After being taken care of by May, Ariel sprawled out on the bed.

“Ah, I’m tired.”

For Ariel, attending balls or banquets was more exhausting than hunting demonic beasts. She had to move around busily while wearing uncomfortable clothes and high heels.

“Shall I massage your feet?”

“Please, May.”

Ariel buried her head in the bed and laid face down.

Her feet, not properly circulated with blood, felt May’s warm hands. The pain that tormented the soles of her feet gradually eased.

“It feels cool.”

“You’ve worked hard. You’ve really become Her Majesty the Empress now.”

“That’s right. I can’t believe it.”

She had tried so hard to avoid him until now. But in the end, it turned out as he wished.

Ariel pouted her lips in dissatisfaction.

Knock knock.

“His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

“Ah, just a moment.”

Ariel hurriedly got up to tidy up her appearance. Soon, the door opened, and Leopold appeared.

He was wearing pajamas, but he deliberately left the top buttons undone. His muscular chest was visible through his clothes.

“You don’t have to get up.”

Leopold reached out his hand towards Ariel, who was trying to get up from the bed. Ariel sat back down on the bed.

“I will leave now.”

May quickly went to the door, greeted Leopold, and left the room.

“My legs hurt from standing in heels for so long.”

“I see.”

He felt pity for Ariel’s feet, which must have suffered in her sharp heels.

“Lie down.”

Leopold, who sat next to her, patted the mattress with his hand.

‘What is he trying to do……’

Ariel looked at him suspiciously but lay down straight on the bed at his urging.

Then, Leopold went down to the foot of the bed and grabbed her right foot.

“Your Majesty!”

“The sole of your foot is soft and cute.”

His thick fingers moved between Ariel’s white toes. She felt a ticklish sensation as he rubbed her toes up and down.

‘It’s ticklish but cool.’

He stroked all five toes of her right foot and then pressed the sole with his thumb.

The coolness was different from what May had provided. Her clustered fatigue disappeared, and she felt her blood circulate faster.

“How is it?”

“It’s, cool, Your Majesty.”

“Call me Leo.”

How long will you call me Your Majesty? Now that we’re married, it would be more affectionate if you called me by my name.

‘Of course, it’s just a contract marriage to you.’

“Leo?”

“Yes, El. We should appear affectionate to others.”

“Ah, I understand.”

El? El?

Ariel’s face turned red, and she raised her arm to hide it from him.

He’s suddenly asking to be called by a nickname.

Is he sick?

‘But why is he observing me like that.’

She glanced at Leopold with her arm slightly lowered, and their eyes met. Ariel quickly raised her arm again to cover her eyes.

“It seems you don’t like the nickname.”

“I like it.”

Her tone was very dissatisfied, but she said she liked it.

His lips curled up playfully.

“I’m glad, El.”

Leopold put down her right foot and picked up her left. Just like before, he slid his index and middle fingers up and down between her toes.

This situation of Emperor Leopold massaging her feet was too different from the original story, something Ariel could never have imagined.

Why is he being so nice to me?

I haven’t done anything for him.

‘Is there something I don’t know?’

There might be things missed by twisting the original story.

Ariel withdrew her arm.

“Your Majesty.”

“Why? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“No…… I’m just curious.”

He gently placed Ariel’s foot on the bed and lay down next to her. Ariel also turned and lay on her side.

He aligned his eyes with hers. Their gazes met.

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

“Because you took my first, it’s natural for me to be nice.”

No, you’re not that kind of person.

‘I know. You were annoyed by Ariel clinging to you.’

A chill passed through Ariel’s eyes.

‘Let’s just give up. He won’t tell me the truth anyway.’

She lowered her eyes to avoid Leopold’s gaze.

Leopold brushed the golden hair on her face behind her ear and spoke.

“When I said first time… it didn’t necessarily refer to our first night. Think about it. What other ‘firsts’ have you taken from me?”

He wanted Ariel to remember on her own. Their first meeting. The kindness she had shown him.

“And after spending time with you, I ended up falling for you even more.”

With his words full of sincerity, Ariel looked at him. Just like always, his eyes were straight and clear.

‘I first met Leopold on the day of the victory celebration. But seeing him talk like this, it really feels like I’ve missed something.’

What could it be? What have I missed?

I just can’t seem to grasp it.

“Think about it. It’s the homework I’m giving you.”

His hand, stroking her hair, tangled softly in her locks.

Ariel looked into his dark amber pupils without answering, seeing her own reflection. She felt dizzy from the very affectionate, warm, and sweet emotions in his gaze.

“Today is our official first night.”

“……Uh!”

The hand that had been stroking her hair now wrapped around the back of her neck.

Then his soft lips swallowed hers. His tongue grazed her tender flesh, passed her orderly teeth, and touched Ariel’s wandering tongue.

With this entanglement, it seemed like he would never let her go.

‘What’s this all of a sudden?’

What flashed through Ariel’s mind then were the terms of their marital contract.

She couldn’t refuse or avoid it.

‘In that case… I should enjoy this as well.’

Ariel closed her eyes. She breathed shallowly and gasped, clutching his pajamas.

Go ahead and do as you please. After all, I will definitely escape from your grasp.

Leopold, seeing Ariel had closed her eyes, began to slowly move his hand holding her neck downwards.

‘The zipper…’

There it is.

Zzzzip.

The zipper of her negligee was pulled down by his hand.

‘Right. To do that thing, we have to undress.’

Ariel’s shoulders flinched, but soon endured his touch with a nonchalant expression.

“Just a moment.”

Leopold removed his lips from hers and straightened her up before climbing on top of her.

His hand slowly pulled down her negligee.

Her white, round shoulders and the hollow of her collarbone were revealed.

He buried his face in her shoulder without a second thought.

‘It smells fragrant.’

The scent of flowers wafting from her skin. The softness of her flesh. Finally, she became his own.

The reason he always felt thirsty even when she was by his side was probably because he had her close but couldn’t fully indulge in her.

Now that their marriage has been proclaimed, there’s no need for him to endure. He can embrace her whenever he wants, as much as he wants, without anyone’s scrutiny.

“Your Majesty, it tickles.”

Ariel, who had her eyes tightly closed, opened them slightly.

Wherever his lips touched, a thrill of excitement made her whole body tremble.

‘I decided to enjoy it.’

This was an excuse for her breath becoming rough, and her heart beating fast, to match the rapid movement of her chest.

“Yes. I’m ticklish too. I feel like I’m going to burst.”

Leopold moved a bit lower and then pulled down her negligee further. Her milky br*asts swayed in response.

He looked up. The spectacle created by the underside of her br*asts made his gaze intensely shake.

“I can’t hold back any longer.”

He reached out his hand. Ariel moaned and closed her eyes tightly again.

Like diving into delicious fruit, his lips parted wide.

***

“El……”

His hot skin enveloped hers. It was as if his determination never to let her go was contained within his firm muscles.

Her small white chin rested on his thick shoulder.

The sound of her shallow, rapid breathing from the excitement that hadn’t faded yet tickled Leopold’s ears.

The only person who could make her like this was Leopold Diaz, himself.

‘If only I had known earlier that you were a daughter of the Clark family…’

He would have arranged the marriage and welcomed her as his wife. But the reality they faced when they finally met wasn’t so easy.

“Are you satisfied now?”

Ariel’s voice became hoarse and cracked.

It was because of their endless lovemaking, which made her continuously scream and moan.

Even though the heat hadn’t subsided yet, her face seemed to blaze hot again as soon as his warm skin touched hers.

But she was focused on the unfamiliar pain.