Chup, chup – the sound of wet lips meeting filled the small room. It felt as if Robellia’s mind was melting into a sticky, intoxicating haze. Gathering her courage, she used her small tongue to lightly brush and slip between Akan’s lips.

The rapid pounding of a heartbeat deep inside their bodies – half Robellia’s, half Akan’s. She loved this feeling so much that she wanted to feel it even more. Robellia tightened her arms around Akan, pulling him closer.

Akan pulled his lips back slightly, creating a little space between them.

“Robel, just a moment.”

Like a child absorbed in a new game, Robellia, on tiptoe as she followed his lips, tilted her head in confusion.

“Ah, are you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s just…”

Akan cleared his throat awkwardly, his expression troubled.

A small, enclosed room with just the two of them, their bodies pressed close together and an endless exchange of kisses – it was impossible for Akan, no longer the ten-year-old boy he once was, to feel anything but pure affection.

At this point, it would have been better if Robellia had noticed Akan’s discomfort, but the princess, who had lived in the palace all her life, was far too innocent for that. Her expression quickly turned sombre.

‘I must have been the only one enjoying this moment.’

Robellia pulled her arms from around Akan’s back and spoke in a dejected voice.

“Did I… do something wrong?”

At the sight of Robellia, who couldn’t even begin to guess the real reason, Akan let out a hollow laugh. Robellia, deep in thought, trying to figure out the problem, suddenly became indignant and snapped at him.

“You’re treating me like a fool, aren’t you?”

“No, of course not. I would never do that.”

Akan gently pulled Robellia into his arms. The girl, who had only dreamed of a beautiful wedding and an adoring kiss, had no idea what kind of dreams the boy had endured night after night, nor what patience it had taken.

Resting his head on Robellia’s slender shoulder, Akan whispered in a low, husky voice that suited a young man.

“It’s just… being so close to Your Highness makes it… a little hard to hold back.”

Akan suddenly pulled Robellia closer, his hand resting firmly on the small of her back. Their bodies, which had been loosely touching before, were now pressed tightly together, leaving no space between them.

Robellia’s eyes widened in shock. She could feel a distinct warmth and hardness near her navel. Although she knew little about a man’s body, she immediately understood the meaning of Akan’s words. Her previously pale face suddenly turned a deep red.

“I’m sorry!”

Robellia immediately tried to pull away, writhing to free herself. But with soft fabric surrounding her on all sides, her movements only resulted in their bodies rubbing against each other. The excessive stimulation caused Akan to let out a low, strained moan.

“Does it hurt?”

“No. Just… stay like this for a moment, Robel.”

Akan’s warm breath brushing the back of Robellia’s neck sent a tickling sensation through her. The soft and sweet kisses were enough to make her head spin, but she knew there had to be more. Something like the fiery passion she had read about in books. Trapped in her vague but exciting imagination, Robellia’s heart swelled with anticipation.

Fidgeting in Akan’s embrace, Robellia hesitantly opened her mouth to speak.

“I… I don’t mind.”

“What…?”

“You don’t have to hold back. It’s okay.”

Akan let out a sigh. Robellia, who had taken all her courage to say those words, blushed bright red. In her embarrassment, she hastily tried to explain herself.

“Y-you don’t think I’m being inappropriate or anything, do you? I just… Akan, I just…”

“I didn’t think that at all.”

Despite his clear denial, Robellia stared into Akan’s eyes as if trying to read his deepest thoughts. Only after confirming that they were filled with nothing but affection for her did she feel reassured enough to continue.

“I’m really fine with it, anytime. After all, we’re getting married… um, we’re getting married anyway.”

Robellia stopped in mid-sentence, suddenly embarrassed, and looked away. It still felt like a dream – she couldn’t quite grasp the reality that she and Akan would soon be married.

Meanwhile, Akan sighed again in response to Robellia’s excessive enthusiasm. It was clear that she had no idea how difficult it was for a healthy young man to control himself. Her innocence as a princess made her completely unaware of the struggle he was going through.

“Hmm? Would you like to come tonight? The west gate is almost deserted after midnight. If you enter the palace earlier and go through there, maybe you could…”

“Robel, please…”

Akan interrupted her, cutting her off mid-sentence. At this rate, she might as well hand him a secret map of the palace. Akan, already struggling to hold himself together as he waited for their official wedding day, couldn’t take any more of Robellia’s suggestions.

‘Have I gone too far again?’

Robellia pursed her lips in disappointment before lightly bumping her forehead against Akan’s chest.

“Akan, I just really like you. That’s all, so…”

“I know, Your Highness. I do too…”

Akan let out a heavy sigh. Adjusting his grip on Robellia, he spoke each word with deliberate emphasis.

“I’ve always liked you.”

Robellia smiled, her expression blooming like a fully bloomed flower. Akan’s confession was awkward, like a child’s, but it was more than enough for her.

The fact that the afternoon they had spent together had meant something to Akan, too, made Robellia feel as if ten years of waiting had finally been rewarded.

Without knowing who had initiated it, their lips met again in a passionate kiss. The distant shouts of maids searching for the princess echoed through the corridor, but the dreamlike moment they shared lasted for a long time.

***

The emperor had long since handed over all authority, including the running of the state, to the crown prince as his illness confined him to bed. Even family dinners were no longer possible. Instead, Robellia made it a point to visit her father’s chamber once a day.

As usual, the Emperor was fast asleep when Robellia noticed a slight twitching around his eyes. She immediately adjusted her posture as she sat in the chair beside his bed. Slowly, the Emperor lifted his eyelids and began to speak in a hoarse, strained voice.

“Robellia.”

“Yes, Father.”

The Emperor lifted his trembling arm. Robellia quickly reached out and helped him to sit up, supporting his back with a pillow.

The Emperor raised his trembling arm. Robellia immediately reached out to help him, gently lifting his upper body and supporting his back with a pillow.

The age difference between Robellia and her eldest brother, Raves, was so great that they seemed more like grandfather and granddaughter than father and daughter. Even the Emperor could not escape the ravages of time. Medicine was of little help against the effects of ageing. It pained Robellia to see her father’s shoulders, once as broad and firm as a mountain, gradually shrink and weaken.

“Are you happy?”

Robellia knew what he was going to ask. He wanted to know if she was happy to be with the one she desired.

Even the dignified Emperor was ultimately just a father – a man too soft-hearted to coldly deny his daughter’s wishes. During his long illness, his greatest fear was that he would die before finding a suitable match for his youngest daughter.

For this reason, Robellia finally decided to follow her older brother’s wishes. She felt that her stubbornness was only adding to her father’s burden. Holding back her emotions, she bowed her head slightly in silent agreement.

“Then that is enough.”

At her father’s words, Robellia’s violet-blue eyes filled with tears. If it had been that simple, he wouldn’t have stood against her for so long. There must have been many things that happened beyond Robellia’s knowledge – efforts her father made, not as an emperor, but as a parent determined to fulfil his daughter’s wishes.

“No matter what anyone says, live well.”

Robellia nodded fervently, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes as they finally overflowed and streamed down her cheeks.

The Emperor raised a trembling hand and gently wiped the tears from his daughter’s cheek. Despite his frail and haggard appearance, her father offered her the warmest and most comforting smile she had ever seen.