“Is it okay to do this to an injured person?”

Roo tilted her head but unbuttoned Hayden’s shirt. Hayden looked down at her and smirked.

“I’m a sick person who can’t eat or wield a sword alone.”

“You didn’t eat without me today?”

“It’s not that.”

“Was it difficult to walk?”

“Not really.”

A ribbon flowed smoothly from Hayden’s hand. He kissed her on the neck, revealing the exposed nape through the loose hair.

“Then, Roo, isn’t that just an ordinary, healthy thing for a woman?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Let’s just say it is. I’ll take care of it.”

Light kisses kept pouring like a joke, and Roo hunched her shoulders. Ticklish and, at the same time, a rough desire disguised within the lightness sent shivers down her spine.

He endured a lot. It piled up, but did it burst today until Roo regained her strength? Or did something stimulate him?

Hayden continued to kiss her endlessly, burying his face in her neck and taking a deep breath.

His massive back trembled.

Some might be frightened to see a man who couldn’t be easily handled breathing heavily with a large build in front of them. A being beyond human, excited to the maximum, tightly embraced her, taking another deep breath.

“Roo, by any chance…”

His voice gradually lowered.

“If by any chance, I…”

Pressed tightly against her, an intimidating presence kept emerging, making people fearful.

Hayden had been suppressing this presence all day, concentrating on the aftermath of the conference held on the second floor of the central palace. Roo kissed his cheek. Veins suddenly bulged on his smooth forehead.

“If I, if it makes you uncomfortable or you dislike it…”

Roo sighed. She waited, wondering what he was trying to say, but it was a strange remark. She simply pulled him closer.

“There’s no way that’s going to happen.”

“Right now, I feel like a beast cub, yet why is it you?”

He had unintentionally frightened her when she first came to Perseta. Hayden hadn’t forgotten that day.

But he wanted Roo so much that it was beyond control. In fact, it had always been like that.

The true feelings that had been postponed due to the curse threatening Roo’s life and the war were just wanting to spend time quietly with Roo for a long time.

“What are you talking about?”

Was it not even close to being a beast?

Hayden thought of himself as an annoying fool for being so irritated by the delayed return of Roo due to the upcoming post-war measures, handling of rebels, and the lingering breath intentionally left on Carlos Arthur Ingram.

‘Roo probably noticed.’

It’s annoying. I hope she doesn’t mind. He hadn’t minded at all and had run to Roo, the naive fiancée who had rushed to him all night, eventually ignoring the all-night meeting.

“I get the chills every time you act like this to me.”

A voice rich in emotion whispered in her ear.

“What should I do? Look forward to it.”

Hayden’s arm hanging on his neck obediently followed as Roo pulled him. Or perhaps he fell into it, losing himself in an absentminded state.

“Do it only to me.”

Roo smiled, shifting her weight onto him. His firm arms immediately supported her and embraced her. Hayden understood what she wanted with just a slight movement.

“I quite like it when you do this.”

Ah, the exquisite lips smiled chillingly, drawing a curve.

If she had been tired for a while, it would have been the smile of a predator she should have run away from immediately. However, Roo looked into his eyes filled with emotions and anticipation from the rising spine.

Like a predator ready to devour her, his gray eyes were solely focused on her. Roo loved that gaze and the intensity it conveyed.

“Do it only to me.”

Hayden closed his eyes for a moment, receiving the kisses she gave him.
The two confirmed each other’s warmth from their fluctuating breaths and body temperatures. It didn’t matter which side held the higher heat; anyway, the lower side would quickly catch up to the higher heat.

“…Will you get angry if I turn my eyes away?”

Roo laughed.

“No, I’ll throw it away.”

Ah, that was it. Hayden, embracing her, walked briskly. The fabrics that had been bothering him all day fell along the path he walked.

That’s why he wished she would just glance at him, think about him a bit more, even if it was annoying and troublesome. And if they were a bit apart, he couldn’t bear it. Whatever happened, she was a person who declared without hesitation that she would even throw away an emperor.

“So, this is why I’m treating you like this.”

Roo lay on the bed, eyes wide open, asking, “Is this treating?”

“Well, yes.”

Hayden lightly nodded. His appearance seemed more like a noble man in his early twenties throwing away his status and lightly strolling than an emperor.

“It’s also a plea not to throw it away.”

He covered Roo with his body, shielding her from any prying eyes.

“Anyway, forget about that.”

This would probably be the last silent day. Roo knew. Hayden had a talent for behaving calmly with his eyes completely turned away.

“I tried to be gentle to some extent, but because of you, Roo, I couldn’t do that.”