The Crown Princess's Man (6)

In her first year since debuting in society, the precious young lady who had never been touched by a man’s hand was still too young to marry and therefore had not yet been taught about matters between men and women.

Her only knowledge came from the slightly risqué romance novels popular among young ladies, so she knew nothing about what this feeling meant or what would happen if she was pressed like this.

Nevertheless, her instinct faithfully whispered, “Expect it.” The strong, handsome gentleman before her, whom she trusted without thinking, would surely give her the most ecstatic moment the body could experience.

That blunt, torch-like thing rubbing and prodding deep where she had never imagined anything would touch made him look different to her all of a sudden.

He was Ban, with chestnut hair and a gentle face, but the moment he held a woman he revealed the full nature of a male.

Marian looked at her conqueror with misty eyes. She welcomed the way he openly showed his greed and desire for her.

He gently wiped away the tears that kept streaming down.

“Does it hurt?”

Marian shook her head. The inside, which had loosened just enough, was still tight, but it faithfully received him and gave her pleasure she had never felt before.

“Then, endure a little longer… please.”

“Aah, ugh, ah…”

Ban gripped her firmly to keep her body from slipping away and increased his pace, pressing her on.

“Ah… Ban…”

“Marian… ugh…”

Going in and out through the tight inner wall was more stimulating than he’d expected, and Ban had to struggle several times to hold back the building urge to climax.

“Just… relax a little, please.”

“Mm… bu-but…”

Marian panted and gripped the bed sheets.

“It feels so, so strange…”

If she relaxed even for a moment, she felt as if something would burst out of her, so Marian simply couldn’t let go.

“It will be… okay… haa…”

“Ah… please… do something…”

Ban looked at Marian pleading without knowing what she wanted with a burning gaze as if to set her alight.

“Now Marian… you are mine. Do you understand?”

“Yes… mm, I… ugh… I’m yours…”

Though she trembled uncontrollably, Marian answered steadily. She certainly knew who the man marking her body was. She had boldly stormed into his bedroom and seduced him. There was no way she would regret it now.

“Ugh… Ban…”

Suddenly everything turned snowy white. She was so breathless she could hardly breathe, and a torrent of pleasure that started in her belly spread through her body and overwhelmed her.

“Aaaah…”

Her hips lifted and her head fell back.

“Ugh… Marian…”

Ban withdrew his body from the frantically tightening inside and thrust once onto her belly.

“Haa… haa…”

He wiped her belly with the towel from the nightstand, then, lying beside her, pulled her in and held her to his chest.

“Are you all right?”

At his gentle question, Marian smiled shyly and nodded. The sound of his still racing heart close by made her chest flutter.

“I love you, Marian.”

“Me too, Ban.”

The bold, audacious young lady who would make her brother and father faint if they knew, having done it without care, thus savored happiness in the arms of the man who had become her lover.

When Liris returned after changing her clothes, Kaiston was asleep in an armchair by the window. She thought he must be terribly exhausted. Liris didn’t know about the incident with Millen, but even being tormented by Astarot would have been extremely draining. She couldn’t bring herself to move Kaiston—who was likely twice her weight—into bed, and decided to let him sleep for now.

Liris quietly watched his face. Whether drunk or not, some intoxication must have been on him, yet he looked a little pale.

‘Has he always lived like this? Never showing he was struggling, standing firm, and then collapsing into sleep whenever he was alone? For an ordinary person, pushing oneself again and again past limits few ever reach, over and over—he must have gained the power to protect his people, the very strength everyone envied and revered.’

Liris let out a small sigh.

Had he ever leaned on someone until he reached that point? Had he ever been comforted?

Had he ever said a single word that he was tired, or complained once that he was exhausted? She imagined he never even spoke it aloud, not even in a monologue, for fear he would collapse if he did. During the time they had been together, Liris realized he was that kind of person.

Everyone gets hurt the same way. His insides, rotten as they might be, wouldn’t heal even with potions, so he must have lived carrying it as it was.

If he were to die before his time, it would likely be not because his body failed but because his heart grew weary and worn and sought rest.

Liris knelt at his feet.

“Kai.”

Liris called the name of the man she loved. He, who seldom showed such deep sleep, showed no sign of waking today. Her whisper floated quietly between them.

“You are the greatest gift in my life granted by the gods.”

On her twenty-first birthday, having him made her feel joys and fulfillment she had never known in her short life. She wished the same for him. She hoped he too felt this happiness.

Liris rested her face against his leg and placed her hand on his knee.

“So please, don’t be in pain. If you are, I hurt too.”

Liris closed her eyes and offered a prayer to her deity for the one who must be so tired.

“Lana Re Praya Stigmata. Pour your mercy upon this place.”

As she quietly chanted, a soft light spread around them. Like warm sunlight embracing their bodies, an invisible, gentle, benevolent touch caressed their souls.

The gods’ existence had been proven in every age, but a plea filled purely with innocent love, as Liris offered now, was rare.

Therefore, the manifestation of sacred power was flawless.

She prayed for him like that for some time. When she finished and rose, her legs were numb and she had to limp.

Kaiston, who had woken up at some point, watched quietly as she left him there and headed for the bath.

Having filled the tub and closing herself in, drowsiness crept in. It seemed Kaiston had accumulated quite a bit of damage; the sacred power expended more than expected, leaving her tired.

She sighed again. Wwhat should she do with this duke?

“Is life hard?”

Startled by the voice suddenly behind her, Liris looked up. Kaiston was standing outside the tub.

“Oh… you’re already awake?”

“Yes. Thanks to someone.”

When Liris rose from the tub and stepped out, Kaiston wrapped her in a large towel he was holding.

“You look tired.”

Seeing her weary eyes, Kaiston gently brushed her cheeks and the corners of her eyes as if feeling sorry for her.

“Tired? What did I even do?”

Smiling widely, she was suddenly scooped up by Kaiston.

Even as her body was lifted, his arms held her so steadily she felt not surprised but a willing comfort. Kaiston chuckled softly as she rested her head comfortably on his chest. It was natural to say, but she was so defenseless—knowing she was the Crown Princess, yet he kept treating her like his possession.

Carrying her out of the bathroom, Kaiston gave her a lap pillow and began to delicately dry her wet hair with a towel. His touch felt so pleasant she kept nodding off.

“If you’re sleepy, sleep.”

“Mm… yes…”

“Even if you’re asleep, I won’t spare you. I might take advantage.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. It’s your birthday, after all.”

Liris covered her mouth and let out a long yawn.

“Because it’s my birthday… haa… you say you’ll take advantage?”

Kaiston answered with a laugh.

“Because I have to give you the thing you want most as a gift.”

Her sleepy, dazed mind couldn’t fully grasp what he meant.

“What’s that?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”

Kaiston tapped her cheek as she tilted her head and continued, “Baby. A baby.”

“Ah!”

Kaiston let out a hollow laugh watching Liris clap her hands as if she’d just remembered.

“Had you forgotten?”

“Yes…”

Kaiston resumed the motion he had paused.

“Then besides a baby, is there anything else you want?”

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a long while, Liris spoke.

“There was, but I’ve already received it.”

“What was it?”

“Your heart.”

Kaiston sighed softly.

“That’s natural, of course.”

“Why is that obvious?”

Liris snapped a little. She had suffered so much to gain that!

“Who would refuse to give his heart to someone like you?”

“Wha—”

His answer was utterly absurd.

“You’re so pretty and lovable.”

“Th-that is a highly subjective opinion… No, more than that, Kai, surely you’re not still drunk?”

She was suspicious because he had answered so bluntly.

“What a ridiculous thing to say. I hardly drank. I just pretended to be drunk because I wanted to be alone with you.”

“Was that true? And how could you say something so embarrassing so easily!”

Kaiston tugged at her cheek.

“You said you wanted me to be honest. I’m just being honest like you asked.”

“Ugh…”

Liris abruptly covered her face with her hands.

“I didn’t mean for this…”

“Do you want me to stop?”

Liris turned slightly and looked up at his face. His jewel-like violet eyes, which made her feel strange when she looked at them, softened on her.

“I can give you anything you want.”

Without realizing it, Liris laid her hand on his cheek.

“Just give me your love. That’s enough.”

“And the baby?”

“Ah! I almost forgot again. You’ll have to give me that too.”

Kaiston chuckled.

“Alright. Well, you seem sufficiently awake now.”

He tossed the fairly wet towel aside and looked down at her.

“Shall we have a good time?”