I Stole the Emperor's First Night - Chapter 113

“My wife fell asleep early.”

Evan said to the two. Although the sun had set, it wasn’t that late, so Ariel tilted her head in curiosity.

“Don’t just stand in the entrance, please come inside. It would be better to talk inside, Your Majesty the Empress.”

“Yes, Father.”

At Marquis Louis’ words, everyone in the mansion went to the dining room. When seven people entered and sat in the dining room, despite its spaciousness, the room felt crowded.

Henry soon prepared and set the table with tea and refreshments.

“How was your trip? Is there any part of your body that is unwell?”

Marchioness Rose, sitting next to Ariel, stroked Ariel’s hair. She was worried seeing her daughter’s face looking haggard, wondering how she had managed without any attendants.

“Yes. Thanks to your concern, we had a good time.”

“Evan, Walter. You must have worked hard taking care of the imperial family in our absence.”

At Leopold’s warm words, Evan and Walter widened their eyes in surprise. He was usually stingy with words of gratitude or praise for things that were naturally expected.

It seemed something had changed in his demeanor and gaze over the past month.

“Oh, not at all. It is a relief for us servants to see that you both have returned after shedding all the hardships.”

Walter replied.

Ariel placed her hand on top of her mother’s hand, which was stroking her knee, and then looked at Evan and asked.

“Liese hasn’t returned from the Holy See yet?”

“No, Your Majesty. My wife has been staying at home for about two weeks now.”

What could that mean? Was she perhaps ill? Ariel was worried about Liese.

“There is good news, Your Majesty the Empress.”

Marquis Louis spoke up. His lips curved into a smile as he continued.

“I am going to have a grandchild.”

“What?”

Ariel looked at Leopold, who also seemed slightly surprised, with her mouth agape.

A baby, a baby? Does that mean Liese is pregnant!

“Maybe because it’s early in the pregnancy, she often feels sleepy. Perhaps because of the morning sickness, her bedtime has become earlier as well.”

“Congratulations, Evan.”

“Congratulations, Evan.”

Ariel’s pupils trembled slightly. She looked into her mother Rose’s eyes, which were holding her hand tightly.

“Does that mean I am going to be an aunt?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Only joyous events seem to be happening in the Clark family.”

Rose, living happy days without worries, also had such concerns. She worried that there might be those who would envy this happiness.

Rose smiled faintly.

“Since she is not in good health, I feel sorry to call her to the palace, and it will be hard to see her face often… I wish I could have seen Liese today to congratulate her.”

“I will visit the palace once she enters a stable period.”

Evan said, looking alternately at Ariel and Leopold. Ariel nodded with a face full of emotion.

***

After Liese’s surprising news, Ariel excitedly shared with her family about the life she had in Macglier.

Seeing her bright appearance, Walter felt as if all the hardships he had endured were being washed away.

Although he told His Majesty the Emperor, who praised him for his hard work, that he was fine, the reality was different.

He was mentally and physically exhausted from the murderous workload.

Had it not been for Solviche Platanas, he might not have been able to get through that tough period. Thanks to her, he managed to endure each crisis.

Walter set aside everything else and only mentioned how much strength Solviche had given him. Ariel couldn’t suppress the smile forming at the corners of her mouth as she listened to him.

How could the two of them get along so well?

Ariel had never imagined that the sensitive perfectionist Walter and the easygoing Solviche would be such a good match, so she was both amazed and secretly hopeful that their relationship would deepen.

Thus, the night deepened with stories unknown to each other.

As midnight approached, Marquis Louis, concerned about their travel fatigue, sent the two back to the imperial palace.

Ariel, leaving behind her regret, returned to the imperial palace with Leopold.

***

Thus, Ariel became accustomed to her ordinary daily life again. However, she did not forget the resolution she made in Macglier.

At her suggestion to look after the neglected people of Atlan, Leopold began the task of creating maps.

Sending a small number of specialized personnel across the country related to this was not easy. It required a lot of money and time.

If no one took the initiative, it would become a pointless project. So, Ariel rolled up her sleeves.

One month, two months passed like that.

She spent hectic times. That day too, she lay down late at night after reviewing reports that had come from all over the country.

Carefully, she slipped into bed, making the least amount of noise to avoid waking Leopold, who had gone to bed earlier.

However,

“Aren’t you overworking yourself?”

He was not asleep. His voice, low and filled with concern, reached her.

Wanting to reassure him, Ariel fumbled in the dark to kiss his lips.

Her plump lips, making smacking sounds, found his earlobe, cheek, eyebrow, nose, and finally his lips.

“It’s ticklish.”

As Ariel briefly pulled away to take a breath, his damp voice escaped through his teeth.

But even that was suppressed by her kiss that enveloped his lips.

Just moments ago, he had been determined not to push the obviously tired Ariel, but her proactive attitude made Leopold’s red eyes glimmer.

His hand, wrapped around her neck, tousled the back of her head.

Their bodies intertwined. She felt his firm bare skin under her thin slip, beautifully revealing her n*ked body.

This made his insides boil.

He wanted to let the tired Ariel rest, but in the end, he lost control due to his longing.

His languid lips landed on her neck. Ariel, uttering a sound akin to a death throe, threw her head back at the scattered kisses on her collarbone.

“Ugh…”

He grasped her soft flesh with both hands. Soon, he took it into his mouth like a hard candy and gently rolled his tongue.

Ariel, her whole body tingling with pleasure, clung more desperately to his neck.

Eventually, Leopold’s massive body covered her frail one.

***

Ariel sat in her office, carefully examining the stack of documents piled high.

‘Am I coming down with something?’

Her whole body ached. No matter how much she slept, she felt drowsy. She was definitely looking at documents just a moment ago, but when she came to her senses, she found herself nodding off.

Leopold and May were worried about her health. Especially Leopold, who suggested she delegate the work to Walter.

But she wanted to finish what she had started.

Ah… Should I ask Walter for help after all?

Ariel collapsed onto her desk.

“Ouch…”

At that moment, she felt a bubbling sensation in her lower abdomen, followed by a prickling sensation as if someone was poking her with needles.

Hearing this sound from outside, May rushed in, opening the door in a panic.

“Y-Your Majesty! Are you alright?”

May quickly approached and helped Ariel, who was lying on the desk with a pained expression.

“Yes. My body feels strange. Maybe I should have rested when you told me to.”

“Please go and rest now, Your Majesty.”

Ariel, supported by May, went to the bedroom. She carefully lay down.

“I’ll just sleep for a bit, May. Wake me up in a little while.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please rest. I’ll call for young master Lloyd when you wake up.”

After drawing the blackout curtains, May quickly left the room. Ariel slowly blinked her large eyes before falling into a deep sleep.

***

Ariel did not wake up until the next morning. As she lifted her heavy eyelids, she saw Leopold looking at her with eyes dripping with honey.

“Did you sleep well?”

Is it my imagination, or is he being more affectionate today?

“Don’t overwork yourself anymore. Stop working on the map project too.”

Ariel pursed her lips and frowned.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“…”

He did not answer. Instead, he opened his arms and embraced her warmly. Ariel rested her chin on his shoulder. She stared blankly into space with anxious eyes, not understanding why.

“They say a new life has come to us…”

At the sound of his voice, filled with emotion and joy, her jade-colored pupils trembled violently. Leopold, pulling her away from his embrace, pressed his forehead against hers.

“You, truly… always bring me new surprises.”

Moisture gathered at the corners of Ariel’s eyes. The tears that soaked her long eyelashes flowed down her cheeks.

『I Stole the Emperor’s Fist Night』 The End.