I Stole the Emperor's First Night - Chapter 111

The sun set, and night arrived.

A sliver of the moon hung lazily in the black sky, surrounded by countless stars shining like tiny jewels. The sea, darkened by the night, spewed out black waves.

A faint light emanated from the windows of a mansion not far from the beach. Magical lights planted throughout the small garden quietly illuminated the plants.

Ariel sat at a round table on the balcony in front of the bedroom, staring blankly at the night sea. Her emerald eyes, reflecting the dark sea, took on a darker hue.

The sound of waves crashing on the sandy shore filled the space. The wind blowing from the sea was heavy with moisture, causing her long hair to stick to her face.

After a major inspection, peace had returned to the once turbulent Atlan.

The authority of the imperial family grew stronger day by day, and people praised Leopold as a wise king.

But there were still places that remained untouched by attention.

There must be places similar to Prah, a village they encountered on the way to the White territory where they met Austin, where immigrants established themselves in the mountainous region leading to the White territory, scattered throughout the entire Atlan.

The problem was that these villages, which were not under the lord’s control or protection, survived autonomously. Unless one passed by such a village on the road, its existence would be unknown.

“We need to embrace the neglected people of Atlan…”

Even if it took time, what if they remade the map? It would be a massive project, requiring a lot of time and money.

But previously unknown towns and villages would be revealed to the world.

Of course, she didn’t want to forcibly relocate their living grounds or establish lords there under the pretext of helping them.

She just wanted to provide appropriate assistance to places that needed the protection of the imperial family.

Watching the waves come in and go out, Ariel thought about what she could do as the Empress of Atlan.

***

Leopold watched her back from the bedroom.

She had accomplished so much with that slender body. Stronger and more resilient than him. A brave person who acted on what she believed to be right.

Ariel Diaz.

To her, he was an inadequate person who could neither help nor support her. It was all thanks to Ariel that they could capture and seal Noah Diaz, the incarnation of the Demon King.

His red eyes grew sorrowful.

Leopold rose from the bed and opened the balcony door.

“Ariel.”

“Shall we go to bed now?”

Ariel stood up from the chair to go back to the room. But Leopold came out onto the balcony and sat beside her.

She had no choice but to sit back down.

“What’s wrong?”

The dim moonlight touched her worried face. Leopold, overwhelmed by her beauty, pulled her into his arms.

Was she lonely? With no one to lean on?

Tears welled up in his eyes.

“Leo, are you hurt anywhere?”

Ariel barely managed to free her arm from under his and placed her hand on his forehead.

He’s not hot, so why did he look so unwell?

Her trembling jade-colored pupils scanned his expression. However, she couldn’t even guess the reason for his anxiety.

“I’m sorry, I…”

“Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

“When I think about it, I’m a person far inferior to you. A person who is of no help to you.”

Judging her swordsmanship without knowing his place, daring to say he would protect her.

Thinking about it now made his face burn with shame.

“Leo. When I was on the brink of death in the Helmir Forest, I couldn’t regain consciousness even with Liese Willington’s holy power, remember?”

“Why are you bringing that up? Just thinking about it torments me.”

Tears fell in a stream.

“I couldn’t accept that you were dead, so I deceived myself. I avoided facing reality because I felt like I would die.”

The feelings he had hidden away, not wanting to admit, poured out like a flood.

Even if she left him, unable to love such a weak man anymore, Leopold thought he couldn’t even make excuses to Ariel.

But she looked at his face and smiled slightly.

“Listen carefully, Leopold. Your unwavering love made me love you too. It was you, Leopold, who sustained me on the day I lost consciousness.”

Her words brightened Leopold’s face.

“I… I didn’t do anything to help you wake up.”

Ariel cupped his cheek with her hand. It was the undeniable truth. The fact that she could be here was because she relied on and trusted him.

Therefore, Ariel hoped he would no longer blame himself. She brought her lips to the tears that had fallen on his cheek.

“Don’t you believe me?”

“……”

“Even though it’s all in the past, if those memories still torment you like a fishbone stuck in your throat…”

Leopold’s throat moved up and down.

“Let me tell you clearly. It was because of you that I could stay alive until now. I could respond so fiercely to Noah Diaz’s attack because you existed under this sky.”

Her trembling lips touched his like petals and then parted.

Leopold took a deep breath of her shallow breath.

“I am yours.”

“And I am yours.”

Ariel stretched her arms around his neck. Like a cicada clinging tightly to an old tree, she clung to him without allowing any gap.

Leopold held her even tighter in his arms.

“But, I have something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

Ariel asked him.

The day he saw the cold-hearted woman who remained calm even while fighting the incarnation of the Demon King, Noah Diaz, show emotion.

It was the day he accidentally saw Evan proposing to Liese.

Leopold still hadn’t forgotten the expression Ariel had that day.

He had wanted to propose to her again, even if just modestly, during their last trip.

But dealing with dark mages and demonic beasts had forced him to postpone it.

“Will you marry me?”

“……”

We’re already married, what was he talking about? Ariel looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“I’ve always felt bad for not giving you a proper proposal.”

Her honest feeling was that it didn’t matter now, but since Leopold wanted to…

Ariel nodded slightly.

“Marry me.”

He suddenly released her from his embrace and took out a small box from his pants pocket.

Inside the box was a gold ring. He carefully took it out and placed it on Ariel’s ring finger.

Ariel, grateful for his thoughtfulness, kissed his lips deeply.

“Of course.”

Leopold unreservedly swallowed her lips, imbued with warm words.

***

The two spent the most leisurely month of their lives.

Dressing in noble attire started to feel like a waste of time to them. They bought comfortable clothes at the market that were easy to put on and take off.

They wandered around freely, dressed as commoners.

Some days, they didn’t bathe and just lazed around in bed together. Sometimes they set up a parasol and stared blankly at the shimmering sea.

They also went to the market like an ordinary married couple, just looking around without buying anything.

Without attendants serving them, they could fully focus on each other and learned things they hadn’t known about each other’s daily habits.

For instance, brushing teeth last when washing up, or drinking a lot of water frequently during meals.

Ariel preferred to clean up as they went, while Leopold liked to tidy everything at once.

These small differences occasionally caused conflicts, but they endured, believing it was part of becoming truly one.

On the last morning before leaving Macglier.

Ariel and Leopold walked along the beach, feeling a sense of regret.

The dawn beach was still shrouded in darkness. The thick waves menacingly threatened them.

But the seemingly eternal darkness couldn’t stand against the sun and gradually faded away.

The red sun reflected on the surface of the sea. The water scales shimmered with sunlight as the wind blew.

Her dress hem gently dragged over the fine sand.

“Let’s not forget. This moment.”

Their clasped hands intertwined tightly.