Side Story 1

The full moon above Dovelia Palace shyly hid behind hazy clouds. The clouds, pushed by the wind, briefly revealed the moon’s face, but it soon disappeared again behind the clouds.  

Crackle, crackle.  

It was the first night, and the sound of wood burning in the fireplace echoed unusually loudly in the room.  

Vivian clutched the collar of her robe tightly, nervously scanning the luxurious room. Although she had visited Dovelia Palace many times, this was her first time in the Crown Prince’s bedroom.  

Then her eyes landed on the large bed.  

Vivian’s peridot-colored eyes trembled violently.  

Feeling her heart pounding as if it might burst, Vivian slowly inhaled and exhaled. Of course, it wasn’t enough to calm her nerves.  

She shuffled hesitantly toward the chair placed in front of the fireplace. Perching on the edge of the crimson sofa, Vivian couldn’t even turn her head toward the bed and kept her gaze fixed on the softly burning logs.  

• Young Lady. Ah, no, Your Highness the Crown Princess. You’ve read it all, haven’t you? Right?

Tia had asked her this while dressing her in a sheer chemise after her bath, raising her eyebrows mischievously.  

She was referring to the book that Tia and the head maid, Linda, had given her days before the wedding when Vivian was buried in work.  

She had read it… She had read it, but…  

Recalling its contents, Vivian buried her face in her hands.  

“What do I do?”  

The content was so unspeakable that Vivian felt utterly defeated. She had been so busy that she had momentarily forgotten about it. However, after the wedding, as Tia and the handmaidens who would assist her in the future stripped her and bathed her, the contents of the book came flooding back.  

The mysteries of the human body were astonishing and bewildering.  

To think that a child could be created through such and such acts…  

At the end of the anonymous book that Tia and Linda had given her, there was even a phrase that said:  

[Don’t be embarrassed! If you’re going to feel ashamed, why did you even buy this book?]  

But I am embarrassed…  

Vivian sighed deeply with her face buried in her palms. Then—  

“Vivian?”  

The sound of the door opening and Louis’s low voice reached her ears.  

Startled, Vivian jerked her head up at the sound of Louis’s voice. But she immediately had to cover her face with her hands again.  

“W-why are you dressed like that?”  

Louis, who had been approaching Vivian, paused and looked down at his attire.  

His robe was slightly open, but he wasn’t n*ked, and his pants were properly in place. If anything, Vivian’s outfit was more…  

As Louis glanced at Vivian’s attire, he felt a sudden heat rise somewhere deep in his stomach.  

When Louis didn’t say anything, Vivian’s fingers slightly parted, revealing her beautiful peridot-colored eyes peeking through the gap.  

Then she quickly turned her head away.  

Did she know how much more provocative that made her look?

Louis chuckled softly and began walking toward the sofa where Vivian was sitting. However, midway, he changed direction.  

“Vivian, if you act like that, it makes me even more nervous…”  

Louis spoke as he walked toward the table where light snacks and wine had been prepared. He poured wine into a glass as he spoke.  

At his words, Vivian slowly lowered her hands and pouted.  

“Liar.”  

Louis looked exactly the same as usual. From head to toe, there wasn’t the slightest trace of nervousness about him.  

Having just taken a bath, his slightly damp hair and the interplay of shadows cast by the magic stone lantern and the fireplace gave him an air of lazy yet dangerous charm.  

Vivian’s heart, which had barely calmed, began racing again.  

“Would you like a glass of wine?”  

Vivian nodded vigorously.  

A faint smile tugged at Louis’s lips as he picked up two glasses of wine and approached Vivian. Taking the glass Louis handed her, Vivian brought it to her lips and took a sip, sneaking a glance at Louis, who was seated across from her.  

Louis, with his legs crossed, gazed at the fireplace while holding his wine glass. Just looking at him made Vivian’s throat feel dry.  

“Vivian, it’s not good to drink it all at once like that…”  

Louis frowned slightly as he watched Vivian down the rest of her wine in one gulp.  

Knowing how Vivian behaved when drunk, Louis looked at her with concern.  

“I’m fine! Just one more glass! Just one more…”  

Vivian sprang to her feet and marched determinedly toward the table with the wine bottle.  

Glug, glug, glug.  

She poured the wine into her glass until it was full and was about to bring it to her lips when Louis suddenly appeared and grabbed her hand.  

“Are you nervous?”  

I feel like I’m going to throw up.  

The pounding in her chest traveled up her arm and into the hand Louis was holding. Vivian nodded vigorously.  

“…Should we just get some rest tonight?”  

Would that be okay?  

Louis, seeing the way Vivian’s trembling eyes looked up at him, took the glass from her hand and set it on the table.  

Then he took her hand, which was left hovering in the air, and slowly led her toward the bed. When they reached the bed, Vivian hesitated.  

Louis sat down on the pristine white bed and let go of her hand, patting the spot next to him with his palm.  

Vivian, walking around to the other side of the bed, slipped out of her fluffy slippers to climb onto the bed.  

As soon as she got on, the mattress dipped slightly, and Vivian’s heart seemed to sink along with it.  

Unable to lie down, she sat stiffly on the bed, clutching the blanket tightly. Louis, who had been watching her, adjusted the soft pillow to lie flat.  

“Lie down.”  

Vivian nodded slowly and moved her rigid body to lie down properly. Even as she lay down, she held onto her robe tightly, as if it were a lifeline. Watching her, Louis also lay down on the bed.  

So close.  

Vivian squeezed her eyes shut as Louis’s damp scent wafted into her nose.  

“When did Lady Langdne start liking Aitor?”  

At Louis’s words, Vivian’s eyes snapped open.  

Meeting Louis’s golden eyes as he lay propped up on one arm, Vivian quickly averted her gaze toward the ceiling.  

“For a long time…”  

“I had no idea. Aitor seemed pretty flustered, too…”  

At Louis’s words, Vivian shot up into a sitting position.  

“What did Aitor say?”  

It was Rosie who had loudly proposed to Aitor at the wedding banquet.  

• I’ll make sure you never have to wet your hands with water ever again! Marry me! 

Rosie’s voice had echoed loudly, while Aitor had frozen in place, unable to even blink.  

Vivian had left the banquet hall in search of Rosie, who had fled, so she didn’t know what Aitor had said afterward.  

“He just laughed awkwardly.”  

“Oh…”  

Vivian’s brown eyebrows drooped.  

“I hope Rosie and Aitor work out…”  

Louis, who had been gazing at Vivian intently, slowly sat up.  

Vivian, who neither confessed nor was rejected herself, sighed deeply, unaware that her robe had come slightly undone.  

“Maybe I should meet Aitor and…”  

“Vivian.”  

Louis interrupted Vivian, who looked ready to rush out and drag Aitor to Rosie.  

“You’ll have a lot of responsibilities ahead. Don’t you think you might get too busy to even see me?”  

Louis said as he adjusted Vivian’s partially opened robe.  

“Well, even so, as a married couple, we should spend time together.”  

Vivian’s face flushed bright red. However, she quickly hid her embarrassment and put on a stern expression, saying that couples should spend time together even if they fight.  

Did Vivian know how much her expression was testing my patience?  

Louis closed his eyes tightly and flopped onto his back.  

“You’re tired, right? Should I turn off the lights?”  

“Yeah. Please do.”

Vivian blinked her large eyes nervously, like a frightened puppy. Louis couldn’t bring himself to act on his desires in front of her.  

Yes, just close your eyes. 

It had been a long day, and if he kept his eyes shut, he’d eventually fall asleep, and the night would pass.  

Then—  

“Ah!”  

At Vivian’s short cry, Louis bolted upright.  

“Vivian! What’s…”  

Vivian was sitting on the floor, her small shoulders trembling.  

“Are you hurt? What happened?”  

Louis quickly got off the bed and rushed to her.  

“Louis…”  

When Vivian looked up, tears glistened in her peridot-colored eyes.  

“My toe…”  

Vivian was clutching her dainty foot tightly. In her haste to turn off the lights, she had gotten off the bed without putting on her slippers and stubbed her toe on the edge of the furniture.  

Vivian’s tiny, adorable toe had turned red. Louis, frowning as if he were the one in pain, scooped Vivian up in his arms.  

He set her down on the bed and carefully examined her toe.  

“Does it hurt a lot? I don’t think it’s broken…”  

Cursing his past self for asking Vivian to turn off the lights out of his own desire, Louis asked.  

“Wait here for a moment. I’ll get some medicine…”  

“No, it’s fine. It’s already starting to feel better.”  

Vivian shook her head, grabbing Louis’s shoulder as he tried to stand. Louis sighed deeply and sat down on the floor to check her toe again.  

He didn’t know if it was appropriate to think this while tending to someone in pain, but her feet were so beautiful.  

Without realizing it, Louis gently stroked her soft, fair instep.  

Flinch!  

“Does it still hurt? I guess I’ll have to call a doctor…”  

“No! It’s not that!”  

Vivian hastily grabbed Louis’s robe sleeve. Then she lowered her head. Her brown hair fell over her face, hiding her expression.  

“Vivian?”  

“It’s not because it hurts…”  

Her voice was barely audible. Louis bent his knees, lowering himself to meet her gaze.  

“Vivian? Look at me.”  

Vivian shook her head vigorously. Her carefully styled curls swayed, releasing a faint lavender scent that tickled Louis’s nose.  

“Vivian, I’m worried about you.”  

Louis’s soft, tender voice was filled with concern, and it made Vivian slowly lift her head.  

D*mn it.  

Vivian’s flushed face wasn’t from pain, and Louis knew it. When their eyes met, her gaze trembled.  

Vivian quickly turned her head away, revealing her pale, slender neck, which was also flushed red.  

Louis gently cupped her chin and turned her face toward him.  

Their lips met, exploring each other.  

As if they couldn’t bear to be apart for even a moment, they clung to each other, their breaths mingling.  

“I don’t think we’ll be able to just sleep tonight.”  

Vivian shyly nodded.