeared on her face as she pushed his strong chest with her weak arms.

‘So, had she finally realized I’m the emperor?’

Perhaps it was a natural reaction. However, I have already seen the version of you that I desperately desire, so I cannot simply let you go. Even if you try to push me away with all your might, I will make sure you eventually accept me.

Leopold tasted Ariel’s lips, licking at the red and tender flesh.

Ariel’s gaze, which had resisted him before, grew hazy. The strength in the arm she used to keep him at a distance also waned.

Seizing the opportunity, Leopold tried to remove her dress, but Ariel thwarted his attempt.

But in the face of Leopold’s relentless persistence, Ariel crumbled.

She believed in his preposterous promise that he would forget about today’s events.

***

The next morning.

When Leopold opened his eyes, Ariel’s warmth had already vanished.

At first, he wondered if yesterday was just a dream.

But his back was sore.

It was evidence that Ariel scratched at him, unable to overcome the ecstasy.

‘No way it was just a dream.’

He quietly laid down and reminisced. The memory of leaving marks all over her body as though he were branding her. The pleasure he felt as he grasped her soft flesh.

Ariel must have lain in his arms with closed eyes, purring like a cat.

‘But she still managed to sneak away. My adorable little cat.’

Just thinking about Ariel made his heart flutter.

Leopold turned his body towards the spot where Ariel had been lying. He didn’t want to miss any trace of her, not even the smallest one.

A faint, sweet fragrance wafted from the pillow. It was Ariel’s scent.

He buried his head in the pillow as if he wanted to inhale every last bit of that sweet fragrance.

To think she believed she could escape from me.

‘What should I do with this audacious little kitten….’

The possessiveness that was tangled in his foe was revealed in the form of light, like fire.

***

Knock, knock.

“Your Majesty.”

“Come in.”

Richard, one of Leopold’s closest aides, entered the office.

Leopold, who had been in the office since dawn, commanded Richard to find a certain woman.

That woman’s name was Ariel.

Richard had searched the attendance list all morning and found her name.

The name of the woman who dared to take the Emperor’s first time and rudely left him alone was written on the small piece of paper that Richard held.

Sitting behind his desk in the office, Leopold calmly received the paper from Richard’s hand.

“She was the only person who had the name Ariel among the attendees of that day’s banquet.”

Twirling the paper with his finger, Leopold raised an eyebrow.

‘If that’s true, then there can’t be any other potential women.’

He was glad he didn’t have to, because if there were a lot of people with the same name, he’d have to check each of their faces.

He had searched so long for her whereabouts. He would not lose her again.

His heart seemed to be rolling inside his chest, excited at the thought of being able to know her identity.

Although there was no one to see, Leopold opened the note at eye level.

「Ariel Clark」

His usually long and deep eyes widened. He had never expected it.

Clark. It was a prestigious family that helped establish the nation of Atlan and has been supporting the imperial family in various ways to this day.

The head of this renowned family, who was also Ariel’s father, was Marquis Louis Clark.

Besides that, he and his three sons were Leopold’s closest allies, subjects, and friends.

The eldest son, Ethan, was an outstanding swordsman and an elite knight of the imperial family. The second son, Walter, assisted Leopold with his beautiful mind and excellent administrative skills. And the youngest son, Rodney, served as Leopold’s personal physician.

How could they have been so close yet never have met even once?

Leopold’s face twisted in the incomprehensible situation.

Richard, who noticed this, spoke up.

“After a carriage accident that injured her head, she stayed indoors and rarely left the house. She didn’t appear in social circles either. As she had been studying abroad for quite some time, Your Majesty, it seems that you couldn’t have known her.”

Ariel’s three older brothers had great love for their younger sister, but they never spoke about her.

So Leopold knew only that they had a younger sister.

He didn’t know her name or age, so he couldn’t possibly know that she had studied abroad.

“Studied abroad?”

“Yes. It seems like she went secretly. Nobody knows about it.”

“Hmm.”

Leopold narrowed his eyes.

‘Why would the three Clark brothers hide their sister so securely? Are they afraid I might devour her? Ha. How clever. They may have been afraid that if she became known as a member of the Clark family, she would become a member of the imperial family.’

Leopold glanced at the note without taking his eyes off it.

‘So she’s the favorite of the Clark family. That’s why she was able to enter the imperial palace at a young age.’

All the questions he had from their first meeting were resolved.

Leopold buried his face in his hands and chuckled in disappointment.

But there was no trace of laughter on his face as he withdrew his hands.

‘Just because he’s escaped my grasp twice doesn’t mean he won’t do it again. I have to catch her before she escapes farther.’

Leopold stood up and pointed to his coat.

Seeing his gesture, Richard handed Leopold his coat.

“Prepare the carriage immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Richard hurriedly left the office to fulfill Leopold’s command.

‘I promised to bury what happened last night, so it would be appropriate to leave it alone. But I must receive recompense for the years I’ve spent searching for these things, Ariel.’

He wanted to hold onto her until she couldn’t disappear somewhere again.

He wanted to bury his face in her smooth skin, which emitted a faint scent.

‘Now that I know what it tastes like, it’s so scary… I’m so thirsty.’

Leopold’s face, filled with possessiveness towards Ariel, turned red.

But after hearing Richard mention that the carriage was ready, he regained his composure and went outside immediately.