Six years later. 

The two had been in a long-term relationship for a long time. With the blessings of both families, they were able to meet stably without any threats.

Because the gemstone hunters were no longer active, the rumor that Ertel had the Kaiya Stone inside her body did not spread widely. So, she and Icarus were able to date freely in the city.

As on any other day, after spending sweet time together at the workshop, they held hands and headed to the Marquis Agnes household. Icarus had given advance instructions to load the carriage with artworks and luxurious clothes.

“Feeling nervous?”

He sat upright with a disciplined posture. Ertel glanced at the duke slyly.

“You get nervous too?”

“Not often, but I am today.”

“You’ve treated my father well all this time. It’ll be fine.”

“That’s true, but still……”

Icarus was preparing himself for how he should face Adin, whom he was about to meet. While unconsciously doing deep breathing, they arrived at the mansion.

Adin, having heard of their visit, had instructed the household staff to prepare a formal meal.

“Father!”

“Did you have a good time, Ertel?”

“Yes. The weather was nice, and it was so much fun.”

Icarus’s servants busily carried in the gifts from the carriage. As the luxurious items piled up in the drawing room, Adin’s eyes widened.

“What is all this?”

“Father, please accept them without burden.”

The Duke of Juan knelt before him on both knees with a solemn expression. Adin looked flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“Duke Juan?”

“During the time I’ve spent with Ertel, I’ve come to understand my feelings for her.”

“……!”

“I want to spend the rest of my life with her.”

In order to have a real marriage, not a fake one, he had chosen to turn back time. Not wanting to regret that decision, Icarus had decided to give it his all.

“I have come to ask for your permission to take Ertel as my wife.”

Though Adin had expected this day would come someday, it still felt a little early for him.

“Hm……”

He had always wanted to spend more time with the daughter he had reunited with under such difficult circumstances. But if the suitor was none other than Icarus, things were different. He was the very person who had helped reunite the father and daughter.

“Duke Juan.”

“Yes. Please, go ahead.”

Adin took a deep breath and looked at both Ertel and Icarus in turn.

“As long as Ertel is happy.”

“……!”

“I will respect the duke’s decision.”

The two men exchanged glances and finally nodded. Ertel, watching from behind, was filled with immense joy. She lowered her head slightly to hide her smile.

“Ertel.”

Icarus got up from the floor and walked toward her.

“I’ll give my all to make you happy.”

“Icarus……”

The days of a heart burdened with punishment were now gone.

“So trust me and follow me.”

***

That night at the Juan estate. As dawn painted the sky in soft pink, the two of them were in the royal suite.

On the table beside the bed were wine, quince, fruit jellies, and an assortment of baked sweets. Icarus lay on the large bed, shirtless.

“Go wash up first, Ertel.”

“……Me first?”

“Shall we wash together?”

“No, I’ll go first!”

Ertel hurriedly grabbed a towel and fled to the bathroom. She checked her face in the mirror. Placing a hand over her left chest, she could hear her heart pounding.

‘Maybe tonight……’

She had a hunch it might be an important night. Every cell in her body was on edge. Maybe she was getting ahead of herself, but she had seen the look in Icarus’s eyes.

It was the look of a predator eyeing its prey.

‘I’m nervous.’

With all kinds of thoughts running through her head, Ertel washed as slowly as possible. When she came out, even her damp appearance stirred the man’s desire.

Suddenly, Icarus—wearing only a robe—grabbed her arm and embraced her tightly from behind.

“Icarus……”

“You look beautiful after a bath.”

“Now it’s your turn to wash.”

She thought he would let go soon, but instead, his arms tightened further and pulled her into a deeper embrace.

“Aren’t you going to wash?”

“No. I can’t wait.”

“What? What can’t you wait fo—! Mmph—.”

His impatient kiss cut off Ertel’s words. Icarus, the veins in his neck standing out, moved his tongue languidly. The desire he had unknowingly suppressed until now began to erupt.

When she tried to push his chest with her hands, he bound her wrists altogether.

“Hnnngh….”

The kiss continued relentlessly, giving her no time to breathe. Even Ertel, who had been resisting, was soon dazed and overwhelmed by the merciless *ssault of his tongue. Icarus had no intention of letting go once she was in his arms.

Only when they were gasping for air did their lips part.

“Haa, Icarus….”

“From now on, I can crave you as much as I want.”

“……!”

“From the very beginning until now, there hasn’t been a single moment I didn’t desire you.”

His lips traced up her cheek, nibbled on her earlobe, and licked gently. Ertel flinched at the strange, ticklish sensation. Even so, his seductive voice kept resonating without pause.

“I was going crazy, constantly drawn to the woman trying to kill me.”

“Ah,”

“I should’ve been honest about my feelings from the start.”

“It tickles, Icarus.”

His lips traveled down from her earlobe to explore her slender, white nape. Her unique scent had the power to make even the most rational person lose control.

“You probably didn’t know, Ertel.”

“Hngh.”

“You were always on my mind—I thought I’d go mad.”

His wicked hand slipped into her robe and rummaged around. Ertel’s eyes widened as she stared at him. Icarus looked as if he might collapse at any moment.

“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve built the Juan Empire.”

“……!”

“Because of a woman like you, all my plans were ruined.”

At this point, Icarus couldn’t break away from Ertel. No—he couldn’t let her go, even if she asked him to.

“My life and plans have been shattered.”

‘So take responsibility.’

Soon, the robe slid down to the floor, and Ertel was left completely bare. Thinking that she now belonged solely to him, Icarus’s heart overflowed. The soft scent emanating from her body provoked him.

“W-Wait a moment….”

At her instinctive plea, Icarus pressed on even harder.

“You’re too beautiful—I can’t hold back.”

He began to explore her with hands both careful and bold. Ertel, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar and tingling sensations, bit down on his finger without realizing it.

‘Ugh… I’m dizzy….’

A sweet dizziness she had never felt before. It felt like floating above the clouds.

Ertel instinctively reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. Icarus skillfully led her while continuing his sweet kisses. Each time Ertel gasped for air, he would briefly pull away, and every time he did, a helpless m*an escaped her lips.

“Ertel……”

They held each other—again and again—without a single thought until morning. Even sleep felt like a luxury.

***

Dawn broke.

The two were asleep, wrapped in each other’s bare arms. Ertel was the first to open her eyes.

She wondered why the feeling was so soft and warm—It was because their bare skin was touching.

She liked the way Icarus’s scent lingered close.

Last night truly felt like a dream. She couldn’t believe those lewd sounds had come from her own mouth, and she couldn’t forget the drops of Icarus’s sweat that had fallen onto her face.

‘I should get cleaned up first….’

She tried to quietly slip out so as not to wake him, but his arm tightened and wouldn’t let go.

“……!”

“Mmm….”

Though his eyes were still closed, his strong arm pulled Ertel’s waist in.

“Icarus, are you awake?”

Only then did his eyelids slowly lift. Even with his disheveled hair and puffy eyes, he was still a handsome man.

Ertel, now fully sober in the morning light, felt her breath catch.

“C-Could you let go…?”

“…….”

“I want to go wash….”

“No.”

As if to emphasize that he truly meant it, his embrace tightened. Icarus wanted to rub against Ertel’s soft skin just a little more.

Now fully awake, he climbed on top of her.

“Icarus!”

“Shall we go for another round?”

Startled, Ertel tried to squirm away in every direction, but she couldn’t escape his strong arms. As she wriggled like a squirrel in his arms, Icarus looked at her with deep affection.

Really, the way she looked all messy in the morning only made him want to tease her more.

“N-No… Icarus.”

“No?”

Even the way she casually used informal speech in moments like this was adorable. But getting any closer now would truly make him lose control.

So Icarus slowly released the strength in his arms.

‘If I keep teasing her, I might really lose it.’

He chuckled like a mischievous boy and patted her head.

“Let’s go have breakfast.”