Leopold wrapped his arms around Ariel’s waist and slowly laid her down on the sofa.

Her eyelids trembled.

She didn’t dislike him laying her down, kissing her, and hugging her all the time.

Rather, she looked forward to it.

His embrace. His hot lips devouring her breath. His thick fingers tracing down her spine.

She gazed into his dark red eyes with a longing look.

“I know. I’m like a dog in heat.”

But what can I do? I can’t control it.

I can skip meals. I can go three days without eating and be fine. But if I don’t taste these plump lips for even a day…

No, just imagining it is torturous. It makes my throat parched with thirst.

“I… I didn’t think that…”

Why does he misunderstand?

She brushed aside his dark blue hair that tickled her face with her slender fingers.

“Then, what did you think?”

Ariel’s face flushed. Her emerald eyes, which had been staring straight at him, wandered aimlessly in the air.

Leopold persistently followed her gaze.

Eventually, Ariel opened her mouth and let out a heated breath.

“I look forward to it too… Your warm embrace.”

She conveyed her true feelings as if she were confessing.

To Leopold, her trembling lips and sincere, slightly quivering eyes were incredibly endearing.

He couldn’t contain the happiness welling up in his heart. He could only bury his face in her delicate shoulder and let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank goodness. Thank goodness.”

He murmured softly.

***

Before the weekend when the party was scheduled.

The two of them busily toured various places in the Kingdom of Macglier to enjoy the remaining time.

They spent time together at art galleries and attended orchestra performances or musicals.

They also cooked meals for each other once a day. Of course, neither Leopold nor Ariel made particularly delicious food. But the power of love made them endure and eat it.

In this way, the two focused on each other.

As a result, they freed themselves from the burden of Noah Diaz and the compulsion to return, and they immersed themselves in an astonishingly ordinary daily life.

If we hadn’t gotten married first and had dated step by step… What would we be like?

Ariel was curious about that, but it didn’t really matter.

His embrace was as warm as a fortress and seemed to protect her from all the world’s storms.

In her previous life, and even after becoming part of the novel, Leopold Diaz had become her sanctuary in a life where she had never relied on anyone, not even her family.

However, sometimes the peace was so overwhelming that it made her lose her sense of reality.

Her life had always been filled with anxiety and endless incidents.

What if this serene life wasn’t hers? What if it was all a dream? What if it dissolved like soap bubbles?

Such anxious feelings would surge.

One day, she confided these feelings to Leopold.

He silently held her tightly. Ariel burst into tears at the warmth.

Her resolve to never cry had been in vain.

“I will never… let you bear the weight of life alone again.”

He showered her ear with small kisses and promised in a soft voice.

It was incredibly comforting.

Ariel finally gathered the courage to tell Leopold about the miserable life she had lived before coming to this world.

She slowly, and quite calmly, recounted her life as if she had no parents.

He listened to her story in silence…

Contrary to her calm tone, he embraced her trembling shoulders.

Even though it had been over ten years since she had been reincarnated, she still couldn’t escape those memories.

“I know better than anyone. Unhealed wounds tend to reopen.”

He pondered deeply. When did his wounds start to heal?

The day he first met Ariel. The day the cheerful little lady gave sincere advice to the lonely boy.

That day, he realized he had become free from his past wounds.

***

Late afternoon on the day of the party, as the sun was setting. Ariel and Leopold boarded a carriage bearing the royal emblem of Macglier.

The off-shoulder teal dress suited her perfectly.

“Do you think everyone will come?”

“Yes. May and Solviche will be taken care of by Richard.”

Leopold answered Ariel’s question.

On the day they finished interrogating the dark mages and had their final meeting with the King of Macglier, Leopold had requested that all the members who came from Atlan be invited to the party.

Kaiser did not forget this and invited all seven from Atlan the day before the party.

Upon hearing this, May and Solviche, who hadn’t brought dresses for the party, hurriedly bought dresses from a boutique in Macglier.

Although the two were disappointed to return to Atlan much earlier than planned, they nodded silently at Ariel’s suggestion to come again next time.

Leopold had asked Evan and Liese to stay longer in Macglier, but they refused, saying they had to return together.

When Ariel expressed her deep apologies to them…

―Your Majesty, please don’t apologize. Thanks to Your Majesty’s consideration, we were able to travel to Macglier.

With a very kind tone, Liese comforted Ariel instead. She also expressed gratitude, saying they were able to attend the party hosted by the Macglier royal family thanks to them.

“Are Liese and Evan coming too?”

“Yes. They said they would.”

The carriage slowly came to a stop. The coachman opened the carriage door.

“We have arrived.”

Leopold got off first and escorted Ariel.

She placed her hand on his arm with a bright smile, her face full of anticipation as she stepped lightly.

Wearing not too high heels, her steps were light.

From the entrance to the banquet hall, a red carpet was laid out, so there was no need to search for the way to the hall.

“They seem to have put a lot of effort into this.”

“Of course. It’s a party for us, so they should put in this much effort.”

After all, it’s a party to thank the Emperor and Empress of Atlan.

Of course, the nobles of Macglier, who were unaware of the identities of the two, might not understand the scale of the party.

They might wonder if it’s necessary to treat them so grandly, even though they were thankful for subduing the demonic beasts and capturing the dark mages.

Ariel and Leopold entered the banquet hall.

The hall, prepared personally by the Queen of Macglier, was decorated splendidly.

Emerald silk decorations, reminiscent of Ariel’s eye color, hung from the ceiling. The crystal chandeliers sparkled brightly, illuminating the room.

And there were vases and pots filled with abundant flowers and green plants, making the spacious hall feel almost like an outdoor garden.

The air was filled with the scents of roses, lilies, and hydrangeas, enhancing the atmosphere with their fragrant aroma and vibrant beauty.

The dance floor was left empty, but tables and chairs surrounded it.

The antique furniture, passed down through generations of the Macglier Kingdom, created a vintage atmosphere.

Ariel looked around with wide eyes.

Even without seeing it, she could tell how much effort Queen Celine had put into the decorations.

Covering her mouth with her hand, Ariel whispered to Leopold.

“Queen Celine seems to have a good sense of aesthetics.”

“Indeed. The arrangement of flowers and plants, the placement of the furniture, and even the silk decorations on the ceiling. Everything is meticulously planned.”

Looking around, she spotted May, Solviche, and Richard.

“They’re already here.”

She tugged on Leopold’s arm and walked over to them.

“Have you arrived?”

“Yes. Everyone looks wonderful.”

Ariel looked them up and down.

May was wearing a sleeveless white dress. Layers of lace wrapped around the white silk, making the skirt spread out beautifully.

Solviche wore an off-shoulder black dress without decorations or embroidery. The mermaid design hugged her body, highlighting her muscles and toned physique.

Richard’s suit was made in black, featuring an elegant collar and a clean slim fit. The intricate suit buttons and pocket details added a sophisticated touch to the overall design.

Ariel felt the saying ‘clothes make the man’ was true, but what she liked most were their smiling faces.

‘They seem excited.’

Ariel captured the image of May and Solviche laughing and chatting in her eyes.

A moment later. Evan and Liese had also gathered.

Ariel, Leopold, Liese, and Evan sat at the same table, while Richard, May, and Solviche sat at another table.