The entrance to the Principality’s royal palace consisted of a large arch.
As Leticia stepped beneath the arch, covered in brown ivy, she exclaimed without realizing.
Julia smiled and said,
“How do you like it? Though the Zeno’s Palace might be smaller than the Holy Empire’s Divine Palace, its appearance certainly doesn’t fall short. I’m saying this not just because I’m from the Principality, but objectively. Those who have seen both have said as much.”
It was just as Julia had said.
Zeno’s Palace possessed a charm not found in the Divine Palace.
Thanks to the blessings of the dragon, it was filled with decorations surpassing human architectural skills.
The palace, bathed in the sunset, looked just like a shining gem.
“It’s truly beautiful.”
Leticia’s emotion was not solely due to the beautiful appearance of the palace.
‘To think the Principality’s palace was such a beautiful place.’
Though she had lived there for half a year.
It was the first time she realized how lovely this place was.
‘All depends on the heart, as the old saying goes.’
In the past, the Principality’s palace had felt like a massive prison.
The people inside felt like jailers. She hadn’t expected the palace to become so comfortable.
“Home… must be something like this.”
“Hm?”
“I never understood before when people said home was comfortable. How could a home be a comforting place? I always wondered…”
Leticia smiled with slightly moist eyes.
“It’s really nice.”
It wasn’t just the palace that had changed. The courtiers too seemed like entirely different people. They all warmly smiled and genuinely welcomed Leticia.
“I am honored to meet you, Your Highness. My name is Henson, and I am in charge of the Third Knight Division.”
“I oversee the inner palace affairs. Please feel free to ask if you need anything.”
Some things remained the same. Everyone still deeply cared for Mano. The news of Mano’s arrival had the palace courtiers rushing out.
“Madam Mano! What would we do if you suddenly disappeared! Do you know how worried we’ve been?”
“I went to see baby.”
“Baby?”
“Here, our baby. Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Ah, you mean Her Highness.”
The courtier who had been looking after Mano brightened up and soon bowed deeply to Leticia. Even in small gestures, respect for Leticia was evident.
“We have heard a lot about you. You saved Madam Mano’s life, they say.”
“Madam Mano has been very happy thanks to you, Your Highness. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Among all the changes, the most dramatic was certainly the marital bedroom. The moment Leticia, holding Dietrian’s hand, stepped into the bedroom, she was speechless.
“This will be our bedroom from now on.”
One side was filled with a large window overlooking a lush garden, a carpet with beautiful patterns and warm colors, and a neatly maintained wooden bed that was not extravagant.
It was indeed the place she remembered, yet it felt completely different.
“I had it decorated similarly to the bedroom you used, but it will be quite lacking. Please give me some time. I will do my best.”
Dietrian observed Leticia’s expression and said,
“Please feel free to tell me if there’s anything you’d like to change. I will make sure everything suits your taste from one to ten.”
“No, you don’t have to change anything. I absolutely love it. Really.”
It was pure sincerity. Her heart fluttered with ecstasy.
The bleak memories of the past were beautifully transforming, and it was indescribably joyful.
“It’s just like heaven.”
What she liked the most was undoubtedly the bed.
Leticia couldn’t take her eyes off the bed placed in the center of the bedroom.
Images of embracing Dietrian on that white bed naturally formed in her mind.
‘Finally, the separate bedrooms are over.’
She could finally sleep in the same bed as him. Just a few more hours to endure. Her heart seemed to burst with excitement.
‘From now on, this is where I will live with Dietrian as his wife.’
If fortune allows, I could live like this for a lifetime.
It seemed like heaven was here, though it wasn’t yet a perfect heaven.
To be as close to Dietrian as she wanted, there was something they definitely needed to discuss.
So far, they had only been close when others were watching.
Now that Leticia had arrived at the palace, she decided to overcome that limit.
“Your Highness, I have something to say about the ‘acting’ we’ve been doing.”
“What is it?”
“Well, that is to say…”
Despite her resolve, embarrassment quickly washed over her.
Leticia fidgeted with the hand Dietrian had grasped as she hesitated.
Unaware of how stimulating this action was to Dietrian.
“Until now, we’ve been pretending to love each other. But inside the bedroom, we don’t need to act, right? No one is watching us there.”
“…”
“Your Highness?”
“…Yes?”
“Are you listening to what I’m saying?”
“Ah, yes. Sorry, I was lost in thought for a moment.”
Dietrian quickly smiled and looked at Leticia.
Even then, his focus was entirely on the hand she had in his.
Just holding hands, and yet, why his body heated up was beyond him.
“Please speak comfortably.”
In truth, Dietrian was also at his limit.
The prolonged standoff had been too long, lasting over a week.
Moreover, recently, she had even started to distance herself from him.
In Leticia’s mind, it was restraint due to embarrassment in front of others, but for Dietrian, those times had been profoundly lonely.
When they had arrived at the capital’s gates, his thirst had reached its peak.
Had there been no watching eyes, he would have lifted Leticia onto his horse and galloped at full speed.
Such was his desperate desire for Leticia, the sight of her fidgeting hands was inevitably stimulating.
‘Heaven is indeed this place.’
Perhaps a traveler walking through the desert feels like this upon finding an oasis.
Dietrian looked at Leticia with eyes full of emotion.
Of course, to truly reach the heaven he desired, many hurdles still lay ahead.
Ironically, they couldn’t be close when sharing a bedroom.
In the marital bedroom, the excuse of ‘acting’ no longer held.
But for now, it was enough.
If lucky, he might be able to kiss her forehead while she slept.
Perhaps she might even snuggle up to him in her sleep, as before.
Just the thought made Dietrian happy.
“Even if it’s not acting… may I kiss you, Your Highness?”
“…Yes?”
“Actually, I need your embrace…”
Leticia’s face turned as red as a tomato.
Dietrian stared blankly at her.
“It would be nice if you held me as before… but if not, just a hug would also be fine…”
In truth, that wasn’t really fine.
She was frustrated by the progress they hadn’t made before.
Yet she couldn’t quite ask him when they would consummate their marriage.
Leticia decided to take a small step forward and wait for an opportunity.
“As you know, I’ve been afraid of nightmares, Your Highness. I hardly have them these days, but sometimes I still think about them…”
Dietrian wondered, what was this situation?
Am I still dreaming?
Could it be that we haven’t actually arrived at the palace yet?
Perhaps, tormented by loneliness, I’ve even begun to dream this.
“Do you remember? When I had nightmares before, you comforted me. I would like to continue relying on your help…”
This isn’t a dream.
It was reality.
Dietrian, frozen like a statue, looked down at Leticia.
Fireworks of ecstasy exploded in his mind.
“Since we never know when nightmares might come, I would like it if you could hold me every day… Is that possible?”
Leticia hadn’t finished speaking.
Dietrian suddenly pulled her into an embrace.
The startled Leticia cautiously called out to him.
“Your Highness?”
“Ah, like this, just holding you is alright?”
“Yes?”
“Of course, I will do so. As I have always said, I am your husband, and it is my duty to fulfill whatever you wish…”
Dietrian, overcome with joy, blurted out anything that came to mind and tightly closed his eyes.
‘I want to say I love you.’
He felt an overwhelming desire to say ‘I love you.’
The bed in front of him seemed like a devil’s temptation.
He wanted to sweep Leticia up and lay her down on it.
After barely restraining his desire to confess his love hundreds of times once he had her in his arms, he managed to say,
“Whenever.”
He finally spoke.
“You can use me whenever you want…”
Please save me, Leticia, my heart feels like it’s about to burst from how much I adore you… He swallowed the rest of his thoughts.
* * *
Leticia placed her hand over her racing heart. A cool breeze tousled her hair. The fresh scent of the garden filled her chest.
“Ah, this feels nice…”
Leticia sat alone in the garden, savoring the happiness of the moment.
“I did well to speak up.”
Unknowingly, Leticia chuckled to herself. She had worried whether Dietrian would accept her wishes, but surprisingly, he had obliged.
“He really is the perfect husband.”
To have a husband who listens to whatever his wife desires. She was savoring this happiness when suddenly,
Leticia’s body froze like ice.
A chill ran down her spine as if she had been doused in cold water, and the happiness ebbed away like the tide. Her complexion turned pale.
Her fingertips trembled.
She could hardly breathe.
The protective aura of Ahwin that had been guarding her began to fade rapidly.
Tears filled her green eyes.
Unknowingly, her voice trembled as she spoke.
“No, this can’t be. Ah, Ahwin.”
And at that moment, the sound of footsteps approached.
Tears streaming down her face, Leticia lifted her head.
“We finally meet.”
A small child she had never seen before was looking at her with a gentle smile.
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