The approaching Ariel was unbearably lovely. He wanted to lay her down on the bed immediately. But the other person had just regained her consciousness.

Worried that it might be too much for her fragile body, Leopold couldn’t embrace her tightly.

They were only touching lips because of her lead.

‘So cute.’

Leopold watched Ariel’s expression with half-closed eyes and then cupped her blushing cheeks with both hands.

He could feel the warmth and softness of her skin in his palms.

Leopold sucked on her soft lips and then let go.

‘Ah-!’

Ariel’s lips parted.

Leopold’s tongue slipped through the gap. Gently sweeping over her teeth and exploring every corner of her tender inner flesh.

But as the kiss deepened, Ariel felt unsatisfied.

‘Thirsty. I wish it would deepen, until everything of me is engulfed.’

Captured by desire, Ariel lifted her heels. Her red, plump lips enveloped his lower lip, and her white upper teeth gently bit into his lip.

“Hmm……”

Ariel’s offensive made Leopold’s lips part, letting out a moan.

Ariel, still on tiptoes, delved deeper into his mouth.

Her tongue slid around, softly sweeping over his, then slowly savored him as if she was licking a stick candy.

A strong thrill surged within Leopold.

It was hard to bear. Leopold sucked on Ariel’s lips and slowly pulled away.

His view was filled with her long, trembling eyelashes as she tightly closed her eyes.

‘She took the lead boldly. She must have been nervous.’

He hadn’t noticed while focusing on the kiss.

Ariel’s tensely nervous appearance was just as cute.

Leopold lifted Ariel by supporting her b*ttocks.

“Ah, Your Majesty!”

Ariel was startled, but her surprised expression quickly faded with his kiss.

Their tongues intertwined. Emperor Leopold Diaz felt a severe thirst driven by strong desire.

He still deeply sucked on Ariel’s lips, moving step by step towards the bed.

‘Come deeper.’

Ariel pulled his head towards her. The arm around his neck drew him even closer. Then, Leopold staggered and fell onto the bed with her in his arms.

He was trapped under her arm. The breath of the two, feeling suffocated, sped up.

‘I feel like I’m going to melt away.’

Ariel, heated all over, was soaked in excitement and thought she might melt away at any moment.

Again, Leopold’s lips softly bit Ariel’s lips. But soon, he turned his head and pushed her lips away.

“I like it too much… it seems…”

“What did you say?”

Ariel slightly opened her eyes to read his lips because the words he mumbled in excitement were not clear to her.

“I like you so much… I think I might go crazy…”

Her face turned bright red, but soon she revealed her neat teeth and smiled.

But Leopold’s hair, which was covering Ariel from above, obscured his face.

‘I can’t see his face well. I want to see his expression saying he likes me so much he could go crazy.’

Ariel brushed back his glossy black hair and met his eyes.

Cute.

The blushed cheeks, the slightly trembling dark brown pupils, the swollen red lips. All of them, without exception, were lovely.

Ariel’s refreshing laughter filled the room.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because I like you too.”

At the sight of her suddenly bursting into laughter like a little girl made Leopold’s lips also curl up.

Thud-!

He lay down beside Ariel and pressed his lips to her plump forehead.

Leopold’s heart was filled with happiness.

If Ariel had lost her life due to the evil tricks of the dark mages,

‘I don’t even want to imagine it.’

His brow furrowed like a piece of paper.

Leopold pulled Ariel into his embrace, using the excuse that he didn’t want to show her his frowning face.

Ariel nestled into him without resistance and listened to the sound of his heart.

She could feel his rock-hard pectorals under his thin pajamas. The sound of his heart beating wildly through it.

‘I think I could stay like this all day.’

But she needed to eat breakfast, and she wanted to see her family.

Her beloved Mom, Dad, and brothers.

Ariel slightly pushed away from Leopold’s chest and peeked her face towards him.

“But the food must have gone cold. Shouldn’t you eat and go?”

“Food, ah… We were eating breakfast.”

At her question, Leopold groaned softly through his teeth.

“I want to stay like this all day.”

He pulled Ariel back into his embrace and tightened his arms around her.

“I’m hungry. I want to see Mother and Father too.”

“Evan and Hyle had a tough time this time.”

Ariel widened her eyes at the unexpected names that came out of his mouth.

Leopold sat up and pulled on the bell rope beside the bed.

Knock knock-

“Did you call, Your Majesty?”

“The food has gone cold, bring it again.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will bring the food again and clean up.”

Leopold returned to Ariel’s side and embraced her.

“Were you so surprised because of Hyle?”

“H-how did you know…”

Saying that, she buried her face in her shoulder and took a deep breath to calm herself down.

‘I’m even jealous of an old man with white hair.’

Leopold reluctantly opened his mouth.

“It seems he intended to participate in the hunt, fearing something dangerous might happen. Of course, he met us before that and ended up going to rescue you.”

Her collarbone felt the breath contained in his words, causing Ariel’s toes to curl from the ticklish sensation.

“I see. But how did you know to come there? Even I, who thought I knew Helmir Forest well, didn’t know there was a castle in such a place.”

“Duke Noah Diaz told us. That you would be there. I’m planning to summon him to interrogate him about this matter.”

Duke Noah Diaz.

She had many questions for him too.

What exactly was his identity that he knew about her secrets?

Ariel made Leopold look at her.

“I have things I need to discuss with that person too. Please give me a chance to speak with him alone when you interrogate him.”

“Absolutely not.”

Knowing how that man looks at you. How can I leave just the two of you alone in a room?

Especially since Ariel almost lost her life due to dark mages related to him.

“Absolutely, absolutely not.”

Leopold said firmly once again.

“Okay. Then at least let me meet him.”

“I must accompany you.”

“Alright.”

Ariel nodded and leaned against his chest.

Since she had already revealed all her secrets to Leopold, there was no problem discussing them in front of him.

And she knew what Leopold was worried about.

Duke Noah Diaz knew too much about dark mages and their secrets. He might even be their leader.

‘But why did he help Leopold save me?’

If they were allies, there would be no reason for him to save me.

Knock knock-

“The food has been prepared again, Your Majesty.”

Ariel got up from the bed and straightened her hair and clothes.

***

Ariel tenderly picked up a piece of meat with her fork and put it in her mouth. She quickly swallowed the steak.

“It’s delicious.”

Leopold’s knife busily moved across the plate. Soon another piece of meat was placed on Ariel’s plate. She put the meat in her mouth with a shy smile.

“Listen while eating.”

Ariel chewed and looked at Leopold.

“When your body gets a bit better, I plan to officially host a tea party organized by the imperial family.”

The first event after the Empress’s coronation ceremony ended in an unfortunate incident.

Although it was resolved, the unease among the nobles and citizens did not subside.

The families that coveted the Empress’s position. The families who were displeased with the Clark family monopolizing key positions in the imperial family were using it as an excuse to gossip.

‘Once Ariel makes an official appearance, all those complaints will naturally disappear.’

Not only for her beautiful appearance but also for her dignity, strength, and upright character—anyone with proper eyesight would recognize it without a doubt.

“That’s necessary. There will be a lot of talk about this incident.”

They married by contract, but now she has truly come to love him. Therefore, as the Empress of the Atlan Empire, she must take responsibility for the peace and prosperity of the imperial family.

Ariel picked up the meat on the plate with a fork and said,

“But how will our contract end?”

Before putting it in her mouth.

Instead of cutting the steak, Leopold looked at Ariel with a sidelong glance. He watched Ariel busily moving her mouth for a moment.

“I will terminate the contract by the Emperor’s authority.”