“Tell the Crown Princess that, no matter what, she must attend tomorrow’s banquet with Nathaniel, even if she has to feign illness.”

Without even looking at the flustered servant, the Empress turned back into the palace.

Late at night, Nathaniel awoke from sleep.

He stretched, and sounds emanated from various parts of his body.

He rose from his bed in a halfdaze and drank some water.

“Hm?”

Thump, Jaina’s leg fell from the sofa where she was crouched beside the bed.

Nathaniel looked at her quietly and recalled how she had come to be here.

He then remembered that Jaina had brought him here and even taken care of him.

Nathaniel stood beside Jaina and looked down at her face.

Platinum hair shimmering in the gentle moonlight, small white face with delicate features; she was beautiful to anyone’s eyes.

He reached out and stroked Jaina’s cheek.

Jaina didn’t know, but there were times when Nathaniel would wake up from sleep and touch her face.

Unlike himself, her soft and warm body felt good just to touch.

“Uuhh…”

Jaina groaned, frowning in discomfort.

Nathaniel put down the cup and picked her up.

She looked so small and frail, not like the woman who usually shouted at him and stood tall.

Nathaniel laid Jaina down on the bed and sat beside her. He then straightened out her messy hair and lay down next to her.

And he reached out and embraced her.

‘Warm.’

It felt much better than just touching her face.

Nathaniel held her carefully so as not to wake her.

The sweet scent coming from Jaina’s body made him feel even better.

Unconsciously, Nathaniel fell asleep with a smile on his face.

I opened my eyes to the heavy sensation pressing against my body.

Nathaniel was holding me tightly from behind.

‘What’s going on?’

Though some time had passed since our marriage, intimate contact had been almost nonexistent.

Things like kisses or hugs were all just a show for others.

‘Did he embrace me in his sleep because he’s cold?’

I twisted around to face him.

My heart raced at the sight of Nathaniel sleeping peacefully.

‘He’s handsome if he just keeps his mouth shut.’

He was so beautiful that it was hard to describe him simply as handsome.

For a moment, his long, lush eyelashes trembled and then slowly lifted.

The red eyes hidden beneath his eyelids captured my face.

“You… are you awake?”

“Yes.”

He mumbled, still halfasleep.

“It’s still dawn.”

“Huh?”

“Sleep more.”

With those words, Nathaniel pulled me close again.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sensation of his slightly cool body and the firm touch of his muscles.

So that’s why a goodlooking husband is the best.

Although he might be annoying when he nags and irritates, at times like this, he was rather adorable in his own way.

“How’s your body feeling?”

“Not bad.”

His lackluster response allowed me to escape from his embrace and sit on the bed.

“Tell me honestly. Is it really okay?”

Nathaniel, still heavily under the influence of sleep, barely opened his eyes and muttered in response to my touch.

“I’m not in pain.”

“You didn’t even know you were hurting, did you?”

Come to think of it, Nathaniel was the type who couldn’t even recognize when he had a cold.

I quickly reached out and touched his forehead.

Nathaniel flinched as if startled by the sudden contact.

Of course, I ignored such a reaction lightly.

“Hmm, it doesn’t seem like you have a fever. Let’s call the doctor to be sure… Ah!”

Nathaniel swiftly pulled my body towards him. It wasn’t a strong force, but it wasn’t weak either, so I helplessly embraced him.

“Can’t we just stay like this?”

“Huh?”

“I’m sleepy and tired.”

I was greatly taken aback by Nathaniel’s voice, which sounded like a child throwing a tantrum.

I checked the time, and it was still early.

“Well, then leave this and go to sleep.”

Nathaniel had no reply to my words.

I barely lifted my head to look up at his face.

“Nathaniel?”

“I like this.”

His face drew closer before I could even ask what he liked.

“Heh!”

He rubbed his cheek against my neck, muttering.

“Jaina, you smell so good.”

Was he still not fully awake?

Nathaniel rattled off strange words, saying that I smelled nice, felt soft and squishy like a doll.

It was such fresh praise and excuse that my face was flushed as I listened.

“Ah, understood. You’ll sleep a little longer?”

I remembered the notsothreatening threat the Empress made last night, insisting that I attend today’s banquet no matter what.

‘Well, it should be fine.’

It’s not like they would make a fuss in a crowded place for not going out because he’s sick.

I patted Nathaniel’s back.

We hugged each other until a servant, unable to overcome their anxiety, knocked on the bedroom door.

I managed to prepare for the banquet on time with the servant’s help.

Since I was the one who prepared the banquet, it would not look good if I did not attend.

“You really look great, Your Highness.”

The maids, who usually rarely praised, complimented me a lot today.

The light blue dress, matching Nathaniel’s suit, had an open shoulder area and sparkled with pearl decorations.

My fine blonde hair was neatly twisted up, adorned with pins made of sapphires and pearls.

I was satisfied since it looked good even to my eyes.

‘I’m worried if this color will suit Nathaniel…’

As I glanced towards the door, the servant announced Nathaniel’s visit as if on cue.

Allowing him to enter, Nathaniel came in.

“Oh my…”

Seeing his appearance, both I and the surrounding maids lost our words for a moment.