When I opened my eyes, the world was entirely white.
As usual, Parnes, who woke before the dawn’s light, slowly blinked his eyelids and gazed out the window.Snow was softly falling against the winter’s characteristic pale sky.
“The first snow.”
Contrary to the priests’ predictions that no snow would fall this year, rather large snowflakes were descending.
The thought of Kasallin, who would surely be as excited as a child upon seeing this scene, brought a faint smile to Parnes’ lips.
Having shaken off some of his sleepiness, Parnes gently lifted the blanket.Kasallin was fast asleep, oblivious to the world, her long black hair tangled across her face.
The warmth from her legs entwined with his, and her arm wrapped around his waist, felt comforting.Parnes closed his eyes gently, listening to the soft sound of her breathing in the tranquil silence.
Her steady, rhythmic breaths and the occasional slight curl of her lips proved she was having a rather pleasant dream.
He wanted to wake her and ask what she was dreaming about.He longed to pull her disheveled, sleepy self into a tight embrace and mark every visible part of her with his presence.
At the same time, a desire to gaze at her sleeping face a little longer, undisturbed by anyone, also stirred within him.
“What should I do?”
After a moment of deliberation, the scales in Parnes’ heart tipped to one side.It felt wrong to disturb her peaceful sleep.Parnes decided to quietly wait, with his arm as her pillow, until she awoke.
With one hand, he carefully brushed the hair covering her face, while mentally organizing the day’s tasks.
Winter was the only season when Parnes could spend his days relatively leisurely.There were no particular social events, and snowfall naturally halted visits from foreign envoys and trade caravans.
The common folk, living off food stored in autumn, spent most of their time indoors, so the number of reports from the provinces noticeably decreased.
Today, he would preside over the regular imperial meeting and draft plans for the upcoming spring festival.
Since it was the first snow in a while, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go outside and play with the two dogs…
“Mmm.”
As he was making various plans in his mind, the small, warm figure nestled in his arms began to stir.It was about time for her to wake up.
Kasallin stretched her arms above her head, yawning languidly.Her unguarded appearance, which could never be seen during the day, was endearing.
Parnes, feeling playful, closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.Soon, the rustling sound of Kasallin turning her head, now free from the haze of sleep, reached his ears.
“Oh.”
She let out a small gasp of wonder.Peeking through half-open eyes, he saw her captivated by the first snow visible through the window.
For a brief moment, he had hoped she’d look at her husband’s face first upon waking.But Kasallin, seemingly oblivious to the man lying beside her, was engrossed in admiring the snow.
Then, she suddenly threw off the blanket and stretched her legs out of bed.It was obvious—she was seized by a childlike impulse to go out to the balcony and touch the snow.
If he let her go outside in just that thin nightrobe, she’d surely catch a bad cold.Parnes reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her back.
“Eek!”
“Sleep more.”
“It’s hot.”
Kasallin, pulled back into his arms before she could resist, grumbled in protest.Parnes kept his eyes closed, pretending not to hear.
After squirming for a while, she seemed to give up on escaping, letting out a small sigh.Then, turning to her side, she quietly gazed at his face.
Even after some time, she didn’t say a word.Had she fallen back asleep?
Just as he considered opening his eyes, her fingers brushed against his eyelashes.Her touch was cautious, as if handling a rare creature.Her hand slowly trailed down his cheek, grazed his jaw, and finally rested on his lips.
It was just his wife touching his face, yet it made the back of his neck tense.Feeling a heavy warmth surge through his veins, Parnes lifted his eyelids.
Kasallin’s eyes widened, like someone caught touching a wolf’s paw.She had thought he was asleep again.
“Are you teasing me?”
“And if I am?”
She retorted playfully.Parnes propped himself up at an angle, resting one hand beside her head.
“You’ve become quite bold lately.”
“You were awake all this time and stayed quiet, as if asking me to touch you more.”
“You’re right. I was actually waiting for you to wake up.”
“You could’ve just woken me.”
“How could I wake you when you were sleeping like an angel?”
“An angel? Do I really look like one, all disheveled from just waking up?”
Kasallin asked, genuinely puzzled.Parnes paused, silently gazing down at her.
Her eyes, still heavy with sleep, blinked slowly.Her tousled hair and slightly puffy cheeks.The simple fact that he was the only one in the world who could see her like this every day filled him with satisfaction.
“Do I need to say it twice?”
As he finished speaking, Parnes lightly nipped her lower lip.Kasallin wrapped her arms around his neck and gently pulled him closer.
In the past, she would have stiffened and averted her gaze, but over the years, she had become more open.Every time she smiled at him naturally, no longer intimidated, Parnes felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
The clear realization that she desired him as much as he desired her sent a thrilling jolt through his heart.
Parnes held her in his arms and slowly rolled over the blanket.She, now lying on top of him, turned her head to glance at the clock.
“It’s morning.”
“And?”
“It’s time to get up, get ready, and attend to state affairs.”
“It’s also the time of day when I can see you most clearly.”
Kasallin laughed, feigning exasperation, and lightly scrunched her face.
“I think you’re the one who’s gotten bold, Your Majesty.”
“Perhaps.”
Parnes still found himself unfamiliar.He was someone who despised wasting precious time on meaningless chatter.
Conversations should yield something, and rolling around in bed until the sun was high was unthinkable.
Yet now, he cherished these moments of lingering in bed with his half-awake wife.He enjoyed their silly conversations, and he looked forward to starting the day with her voice.
Was this truly a good change?Would he end up finding meaning in nothing but her?As he indulged in this childish yet slightly frightening thought,
“If you don’t let me go, I’ll tease you.”
What kind of adorable threat was this?She parted her lips slightly and playfully bit his shoulder.
In that moment, Parnes flinched as if struck by lightning.He let out a suppressed groan and awkwardly pulled away from her.His crooked smile made him look like someone in a predicament.
“Really…”
Giggling, Kasallin sat up and pulled the cord hanging on the wall by the table.A short ding-ding of a bell echoed through the room.
Parnes, staring at her with a fierce gaze like a starving man, slowly rubbed his forehead and let out a deep sigh.
“We’ll continue this later.”
No sooner had he spoken than a sound came from outside the door.Loren Logia, who had been waiting in the corridor, anticipating the couple’s waking time, knocked.
“Your Majesty the Empress, Your Majesty the Emperor, it’s Logia. May I enter?”
Parnes, draping a thin robe over his bare body, said it was fine to come in.
Logia and the maids entered in a line, keeping their eyes lowered to avoid looking directly at the Emperor.In their hands were washbasins, towels, and clothes to change into.
“Greetings to Your Majesty the Emperor and Your Majesty the Empress. Have you had a good morning?”
“Yes. Take good care of the Empress. She tends to catch a cold around this time every year, so make sure she wears a cloak and keep the fire in the study strong.”
“We will keep that in mind, Your Majesty.”
“And you, Empress, be careful wherever you go. The ground is especially slippery on a day like today.”
Parnes said, turning to Kasallin.
When alone, he spoke to her casually, but with even one listener present, he used formal speech.If the Emperor treated the Empress too casually in front of others, the servants might subtly disrespect her.
“Yes. I’ll try not to run out like an excited puppy in the first snow.”
Kasallin responded to Parnes’ words with playful wit.Parnes, silently lifting the corners of his mouth, nodded.
“Then, at the meeting this afternoon…”
He was about to say they’d meet at the afternoon meeting, suppressing his desire to linger with her for a leisurely morning, when—
“Your Highness, the Prince! It’s dangerous!”
A nursemaid’s urgent cry pierced through the window from the front courtyard of the Empress’s palace.
For a moment, Kasallin and Parnes looked at each other, bewildered, then with a “surely not” expression.
Without a word, they both rushed to the balcony at the same time.As if bad premonitions are never wrong, Parnes, looking down, closed his eyes tightly as if he’d expected this, while Kasallin’s face turned ashen.
In the middle of the snow-covered garden, a small child, the spitting image of Kasallin, stood whimpering with red, scraped hands.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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