“I should lie down.”

These days, Lucian went to bed earlier and woke up later than before.

He liked that he didn’t have to think about anything while sleeping.

Since this was a multi-purpose room, he had no intention of going to the bedroom.

He moved toward the small bed set up on one side of the room. Just as he was about to lie down on the soft bed…

“So this is where you were.”

A familiar voice came from right beside him.

Lucian’s eyes widened. As he turned reflexively, a light weight pressed down on his body.

Though it was too light and weak compared to his strength, Lucian somehow yielded to that weight.

Lucian’s body collapsed onto the bed. The soft blanket wrapped around his back.

A familiar shadow fell over his body. The arm that had fallen onto the bed with his body was firmly grabbed.

“Adelia…?”

Lucian blinked slowly. The butterfly wing-like eyelashes resting on his strong eyes fluttered gently.

The person above him was Adelia. She held one of Lucian’s wrists with one hand, and grabbed his opposite shoulder with her other hand to hold him down.

One knee pressed into the bed, while her other leg supported her body between his legs.

“Got you.”

Adelia’s long hair flowed down softly. The silver hair shimmering faintly in the moonlight tickled Lucian’s face.

Adelia had persistently tracked Lucian. Her blue eyes in her small face were filled with nothing but Lucian. He trembled at the sensation that felt like everything about Adelia had become him.

And at the greater sensation that washed over him, Lucian let out a hot breath.

The name of the emotion he held,

It was love.

‘Love.’

He found the name of the sensation that had been constantly making him complicated.

At that moment, Lucian held his breath with a ‘hup’ sound.

His heart dropped. As if only his heart remained in the world, everything was filled with its pounding sound.

He couldn’t hear the chirping birds or the cool breeze blowing. But he could clearly hear Adelia’s tiny breathing sounds.

The experience of his heartbeat mixing with Adelia’s breathing was dizzying enough to make his body tremble.

‘Why didn’t I know such an easy answer.’

It was as if someone had erased the word ‘love’ from his mind.

Wanting to see her every day, thinking of her, wanting to be together all day, wanting to support her every move while also wanting to devour everything, not minding giving her his everything—this deep and sticky sensation had only one name.

The moment he became aware of his feelings, his emotions for her surged and took over his entire body.

‘I love her.’

As if affirming that fact, the headache that had been bothering him lately disappeared completely. His complicated mind cleared up, and only the fact that he loved her filled his thoughts.

He had realized this fact far too late.

Lucian inwardly mocked himself. It had been so difficult for him to realize the emotion of love. Perhaps he had known all along. He just couldn’t acknowledge that fact.

Because…

‘We’re in a contract relationship.’

That fact constricted Lucian’s heart.

It felt suffocating, like solid chains binding his body.

The relationship binding her and him was precarious. A relationship formed purely for mutual benefit. It was painful to know that it couldn’t be held together by one-sided love.

‘Does she feel the same way I do?’

The moment he became aware of love, dark and damp emotions boiled up from deep inside him.

He wanted to confess his love to Adelia right now. He wanted to whisper sweet love and bind her to his side. He wanted her pretty eyes to hold only him, her cute lips to call only his name, her soft touch to be felt only by him.

Such intense emotions boiled up that he wanted to devour her whole body.

‘How vulgar and filthy.’

Of course, he couldn’t reveal these thoughts to Adelia.

In a situation where she might or might not stay by his side even if he gave her good things and showed her good things while coaxing and soothing her, he couldn’t show these rock-bottom emotions.

Lucian turned his head away, worried that Adelia, who sometimes acted like she knew everything, might read his thoughts.

Though it was regrettable not to see himself filling those two eyes, he disliked being hated more.

“Look at me properly. Why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?”

Adelia, whose patience had reached its limit, got straight to the point while pushing her face close.

She looked for him to borrow the holy sword, but now she wanted to know why he avoided her.

Sneaking into Lucian’s room hadn’t been difficult.

First, she had deceived him by pretending to give up and leave after visiting his palace. After arriving at her palace, she immediately used magic to hide her appearance and presence and slipped into his room. When drawing up magic power, completely erasing her presence was no trouble at all.

Adelia waited for an answer from his mouth while staring with wide eyes.

But Lucian didn’t open his mouth readily.

“Well……”

Lucian turned his head away and trailed off, avoiding her gaze.

Though he could easily push her away, he didn’t. Even the feeling of her touch her was welcome.

Simply becoming aware of love had completely changed him, and though it felt unfamiliar, he didn’t dislike it.

“Tell me quickly.”

Adelia looked down at him and pressed him. She gripped him harder, as if she wouldn’t let go until he gave an answer.

Though Adelia urged him for an answer with round eyes, Lucian didn’t easily open his mouth.

It felt like her warmth would fall away if he gave her the answer she wanted.

‘Good thing it’s night.’

Thanks to the darkness, the color of his face wasn’t clearly visible.

If this had been bright daylight, he would have shown his reddened state from ears to neck.

Though Adelia hadn’t realized it, their position was suggestive.

In short, it was a position perfect for misunderstanding, as Adelia was straddling Lucian.

Because of this, Lucian’s face burned hot. A dull sensation boiling up from his lower abdomen made his whole body heat up.

If they stayed in this position any longer, he felt he would reach the end of his self-control. This was his limit.

Though regretful, Lucian opened his mouth.

“I just…… had a lot to think about.”

Unable to tell the truth, Lucian deflected.

Fear swept over him that she might run away if she knew his vulgar emotions.

Adelia looked at Lucian with suspicious eyes, but when he kept his mouth firmly shut, she let out a low sigh.

“I don’t believe it, but fine for now. Are you going to avoid me again?”

“I won’t. I will absolutely never avoid you again from now on.”

“That’s fine then.”

Though Lucian’s sudden compliance was strange, Adelia got up after receiving his confirmation.

When she removed her hands that were holding him, something felt odd.

‘Come to think of it…… the position……”

Only then did Adelia become aware of how she had been holding him.

Straddling him, binding his hands, pressing down on his body, legs intertwined. To anyone watching, it would have looked like she was pouncing on Lucian.

Adelia jumped up startled and got off him. As soon as her feet touched the ground lightly, she turned sharply and covered her face with both hands.

‘I must be crazy, I must be crazy!’

Perhaps because her vision had narrowed with the need to catch him, she hadn’t imagined being in such an unseemly position.

Adelia quickly fanned her hands to cool her heated face.

Meanwhile, Lucian got up from his spot and dusted himself off. After tidying his disheveled appearance, he approached Adelia who was crouching down.

“Adel……”

When Lucian placed his hand on her shoulder, Adelia straightened up with a start.

Adelia immediately scurried to the door. She felt the situation would become truly embarrassing if she showed her reddened face.

“Haha…… Then I’ll see you next time.”

There was still time until the founding ceremony, and since she’d received confirmation that he wouldn’t avoid her, she tried to postpone until next time.

Just as Adelia put her hand on the doorknob and tried to turn around, Lucian strode over with his long legs.

“Now you’re the one avoiding me. After searching all day throughout the imperial palace for me, why are you avoiding me?”

Lucian grabbed Adelia’s hand that was on the doorknob. Adelia flinched in surprise. She couldn’t bring herself to look up and just stared at the floor.

‘No, after avoiding me so much when I wanted to meet you! Why are you coming closer when I want to avoid you!’

Adelia crossed and uncrossed her legs hidden under her long dress. Though she wanted to turn the doorknob, Lucian’s hand prevented her.

As Adelia fidgeted restlessly, Lucian bent down and whispered in her ear.

“You must have had a reason for looking for me. Tell me.”

His low, soft voice lingered by her ear. His voice was gentler than usual, making Adelia’s ears turn red.

Though the room was dark, the imperial family’s eyesight was good enough to see it.

A bright smile bloomed on Lucian’s face. His reddish eyes curved creating a decadent smile.

“If you don’t want to tell me now, let me know tomorrow. I’ll come visit you tomorrow.”

Though he cherished every moment with her, Lucian let her go willingly.

Her tense appearance like a small puppy was cute, and seeing her reminded him of what he needed to do.