“That’s not it.”

Ophelia was always too good for him. How could he dare to think such a thing?

“It’s just… I didn’t expect you to prepare… something like this…”

Apart from being attracted to the other’s body, Idren didn’t think physical relationships were important.

No, to be precise, he thought there should be a certain stage reached before doing that.

Skin-to-skin contact was, at least by his standards, something additional that happened after fully confirming each other’s hearts.

Perhaps Ophelia was a much bolder person than he had known.

Idren’s face reddened at the inexplicably ticklish realization.

He had so much to say to Ophelia. There was so much he wanted to say. But he couldn’t figure out how to bring it up.

In fact, until just now, he couldn’t believe what he had done. Still, as he was about to open his mouth, not wanting to miss this moment while hesitating, Ophelia spoke.

“We’ve been married for years, haven’t we?”

Idren wanted to retort by asking how long they had maintained anything close to a normal relationship during that marriage period.

But Ophelia was a bit faster. Shh. She softly commanded and whispered.

“You’re too shy.”

And the woman raised her arms that were on top of his body and wrapped them around his neck.

The soft skin smoothly slid up his forearms and shoulders.

Knowing that his build was too large to fit into her embrace, Idren still tried to curl up as much as possible to match her size.

He had longed for such a moment all his life. A moment when he could adjust himself to Ophelia.

Ophelia hugged the neck of the man who had his face almost buried in her chest and slowly moved her hand downward.

She hadn’t known because it was always a hidden part, but the scars seemed to extend downward, feeling bumpy all the way.

Although he had gotten a bit thinner recently, he was originally a healthy man with smooth skin, so the marks there were displeasing.

Suddenly curious about how far the scars extended, Ophelia lowered his head a bit more to check his back.

That’s when Idren jerked away as if having a fit.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

Ophelia hesitated, suddenly realizing she had almost buried his face in her chest. Oh my.

“It wasn’t intentional.”

“You, you…!”

And Idren abruptly sat up as if he couldn’t bear it anymore.

Ophelia couldn’t understand why the man was being so sensitive about his cheek touching what he had been touching just fine moments ago.

Seeing him tremble with such a red face, she felt like she should be embarrassed too.

But there was no reason for that. The situation wasn’t that different from before. The clothes lying on the floor proved that.

Yet, strangely, just as her face was about to heat up, Idren hurriedly turned his body as if trying to hide something.

“I-I’ll go tell them to draw a bath.”

And at that moment, Ophelia saw it.

Several deep, old scars carved across his back.

Ophelia didn’t know much about corporal punishment.

It could be seen as a limitation of her birth.

After all, she was born into royalty, and Mahanas was the only one who had ever raised a hand to her.

Mahanas, whether due to lack of creativity or having some semblance of common sense despite being base, didn’t inflict wounds using tools.

Still, having achieved some goals in her own way, Ophelia knew what basic scars different weapons left when used to harm people.

Knives left thin, long marks. Arrowheads usually left rough, uneven marks, and axes left thicker and uglier scars than knives.

But such blatant whip marks were something even she had never seen before.

On the back with well-formed muscles sensually split, several long, thick marks were drawn lengthwise.

They were clearly scars that had grown in volume as the body matured over the years.

For a normal person’s body, especially for a man who had now become king, it shouldn’t have such marks.

Surprised, Ophelia sat up abruptly. The man, who had already picked up the robe beside the bed to cover his back, turned around.

“Why…”

“What’s that on your back?”

And Ophelia didn’t wait for his answer before pulling at the robe.

The loosely fastened clothes slid down, only to be firmly stopped by the man’s hand.

Idren, gripping the clothes so tightly his veins showed, looked down at her with a pale face.

His jaw trembled.

“Don’t look.”

For words spoken while trembling, they were quite resolute. As if he were terrified.

And as if to prove those words, Idren gathered his clothes.

Ophelia got off the bed before he could fully close the robe.

As her body had been languidly relaxed until just now, she stumbled a bit, but Idren caught her arm and steadied her before she fell.

Having done so, he turned his head away again.

“I’ll, I’ll bring you clothes.”

She couldn’t understand why he was suddenly being so modest about a body they had just been caressing and kissing, but Ophelia let him do as he wished.

In the past, she might not have been able to endure it, but after the man had been gone for months, just having him in front of her eyes made her feel patient.

Idren brought a robe, wrapped it around her body, and sat her on the bed.

It was impressive how he tried to cover her up so tightly even though the fabric was thin enough to see through.

Even after covering her as he wished, Idren couldn’t handle his reddened face.

Thinking she should give him another dose of medicine once they left the bedroom, Ophelia took his hand.

“Sit down.”

Idren obediently followed her words. Ophelia suggested to the man who sat facing her.

“Would you turn your back?”

“It’s not pleasant to look at.”

And after hesitating, he added in a small voice.

“I don’t want to disappoint you.”

You’ve already disappointed me enough by running away for months. About to say that, Ophelia closed her mouth.

Come to think of it, it wouldn’t change anything even if he disappointed her a little.

After all, regardless of any moderate flaws, she would still like him.

But she couldn’t just let it go when she had already seen what was on his back. Ophelia spoke a little more sternly.

“Turn around.”

As if aiming for something pitiful beyond cute, Idren, who had been turning his head sideways, didn’t refuse twice.

He obediently turned to sit.

Glancing slightly, it seemed he was also worried about offending her.

Although she didn’t think her tastes were twisted, confirming that he listened to her well made her feel good.

Ophelia unknowingly raised the corners of her mouth as she pulled down his clothes.

However, when she saw his fully exposed back, that satisfaction was wiped away and her blood ran cold.

On the broad back well-knit with muscle, several strands of whip marks remained clearly visible.

The scars, which remained slightly darker than the original skin color, showed no signs of resistance.

Ophelia reached out and slowly traced the back she had thought she wanted to draw something on just moments ago.

The man’s warm skin, hotter than hers, touched her fingertips. His back trembled slightly as he took a deep breath.

Was he scared?

Suddenly that thought occurred to her. Slowly stroking the warm, firm back, Ophelia recalled what he had said earlier.

He said it would be unsightly. But that was just to support the following sentence.

“I don’t want to disappoint you.”

His true feelings were fully revealed in that one sentence.

But Idren didn’t need to worry about such things. Because what she felt upon seeing his back was only one thing:

Anger.

The trembling of her fingertips was probably due to that reason. Ophelia pulled herself a little closer to him.

It was to reassure him, as he seemed unnecessarily tense.

Pressing her body against his bare skin and resting her face at an angle, Ophelia asked.

“Where are they?”

“What do you mean?”

“The person who did this.”

Sympathizing that old wounds must have hurt wasn’t her style. Strangling the person who made the scars, maybe.

Idren answered in a calm voice.

“They’re dead.”

Ah. Ophelia let out a small sigh. Come to think of it, that made sense.

Idren was someone who took good care of himself, after all.

She stopped her hand that had been tracing the scars.

Just closing her eyes, Ophelia listened to his heartbeat. The throbbing sound was so pleasant to hear.

Idren asked her.

“There’s something I want to ask you.”

Ophelia, immersed in the languid warmth of her lover’s bare skin, replied. Go ahead.

It was a casual permission, but for some reason, the man’s back trembled.

Ophelia thought it was a bit strange.

It seemed she had never been this affectionate to anyone in her life, yet he kept getting scared, which didn’t make sense.

It was then that Idren spoke, after taking a deep breath.

“Why… did you abandon me?”